Butrint, Albania

About Butrint

Butrint is one of the Mediterranean's most spectacular archaeological sites — an ancient city layered with 2,500 years of civilisation on a forested peninsula where a lake meets the Vivari Channel. Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman layers are stacked almost literally on top of each other: you walk from a well-preserved Greek theatre to Roman baths to a Byzantine baptistery in the space of 20 minutes. The site is set within a beautiful national park, with the forested ruins reflected in calm water. It's less visited than many comparable sites elsewhere — a rare chance to wander ancient ruins in near-solitude.

History & background

Butrint was first settled in the 8th century BC as a Greek trading post. It grew into a significant city under the Romans — Julius Caesar used it as a supply base, and his heir Octavian (later Augustus) established a colony here. It continued to flourish under the Byzantines, then passed through Venetian and Ottoman rule. Today its extraordinary archaeological completeness, combined with its natural setting within a lagoon national park, make it one of the Balkans' finest ancient sites.

Practical information

Nearby attractions