Bajram Curri is the largest town in the Tropoja District of northern Albania, near the border with Kosovo. It is an important gateway to the spectacular Valbona valley and the breathtaking ferry ride across Lake Koman.
The town is named for the national hero of the same name, Bajram Curri, a freedom fighter who fought for ethnic northern Albanian interests, first against the Ottoman Empire and later against the new Albanian government. He shot himself near the town in order to avoid capture, and the town was renamed after him.
Due to its physical and cultural proximity to Kosovo, the area was adversely affected by the conflict in Kosovo, with many of its residents involved either directly in combat or in assisting and housing refugees from Kosovo.
The Tropoja area is culturally and historically closer to Kosovo than to southern Albania.
Bajram Curri is an important hub for the traveller, as you are likely to change minibuses (called "furgons") here from 3 directions. They all tend to depart around the same times, so with luck you can transfer straight from one to another:
- Statuja e Bajram Curri. The town's hero is honoured with a statue in the centre of town.
- Muzeu Historik i qytetit të Bajram Currit. Appears closed.
- Xhamia e Qytetit. This mosque is in a state of disrepair and disuse. Nevertheless it is worth seeing from the outside, set against the Albanian Alps in the background.
- Kulla e Mic Sokolit. This is the historic house of Albanian hero Mic Sokoli who is said to have been killed by willfully putting his chest in front of enemy gun artillery.
- Shpella e Daragobisë. Situated near of Dragobia village, is known also like the Cave of Bajram Curri, a national hero, because he hide there during his war with his enemies. 1200 m on the sea level. It has carstic forme, 8 m long, 3-4 wide and 2-4 high. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Dragobi.
- Shpella e akullit. Situated near of Valbona village, at Margegaj, 2230 m on the sea level. It is formed from the glacial-carstic processes along the crossing of tectonic variations. The explored length is about 250 m. Is 50 m wide and 10-15 m high. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Valbonë.
- Lugina e Valbonës. It has a surface of about 8.000 hectares and is situated 25-30 km in northwest of the city of Bajram Curri.
- Kanionet e Shoshanit. Situated near of Shoshanit bridge, at Valbona valley, 400 m on the sea level. Formed from calcareous, the river’s erosion and the carst, is 1.1 km long, 30-40 m deep, and 2,5 m wide. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Shoshan.
- Shpella e Haxhisë. Situated on Maja e Thatë, near of Valbona village, at Margegaj, 1630 m on the sea level. It is formed from the carsti along the crossing of tectonic variations. It is discovered so far the entrance 2-3 m and the length about 120 m. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri- Valbonë.
- Lugina akullnajore Kukaj. Situated near of Rragami village, at Margegaj, 1200 m on the sea level. It is a hanging glacial-carstic valley during the tectonic process. 2.7 km long, 100-150 m wide. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Valbonë-Motinë.
- Lugina akullnajore e Motinës.
Statuja e Bajram Curri. The town's hero is honoured with a statue in the centre of town.
Muzeu Historik i qytetit të Bajram Currit. Appears closed.
Xhamia e Qytetit. This mosque is in a state of disrepair and disuse. Nevertheless it is worth seeing from the outside, set against the Albanian Alps in the background.
Kulla e Mic Sokolit. This is the historic house of Albanian hero Mic Sokoli who is said to have been killed by willfully putting his chest in front of enemy gun artillery.
Shpella e Daragobisë. Situated near of Dragobia village, is known also like the Cave of Bajram Curri, a national hero, because he hide there during his war with his enemies. 1200 m on the sea level. It has carstic forme, 8 m long, 3-4 wide and 2-4 high. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Dragobi.
Shpella e akullit. Situated near of Valbona village, at Margegaj, 2230 m on the sea level. It is formed from the glacial-carstic processes along the crossing of tectonic variations. The explored length is about 250 m. Is 50 m wide and 10-15 m high. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Valbonë.
Lugina e Valbonës. It has a surface of about 8.000 hectares and is situated 25-30 km in northwest of the city of Bajram Curri.
Kanionet e Shoshanit. Situated near of Shoshanit bridge, at Valbona valley, 400 m on the sea level. Formed from calcareous, the river’s erosion and the carst, is 1.1 km long, 30-40 m deep, and 2,5 m wide. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Shoshan.
Shpella e Haxhisë. Situated on Maja e Thatë, near of Valbona village, at Margegaj, 1630 m on the sea level. It is formed from the carsti along the crossing of tectonic variations. It is discovered so far the entrance 2-3 m and the length about 120 m. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri- Valbonë.
Lugina akullnajore Kukaj. Situated near of Rragami village, at Margegaj, 1200 m on the sea level. It is a hanging glacial-carstic valley during the tectonic process. 2.7 km long, 100-150 m wide. Can be visited by the street Bajram Curri-Valbonë-Motinë.
Lugina akullnajore e Motinës.
- Visit the Valbona valley. The village of Valbona is less than an hour away by taxi and can be enjoyed in a day. The nature of this park is full of varieties suitable for tourism, fishing, relaxation, amusing and mountain climbing as well as winter sports Mostly you can walk among the wonderful nature, make excursions and exercise different sports as hunting (during the season), climbing, trekking, riding horses etc. The camping is another pleasure but you have to be informed about the right places. Valbona is one of the most beautiful places in Albania and the segments of the Valbona river can be a real challenge for the impassioned of the extreme sports.
- Visit the Dragobia Cave near of Valbona Valley,at Dragobia village
- Visit the Canyon of Shoshan,near of Shoshani Bridge,at Valbona Valley
- Visit the Historical Museum,in centre of Bajram Curri town
- Visit the Ice Cave near of Valbona Valley
- Visit Mic Sokoli Tower,at Bujan near the Bajram Curri town
- Visit Statue of Bajram Curri,in centre of the town
- Visit the Valbona Sports Palace,in Bajram Curri town
You can buy souvenirs, handmade items, maps or tourist guide on shops near the Historical Museum of Bajram Curri.
- There are restaurants serving Albanian food,tradicional dishes of town and pizza along Rruga Syleiman Vokshi (the road starting from the statue). "Byrektore" (sweet cakes and desserts) and cafes are plentiful around the town. Hotels Ermali and Vllaznimi both have restaurants.
- Chestnuts. The region is known in the whole of Albania for holding the largest chestnut plantations in the country.
- There is Bar Restaurant Nezaj in front of Agim Ramadani street, a place that serves all of traditional dishes of Tropoja.
- Fli is a traditional dish usually served in the city. It consists of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with cream and served with sour cream. The name translates to "sacrifice".
There are many of clubs where tourists and residents can enjoy Albanian (traditional) drinks like raki,boza or vere musht (a special wine that people made). There you can find other drinks like Albania Kaon Beer,Korça Beer,Tirana Beer,Stela Beer,etc.
There are internet cafes around the town for 60 lek an hour or so. It is also possible to tap into one of the many unsecured Wifi networks near the town centre.
The Tropoja area has an undeserved reputation as a wild lawless region beyond the control of the government and ruled by the Albanian mafia. Unexploded ordnance from the Kosovo conflict is also an issue when wandering off the beaten path. Note that the UK, Australia and Canada have travel advisories in place advising against travel to the northeast region of Albania, including Tropoja district and Bajram Curri.
That said, the law and order situation has improved greatly and travellers are likely to meet nothing other than friendly and generous locals.
- Take the Lake Koman ferry out if you didn't come by that way. It is a breathtaking journey through massive gorges on Lake Koman.
- Gjakova. closest city in Kosovo with the largest Ottoman-era bazzar in the Balkans
- Prizren, Kosovo.
Gjakova. closest city in Kosovo with the largest Ottoman-era bazzar in the Balkans