Slow travelling is Shkodër’s main vibe in the city of Albania. The complete opposite of how Tirana is.

There’s a laidback charm about the sepia-hued streets where you’ll notice the elderly folk going about their lives on a two-wheeler.

It’s also the starting point to the Accursed Mountains and Albanian Alps.

I discovered there’s a lively cafe scene coming up and a lot of interesting things to do if you have 2-3 days of time before heading to the mountains.

So, what’s there to do in Shkoder? The best way to get lost in the alleyways, meander down the streets and explore the famous Shkoder lake on a bicycle. The interesting bits was this lakeside village called Shiroka town.

Also Read: My Amazing Albania Itinerary in 7-10 Days: It’s All Mountains & Beaches

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Before that, where to stay and what to do in Shkoder?

here’s what to do in shkoder albania — a view of shkoder lake

before leaving for my trek to theth national park, at rose garden hotel

Best Hotel to stay: Rose Garden Hotel or Hotel Tradita
Best Hostel to stay: North Star Hostel or Traveler Hostel
Best Daytrip Tour: Shala River & Komani Lake Day Tour with Boat
Get a local simcard like Airalo

What To Do in Shkodër?

1. Walk Through The Old Town

walking through the old town in shkoder, albania

The city is very walkable and bikeable but before you grab a bike, the best way to take in the city is to walk around.

Kole Idromeno Street is the main street with all the cafes and happenings lined up. You’ll see old facade, a village vibe that seems to take their siesta seriously and a lot of elderly people riding around in the narrow alleys.

The most popular place to get a coffee and enjoy the vibes is at Stolia Coffeehouse & Brunch. Get a pistachio crossiant and Spanish latte on your first day to people watch.

2. Rozafa Castle

a view of bruna and drini lake from rozafa castle

The Rozafa Castle is perhaps the most impressive sight in the town to get a bird’s eye view of the city. Just try to avoid going in the afternoon when it is searingly hot which is a mistake I did.

The fortress is impressive and was founded by the IIIlyrians and rebuilt later by the Venetians and Turks. The story is also of a woman who was walled into as an offering to the gods in order for the construction to hold.

It took about 30 to 45 minutes to walk — you could also ride a bike there but because it requires a lot of walking on cobbled stones, I would stick to walking.

The views at the top of the rocky cliff was stunning with views of Bruna and Drini lake.

The entrance is about 400 lek (€4) and it is perhaps better to take a walk here later in the evening when the weather is cooler.

3. Cycle to Mesi Bridge

cycling to mesi bridge from shkoder old town

a view of the bike path on the main roads in shkoder albania

This was a bit out of the main town but that’s perhaps the best part about it.

Mesi Bridge is the largest bridge from the Ottoman period in Albania and it was interesting to see remnants from the past while bathing at the cool clear river at the bottom.

The bridge was used to connect two cities Shkodra and Drisht.

This was a 8km ride from the Old Town to Mesi Bridge. We rented our bicycles from Shkodra Rent Bike for 5 euros. We passed through a different side of Shkodra that look like a blend of cities and village life.

Dry arid grasslands and people with livestock contrast against supermarkets — what was interesting is that there was a bike path on the main highway which made it quite beautiful to ride!

It was a pleasant way to cool off at the waters and see some ruins at the bridge.

4. Cycle to Shiroka Town

It might seem like a lot of cycling but these two separate cycling escapades make it quite the fun adventure to see a different side of Albania’s towns.

You’ll see a lot of old buildings and sometimes horse drawn vehicles on your way to Shiroka town — it kind of feels like we have been transported to a different era.

Curious locals watched us cycle to the other side of the town

On a brand new day, continue with your same rented bike and cycle over to Shiroka town while passing through Shkoder Lake.

The Shkoder Lake is actually one of the largest lakes in the Balkans and it is shared by Albania and Montenegro.

the restaurant treated me to a potato stuffed cheese delicacy — i had no idea what it was!

Only 1/3rd of the lake is in Albania, the rest belongs to Montenengro — people would argue and say it is more beautiful there but it still offered us a unique way to get to know this side of Albania

The rickety bridge brought us to the other side of the town where we stopped at the Panaroma stop to see for any birding activities and have fish & chips at a local spot. The journey here was approximately 8km one way.

5. Visit the ‘Site of Witness’

the site of witness and memory communist museum in shkoder

The “Site of Witness and Memory” is the first site of remembrance in Albania, which commemorates the victims of the communist regime in Shkodër.

The stories were hard to read and were hauntingly scary to hear and see stories of the prisoners who were tortured alive during the Communist period. There’s a lot of video and material in English and a moving visit to the cell.

It is about 2 euros per person to enter the museum. If there’s one museum you should visit to witness the dark side of communism, this is it.