7 Things to Do in Kukes – Explore the Hidden Gems of Northern Albania

Being from Kukës myself I get asked all the time, what should I do in Kukës? And even though Kukës is a small city there is still a lot that can be done and seen there. 

For those of you that have never heard of it, here are a few facts about Kukës. 

• Kukës is a city in northern Albania, near the border with Kosovo. 
• It is located between two rivers, the White Drin and the Black Drin, which form the artificial Fierza Lake. 
• A very cool fact about Kukës is that Kukës is the only city in the world nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. 
• Also, Kukës is known as the three cities city: the old city under the lake, the actual city and the city undergrounds. 

But let’s get into what to do while there.

Visit the Ethnographic Museum and Memorial Tower

I say it’s a must to Visit the Ethnographic Museum. There you will be able to get more information about the flora, fauna and traditional clothes and traditions in different parts of the museum. There you will meet Liridon, a passionate guy that will explain in details all you need to know about Kukes’s Ethnography. Located next to the museum is the Memorial Tower, a significant landmark that tells the story of the Kosovo War. Here, you’ll learn about the exodus of 1999, when Kukës generously hosted over 500,000 Kosovar refugees, offering them shelter during the conflict. The Museum and the Tower are accessible from Monday to Friday from 08:00-16:00. 

Go to Lugina e Drinit

As one of the best places to eat I would recommend Lugina e Drinit. (I am not being paid by them btw to say this). The view from there is simply amazing especially if it is sunny. You can try different types of cuisines there, from International to Traditional. One thing I recommend to not skip is the Blueberry Cheesecake. The secret it’s that the Blueberries are picked fresh in the mountains around so it tastes like heaven. 

Visit Radio Kukësi Museum

For this one I am hugely biassed because I worked at Radio Kukesi for 18 months as a Radio Host. Lately they also opened a small museum where you can learn about the history of the Radio. Radio Kukësi is a symbol in the North of Albania and also for Kosovo. During Kosovo’s war it played a significant role in sharing information for the two sides of the border. Also people from Kosovo used Radio Kukësi to let their families know in Kosovo that they passed the border safely. Also families that passed the border used Radio Kukesi to share the news and connect with the other part of the family who also passed the border. To learn more information go and Visit the Radio and also the Museum. The staff will warmly welcome you. 

Check out the Ruins of “Turizmi i Ri”

During the communism in Kukës there was this huge Hotel, Restaurant and Bar Named “Turizmi i Ri”. The architect of this masterpiece was the daughter of the Dictator herself. It was an amazing place to visit. But nowadays due to several “owners” the building is left to do nothing and it’s mainly ruins that you can see there. When you visit, try to find someone that will explain how the place was organised. You can find someone who speaks English to explain it to you but your chances are higher if you speak Albanian.

Visit the Lake

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, there is the old city under the lake. But how is that possible? Well the lake is an artificial lake created during Communism to supply Albania with Electricity. Even though the lake is artificial the beauty is all natural and its recommended to visit it while in Kukës. As an extra activity you can also go to “Këneta” and see the reservoirs. Natural beauty!!!

Explore the Underground City

This activity needs you to have some connections in Kukes. Not everyone can go inside the underground city and it’s not maintained like a tourist hotspot. But if you know someone there you can arrange a visit and see how the whole city can be saved in case of an atomic attack. Down there there are the radio offices, a hospital, a bakery and a place for the whole city. Of course it’s not functional at the moment but it can be put into use with only a little investment. I personally have never visited it but I will soon. 

Have Coffee at Sky View

Is there a more Albanian thing to do rather than to go and have coffee with your friends? I don’t think so! Therefore while you are in Kukes you should not miss the Coffee shop “Sky View”. Its location in the corner of the city and its height makes it possible to enjoy a cup of coffee while you see the whole city with mountain Gjallica being the background. Try to get a spot with the view on the window and for that you can ask in Albanian: “A mund të kem një vend me pamje nga dritarja?” meaning; Can I have a spot with the view by the window? To learn this and more phrases like this you might want to check our course, Beginner Albanian Level 2. 

Conclusion

As you can see there are many fun activities that you can do in Kukes and of course there are many more that you will be able to read in the following blogs. If you are visiting Albania or even living there I would totally recommend one or two days in Kukes. Let me know in the comments below what are you planning to do when you fo there,. If you already went there what was your favourite part?