Berat

Berat is one of Albania's oldest cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the “City of a Thousand Windows”, it captivates visitors with its whitewashed Ottoman houses cascading down the hillside in the historic quarters of Mangalem and Gorica. Overlooking the city is the still-inhabited Berat Castle, home to historic churches, traditional houses, and the renowned Onufri Museum. Blending Ottoman heritage, Byzantine art, and Albanian traditions, Berat is widely regarded as one of the Balkans' most beautiful and best-preserved historic towns.

Mangalem and Gorica face one another across the Osum, joined by bridges and everyday neighbourhood routes. Inside the castle, families still live among lanes, churches and viewpoints; the Onufri collection adds richly coloured icons to the architectural story. This is a lived-in historic landscape, not an open-air stage. Show more

Stay one or two nights to explore the quarters at a comfortable pace and see the façades in changing light. The climb to the castle is steep and cobbled, with little shade in places. Combine sightseeing with regional food and nearby wine estates, arranging tastings and transport in advance.