Kruja Castle

The castle walls follow the ridge of the cliff, forming a natural defensive perimeter. Inside you'll find inhabited houses (some still occupied), two museums, a Bektashi tekke, the ruins of the 15th-century Sultan Mehmed Fatih Mosque, and a clock tower. From the upper points, the panorama extends across the Ishëm valley, the coastal plain to the Adriatic, and the surrounding mountains. On clear days, the sea is visible on the horizon.

The dominant structure is the Skanderbeg Museum building, constructed in 1982 in the style of a fortified tower. Nearby, in the eastern section, the Ethnographic Museum occupies an authentic 18th-century Ottoman house belonging to the Toptani family. At the lowest level sits the Dollma Tekke – a Bektashi Sufi shrine, with a historic hammam beside it.

The grounds are compact – a full loop takes 30–40 minutes without museum visits. Stone paths and stairs are steep in places and slippery after rain. Several guesthouses and restaurants operate inside the castle walls, offering meals with valley views.

Age – fortress built in the 5th–6th centuries, rebuilt in the 13th–15th centuries

Sieges – withstood three Ottoman sieges (1450, 1466, 1467) under Skanderbeg's command

Elevation – situated on a rocky outcrop at approximately 600 m above sea level

Panorama – views of the Ishëm valley, coastal plain, and the Adriatic on clear days

Complex – two museums, Bektashi tekke, 15th-century mosque ruins, clock tower

Access – entry to the castle grounds is free and open 24/7

The fortress was built in the 5th–6th centuries as a defensive stronghold on the rocky outcrop above the plain. In the 13th century, Kruja became the capital of the Albanian principality. In 1443, Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg), raised at the Ottoman court, returned to Albania and made the castle the center of resistance. Uniting Albanian princes in the League of Lezhë, Skanderbeg repelled Ottoman attacks for 25 years – three sieges (1450, 1466, 1467) ended in failure for the Turks.

After Skanderbeg's death in 1468, the defense weakened, and the castle fell in 1478. The Ottomans rebuilt parts of the fortifications and constructed the Sultan Mehmed Fatih Mosque. Under the communist regime, the National Skanderbeg Museum opened within the castle in 1982. Following the 2019 earthquake, several structures were reinforced. Today the castle is one of Albania's most visited historical sites and is depicted on the 5,000 lek banknote.

From Tirana (20 km, 35–60 min):

- Bus (furgon) from the Regional Bus Terminal (Terminali i Autobusave) – 150–200 ALL (≈ €1.5–2 / $1.5–2), every 30–60 min, 7:00 AM–6:00 PM. Note: the terminal is 5 km from the city center; take a city bus (40 ALL) or taxi (500 ALL) to reach it

- Taxi – 2,500–3,000 ALL (≈ €25–30 / $25–30)

- Rental car – from €25/day, via SH1 → E762 → SH38, parking near the bazaar 200 ALL

From Tirana Airport TIA (30 km):

- Direct taxi – approx. 3,500 ALL (≈ €35 / $35)

On the ground:

From the bus stop to the Old Bazaar – 5–10 min walk. From the bazaar to the castle – 10–15 min uphill on a cobbled road.

Season: April–June and September–October – comfortable temperatures for walking. Summer (July–August) is hot, up to +35°C, with little shade on the climb. Winter is cool and rainy but virtually tourist-free.

Time of day: Morning (before 11:00 AM) – fewer tour groups and cooler temperatures. Sunset offers the best light for photos.

Duration: 2–3 hours for the castle and both museums. With lunch and the bazaar – half a day.

Avoid: Summer weekends – large tour bus groups arrive. The last bus back to Tirana departs around 4:00–6:00 PM; plan your return accordingly.