Almost every visitor to Albania follows the same route: Tirana toward the Riviera, perhaps a stop in Berat or Gjirokastër, then back. The southeastern corner of the country, where you find Albania’s cultural capital, one of the oldest and richest lakes in biodiversity in Europe, as well as some of the finest works of Byzantine art outside Greece, is often overlooked.
Many tourists skip this part of Albania. With a rental car, you can discover it easily and make it part of your trip.
Korça and the surrounding region offer something the coast cannot provide: a quieter, more authentic Albania with fewer tourists. Temperatures are lower, the café culture is special, and the landscapes with mountain plateaus, dense forests, and peaceful lakes make this area ideal for a different kind of trip.
How To Get There: Routes And Travel Time
From Tirana to Korça: 181 km, approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. The road is paved throughout the journey and passes through different landscapes, from the fields around Elbasan to forested mountain passes.
From Gjirokastër to Korça: 130 km, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. This road passes through the highlands of Leskovik and is one of the most scenic drives in Albania, with wide valleys, stone villages, and very little traffic.
From Pogradec to Korça: 36 km, around 35 minutes. If you are coming from the direction of Lake Ohrid and North Macedonia, this is a short and easy section.
Korça: Albania’s Cultural Capital
Korça is a city with around 75,000 residents, located at 850 meters above sea level, in a wide plain surrounded by mountains. It has long been considered Albania’s intellectual and artistic center. The first school in the Albanian language opened here in 1887, while the city’s cultural institutions remain among the most important in the country.
The Old Bazaar
The heart of social life in Korça is the Old Bazaar, a beautifully restored area with cobbled streets, low stone buildings, and open-air café terraces. On warm evenings, the bazaar fills with families, couples, and groups of friends drinking coffee or raki, eating grilled meat, local salads, and simply enjoying the atmosphere.
The National Museum Of Medieval Art
If you visit only one museum in southeast Albania, choose this one. The museum preserves one of the most important collections of icons and Byzantine church art in the Balkans.
The collection includes works from the 13th to the 19th century, saved from churches and monasteries across southern Albania. Entrance costs 300 lek, around 3 euros.
Birra Korça And Food
Korça is the birthplace of Birra Korça, Albania’s best-known beer brand and one of the oldest breweries in the Balkans, founded in 1928. The brewery offers tours and tastings for visitors.
The city’s cuisine combines Albanian, Greek, and Macedonian traditions. Try lakror, tavë kosi, and petulla. Dinner for two people usually costs around 15–25 euros.
Voskopojë: A Quiet Village With A Great History
Around 21 km west of Korça, through a winding mountain road that passes between beech and oak forests, lies the village of Voskopojë. Today it is a quiet place with a few hundred residents. Three centuries ago, it was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the Balkans, with an estimated population of around 40,000.
What has survived best are the churches, and they are extraordinary. Several 18th-century churches have frescoes from floor to ceiling, created by masters of the post-Byzantine tradition. The Church of Saint Nicholas is the largest and most impressive.
Road notes: The road from Korça to Voskopojë is paved, but narrow and winding. It climbs around 300 meters through a very beautiful forest. Allow 30–40 minutes for each direction.
Lake Prespa And Prespa National Park
Southeast of Korça, on the border where Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia meet, lies Lake Prespa, one of the oldest lakes in Europe, estimated to be 2 to 5 million years old.
Prespa is not a destination for monuments or museums. It is a place for landscapes, birds, and the quietest version of Albania you can find. The lake is home to more than 260 bird species, including the largest breeding colony of Dalmatian pelicans in Europe.
The small village of Pustec, on the Albanian shore of the lake, has guesthouses and restaurants serving lake fish.
Road to Prespa: From Korça, drive south on the SH36 road toward Bilisht, then turn east toward Pustec. The distance is around 40 km and the journey takes approximately 50 minutes. There is no suitable public transport, so a car is the only practical option.
Pogradec And Lake Ohrid
Pogradec is located on the western shore of Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared between Albania and North Macedonia. The water is exceptionally clear, and in some areas visibility reaches up to 20 meters.
Pogradec has a pleasant lakeside promenade and restaurants where the main specialty is Ohrid trout. From Pogradec to Korça it is 36 km, around 35 minutes on a good road.
Suggested 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Korça. Drive from Tirana, around 2 hours and 45 minutes, or from Gjirokastër, around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Explore the Old Bazaar, visit the Museum of Medieval Art, and have dinner in the bazaar area.
Day 2: Voskopojë and Prespa. In the morning, drive to Voskopojë, around 30 minutes. Visit the churches, return to Korça for lunch, and then drive to Prespa National Park, around 50 minutes, for the afternoon.
Day 3: Pogradec and return. Drive north to Pogradec, around 35 minutes. Walk along the shore of Lake Ohrid and have lunch by the lake. Then continue toward Tirana via the A3 motorway, around 2 hours and 15 minutes from Pogradec.
Practical Tips
Accommodation: Korça has hotels from 25 euros for budget options up to 50–70 euros for mid-range hotels. Book earlier if you are traveling during the Korça Beer Festival in August.
Cash: Keep cash with you. Smaller villages, such as Voskopojë and Pustec, usually accept only cash payments. There are many ATMs in Korça.
Fuel: Fill up the car in Korça before heading toward Voskopojë or Prespa. Fuel stations in rural areas are few and may close early.
Best period: From May to October. June and September are ideal. The Korça region is noticeably cooler in temperature than the coast.
Type of car: An economy or compact car is enough for all the roads in this guide. RentPoint’s unlimited mileage policy means that the additional trip of around 360 km round trip from Tirana does not bring extra costs beyond fuel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Korça Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. Korça offers the best café and food culture outside Tirana, high-level Byzantine art, and a very interesting local identity that feels different from other parts of Albania.
Can I Cross Into Greece Or North Macedonia From Korça?
Yes. Yes. The Kapshtica border crossing to Greece is located around 25 km south. The Tushemisht border crossing to North Macedonia is located around 35 km north. Confirm permission for international travel with the rental car company.
How Many Days Do I Need To Explore Southeast Albania?
Two to three days are enough to see the main highlights without rushing. You can dedicate one day to Korça, one day to Voskopojë and Prespa, and if you have time, a third day to Pogradec and Lake Ohrid.