Things to Do in Vlora, Albania: Walking Guide

Vlora, also known as Vlorë, sits where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet, offering travelers a striking mix of ancient ruins, Ottoman heritage, and pivotal moments in modern Albanian history. For visitors looking for the best things to do in Vlora, the city provides an engaging blend of museums, historic monuments, and coastal energy. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Vlora with 8 narrated places, making it easy to explore the city at your own pace.

What to See in Vlora: Key Historic Sites and Landmarks

Exploring Vlora reveals centuries of history, from ancient Illyrian settlements to Ottoman strongholds and the birthplace of modern independence.

Muret e Aulonës Antike

Visitors can view the remains of the ancient Greek city of Aulon, known locally as Aulona. These ancient walls once protected this significant settlement in the region of Illyria.

Muzeu Kombëtar i Pavarësisë

Established in 1936 as the first Albanian museum ever founded, the National Museum of Independence sits in the southern part of the city close to the port. On November 28, 1912, Ismail Qemali proclaimed Albania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire inside this building. Visitors can explore two rooms and two corridors featuring original objects, National Awakening documents, and the preserved office of Prime Minister Ismail Qemali alongside the first government’s meeting hall.

Independence Monument

Standing 17 meters high in the heart of the city at Flag’s Square (Sheshi i Flamurit), this striking bronze monument is dedicated to the Albanian Declaration of Independence. Created by Albanian sculptors Kristaq Rama and Mumtaz Dhrami, it was completed in 1972.

Vlora City Hall

Located on Sheshi 4 Heronjtë, the Square of the Four Heroes, this elegant palace serves as the seat of the municipal administration. Since 2006, the building has been officially protected as a first-category cultural heritage monument.

Skela Castle

Also known as Vlorë Castle, this Ottoman stronghold was built during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 1530s as one of the largest military structures the empire maintained in the Balkans. Although largely destroyed in 1906, traces of its ancient walls were later uncovered during construction work in the area.

Mosque of Neshat Pashaj and Muradie Mosque

The Muradie Mosque—also known as the Lead Mosque or Xhamia e Plumbit—was built between 1537 and 1942 during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by architect Mimar Sinan by modifying a pre-existing Byzantine church. Just a short walk away stands the Mosque of Neshat Pashaj, or the Red Mosque, originally built by Sheh Jakubi in 1523 and later rebuilt in 1925 by Neshat Pashaj on the foundations of an older Ottoman mosque.

Kisha Katolike

The Catholic Church of Vlorë is a protected cultural monument dedicated to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga and the Virgin Mary, serving as the seat of the Albanian Greek-Catholic Church. Designed by Italian architects in a neoclassical style, its construction dates to the early 1920s or around 1800 according to various historical sources.

Explore Vlora with a Self-Guided Walking Tour

If you want to experience the city while learning its stories, download the Neywo app for your visit. Neywo features 1 walking tour in Vlora covering 3.56 km across 84 minutes and 6 narrated stops, including Vlora City Hall, Muradie Mosque, Independence Monument, Muret e Aulonës Antike, Kisha Katolike, and the Muzeu Kombëtar i Pavarësisë.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, allowing you to walk at your own pace with no group and no schedule, with narration available in 11 languages. From Vlora, you can continue your journey to nearby coastal destinations like Himarë and Sarande within the Vlorë region, or explore other parts of Albania such as Tirana, Gjirokastër, Durrës, and Shkodër.