Tirana and Durres Tour from Ohrid: Private Border Crossing

Tirana's museums and mosques, then Durres' Roman amphitheater on the Adriatic

A private tour departing from Ohrid that crosses into Albania to visit Tirana's National Archeological Museum, the Pyramid of Tirana, and the 18th-century Et'hem Bey Mosque, then continues to the coastal town of Durres to explore its ancient amphitheater and archaeological museum before returning to Macedonia. The tour runs 12 to 13 hours with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and all ground transport included. You arrange your own visa if required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pyramid of Tiranapassing by
2. Et'hem Bey Mosque15m

Explore Tirana and Durres in Albania

• Depart from Ohrid
• Visit National Archaeological Museum in Tirana
• See the Pyramid of Tirana (Enver Hoxha Museum)
• Visit Et’hem Bey Mosque in Tirana
• Explore Durres Amphitheater
• Visit Durres Archaeological Museum
• Return to Ohrid

The experience

Ohrid sits just across the border from Albania, and this private tour uses that proximity to reach Tirana in a single day. The National Archeological Museum holds more than 2,000 artifacts spanning from prehistoric times through the modern period: ancient jewelry, Roman statues, and vast clay pots recovered during archaeological expeditions across the country. The Pyramid of Tirana, originally built as a museum to Enver Hoxha, the long-time Communist leader, now stands as a landmark of the city's political transformation. After 1991 it shifted to a conference center and exhibition space. The Et'hem Bey Mosque, founded at the end of the 18th century, survived the religious purges of the 1960s that closed or destroyed most other religious buildings in the country.

From Tirana, the tour heads to the coast at Durres, where the largest amphitheater ever built in the Balkan Peninsula still stands. Constructed under the Roman emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD, it once held 20,000 people before earthquakes in the 6th and 10th centuries damaged it. The Durres Archaeological Museum, the largest in Albania, sits near the beach with 6th-century Byzantine walls visible to its north. The full day is managed by one English-speaking guide and driver, with all transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned car or minivan.

Border crossing into Albania means you must confirm visa requirements before the tour departs: that responsibility falls entirely on you. The tour operates in all weather, so dress for the conditions of the day. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Ohrid are included. Entrance fees to the museums and amphitheater are not.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Ohrid.
• all transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned car or minivan.
• an experienced English-speaking guide and driver for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Senior (91 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Experience Balkan

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to cross the Albanian border without arranging your own transport or navigating the route. The guide handles the driving and the itinerary, leaving you to focus on the museums, mosques and ancient sites.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What is the National Archeological Museum in Tirana like?

The National Archeological Museum houses over 2,000 artifacts from prehistoric times through the modern period, including ancient jewelry, Roman statues, and large clay pots recovered during archaeological expeditions across Albania. The museum also runs many of the country's archaeological digs and oversees several other museums, including the one in Durres.

Can I visit the Pyramid of Tirana inside?

The Pyramid of Tirana is included in the tour itinerary. Originally opened as a museum dedicated to Enver Hoxha after his death in 1988, it later became a conference center and exhibition venue following the collapse of Communism in 1991.

How old is the amphitheater in Durres?

The Durres amphitheater was built under the Roman emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD, making it nearly 2,000 years old. It is the largest amphitheater ever constructed in the Balkan Peninsula and once held a capacity of 20,000 people before earthquakes damaged it in the 6th and 10th centuries.

Do I need a visa to cross into Albania from Macedonia?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality and are your sole responsibility to confirm before the tour departs. You must obtain any required visa prior to the border crossing. The tour operator cannot arrange this for you.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Ohrid, all ground transport in an air-conditioned car or minivan, and an English-speaking guide and driver for the full 12 to 13 hours are included. Entrance fees to the museums and amphitheater, food, drinks, and personal expenses are not.