Kaninë Castle sits on a hilltop about 4 km east of central Vlorë, at 380 metres above sea level, and commands one of the most dramatic panoramas on the Albanian coast: the bay of Vlorë below, the island of Sazan in the Adriatic, and on clear days the mountains of the Greek coast to the south. The ruins are extensive — the perimeter walls alone cover nearly 4,000 square metres — and wandering through them gives a strong sense of how formidable the fortress once was.
The drive or walk up from the village of Kaninë below takes about 30 minutes on foot. The site is open and unfenced, which means you can visit at any hour; early morning before the heat builds is the best time. Below the castle, the village has a small church and the ruins of several Ottoman-era houses worth a brief look.