Private Apollonia, Ardenica Monastery & Albanica Winery Wine Tasting Day Tour

Visiting

Apollonia Archaeological Park & Museum – Ardenica Monastery – Wine Tasting at Albanica Cantina

Summary

Step into a day where history, culture, and flavors blend into an unforgettable Albanian experience.
Travel back over 2,600 years to the ancient city of Apollonia, once a thriving center of philosophy, trade, and learning. Continue to the serene hilltop Ardenica Monastery, surrounded by sweeping views of the Myzeqe plains and the distant Mediterranean Sea.

End the day with a relaxing wine-tasting experience at a family-run winery, enjoying traditional meze (appetizers) paired with organic local wines produced from native Albanian grape varieties.

Must know before you go! This tour is designed for comfort and peace of mind, with a dedicated driver so you can fully enjoy the wine tasting without driving concerns. (Alcohol tolerance while driving in Albania is 0%).

Itinerary

Morning – Transfer from Tirana to Apollonia Archaeological Park

Approximate driving time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Stop: Apollonia Archaeological Park & Museum – Pojan, Albania

Discover one of Albania’s most important ancient cities, founded in the 6th century BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corfu and dedicated to the god Apollo. Apollonia later flourished under Roman rule and became renowned for its philosophy school, where Emperor Augustus once studied.

Walk among impressive ruins that reveal layers of Greek and Roman influence, including temples, agora, odeon, and city walls. Learn how the Romans even constructed a special branch of the Via Egnatia to connect directly with Apollonia, highlighting its significance in antiquity.

Duration: about 2.5 hours

Midday – Transfer to Ardenica Monastery

Approximate driving time: 35 minutes

Stop: Ardenica Monastery – Ardenicë, Albania

Perched on a peaceful hilltop, Ardenica Monastery is one of Albania’s most beautiful and historically important monasteries. Built in 1282 by Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos, it is best known as the place where Albania’s national hero Skanderbeg married Andronika Arianiti in 1451.

Inside, admire stunning frescoes and icons created by the famous Zografi brothers, as well as the Church of Saint Mary, a jewel of Byzantine art and spirituality.

Duration: 20–30 minutes

Afternoon – Wine Tasting & Traditional Lunch at Albanica Cantina

Relax in a countryside setting surrounded by vineyards, with views stretching toward the Mediterranean Sea.

Albanica Cantina is a family-owned winery producing organic wines from locally grown grapes, alongside olive oil, fruits, and vegetables. The Prifti family continues a long regional tradition of winemaking, combining native Albanian grape varieties such as Puls, Shesh i Zi, and Kashmer with modern techniques in collaboration with a German winemaker.

Enjoy wine tasting accompanied by traditional Albanian meze, learning about the grapes, production process, and unique character of each wine.

Duration: about 1.5 – 2 hours

Late Afternoon – Return to Tirana or Durrës

Approximate driving time: 1.5 hours