The Charming Half-Abandoned Village of Old Qeparo, Albania

Last Updated on July 26, 2022

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The charming small village of Old Qeparo 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. The lower part of Qeparo has a beautiful beach and a few places to stay and relax in, if you want to be up and close to the sea.

Qeparo Beach is one of my favourite Albania beaches and is a must when you visit the area.

📚 P.S. Grab access to my Travelling Albania Guide to get a comprehensive insight into more places to visit in Albania (including secret spots that are not recommended in the usual guides!)

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

About Old Qeparo

Old Qeparo is incredibly fascinating to me as it is half abandoned! It’s definitely one of my favourite abandoned places in Albania.

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 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.

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.

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.

🛌🏼 Click to check out the best accommodation in Qeparo here

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!

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.

There are a lot of things to do here as you can see from my post of the best things to do in Saranda here.

🧳 MUST-HAVE: Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have travel insurance. I recommend either SafetyWing or World Nomads.

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s everything you need to know about Old Qeparo. Make sure you put this place at the top of your places to see in Albania list!

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Other articles you will love:

• Locals Guide to the Albanian Riviera
• Important Tips Before You Travel to Albania
• Travel Albania: Stunning & Beautiful Photos of Albania

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