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Vlore (Vlorë / Vlora) is proclaimed a hero city. It is an old city, where important events in the struggle for freedom and independence have taken place. In ancient times the city was known under the name of Aulon. At the beginning it was only a port. Aulon was famous for its olive groves and vineyards. Today, Vlore is Albania's second largest port, a fishing port, and a holiday resort.

Berat is a well preserved historic center in south-central Albania, displaying rare examples of architectural character typical of the Ottoman period. The town features a castle built in the 13th century, several mosques from the early 1400s, a bazaar and two churches from the same period. This ancient city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is an ideal city to tour for those interested in history.

Like Berat, Gjirokaster is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was also spared from communist-style building projects. The city's second name—the City of Stairs—refers to Gjirokaster's mountainous terrain and the stairs you have to climb to visit its impressive, fortress-style buildings.

The main attractions are the magnificent, snowcapped mountains that surround the city, which is 90 mi/145 km southeast of Tirana. Be sure to visit the 11th-century citadel, which has a stunning view of the countryside, as well as the interesting National Museum of Weapons that displays Albanian-made arms from ancient through modern times. The citadel was also a prison—you can read the records of the inmates.

Gjirokaster is the birthplace of dictator Enver Hoxha and author Ismail Kadare.

Tirana (pronounced: Tih-rana) is the capital and the largest city (1991 est. pop. 300,000) of Albania. It is the administrative, cultural, economic, and industrial center of the Republic of Albania.