Recommended stay
Half-day
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Ideal for
History lovers, Vjosa Valley road trips
From Tirana
190 km · 2h 45min
Avg. daily budget
€20–45
Weather
Hot, dry summers (30–35°C); mild winters (5–12°C).
Why visit Tepelenë
A hilltop castle above the Vjosa Valley, expanded in 1819 by Ali Pasha of Ioannina — the powerful Ottoman governor's northern headquarters, with distinctive sloped walls and polygonal towers still standing over the town.
Top things to do
- → Explore Tepelenë Castle's walls and towers
- → Take in views over the Vjosa River from the castle
- → Walk the town below the fortress
- → Combine with a drive along the wild Vjosa Valley
- → Stop for a swim in the Vjosa's clear waters
Don't miss
- • The castle's panoramic view over the Vjosa Valley
Local favourites
- • A riverside stop for a swim in the Vjosa on a hot afternoon
Hidden gems
- • The castle's lesser-visited eastern towers, away from the main entrance
Photo gallery
Map
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📸 Best photo spots
- • The castle walls against the Vjosa Valley
- • The river bend below the fortress
