KORCE FAQ`S
Korce (also referred to as Korca) is located in southeast Albania, near the Greek border. It is 162 miles, about a 2-3 hour drive from the capital, tirana. From Thessaloniki, Greece, and about 155 miles from Skopje, North Macedonia and can be reached by bus from either city.
How to get to Korca, Albania?
Korca can easily be reached by bus from surrounding cities. The bus from Tirana, Albania's capital city, to Korca, is a 102 mile journey and takes around four hours. The bus from Tirana to Korca costs around 700 Lek per person.
The bus journey takes you through Elbasan, Podgradec, and many other smaller towns along the way. The views are fabulous, especially when you drive by Lake Ohrid, Europe's oldest and deepest lake.
Another option, although slow, is to take the train from tirana to Korce. From Podradec to Korse, it is a short trip by train. The train leaves at 6 am from Tirana. Because the trian makes a big detair via Durres, it arrives about four hours later at Elbasan, about 21 miles from Tirana, so it is possible to make a shortcut. The cost is only about 350 Lek. The scenery is also beautiful, and until October it is possible to have the window wide open.
It is also possible to reach Karce from neighboring Greece via Thessalonika and Florina, passing the Macedonian border. You can also reach Korce by traveling via Gjirokastra.
Korce is a very walkable city and it is easy to get around on foot. A majority of the sidewalks are well paved unles you venture off onto the side roads where there are still many winding cobblestone lanes.
There are several car rental agencies, there's also a city bus service, and it's pretty easy to find a taxi as well. There's a municipal cycling program as well.
Depending on your means of transportation, we recommend choosing accommodations that are within a mile of the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral (Search: Katedralja Ortodokse "“Ringjallja e Krishtit”) which is in the center of town.
Accommodations are quite affordable in Korce, making it a budget-friendly destination.
Better known as the cradle of culture in Albania, the city is the largest in its region. Since medieval times, the city was an important trading center and crossroads point for Albanian caravans that, from Karce, starting their way to Turkey, Greece, and Russia.
The second half of the 19th century, the city has been a remarkable economic, trade, and cultural center, a status remaining today thanks to the first Albanian language school along with great museums and churches.
Korce is the typical eastern city with very marked northern Greek influences as well as some French traits when it coms to its urban design and architecture.
The city, quite off-the-beaten-track, is often disregarded by visitors who prefer the more touristic cities of Berat or Gjirokastra; however, spending some time in Korca is definitely worth your time.
Korce has plenty of welcoming spaces to relax and enjoy, green parks and gardens, beautiful buildings, and a certain resemblance with neighboring Greece regarding its cultural heritage and fantastic cuisine.
Korce is not a typical touristic city. On the contrary, it is the perfect place to see how the locals live. There are minimal tourist attractions.
The city is open all year round with plenty of interesting activities and events; however, if you really want to enjoy the gardens and walk the streets comfortably, we suggest visiting between May and October. The weather gets quite cold in the winter, and snow is not unusual.
How many days should I spend Korce?Korce is relatively small and compact town that's very easy to explore by foot. To cover all the attractions and points of interest, we recommend staying for a least 2 full days, although you could comfortably stay longer with plenty to see and do.
I don`t speak Albanian. Will many people speak English?The official language in Albania is Albanian. Unlike all of the languages north of Albania, the Albanian language has nothing to do with the Slavic ones. It is rather hard to learn. Many older people won't speak too much English throughout the country, but the young kids really have a great level of English.
What is the currency in Albania? Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The currency used in Albanian is the Albanian Lek. Euros can actually be used pretty much everywhere, and you'll find that the exchange rate is typically better than using lek. However, it is quite rate to find Euros in Albania, so we suggest brining as many euros as you can before your arrival.
Also worth noting, many places only take cash, even in larger and fancier establishments. Cash is key in Albania.
The tipping culture in Albania is pretty flexible. Most people tip in bars by just rounding up, while in restaurants leaving 100-200 lek (between $1-2) is common. However, if you don't receive great service, you are not obligated to tip.
In an emergency dial 112 is the general emergency services number or 114 for hearing assistance.