February 9, 2026

If you’re entering Albania from the north via the Montenegrin border, Shkodër will greet you in the finest way possible. This is a city with the pride of the ancient Illyrians in its DNA, the elegance of Venetian Italy in its architecture, and an endless, unhurried ease in its streets — carried along by cyclists who have nowhere to be in a hurry. Shkodër will soothe your soul with its refinement and deep roots stretching back to antiquity. It’s the gateway to the Albanian Alps, and rather than rushing through with your foot on the gas, you should switch off the engine for a while and let the city’s unique, gently nostalgic atmosphere wash over you — the atmosphere of one of the oldest cities in the country.