Vlore is the second largest port in Albania and one of the oldest cities in the country. The port is located at the meeting point of the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. The city was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC. In the Roman Empire it became an important port. It was once known as Aulon. Nowadays the city is an important tourist place for its recreation. It has a population of around 95 thousand people.
Vlore has a history of being captured by other countries. It was also part of Serbia, Turkey, Italy and Nazi Germany. The port was a submarine base for Italy and Nazi Germany and for the Soviet Union after World War II. These days Vlore is a fishing port and holiday resort. Tourism is a major industry and the city has many hotels and beaches. The surrounding district produces petroleum, salt, oats, maize, cotton, olive oil, butter and there is lot of cattle and sheep.
You will find only concrete buildings in the center of Vlore, but lots of palm trees near the beaches. Tourists can easily relax, have a coffee and admire the beautiful view. Main sight is the building where Albanian independence was proclaimed in 1912. This is also celebrated with a bronze monument and the town center is called The Square Flag in honor of the day of independence. There is a museum of architecture in the Mosque of Muradie. To get a view over Vlora and the Ionian Sea, visit the nearby village Kanina and the old castle of Kaniné.
Travelers to Vlore need a valid passport. A visa is not required for short visits. You do need a return ticket in order to enter the city. Vlore has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers in the months June, July, August and September.
