Decision
Butrint or Apollonia?
Albania's two big classical sites. One is a UNESCO peninsula that every southern itinerary reaches; the other is a hillside on the plain that almost nobody does.
Side by side
| Butrint | Apollonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | 1,000 lek standard adult; 500 lek ages 12 to 18, free under 12. | 600 lek adult, 180 lek ages 12 to 18 and students, free under 12. |
| Where it is | A wooded peninsula south of Sarandë, between a lagoon and the Corfu channel. | On a hill above the Vjosa plain, out beyond Fier. |
| What survives | Greek theatre, Roman town, Venetian tower: four periods stacked on one site. | Excavated streets, the re-erected bouleuterion facade, and a thirteenth-century monastery in the middle of it. |
| How busy | The busiest classical site in the country in July and August. | Almost nobody, in any month. |
| Time it needs | Half a day, and it rewards the whole of it. | Two hours or so, and it is rarely shared. |
Our answer
Butrint, if you see one, and go at opening. It is the better site by a distance and the four stacked periods are what make it worth the ticket. Apollonia is the better morning: it costs 600 lek instead of 1,000, it is empty, and it is on the inland road where Butrint requires the far south.
IfYou are based in SarandëButrint, half an hour south, first thing.
IfYou are driving Tirana to BeratApollonia. It is a short detour off that road and Butrint is nowhere near it.
IfYou are travelling in AugustApollonia, or Butrint at opening and not a minute later.
IfYou have children with youButrint. Under twelves are free and the theatre and the tower carry a visit.
Sources: Albanian cultural sites ticketing platform, Butrint (read 2026-08-25); Albania Guidebook, Apollonia (read 2026-08-25); visitalbania.guide seed dataset (read 2026-08-23).