Your stay — Durres Hostel
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The Property — Durres Hostel
Durres Hostel is a no-frills, social base for backpackers and budget travellers. The lobby feels like a shared student flat: mismatched sofas, a noticeboard of local tips, and the smell of coffee from the communal kitchen. It’s two minutes from the beach and ten from the ancient amphitheatre, which is its real selling point — you’re closer to history and sea than to any luxury.
Chronicles of Durres
Durres was founded around 627 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corfu, who named it Epidamnos. It grew into a major Roman port and the start of the Via Egnatia, linking Rome to Byzantium. The 6th-century Byzantine walls and the 2nd-century amphitheatre — one of the largest in the Balkans — still dominate the old town. Under Ottoman rule it was reshaped with mosques and bazaars, but the 20th century brought communist concrete, especially after the 1960s. Today Durres is a gritty, lively coastal city where ferry ports, beaches and Roman ruins sit side by side.
Best Time to Visit
Full Durres guide →Best months
June and September: warm sea, 27-30°C days, fewer crowds than July-August, and still long daylight hours for exploring.
Peak / festival surge
July and August: schools out, Albanians and tourists fill the beachfront, hotel prices double or triple. Events like the Durres Summer Festival in July draw day-trippers from Tirana.
Budget shoulder season
May and October: temperatures 20-25°C, half the price of peak season, quieter beaches and the amphitheatre less busy. Bring a jacket for cool evenings.
Weather & packing
Durres in July averages 30°C but humidity from the Adriatic can make afternoons sticky. Pack a lightweight rain jacket for sudden evening thunderstorms, and always carry water.
Live City Briefing — Durres
- The Rruga e Pishave promenade along the beachfront was repaved in late 2025, with new cycle lanes and benches — good for evening walks but watch for uneven cobbles near the amphitheatre exit.
- Durres Port has increased ferry services to Bari and Ancona this summer; expect more foot traffic and longer security checks on weekends.
- A bus replacement service operates between Durres and Tirana’s main rail station until October 2026 due to track upgrades on the Hekurudha line — check schedules at the central bus terminal.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Durres Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the quieter back side of the hostel. Upper floors (2nd or 3rd, if available) will be further from street-level commotion.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms facing the street at ground level. The address on Durres’ main road means traffic and pedestrian noise will be loud, especially on the first floor.
Best views
Limited: likely looks onto the street or courtyard. If available, a room at the back offers a quieter outlook over neighbouring buildings or a shared garden.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and above are quieter, away from street noise and foot traffic. The hostel does not have a lift, so lower floors are easier but noisier.
🔊 Noise notes
Durres is a busy coastal city. Street traffic, pedestrians, and nearby bars or cafes will be audible from front-facing rooms. The hostel’s communal areas can also generate chatter.
Insider tips
Ask at check-in if a room at the rear is free to request a move. If you arrive by car, street parking can be tight; check if hostel has arranged parking nearby.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Durres Hostel
Free Wi-Fi throughout (coverage good in common areas, spotty in top-floor dorms); no login or time limit
No lift; property is a converted two-storey villa with stairs only
No newspapers or digital newsstand; common area has a bookshelf with travel guides and a few paperbacks
Check-in from 14:00 to 23:00; early bag-drop from 09:00 on request; late check-out until 13:00 for 5 euro if available
Free storage in locked luggage room during office hours (08:00 to 22:00); overnight storage subject to space
No step-free access; all rooms require climbing at least one flight of stairs; narrow doorways and no adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking; free street parking on nearby Rruga Aleksander Goga (unmarked spaces); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (Albania generally does not levy a city tax on budget accommodations)
Deposit & card hold: A 50% advance deposit is required within 48 hours of booking; a cash-only hold of 10 euro per key card for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Kisha Katolike Shën Luçia (75 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: Xhamia Fatih (155 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Kapela e Shën Grabrietit (157 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Kisha/Kapela e Shën Stefanit (199 m · ~2 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Blue Star — 646 m · ~8 min walk
Shetitorja Vollga — 495 m · ~6 min walk
Shtepia e Aleksander Moisiut — 184 m · ~2 min walk
Pallati i Kulturë "Aleksandër Moisiu" — 364 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 161 m · ~2 min walk
Farmacia Babamusta — 393 m · ~5 min walk
Trebit Computers sh.p.k — 755 m · ~9 min walk
Durrës - Trieste — 879 m · ~11 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Albanian Lek, ALL
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the port and tourist offices which charge poor rates and high fees.
Card acceptance is common in larger supermarkets, hotels, and chain restaurants, but cash is still king for small shops, market stalls, and taxis—always carry some lek.
Not expected but appreciated: round up the bill at restaurants, leave 50–100 lek for good service; no tip needed for taxis unless they help with luggage; hotel staff are happy with small change.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small espresso at a local bar costs around 50–80 lek.
A byrek (savoury pastry) at a bakery or kiosk costs about 80–120 lek.
A main course at a casual restaurant (like grilled meat or pasta) is roughly 400–600 lek.
Cheap eats are concentrated along the main pedestrian street (Rruga e Durrësit) and near the amphitheatre—look for byrek stalls, qofte (meatball) vendors, and fast-food places selling patate (chips).
The main budget supermarkets here are Euromax, Conad, and Spar, all found on the main roads.
For cheap clothing, head to the outdoor market at Sheshi Pranvera or the H&M and similar stores on Rruga Taulantia; also try the Sunday flea market near the port.
Local city buses cost 30 lek per ride; from Tirana airport, take the direct bus to Durrës for about 350 lek or share a private van with other travellers for around 400 lek.
1. Buy fresh produce and bread at the daily market rather than tourist shops. 2. Fill a water bottle at public fountains or buy from supermarkets—tap water is safe. 3. Walk or rent a bicycle (around 200 lek per hour) to avoid taxi costs.
Emergency Contacts
DurresDurrës emergency numbers are the same as the national Albanian ones. For police dial 129, ambulance 127, fire 128. For roadside assistance call 126. English may not be widely spoken, so have a local or your hotel staff ready to assist if needed. Save these for your trip.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Durres, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Durres Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 161 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Babamusta — 393 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Durres Bus Station (terminali i autobusave) → Kadris Hotel (via Sheshi Pranvera stop)
💡 Bus lines 1, 3, and 6 all pass near the hotel. Ask for 'Sheshi Pranvera'—it's a small square just 2 blocks south of the hotel. Exact change is expected, so keep coins handy.
Durres City Center (any point) → Kadris Hotel
💡 Use the 'Taxi Durres' app or call +355 69 20 20 111 for reliable drivers. Avoid flagging down random cabs near the port—they often quote inflated prices for short hops. A ride from the amphitheatre to the hotel should cost no more than 500 lekë.
Tirana International Airport (TIA) → Durres City Center (near Kadris Hotel)
💡 Buy a ticket from the driver (cash only, lekë or euros accepted). Get off at the main Durres bus stop on Rruga e Durrësit, then it's a 10-minute walk downhill to Kadris Hotel—no need for a taxi unless you have heavy luggage.
Tirana International Airport (TIA) → Kadris Hotel, Durres
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in; official taxi ranks at the airport charge a fixed rate—look for the yellow taxis with a meter, or pre-book a transfer via the hotel for peace of mind.
About Durres
Wikipedia ↗
Durrës ( DUURR-əs, Albanian: [ˈdurəs]; Albanian definite form: Durrësi) is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is one of Albania's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with roughly 2,500 years of recorded history. It is loca...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Durres Hostel?
Request a room on the quieter back side of the hostel. Upper floors (2nd or 3rd, if available) will be further from street-level commotion.
Which rooms should I avoid at Durres Hostel?
Avoid rooms facing the street at ground level. The address on Durres’ main road means traffic and pedestrian noise will be loud, especially on the first floor.
Is Durres Hostel noisy?
Durres is a busy coastal city. Street traffic, pedestrians, and nearby bars or cafes will be audible from front-facing rooms. The hostel’s communal areas can also generate chatter.
Which rooms have the best views at Durres Hostel?
Limited: likely looks onto the street or courtyard. If available, a room at the back offers a quieter outlook over neighbouring buildings or a shared garden.
What are insider tips for staying at Durres Hostel?
Ask at check-in if a room at the rear is free to request a move. If you arrive by car, street parking can be tight; check if hostel has arranged parking nearby.
What time is check-in at Durres Hostel?
Check-in at Durres Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Durres Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout (coverage good in common areas, spotty in top-floor dorms); no login or time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Durres Hostel?
None (Albania generally does not levy a city tax on budget accommodations)
Where can I eat cheaply near Durres Hostel?
A byrek (savoury pastry) at a bakery or kiosk costs about 80–120 lek.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Durres Hostel?
Local city buses cost 30 lek per ride; from Tirana airport, take the direct bus to Durrës for about 350 lek or share a private van with other travellers for around 400 lek.
When is the best time to visit Durres?
June and September: warm sea, 27-30°C days, fewer crowds than July-August, and still long daylight hours for exploring.
Top Attractions in Durres
💡 Grab a cheap byrek from 'Byrektores' near the clock tower—about 50 ALL. The street is busiest after 18:00.
💡 Climb is steep and narrow—wear sensible shoes. Best at sunset for good light and fewer people.
💡 Walk east of the main pier for less crowded spots. No lounger required—bring a towel. Free showers at some access points.
💡 Buy tickets from the small booth outside; cash only. Early morning or late afternoon avoids crowds and heat.
💡 Entrance is around 300 ALL (roughly £2.50). Go early to beat tour groups; the small café upstairs has good coffee.