Kavaja/Kavajë is a city located in the Western Lowlands region of Albania, with about 80,000 inhabitants.

Understand

Kavaje was established as a fortress town by the Illyrian tribe of Taulantii in the first centuries BCE, and later would establish itself as a transit route for Via Egnatia. Ruins of Via Egnatia are still visible in the eastern part of Kavajë. The Municipality of Kavaja lies in an area of rolling hills and fertile plains around the city of Kavaja to the Adriatic Sea, where there are partly sandy and partly rocky beaches. It borders Durrës to the north 17 km (11 mi), Tiranë to the east 27 km (17 mi) and Rrogozhinë to the south 15 km (9 mi). To the west lies the Adriatic Sea.

Kavaja is a historical craft center which received the statute of Kasaba (equivalent the title of a city in 1867). Its population increased during the communist era generally centered around the city's handicraft tradition, including the production of mud vessels, the production of carpets as well as new industries such as the glass factory or the Nail and Bolt Factory. The industrial activity of the city was significantly reduced after the fall of communism leading to considerable emigration.

The city is well-known for its traditional music, which belongs to the aheng style of music, a genre of folk spread in Central Albania and in Shkodër and Berat. Basic motifs of this genre encompass the whole universe of the Albanian citizen life of the past and the future, such as: love between the boy's daughter, the relationship between the husband's wife and past life habits.

Kavaja has contributed with several well-known artists and leaders to the history of Albania, such as Parashqevi Simaku an Albanian singer noted for her work in the 1980s, Spiro Moisiu, the Major general of the Albanian National Liberation Army during World War II, who was the father of the former President of Albania, Alfred Moisiu, and to the same branch of the family belonged the famous international actor Aleksandër Moisiu.

While in Kavaja, make sure to enjoy its restaurants, which are well-known for its good Albanian food with a mix of Mediterranean cuisine.

Get in

By plane

The closest airport to reach Kavajë is the Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza located in the capital, Tirana. There is no bus directly from the airport to Kavajë, but you can take a cab. The airport is nearly 47 km from the centre of Kavajë.

By bus

Your first option is to travel by bus. If you are coming through Tirana, you have multiple private and public buses running between the two places.You can catch the bus to Kavajë at Regional Bus Terminal - North and South Albania(8QVG+MQV, Kashar) from 07:00 in the morning until 17:00 in the evening [1].

By car

You can also rent a car to drive yourself (if your license is valid in Albania) or hire a taxi.

If you are driving for things to do in Kavajë, you can take route SH4. The town lies on this route and so do most of the sightseeing places in Kavajë. The same route will also take you to the coastal side where there are beaches and water sports to enjoy on Kavajë.

By boat

Kavajë does not have a port, but the nearby town of Durrës does. Durrës Port[2] is nearly 23 km from the center of Kavajë. You can visit Kavajë directly by water, but you can reach Durrës from Italy by a boat and then continue your journey by road.

Get around

Kavajë is not that big and the best way to get to see it is by walking. Taxis are quite inexpensive: you can get around the city for €2-3 at most.

By bike

The city is quite suitable for biking too.

See

Within the town, you can see the Sahati Clock Tower and the Kubelie Mosque (Xhamia Kubelie) among historical Kavajë attractions. A little further away from the town is located The Fortress of Bashtovë, a large fortified medieval quadrangular structure located in a fertile flat ground east of the mouth of the Shkumbin River. Once you have enjoyed the city of Kavajë, you can head to the beach in Golem, Plazhi i Gjeneralit, Spille. The beaches of Kavajë are some of the most popular destinations along the Albanian coastline.

• 1 Fortress of Bashtovë, 2FWW+MJ Kavajë. 24 hours. Fortress of Bashtovë. It's one of the most well-preserved fortresses in Albania.A quadrangular fortress with walls that are 9 metres high and comprise a roughly 60 by 90 metres interior , represents one of the finest architectural medieval structures in Albania. It's a great place not only to enjoy history , but for camping and enjoying nature too. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Sahati Clock Tower, Rruga Tironsëve, Kavajë. 24 hours. Sahati Clock Tower. The Clock Tower is a cultural heritage monument in Kavaja, located in the center of the city next to the Mosque of Kapllan Pasha (Kubielie Mosque). It's representative of a type of clock towers built in different cities in Central Albania. (updated Jul 2021)

Do

In Kavaja, you can enjoy promenades around the city and enjoy its monuments, old ottoman style houses, ottoman style buildings, and much more.

Buy

You can go for shopping on Kavaja Street or Princ Topia Street .

• Butik Meleqe Kazazi, Bulevardi Indrit Cara,5HM6+7W Kavajë (https://goo.gl/maps/3uYrMwBrYyCntKg46). This boutique offers you in every moment and season beautiful clothes with style and full of charm. (updated Jul 2021)
• 1 Ferramenta 3D, 5H4J+378, Kavajë, ☏ +355 68 408 4212. Sunday closed, M-Sa 06:45–17:00. At this shop you can shop for the power tools from a brand like Makita,reknown for its high quality power tools. (updated Aug 2021)

Eat

Cuisine in Kavaja is renowned for its blend of traditional Albanian gastronomy with the Mediterranean one. Kavaja has some of the best restaurants in the region. You can taste good food at restaurants like:

• 1 Fiore Restorant, Egnatia, Kavajë, ☏ +355 055 242 911. Daily 12:00-23:00. (updated Aug 2021)
• 2 Te Gazi, Rruga Tironsëve, Kavajë, ☏ +355 68 200 5565. Daily 10:00-23:00. (updated Aug 2021)

Drink

• 1 Bar Piazza, Shëtitorja Josif Budo 4245, Kavajë. Open 24 hours. (updated Aug 2021)

Sleep

• Kompleks Kalaja, Rruga Princat Topia, Kavajë, ☏ +355 68 209 8176. Check-in: Daily 06:00-00:15. (updated Aug 2021)

Connect

Wireless Internet is widely available in bars and restaurants throughout the city, although it's a good idea to ask if one is available before you sit down. Free public Wi-Fi is not available around the city.

Mobile telephone providers Vodafone, One, and Eagle provide 3G and 4G internet on the phones.