Old Qeparo, Albania: Why I Think This Half-Abandoned Village Is Worth Visiting

The charming small village of Old Qeparo Albania is one you will instantly fall in love with just like I did.

Along the Albanian Riviera, in between Borsh and Porto Palermo is one of the best places to see what a traditional Albania village was once like.

There are two parts to Qeparo, the lower and upper parts. 

If you get there are sunset, you can get some stunning Qeparo beach photos.

The other part of Qeparo is the old upper village and is positioned on top of a mountain 300m above sea level.

These views are some of the best you’ll experience in your Albania travel.

The upper village in Qeparo is the best old town Albania has to visit as it is completely unique.

About Old Qeparo

Old Qeparo is incredibly fascinating to me as it is half abandoned! The Qeparo old town is definitely one of my favourite abandoned places in Albania.

By far one of the coolest things to do in Qeparo is to wander around the old abandoned Albanian village.

Fun fact: if you’re keen on owning property in any Albania villages, Qeparo is a great option. It had some of the most affordable houses in abandoned villages for sale in Europe (2021).

It feels as if this old Albania village has been left behind yet the character that this place has is immense and there is huge potential for future tourism here.

But it’s one of those places you visit where you wish and hope that it stays exactly the same, so it doesn’t lose any of its charm.

The village was pretty much abandoned in the 90’s after the fall of communism in Albania. Many families moved to different locations and countries to survive.

These days there are some people living there in the old original stone houses which have been preserved and re-done. However, for the most part it is an empty Albanian village.

The architecture in this abandoned Albania old town is incredible. You will be blessed with windy cobbled paths, ruins of once stood stone buildings and a step back in time.

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Unlike many other old villages in Albania, Qeparo has preserved a lot of the buildings although many of these old abandoned places are slowly being left to nature.

So if you’re looking for the most unique abandoned places Albania has to offer, you can’t miss out on Old Qeparo.

In the centre of the Qeparo old village stands an old oak tree as well as the church of St Mary with its beautiful clock tower and bell, which was built in 1796.

About 1 kilometre north of Qeparo village are the ruins of Ali Pasha Castle. You can get here by walking the ancient walking trail from Qeparo.

How to Get to Qeparo

The road to upper Qeparo can be taken by a turn off after/before the lower part of Qeparo. You drive for around 5-10 minutes up a windy road to reach the village.

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Within the village itself, you cannot drive so you have to park your car near the centre and walk around.

The town is small and easy to get around on foot. But if find yourself a little turned around, you can ask locals for help.

Alternatively, most travel guides for the country have a rudimentary Qeparo Albania map

Where to Stay in Qeparo

There are no reputable properties to stay at online in upper Qeparo unfortunately but there is bound to be the future.

You can stay in the lower part of Qeparo as there are many beachfront properties. My personal recommendation for the best Qeparo hotel to stay in is Hotel Riviera.

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Nearby Points of Interest

Borsh: I highly recommend a trip to Borsh Castle located in Borsh. It’s a really beautiful ruined castle with a mosque which was built in the castle by the Ottomans.

Below is Borsh beach which is the longest strip of beach in Albania. It’s one of the best to get away from the crowds in the summertime!

You can visit and learn more about the region’s history and how old is Albania.

Port Palermo: Ali Pasha’s castle of Port Palermo is one to visit as it’s one of the best-preserved castles in Albania. It has a unique location as a thin piece of land connects it with the mainland.

Himara: this sleepy coastal town is perfect if you want to get away from everything. I highly recommend a walk through old Himara where the castle is situated, on top of the hill.

You will feel like you have stepped back in time! Make sure you relax at the local beaches and soak up the sun.

Saranda: Not too far of a drive away is the very south of the Albanian Riviera and the seaside city of Saranda.

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