[2025 Shkodra Attraction] Travel Guide for Rozafa Castle (Updated Mar)

this is one of the most famous attractions in Shkoder, Albania. this city is not too big, and this castle offers panoramic view of the city and it’s beautiful surrounding. the view is stunning and fascinating. it provides the view of Shkoder lake, the south of the city and the city itself. the castle itself is pretty big, it takes some time to visit and walk around. there are few things you need to remember if you’re travelling with kids or toddlers. there is no safety railings, so be careful and pay attention to your kids. the entrance fee is not too much, you can get there by car or just walk, the view from the top is def worth spending these 3 dollars! #passionpassport #gooutside #mountainview #bucketlistreboot

Shkoder Rozafa Castle is a common castle in Albania and even in the Balkans. Its historical evolution and story are basically the "historical script" of "Rome, Greece, Byzantium, and Ottoman" fighting, killing, belief, and forced belief! The architectural structure of the castle is basically high ground, thick city, palace and military camp! Churches and prisons that are exactly the same and necessary! The castle is located at the highest point of the mountains, and the roads leading to the castle are paved with smooth stones. Only the outline of the city wall remained, and only the frame of the palace building remained, with broken walls and overgrown weeds everywhere. Even so, when you hike inside the castle, you can experience the beauty of its ruins, be shocked by its huge scale and layout, and imagine its grandeur and majesty in its heyday. Standing on the castle wall platform, you can have a bird's eye view of the entire Shkoder city and Lake Shkoder, the largest lake in the Balkans. The city buildings with red roofs and white walls, the winding rivers, the straight roads that run through the city, the bridges across the rivers, and the square fields where yellow and green meet can all be seen from a 360-degree angle. I think when the ancient kings built these castles, in addition to considering the terrain that was easy to defend and difficult to attack, they must have also enjoyed the imperial majesty of looking down on their citizens from a high vantage point.

🇦🇱 Located in Shkoder, the second largest city in Albania, Rozafa Castle is an important military fortress guarding Shkoder. Although it is now in ruins, it records the vicissitudes of history and bears witness to the rise and fall of history. It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site for its unique historical and cultural value.‌ ⛳ Rozafa Castle was built on a 130-meter-high mountain and was first built by the ancient Illyrians in the 4th century BC. It was occupied by ancient Rome in 168 BC, and later ruled by the Serbian Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire, Bulgaria, the Republic of Venice, and others. In 1479, it fell into the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and in modern history, it has been through many ups and downs. ✔️ Castle features: 1⃣️ The road to the castle is steep and paved with stones, which have been polished very smooth by the traffic of people and horses over the years, so be careful when walking; 2️⃣ There are two gates to the castle, the first gate has a small courtyard, and then through a 10-meter-thick passageway, you officially enter the interior of the castle; 3⃣️ The walls of the castle are only left with outlines, and the remains of buildings such as palaces and churches are only left with frames, with ruins and weeds, giving a sense of decadent beauty; 4⃣️ The castle is surrounded by water on three sides, surrounded by the Buna River, Drin River, Kir River, and Lake Shkoder, and from the castle platform, you can see the whole city of Shkoder, which is very impressive; 5⃣️ When the blue Lake Shkoder comes into view, the sparkling lake water reflects the red-roofed and white-walled buildings, churches, and bridges, and the layers of the picture stretch into the distance, which is very fairy-tale and beautiful; 6⃣️ If you arrive at the attraction by car, you will need to change to a minibus to go up the mountain. 📍 Address: On a mountain southwest of Shkoder, Albania, about 3 km from the city center; ⏰ Opening hours: 9:00–19:00 💰 Ticket: 200 Lek (equivalent to RMB 15.59) 🚗 Transportation: You can take a bus from Shkoder to the castle (about every 40 minutes).

Shkodër is located in the northwest of 🇦🇱 and is one of the most historic cities. In the 4th century BC, it was the capital of the original kingdom of the Illyrian tribe Ardians. In the 19th century, the Shkodërs participated in the war to defend the Albanian territory. As the cultural and economic center of northern 🇦🇱, Shkoder's public library has a collection of more than 250,000 books. The city has cultural centers, artists and writers' associations, art galleries and other facilities. Shkoder is also the center of Catholic and Islamic studies. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Climb to the top of the castle and overlook the Lake Skadar National Park on the border between Albania and Montenegro. It is like a sapphire inlaid in the city. The prosperity of the city and the gentleness of the lake are intertwined, making it beautiful and picturesque. Second stop: Enjoy lunch at the gentle Skadar Lake. The area is often called "Shiroke". Fish lovers can try the local specialty Karp - dishes cooked in casserole. The two fish dishes recommended by the driver are tender and tasty. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :