Kruja - Charming Medieval Village, Kruja, Albania

Krujë (Kruja in English) in Albania is a charming medieval village, beautifully situated among mountainous peaks and the green valley stretching all the way down to the Adriatic coast. Kruja, once inhabited by the ancient tribe of Illyrians, besides its natural charm, boasts an enormous historical importance. As early as in the 12th century, it was the center of the first independent Albanian state. The town lies on the foot of the Mount Krujë and offers spectacular views over the entire area. Although it's a popular and very easy to reach destination for a day trip from Albanian capital - Tirana, it's still very authentic - with very few foreign visitors. Many people who come to Albania stay only in Tirana and complain that there is nothing much to see there. The capital city, although interesting is not particularly beautiful and is not a great example of what Albania has to offer.

Kruja, located just around 30 km (18 miles - 45 min ride) is a great place for a day trip from Tirana (I've described Tirana in detail in this article - did you know that you can have a pint of beer in the rotating restaurant on top of the highest skyscraper in Tirana for 1.5 EUR?) It's very easy to get to Kruja - you can find many mini-buses for around 1-2 USD/EUR in Tirana. They depart from the local market area nearby the main train station. I wouldn't recommend to take any private day tours advertised online - the prices are ridiculous. You may find some cheaper trips if you ask at a local tour offices, or if you want to explore more of Albania, you can contact me here, I'll be happy to help you arrange a cheap tour with amazing and reliable local company. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).