Last updated: May 2026
Our last stop in Albania was Korçë, a small city known for its BBQ restaurants and old bazaar area. Sitting high up in the mountains, it felt much colder than anywhere else we visited in Albania. If you’re traveling by bus in Albania like we did, don’t miss the journey between Gjirokastër and Korçë. At times it felt slightly chaotic, but the mountain views along the way were incredible.
We really enjoyed our time in Korçë, with its slow pace, café culture and cosy atmosphere, and we definitely think it’s worth a visit on your Albania trip.
What to do in Korçë
It’s a cute small city with an old bazaar area and some beautiful architecture. There’s also a lot of places to visit in the surrounding area – like small mountain villages, hiking etc. Unfortunately Livia fell ill during our 3 nights in Korçë so we didn’t do as much exploring as we planned on.
Korca Old Bazaar
This is probably the most famous area of Korçë, it’s the old part of the city full with cafes, restaurants and small shops. It’s a bit more expensive to eat here, but as the city is small, you can grab a coffee on the square and then eat somewhere else.
Do as the locals and grab a coffee on the square on a weekend. We were there in November, but everyone still sat outside in the sun, it was lovely.
Walk around to see architecture
The old bazaar and the other parts of the city center looks very different. The old bazaar is renewed and colourful, while other parts are much more rundown and beautiful in other ways. Make sure to walk around to take it all in and stop for a coffee from time to time.
Go to nearby villages
Unfortunately we didn’t do this, but it something we planned on doing so I will still add it here as something to do. The area around Korçë is beautiful, up in the mountains and there are lots of small villages and other nature areas to visit.
Where to eat in Korçë
Korce is famous for BBQ and there are many restaurants to indulge in Albanian bbq. One of our favorites was Zgara Korcare Grill. It’s situated at the beginning of the walking street (if you come from the center) – and it’s an amazing bbq restaurant with really good prices. It might not look that great from the outside, and only has a few tables, but definitely worth a visit!