Various Beaches of Durrës

When my wife and daughter and I visited the many beautiful beaches of Durrës, we obviously expected to see the sand, the sea, and have some relaxation. Surely we got all that, but there were many unexpected surprises that kept on popping up, and an amazing variety of beaches just within the city of Durrës.

West of the Port

Just west of the port in Durrës, you'll find a lively sea-side walk with plenty of activities you would find at a fair or amusement park- bumper cars, bounce houses, rides, and everything. This is ideal for a stroll at night and for families that have young children.

You can find restaurants of many kinds- lots of sea food and Albanian staples (byrek, sufllaqe, doner, etc.) but also a large variety of Italian, Greek, Turkish, and American food (try Wild West!)- and arguably the best gelato you'll ever find. It is just as good, if not better, than the gelato selection you'd find in Italy at a place called Çela. Çela is located right by Pista e Re and Muzeu Arkeologjik (the Archeological Museum), as well as the famous Durrës Amphitheater. They have a signature flavor also named Çela that is to die for- plus dozens of other flavors that melt in your mouth and make you want to come back every day.

Southeast of the Port

If you are looking for sandy beaches to swim and build sandcastles, you'll want to go just southeast of the port, where you will find miles of sandy beaches, umbrellas, food vendors, and fun. Of course one can always expect some type of concession stand at most beaches, but we were pleasantly surprised by the experience that the sandy beaches of Durrës gave to us.

Donut Holes (Petulla Casti)

There are food vendors that pass by frequently that give a variety of food. Our favorite snacks were the popcorn, ice cream, and the donut holes/mini donuts. The best part (besides the taste, o course) was how cheap it all was! It was 50 lek for a good-size bag of popcorn (about $0.41), and only 100 lek (about $0.82) for the ice cream cone and another 100 lek for the bag of donut holes. They put powdered sugar on top of it, with the option for honey, chocolate, caramel, or even ketchup and mustard if you want to go the savory route. Needless to say, you're in for some delicious treats if you go to the sandy beaches of Durrës.

Petulla Casti Vendors

Another fun surprise was seeing a bear. Yes, you heard me- a bear. You will see a guy every once in a while with a trained bear on a leash, going around to see if you want to take a picture with it. I have yet to do it, but it was incredibly cool to see a bear just walk by on the beach.

So these are only a few of the beaches that Durrës and Albania have to offer. Whether they be the delicious treats, the fun carnival rides, or the bears that walk by while you sunbathe, you are sure to have a unique and memorable experience on the beaches of Durrës.

-JM