Tourist Attractions

Durrës was founded by Ancient Greek colonists from Corinth and Corcyra under the name of Epidamnos around the 7th century BC in cooperation with the local Illyrian Taulantii. Also known as Dyrrachium, Durrës essentially developed as it became an integral part of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire. The Via Egnatia, the continuation of the Via Appia, started in the city and led across the interior of the Balkan Peninsula to Constantinople in the east.

In the Middle Ages, Durrës was contested between Bulgarian, Venetian and Ottoman dominions. The Ottomans ultimately prevailed, ruling the city for more than 400 years from 1501 until 1912. Following the Albanian Declaration of Independence, the city served as the capital of the Principality of Albania for a short period of time.

The Amphitheatre of Durrës  is a Roman amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Durrës, Albania. Construction began under the emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD and it was destroyed twice by earthquakes in the 6th and 10th centuries. It is the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Balkan Peninsula with once having a capacity of 20,000 people.

The amphitheatre is included on the tentative list of Albania for inscribing it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was discovered in late 1966 and has become a popular tourist attraction.

Built in the 5th century AD and public baths around and beneath Alexander Moissi Palace of Culture.

Its round shape is vaguely similar to the design of the Forum of Constantine in Constantinople.

It possibly dates to the reign of Anastasius who was a native of the city.

The Beach of Durrës is the biggest and most visited beach in Albania. It lines the seafront of the city of Durrës and is about 10.5 kilometres  long.

A number of notable Hotels overlook the beach such as the Galante Hotel.