Albania
Day 4: Berat
Spend your day exploring more of Berat. In the morning, you’ll walk through the city’s most iconic neighborhood and visit the castle. In the afternoon, enjoy a wine tasting just outside town.
Explore the Mangalem neighborhood
Yesterday you explored Gorica, today it’s time for the other side of the river: Mangalem. This is the historic heart of Berat and the reason it’s called The City of a Thousand Windows. The white Ottoman-style houses stacked on the hillside are one of the most photographed sights in Albania. Climb up to St. Michael’s Church for a great viewpoint, then stop at Terrace 360° Lion to take it all in.
Visit Berat Castle
Next, walk up to Berat Castle. It takes around 20 minutes from the city center. It’s a bit steep but totally doable. What makes this castle unique is that people still live inside the walls. It feels more like a small village than a historic monument. Wander the cobblestone streets, and don’t miss the Holy Trinity Church and the Onufri Museum. There are also small shops, mosques, churches, restaurants, and even guesthouses inside. Plan at least two hours to explore it all.
Lunch at Temi Albanian Food
While you're at the castle, stop for lunch at Temi Albanian Food. It’s a small, family-run place serving traditional dishes like moussaka, stuffed eggplant, and byrek. We had tzatziki, pumpkin byrek, moussaka, and stuffed eggplant. Every dish was amazing and the couple running the place was super kind. We absolutely loved this spot!
Wine tasting at Cobo Winery
In the afternoon, drive about 20 minutes out of town to Cobo Winery. It’s a peaceful and scenic place, perfect for a relaxing end to the day. The visit starts with a short tour of the wine cellar and production area, followed by a tasting. We did the full tasting (€ 45) which included one white, one rosé, one sparkling, two reds, and raki, served with a plate of cheese, olives, bread, and ham. There was so much food it ended up being our dinner as well! 😉
