Berat Travel Guide 2026: The City of a Thousand Windows | I…

Discover Berat, Albania's UNESCO-listed Ottoman town: its iconic white houses, hilltop castle, museums, wineries and the best things to do in 2026.

Nicknamed the city of a thousand windows, Berat is one of Albania's most photographed towns and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its stacked Ottoman houses climb the hillsides on both banks of the Osum River in the Mangalem and Gorica quarters, their rows of large wooden windows catching the golden light at sunset and creating the famous view of a thousand windows gazing over the valley. It blends living history with a relaxed, walkable charm that makes it a favourite stop on any Albania itinerary.

The hilltop castle is still inhabited, with families living among centuries-old churches and stone lanes inside the walls, and it houses the Onufri Iconography Museum. Below, you can wander the cobbled streets, cross the old Gorica Bridge, visit the Ethnographic Museum, and enjoy a coffee on the lively pedestrian boulevard. Berat also sits in an important wine region, so traditional restaurants and nearby wineries are perfect for tasting local dishes and grape varieties.

Berat is about two hours by bus or car from Tirana, making it an easy addition to most trips, and the compact old town is best explored on foot. For day trips, the dramatic Osum Canyon and sacred Mount Tomorr are within reach. For the full experience, stay in one of the restored Ottoman guesthouses in Mangalem or Gorica, many with traditional wooden interiors and river views