Neighbourhoods

Vollga

Central promenade neighbourhood with green parks, recreational spots, and family amenities like the Albanian College. Known for its walkable seaside vibe and community events. A great many of the city's largest tourist-oriented bars and hotels line the seafront here, and it's home to quite a few expats. The main thoroughfare, Rruga Taulantia, is probably the liveliest and busiest road in Durrës.

Currila

Really just an extension of the Vollga shoreline to the North, Currila is shaping up as a more up-market residential area with many deluxe apartment complexes currently under construction. Follow the Rruga Currila northwards past White Hill towards Kallmi for the beach bars and restaurants.

For both the above areas, a bus service starting near the main bus station runs along Rruga Taulantia and Rruga Currila and ends at White Hill.

Plazh

This cheerfully chaotic area runs from the large road junction at the port entrance and down to Plepa, where the Plazh bus terminates. Plazh stretches along both sides of the Rruga Pavaresia, which hosts the usual array of beach paraphernalia shops, restaurants, hair salons, supermarkets and mom-and-pop stores with a few tool hire and hardware shops thrown in.

This area has a large and thriving expat population with frequent meetups in restaurants and bars along the shoreline. Rentals and for-sale properties tend to be somewhat cheaper in Plazh, but as with all of Durrës, prices are rising. The area can seem desolate to some during the winter months, although many are relieved at the absence of tourists.

The main bus through Plazh starts outside the Tirana Bank on the Rruga e Dëshmorëve in the town centre, but also stops eight at the end of the main bus station if you're coming in from out of town.

Plepa

Really just the bottom end of the Plazh beach area, before the road runs off south past Shkembi i Kavajë and down to Golem.

There is a separate bus service that terminates around the corner from the bar and supermarket complex at the end of Rruga Pavaresia.

Golem

A newer and more blatant beach resort with many big hotels and apartment complexes. Arriving into Golem can be somewhat bewildering with whole neighbourhoods of semi-constructed or seemingly abandoned buildings between the road and the beach. Has traditionally been slightly cheaper to rent or buy there, but it's also catching up in price.

On the other side of the main highway from the beach is the sleepy town of Golem itself, which is also the start of the Via Egnatia.

Spitallë

Back in town, this area lies about halfway to Porto Romano and has traditionally not been an area favoured by expats due to its distance from most expat-facing facilities.