Private Tour
Apollonia and Berat UNESCO tour from Tirana
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
Apollonia and Berat are the historical highlights of Albania. Apollonia is an impressive archaeological park with ruins from the Greek & Roman times. During the Roman empire, Apollonia was a great and important city. And it was famous for its school of philosophy.
Berat is a historical city in Albania, which is on the UNESCO world heritage list. In Berat, you will explore the historical neighborhoods of Mangalem, Gorica & Kala. You will visit Berat Castle and the Museum of Iconography. In the late afternoon, you will have some free time to shop for souvenirs, take pictures & stroll through the cobblestone streets.
Hotel pick-up in Tirana, transportation and all entrance fees are included.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Entrance fee to Apollonia Archaeological park
Entrance fee to the Castle of Berat
Private tour guide in the Apollonia Archaeological Park and Berat city
Entrance fee to the Museum of Iconography 'Onufri'
Hotel pick-up and drop off in Tirana
Private transportation with a/c vehicle
Gratuities
Lunch
Dinner
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Apollonia Archaeological Park
Apollonia is an archaeological park in center of Albania. In the ancient times, Apollonia was an important Greek city. The city was founded in 588 BC by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth. However, it was during the Roman period that the city of Apollonia really flourished. In the 4th century AD, Apollonia was an important economic city and trade center. The city was known for its famous school of philosophy. Cicero, a famous Roman public speaker, called Apollonia "a great and important city". And the city was also one of the most important gateways to the Via Egnatia, which was a Roman trade route through the Balkans. The ruins of Apollonia were re-discovered in the beginning of the 19th century. The park is set of a hilly plateau and it is surrounded by calming nature.
Berat Castle
The Berat Castle is an enormous fortress called "Kala" on the top of the hill in Berat. From the castle, you will have amazing views in all directions and see the historical town and river below. Within the castle walls, you will see a village-like neighbourhood, called Kala. Until this day, some people are still living within the castle walls. The castle dates back to the 13th century and there are many Byzantine churches within the walls and one Ottoman mosque.
Options
Apollonia and Berat UNESCO tour from Tirana
Pickup included
Reviews
5 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Absolutely wonderful!
Elaine W,
Aug 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took 2 tours with this company, both full-day experiences, this one which was 12 hours long, and a second one to Apollonia and Berat for 10.5h. First off, we wanted to relax, rather than have the stress of figuring it out all for ourselves. Jack and Manon do this perfectly! I found their tours online, loved their intinararies, but wasn't sure whether they could pick us up from our hotel in Durres or which tours were best to pick for our interests. I contacted them to ask, and Manon got back to me quickly with great insight and said of course they could pick us up from Durres. Their English is excellent, so no issues there! Our guide was Jack for both days, and he's the best guide to have for such long tours! As another reviwer said, he's very non-taxing company - which sounds odd, so to explain: he's a very kind and relaxing presence that puts you at ease. There was a lot to see and do in each tour, but it never felt rushed with Jack. He guided us through with placid efficiency and well-placed insight. He made sure we got to see everything smoothly and in good time - I'm not sure how much work that takes behind the scenes, because Jack is so good at doing it it looked effortless! He's truly a master at giving the tour that fits the time available, giving information without being at all overbearing or intrusive, while still being sensitive to our needs, ensuring we got chances to stretch our legs during long car rides, stock up on water, find toilets, etc. Both tours required long drives, which, being tired from jumping from city to city with jet lag, we largely slept through - which was a nice way to rest between stops. Jack let us sleep, and it was easy to feel at ease in the car with him! It's a comfortable car with good leg room for tall people, and Jack is a very safe driver! Apollonia is well worth the visit, even in the heat! The history of this region is so complex, it's brilliant to see parts of it for yourself! Berat too is just beautiful, from the castle on top of the mountain to the city down in the valley. This tour was a great addition to the Girokaster one we took! Huge thanks to Jack and Manon for creating our experience!
Beautiful Apollonia and Berat
Elizabeth V,
Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Interesting trip to ruins of Apollonia and then later to Byzantine city of Berat. Our tour guide, Jack, was great. There's lots of walking, so bring good shoes and drink plenty of water in the summer. The iconography museum at Berat castle was impressive. This is an all-day excursion but gives you a chance to see some of the Albanian countryside and learn about the layers of history of the Albanian people.
Wonderful Experience
LuvsLierna,
Jun 2, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I went on the three-day Albanian Riviera transportation and sightseeing trip. It could not have gone more perfectly. The communication beforehand was excellent. Manon explained everything in advance and responded very quickly and thoroughly to the list of questions I had. Jack picked us up at our hotel in Tirana and off we went. He was so enjoyable to spend time with. He explained everything we were going to see and do and gave just the right amount of information on the sights. That said, he has a deep knowledge of history and was happy to go into depth when asked. My husband and I usually go on our own when traveling but this time, we were so happy we had a guide. We would never have learned as much or have been as comfortable traveling if we had done it without Jack. Albania is a beautiful country and we are so happy we saw what we did. Thank you, Jack and Manon, for teaching us about your country. We wish you great success with your business. Elaine and Joe P.S. Jack is an excellent and careful driver. I always felt safe!
Very interesting visit
PepperoniFR,
Jul 18, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great day visiting the site of Apollonia and Berat with Jack. The places are beautiful and the anecdotes that follow our visit are essential to understand these places. I would recommend a visit with them, it will be a good experience :)
Excellent
richarddH9390NX,
Jul 17, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00it was a very interesting tour, i learned a lot. I am just sad, because i didn´t have a lot of time to visit another places, but i reconized, that albany hat a lot of things to offer, i looking forward to come again :)
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Operated by Albania Tour Guide