Lezhë

Lezhë is a small city in Albania and part of the historic Mirdita region. Development has brought seaside hotels and countryside guesthouses.

Get in

Lezhë is about 8 km from the excellent beach of Shëngjin (St. John), about 30 km south of Shkodra, and 50 km north of Tirana. With the newer construction of the SH1 motorway that goes aside this city, it is nicely connected with major cities.

By bus

• 🌍 Lezhë bus station (just across the bridge to the centre, on the main north-south road). Most buses and vans (furgons) arrive and depart from this little square. There are signs indicating where to wait for which destination. Furgons to Rrëshen and Laç leave from the center of town. 
• From Tirana one can catch a bus from the bus station near Zogu i Zi. It departs every hour on the hour during the day and costs 250 lek.
• From Durrës, there are two direct buses per day to Lezhë from the main bus station.
• From Shkodra, it's easiest to take a furgon from Sheshi Demokracia headed for Tirana.
• From cities in the south either change in Tirana or catch a bus/furgon to Shkodra and ask the driver if he can stop in Lezhë.
• If you are coming from the Northeast, you may have to get off in Milot and transfer to another vehicle.

By train

• 🌍 Lezhë train station, Rruga e Stacionit (from the centre cross the bridge and main road and walk past the bus station). 

There is one daily train that runs from Shkodra to Durrës and back that stops here, however the timetable is unknown, and service is intermittent because of the national rail company's continuous financial trouble.

Get around

The entire city of Lezhë is quite walkable.

To get to villages or to the beach at Shëngin, take a group van from the parking lot just past the bridge in the center of town.

See

Lezhe Castle

• 🌍 Kalaja e Lezhës (Lezhë Castle) (from the Skanderbeg Memorial, look for a building with a big sign 'Mirdita'. Take the stairs next to it, then keep walking up the road for about 20 minutes). Daily 10:00-16:00. Age-old castle used by many civilisations. Beautiful 360˚ view of Lezhë, the Adriatic sea and the mountains. There are a few information panels in and around the castle in English. 100 lek. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Skanderbeg Memorial. Mausoleum of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania, who died in Lezhë in 1468. The place was both a church and a mosque at different points in history. As of December 2016, it was not possible to go inside the mausoleum, but one can take a peek through the doors and walk all around. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Ruins of Lissos. Remains of the old city of Lissus which has been ruled by many empires. There are a couple information panels in English around. As elsewhere in Albania, not much effort is put into preservation, and as such you can walk around the site freely unhindered by fences, or rules. Free. (updated Dec 2016)
• House of At Gjergj Fishta (1871-1940) - cultural monument of first category. he is a famous poet in Albania.
• Kisha Zoja Nunciata: 800-year-old Franciscan Church on the hill overlooking town.
• Katedralja e Shën Nikollit: Newly built modern cathedral in the town's center.
• Shëngjin Beach and surrounding wetlands reserve and birdwatching area of Kune-Vain-Tale
• The famous hunting lodge in Ishull Lezhë.

Do

• Take part in the annual Emigrant Day in mid-August in Lezhë!
• Kayak along the Fan River
• Visit Kthelle Regional Nature Park off the A1 Motorway
• Visit the Gurra Domgjon natural water source
• Refresh yourself with the cold and pure water of the Mirdita highlands

Buy

• Zadrimore textiles weaved with looms
• Ceramic pottery

Eat

• Restaurant Rapsodia, Lagjja Sake, Shëngjin (Follow the road maps to get to Lezha. Then take the road to Shëngjin. Passed 4 km you’ll find the Hotel Restaurant Rapsodia), ☏ [phone]. Italian-Albanian fusion 
• Mrizi i Zanave, Fishtë Village (Lezhe-Vau Dejes Road), ☏ [phone]. Named after the title of an Albanian writer and priest's book, this restaurant features all organic specialties of the Kallmet and Zadrime area. 
• Fresh seafood in the seaside village of Shëngjin.
• Trëndafili Mistik (Te Diella), Vaini Lagoon, Ishull Lezhë, ☏ [phone]. Traditional local cuisine 
• Traditional restaurants in the hamlet of Katund i Vjetër, Rubik

Drink

• Try local wines from the Kallmet region.

Sleep

• Rambuje hotel - Ishull lezhe [phone] very calming spot.
• 🌍 Camping Albania B&B Restaurant, Barbullush village, Bushat, ☏ [phone], ✉ [e-mail]. Check-in: 10:00, check-out: 12:00. This campsite is run by an Albanian-Dutch family and welcomes all types of campers. It is in Barbullush village in the Bushat municipality, 10 km north of Lezhë. The environment is beautiful, countryside with views over the beautiful mountains. The camping is basic and clean according to western standards. They have a good buffet restaurant and small swimming pool. Free wifi all over the campsite. From €5 p.p. B&B €40 double/€30 single. (updated Dec 2016)
• Hotel Marub, Katund i Vjetër, Rubik, ☏ [phone]. 

Go next

• Shkodra
• Puka
• Theth
• Tirana