Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village
Complejo Cultural Fábrica Imbabura
Guptill's Arena
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Stock up on picnic supplies with a side of history.
Horton Bay General Store
Take some of Michigan’s produce home with you.
American Spoon
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
Though they’re protected inside the park, wolves can be killed when they cross its borders.
Wolves Have a Bad Reputation. One Yellowstone Naturalist Is Trying to Fix It.

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Albania Butrint National Park

Butrint National Park

A scenic UNESCO site that doubles as a habitat for various forms of wildlife.

Butrint, Albania

Added By
Johan SWE
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Great Basilica.   Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Venetian Tower.   Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Babtistery   Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Venetian Triangular Castle.   Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Rope ferry to the Venetian Triangular Castle.   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
View from the Venetian Acropolis Castle.   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
The Asclepios Temple.   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Butrint National Park   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Butrint National Park   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Butrint, located on the southern coast of Albania, is an ancient city that boasts a rich history and a unique blend of influences from various civilizations throughout the Mediterranean area.

The site was first settled by the Greeks in the 7th century BCE and then became part of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Over the centuries, Butrint was also influenced by the Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans. This mix of civilizations and diverse types of architecture makes Butrint an exceptional archaeological site, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992.

What's truly special about Butrint is its well-preserved state, allowing visitors to witness the layers of history that have shaped the city. From temples, basilicas, and theaters to defensive walls and castles, there is a rich array of structures to explore. The ancient theater, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE, stands out particularly showcasing the fusion of Greek and Roman architectural styles.

Moreover, Butrint is not just a historical marvel, but also an ecological treasure. The hilly landscape within a protected area on the edge of Lake Butrint and the Vivari Channel makes it a significant habitat for various bird species and other wildlife. Visitors who want to combine archaeological exploration with nature walks can find great opportunities in this national park, which covers almost 9,500 hectares.

Related Tags

Roman Wildlife Ruins

Know Before You Go

From outside the ferry terminal in central Sarandë, where the boats from the nearby Greek holiday island of Corfu arrive, there is a public bus to Butrint departing once an hour. The ride takes about 30 minutes.

Community Contributors

Added By

Johan SWE

Published

August 11, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butrint
  • https://www.visitsaranda.net/see/butrint-national-park
Butrint National Park
Butrint
Albania
39.744015, 20.019469
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Perithia at Corfu

Corfu, Greece

miles away

Corfu Museum of Asian Art

Corfu, Greece

miles away

Church of St. Spyridon

Corfu, Greece

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Albania

Albania

Europe

Places 26
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Perithia at Corfu

Corfu, Greece

miles away

Corfu Museum of Asian Art

Corfu, Greece

miles away

Church of St. Spyridon

Corfu, Greece

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Albania

Albania

Europe

Places 26
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Olbia, Italy

    Roman Aqueduct of Olbia

    An ancient aqueduct tells the story of Sardinia's ancient Roman past.

  • A soloist performing at the amphitheater of Bosra

    Busra, Syria

    Black Amphitheater of Bosra

    One of the world's best-preserved Roman amphitheaters is also one of the most unusual; it's made of black volcanic rock.

  • The archaeological site in Sisak, Croatia.

    Sisak, Croatia

    Siscia in Situ

    One of the major cities of Late Roman provinces, now in ruins of small scale.

  • A closer look at the excavation, from the left side of Kandlerova ul

    Pula, Croatia

    Quarter of Saint Theodore

    An excavation site that signified Hercules in Pula, and a glimpse into the city's Roman history.

  • This section of columns still stand to their original height.

    Durrës, Albania

    Durrës Byzantine Forum

    One of the best examples of a Byzantine period monument in Albania.

  • Aosta, Italy

    Aosta Roman Theatre

    An ancient theatre in the "little Rome of the Alps."

  • The tomb of Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces, the baker.

    Rome, Italy

    Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker

    A freedman baker’s lavish tomb has a relief showing various stages of Roman bread making.

  • Foundation of the Aqueduct

    Barcelona, Spain

    Foundations of the Roman Aqueduct of Barcino

    These 2000 year old remains of a Roman aqueduct are hidden inside a hotel lobby.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.