Vlorë is Albania's second port and a city with significant historical weight: it was here, on 28 November 1912, that Ismail Qemali declared Albanian independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Museum of National Independence commemorates the event and is worth a visit.
The city sits where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet, and the geography is reflected in the character of the coast nearby. North of Vlorë the beach is flat and sandy (the Adriatic side); south of the city the road climbs into the dramatic cliffs of the Riviera, and the Ionian character of the water — clearer and deeper blue — becomes immediately apparent.
Kaninë Castle, about 4 km from the city on a hilltop at 380 metres, offers sweeping views over Vlorë Bay and the surrounding coast — one of the best panoramas in southern Albania. The Muradie Mosque, built in the 16th century, is one of the finest Ottoman buildings in Albania. In the evenings, Flag's Square and the long palm-lined promenade fill with locals doing the xhiro — the classic Albanian evening stroll.
Twelve kilometres north, the Zvërnec Monastery sits on a wooded island in the Narta Lagoon — a hauntingly beautiful spot particularly good for waterbirds. Vlorë is the main jumping-off point for the Albanian Riviera. Llogara Pass, 40 km south, marks the beginning of the most dramatic coastal stretch. Ferry connections to Brindisi in Italy operate from the port.