From your hosts: This is one of our personal recommendations for guests staying at Panoramic View House. We know this place well and we are happy to give you more details or help you get there.
Tepelenë may be a small town, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to things to do. Sitting at the confluence of the Vjosa and Drino rivers in southern Albania, this historic town offers a mix of nature, history, and authentic Albanian culture that most tourists never discover.
Walk 15 minutes from the town center to Ali Pasha’s Bridge and swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Europe’s last wild river. The Vjosa was declared Europe’s first Wild River National Park in 2023.
This 14th-century fortress overlooks the town and the river confluence. It was from these grounds that the Vjosa National Park was officially declared. The views alone are worth the short walk from the center.
A 45-minute drive from Tepelenë, the natural hot springs at Benja sit beneath a beautiful Ottoman stone bridge on the Lengarica River near Përmet.
The UNESCO World Heritage “City of Stone” is just 20 minutes by bus. Explore the castle, wander the old bazaar, and marvel at the Ottoman architecture.
A peaceful 20-minute walk from Panoramic View House, Shelgu Park offers mountain trails with breathtaking views over the Vjosa valley.
This stunning 114-meter suspension bridge from 1936 spans the Vjosa River at the bend of Dragot village — one of the most beautiful bridges in Albania.
One of Albania’s hidden gems, this dramatic gorge within the Tepelenë municipality offers hiking, swimming holes, and canyon scenery far from the tourist crowds.
Many guesthouses in Tepelenë offer homemade dinners with local ingredients. At Panoramic View House, Lindita cooks traditional dishes and is happy to teach guests her recipes.
No visit to Tepelenë is complete without homemade raki (or wine) enjoyed from a hilltop balcony as the sun sets behind the mountains.
From Tepelenë, you can easily reach Gjirokastra (20 min), Benja Thermal Baths (45 min), Blue Eye Spring (1 hr), Saranda (1.5 hrs), and Butrint (2 hrs). It’s the perfect quiet base for exploring the south.
Ask us about this place when you arrive — we can give you directions, recommend the best time to visit, and even arrange transport or a guided walk with Avni. Just let us know at breakfast or send a WhatsApp message anytime.
Stay at Panoramic View House — our family guesthouse overlooking the Vjosa River in Tepelenë. From €20/night with homemade breakfast.