The region of Mat stands apart from the main attractions of Albania and is almost untouched by mass tourism. Here you will find an authentic Albania. If you’re travelling by car between Tirana and the region of Dibër, it’s great to stop here. Worth a visit are the Ulza and Shkopet lakes or the picturesque villages with traditional fortified houses. An off-road vehicle will come in handy.
4 things not to be missed in Mat
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Most of the territory of Mat is made up of a hilly to mountainous landscape, which is crossed by the deep valleys of the Mat River and its tributaries. In the outskirts of the region, there are two national park (Lakes of Luria a Dajt) and one nature park (Qafë Shtamë). But unfortunately from Mat, they are only accessible with 4×4 cars. Most visitors therefore prefer to take other access routes.
Mat is the birthplace of the only modern Albanian king Zog I and the father of the Albanian national hero Gjon Skanderbeg. The locals are duly proud of this and the region is sometimes referred to as the “land of kings”.
Transport to Mat
The journey from Tirana to Mat has been halved with the completion of the Rruga e Arbërit road. It takes just over an hour to Burrel, an administrative centre of the region. However, Burrel itself is a few kilometres off the main drag between Tirana and the Dibër region, and bus services, which used to run roughly every hour, have been cut. The scenic stretch between Burrel and Milot around the lakes of Ulëz and Shkopet is now little used by traffic.
WARNING: The direct road from Burrel to Peshkopi (SH36) is largely unpaved, suitable for 4×4 vehicles only and takes much longer than the route via Klos and Maqellara.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay in Mat.
Flights
Find the cheapest flights to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Experiences
Book a day trip to Mat on Viator.com.
Burrel
Burrel is the administrative centre of Mat and an ideal starting point for exploring this little-visited region. There’s a history museum, the statue of Albania’s only king, Zog I, and the pleasant Queen Geraldine Park.
Ulza Lake
Ulza Lake is a large reservoir on the Mat River that is becoming increasingly popular, especially among Albanian tourists. It offers opportunities for peaceful relaxation and is also popular with fishermen. It is the most visited spot in the region Mat. The area around the reservoir was declared a nature park in 2013.
Shulbatër
For anyone interested in the Albanian countryside, the village of Shulbatër is the right place. You can stay here in the traditional fortified house, the so-called kulla. The settlement is perched above a river on a hill, and a steep mountain ridge behind it divides the Mat region from Krujë.
Guri i Bardhë
The high number of fortified houses in the village of Guri i Bardhë indicates that this place was of much greater importance in the past than it is today. At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, it is said to have been one of the largest settlements in the Albanian lands. Development of this beautiful village in the Mat region is hampered by a poor access road.
Val Cave
The Val Cave is an exceptional natural monument reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral located on the border of Mirditë and Mat regions. It remains widely unknown to most of the travellers and Albanians as well.
Lura Lakes
With its glacial lakes, gorges and steep peaks, the Lurë-Mali i Dejës National Park is a perfect example of the diversity of Albanian nature. Due to poor transport accessibility, the area is little visited, but a new road connecting the regions of Mirditë and Dibër is set to change this. Access to a portion of the park is also possible from the Mat region.
Mountain with Holes
The unusual relief of the Mountain with Holes (Mali me Gropa) reminds stormy seas or dunes. Actually, it is composed of hundreds of crater-like karst sinkholes spread across a large plateau. One of the most picturesque mountainous regions in the vicinity of Tirana, this area is gradually gaining popularity among tourists and is a fantastic place to go for a day trip from the capital.
Dajti National Park
Dajti National Park is situated in the vicinity of the mountain of the same name, which closes the horizon to the east of Tirana. You can take a cable car up here. The park also offers several trekking opportunities and is an ideal place for a day trip from Tirana. The most beautiful part of the landscape is the area around Lake Bovilla.
Qafë Shtamë Nature Park
Qafë Shtamë Nature Park is known mostly for its mineral waters in Albania. Named after the mountain pass that divides the regions of Krujë and Mat, it’s distinguished by a hilly terrain and dense forests.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay in Mat.
Flights
Find the cheapest flights to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Experiences
Book a day trip to Mat on Viator.com.
Map of Mat