Full Day Shkodra Culture Tour from Tirana

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(1 reviews)

8 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English and 1 more

Shkoder is one of the most beautiful cities in Albania. In the morning, you will visit Rozafa Castle. The castle is located on the top of the mountain and it has a stunning panoramic view of Shkoder city and the lake of Shkoder.

Then, you will have the opportunity to visit the Venice Art Mask Factory, which has a collection of unique Venetian Masks. And we make a stop at the Marubi National Museum of Photography, which displays unique Albanian photographs dating back to 1850. You can also see the Mesi Bridge, which is a beautiful stone bridge build during the Turkish Ottoman empire.

In the afternoon, you will have some free time to explore the Venetian style boulevard, the historical city center or Shkodra Lake. Hotel pick-up and drop off in Tirana included. All entrance fees to the museums mentioned included.

What's Included

Private tour guide in Shkoder
Entrance fee to Rozafa Castle
Entrance fee to Marubi National Museum of Photography
Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Tirana
Entrance fee to Venice Art Mask Factory
Private transport with a/c vehicle
Lunch
Gratuities

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).

Itinerary

Duration: 8 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Rozafa Castle

    Rozafa castle is a large castle on the top of a hill near Shkoder city. The castle has a spectacular, panoramic view over Shkoder city and the Lake of Shkodra. The Illyrians originally founded the castle in antiquity, but it was later rebuild by the Venetians and the Turkish Ottomans. There is a famous legend about the castle. Allegedly, three brothers build the castle during the day, however, during the night the walls would fall down. The brothers were told by an old man, that a human sacrifice was needed to ensure the walls would stand. The brothers made a deal and decided that the wife, who brought lunch the next day, would be sacrificed. The two older brothers cheated and told their wives. Therefore, the wife of the youngest brother, Rozafa, was sacrificed. She agreed under the condition that her foot, her hand and her breast would be exposed, so that she could take care of her infant child. You can see a statue of Rozafa at the entrance of the castle's museum.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 2
    Venice Art Mask Factory

    The Venice Art Mask Factory is a factory and exhibition of Venetian Masks. The factory was started in 1997 by Edmond Angoni, who is originally from Albania, but spend a long period of time in Venice. Back in Albania, he began creating Venetian masks and turned it into a worldwide factory. The factory has eight shops in Venice and one in Las Vegas, and it sells masks in luxury shops in Dubai and Australia as well. In the Venice Art Mask Factory, you can see a display of 1700 unique art masks. Each mask is produced by 12 or 13 professionals, who work on the molding, papier-mache, painting and decorations. The factory produces more than 30.000 masks per year. It is very enjoyable to browse through the beautiful collection of masks. Each mask is a unique work of art. The masks vary in price point, so you might even find a unique souvenir to take home.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 3
    Marubi National Museum of Photography

    The Marubi National Photography Museum is a collection of photos taken by three generations of photographers. In 1850, Pietro Marubi, an Italian painter and photographer, emigrated from Italy to Shkoder for political reasons. Whilst in Shkoder, he founded a photo business called Foto Marubi. He trained Kel Kodheli, who took over the family business after Pietro's death and changed his name to Kel Marubi. And later Kel's son, Gege Marubi followed in his footsteps. In the Marubi National Photography Museum you can see a collection of 400.000 photographs that tell Albania's history. The Marubi family photographed significant national events and daily life in Albania. There are portraits of tribal leaders, highland uprisings and influential persons, like Edith Durham.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 4

    The Mesi Bridge is a cultural monument to the northeast of Shkoder city. It is a historical bridge that was build in the 18th century, when Albania was ruled by the Turkish Ottoman empire. Today, it is the largest remaining bridge from the Ottoman period in Albania. The bridge is a touristic attraction and it was voted the top bridge to visit in Albania by TripAdvisor. The bridge is 108 meters long and it has a total of 13 little arches. It is surrounded by the beautiful mountains in the background.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5
    Rruga Kole Idromeno (улица Коль Идромено)

    The Kole Idromeno Street is a famous pedestrian street in the center of Shkoder city. It is a very pretty boulevard with many terraces. The pedestrian street was designed by a local architect and painter called Kole Idromeno. The architect was schooled in Venice and therefore, the boulevard has a very Italian feel. It has many decorative details like beautiful stones and romantic lighting. The boulevard is a lovely place for strolling, shopping for souvenirs or enjoying a beautiful afternoon on the terrace.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 6
    Shkoder

    In the afternoon, you will have some free time to explore the city center of Shkoder. If you like, you can visit the Ebu Bekr Mosque, the St. Stephen's Catholic Cathedral or the Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity. Or you can simply spend some time strolling along the beautiful historical streets in the city center.

    2 hours Admission ticket free
  • 7

    If you enjoy spending time in nature, we can bring you to the Shkodra Lake in the afternoon. The Lake of Shkodra is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. It is located on the border between Albania and Montenegro. It is a calming and refreshing area. You can drive along the road to Shiroka and visit the Buna River delta. The lake has crystal clear water and it is a very beautiful location.

    1 hour Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please wear comfortable walking shoes
Supplied by Albania Tour Guide

Tags

Day Trips
Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
City Tours
Seasonal
Car Tours

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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