Lekursi Castle (Kajala e Lekuresit)

The basics

When visiting Lekursi Castle, people either come to freely enjoy its views or sit at the restaurant for drinks or dinner, since there isn’t much of the original fortress to explore. A stop at the castle need only take 15–30 minutes to soak up the view, though visitors who have hiked up may want to stay longer before heading down. That said, hikers who aren’t tired can then tackle the hill to the north and climb up to the Monastery of the 40 Saints.

Things to know before you go

• It’s free to visit the castle and its viewpoints.

• An outdoor restaurant serves drinks and dinner on the castle terrace.

• There’s free parking below the castle entrance, but it may fill up on busy evenings.

• Not all areas may be wheelchair accessible, as some terraces are connected by staircases.

How to get there

Lekursi Castle is set on a hilltop southeast of Saranda’s city center. Driving is the easiest way to reach it, but if you don’t mind a workout, hiking up normally takes about 1 hour. Sightseeing tours from Saranda that stop at Lekursi Castle provide another easy way to visit.

When to get there

The castle is open daily from morning until late at night. Hikers will want to set off early when going in the summer, to avoid overheating. But if you’re going by car, the best time to visit is undoubtedly at sunset, when you can watch the sun fall behind the city—though this is also when the castle gets very busy.

Historical attractions of Saranda

Although Saranda is a resort city on Albania’s Riviera, it does have a few historical and cultural sites to see. Butrint National Archaeological Park is a famous one near Saranda, but within the city, there are the open-air ruins of the synagogue complex, a small archaeological museum with ancient mosaics, and the neighboring Museum of Traditions.