Durres Day Trip in Albania

Durres, located on the Adriatic coast, serves as Albania's primary commercial port and is the country's second largest city. Historically known as Durrahium, Durres is one of Albania's oldest cities. According to legend, it was founded by the Illyrian King Epidamnos, who named the city after himself and the port area after his grandson, Dyrrah. For centuries, Durres was the largest port on the Adriatic and marked the beginning of the Via Egnatia, the ancient route to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Key attractions include the impressive Roman amphitheater, which seats 20,000 and is the largest in the Balkans, and the Archaeological Museum, located near the sea and housing a wealth of artifacts excavated in Durres. Additional sites of interest include the Roman Baths, situated behind the Aleksander Moisiu Theatre on the central square, and the Palace of former King Zog. The tour concludes with a return to Tirana.