Kruja

Kruja deserves its place at the very top of destinations to visit in Albania.
Here you have the information which is valuable to every tourists that plans to visit this historical site:

Kruja, ‘capital’ of medieval Albania
Albania is full of beautiful places, also cities with a great importance in history,archaeology, and culture.
One city you should definitely visit if you are traveling in Albania is Kruja.
Most notably Kruja under the command of Skanderbeg, our national hero, was the center of Albanian resistance against Ottoman Turks and for at least 25 years they fought and won. Kruja is worthy of a visit and here in this article we will explain further what makes Kruja special.

Home of national hero Skanderbeg
You might have heard about our National Hero, Skanderbeg.
Skanderbeg was a very skilled military commander during the XV century.
He managed to bring together different parts of Albania and under his command the country fought bravely against the Ottomans , it is worthy mentioning that during this period the Ottoman Empire was operating in peak powers. For his success at preventing Ottomans advance further in Europe , Skanderbeg won numerous titles notably the Pope gave him the title Athleta Christi which means Champion of Christ.

Kruja Main Attractions
The city of Kruja itself is one of the best sightseeing places in our small country. Being a city with great historical importance we recommend you to visit Kruja Castle, the main attraction that everyone has to visit in Kruja.
Inside the castle walls are located the Skanderbeg Museum and the Ethnographic Museum . On the way to the castle gate is located the old bazaar market where you can have a look at or buy some souvenirs or handmade traditional clothes made by artisans with years of experience.

Castle of Kruja
The main attraction of the city of Kruja is the castle of Kruja.
The castle of Kruja has played an important role in history as it was the center of Albanian Resistance against the Ottomans and a field battle.
It dates back to V Century AD and for 25 years was able to successfully defend the country against  Ottomans from not letting them advance further in Europe. The castle offers a beautiful panorama and also a lot to discover about history as we explore its walls and listen about important events the city experienced, more famously under Skanderbeg rule.

Skanderbeg Museum
A national hero and one of the most known leaders of Albania, Skanderbeg has its own museum inside the Castle of Kruja. The museum has been built during modern times as opposed to what we might think.

In this museum beside a visit to history you will also see a collection of old archaeological findings and also you will notice murals which display Skanderbegs history and important moments. In one of the murals is Skanderbeg with other leaders and lords of Albania as he managed to unite the country and bring leaders together in their resistance to the Ottomans.

Ethnographic Museum of Kruja
Another important and worthy attraction in Kruja is the Ethnographic Museum. The museum is not a typical museum, in fact it has been the home and belongs to one of the historically important and old families of the city, the Toptani family. The house of this traditional Albanian family has been converted to a museum and a visit there will let you get in touch more with the old Albanian culture and lifestyle during Ottomans period.

Old Bazaar, souvenirs traditional handmade clothes
Your visit to the old city of Kruja might have been filled with beautiful panorama, important historical lessons and events, archaeological displays and more but in case you want to remember your visit to this special small city there is no better way than by buying some souvenirs at the old bazaar market. The artisans display their traditional clothes which are handmade and of great quality . This and more are available at the market as you walk through the stone roads and maybe get ready to enjoy a coffee Inside the walls of the castle .

Best time to Visit Kruja
This is very easy to answer, Kruja is worthy of a visit at any time of the year. It is a great choice for all tourists and especially those having a particular interest in history, archaeology, and culture.

Choosing between daily or multi day tour in Kruja
The city of Kruja is accessible and reachable from the capital Tirana in less than 1 hour , even less from the Airport thus making it an ideal destination for daily tours. In case you want to take a longer visit, the city offers some good hotels with beautiful panoramas and landscape.
We recommend Kruja mostly for a daily tour visit, the main reason being its proximity to the capital, Tirana and also Airport.

Food and gastronomy in Kruja
Enjoy your visit in Kruja by trying the foods served at one of the restaurants near the Castle with some beautiful panoramas in front of you.
The restaurants serve traditional food and being a very visited tourist destination they definitely know what to offer to their clients.

How to get to Kruja from Tirana or Airport?
Kruja is located very near Mother Teresa International Airport and also Tirana, Albania’s Capital. The main travel options are by car, or bus.

We offer a variety of choices for tourists who want to travel and visit Kruja, ranging from private car and comfortable van transportation to car rental options. With a lot of available options it is the clients preference which decides which way to travel to Kruja and its attractions.
In any case you need assistance, we help with arrangement of your travel and overall visit to the city of Kruja and other destinations in Albania.

Guided Tour to Kruja
Choosing a guided tour is the most recommended way to visit important attractions like the one in this article. Our experienced guides will help you with understanding of the site’s history and also guide you to the main places of interest giving quality to your overall experience.

Frequently Asked Questions