Krujë is a small town with a population of 20,000 people, located just a 40-minute drive from Tirana. By the way, it takes about the same amount of time to get there from Durrës.
Although the town is quite small and a quick tour might only take a couple of hours, I am firmly convinced that you shouldn’t rush. It’s better to set aside a whole day for a mountain hike and a lunch in—I’m not afraid of the comparison—the most beautiful restaurant in Albania.
How to Get There
You can easily reach Krujë by public transport from both Durrës and Tirana. Minibuses (furgons) depart daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Durrës to Krujë, with a fare of 200 LEK.
There is no direct minibus from Durrës to the fortress. First, you need to take a bus to Fushë-Krujë (the final stop) and then immediately transfer to a minibus that goes from Fushë-Krujë to Krujë. The cost of the second minibus is 100 LEK.
Minibus departure point from Durrës to Krujë: link
Minibus departure point from Krujë to Durrës: link
Minibus departure point from Tirana to Krujë: link
Minibus departure point from Krujë to Tirana: link
Car Rental
You can easily rent a car in Albania. Prices start from 30 EUR per day in high season and from 12 EUR in low season (any time of year other than summer). We always rent through LocalRent; they don’t require a deposit or a local credit card. When returning the car, we’ve never had issues with extra charges, such as cleaning fees.
What to See in Krujë
Upon arriving in Krujë, the first thing you’ll see is the castle and its surrounding walls.
Entrance to the castle grounds is free. Inside, everything is beautiful and well-maintained, with the added bonus of a breathtaking view—you can even see the sea.
There are two museums located within the castle grounds: the Skanderbeg Museum and the Ethnographic Museum of Albania.
Entrance to the Skanderbeg Museum costs 500 LEK.
Opening hours: Daily, except Mondays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Entrance to the Ethnographic Museum costs 600 LEK.
This is an authentic Albanian estate designed for a large family. Everything has been preserved as it was in the past, including all the household utensils and traditional clothing.
Right next to the fortress lies a huge bazaar. Here you can buy locally made goods such as carpets and honey, but also plenty of Albanian-themed trinkets—which, as expected, are made in China.
Hiking
This is the most interesting part of a walk through Krujë. If you climb a little bit up from the castle, you can find a hiking trail that leads directly to the mountain peak. You should probably set aside about 2 hours for the ascent to reach the peak and the cave located at the top. You could drive up there, of course, but the walk is spectacular. The path consists of a staircase carved directly into the rock. The climb isn’t too difficult, and as a bonus, you get stunning views of the town and the plains. The cave is located at 1,156 meters above sea level, meaning if you start from Krujë Castle, you’ll need to gain about 600 meters in elevation.
The cave is a sacred site for the Bektashi. Bektashism is a religion in Albania; it is a branch of Islam but with unique traditions. The Bektashi observe Easter and Baptism, and they take communion with wine, bread, and… cheese. They also perform sacrifices, so you might accidentally stumble upon the sacrifice of a goat, for example.
And of course, there are the legends: according to Bektashi lore, Sari Saltik arrived in Krujë during a missionary trip. At the top of the mountain was the lair of a dragon that threatened to burn the town unless the villagers sacrificed a virgin. When the villagers decided to sacrifice their princess, Sari Saltik went with her and eventually killed the dragon with a single wooden staff. Although part of the mountain turned to ash, it became the property of the locals after he built a mosque there. The dragon story is certainly a myth, but his name is mentioned in several historical works, including those by the 14th-century Moroccan traveler and geographer Ibn Battuta.
Inside the cave, there is a sacred waterfall, but based on Google Maps reviews, it’s best not to drink the water if you don’t want stomach issues the next day.
Restaurant
The most important part of my story about Krujë, and a place that should be on every traveler’s list, is the Horizont restaurant. It is located 1.5 km from the castle and can be reached by car or a short walk. The food here is incredibly delicious, and by our standards, even slightly cheaper than in average restaurants—and the views are simply mind-blowing.
A few restaurant prices:
Chicken soup: 350 LEK
Americano: 120 LEK
Cheesecake: 250 LEK
Pizza: 500 – 700 LEK
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