Plan · logistics
The thermal baths
Two options at opposite ends of the country and opposite ends of the thermometer, which is what decides between them and it decides by season.
- Bënjë for the summer halfStone-walled pools on the bank of the Lengarica beside an Ottoman bridge, twenty minutes from Përmet. Bathing is free: there is no ticket office and no ticket sold, and a parking charge at the road end is separate.
- Peshkopi for the cold halfThe main spring group at Llixhat e Peshkopisë runs 35 to 43.5 °C, with a second group about 600 m away at 29.2 to 35.5 °C. That is hot rather than warm, and it is a February pleasure and an August hazard.
- Know which part is paidAt Peshkopi the main balnear complex is state-owned and charges, and no amount is published. A natural outdoor basin in the spring area is separately free and open to the public.
- Treat the health claims as the operator'sThe Peshkopi facility documents its water as suitable for respiratory conditions, rheumatism, diabetes, skin disorders and gynaecological issues. That is its own therapeutic indication rather than evidence, and the same source warns about heat stress and advises limiting soak time.
The figures
| What | Value | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Peshkopi water temperature | The main spring group runs 35 to 43.5 °C; a second group about 600 m away runs 29.2 to 35.5 °C | 2026-08-25 · Hot Springs Guides, Llixhat e Peshkopisë |
| Bënjë bathing | Free. There is no ticket office and no ticket is sold; parking at the road end is charged separately | 2026-08-25 · Albania Guidebook, Bënjë thermal baths |
Asked about this
Which one is better?
Neither, and the question is the wrong one. Bënjë is lukewarm and free and right in summer; Peshkopi runs to 43.5 °C and is right in winter. They are four hours apart, so in practice you take whichever is on your road.
Is Bënjë crowded?
In August, yes. It is free, it is twenty minutes from Përmet, and it is on the inland road between Berat and Gjirokastër. Early in the day is the answer.
What does Peshkopi cost?
The state complex charges and the amount is not published anywhere this site could verify, so no figure is printed. The natural outdoor basin alongside it is free.