Where to stay in Berat: Top Hotels in Castle, Mangalem, Gorica

Best areas to stay in Berat as a tourist

Berat has three distinct areas with affordable and high-quality hotels: the Castle, the Mangalem Quarter, and the Gorica neighborhood.

In our opinion, the coolest place to stay in Berat is, without a doubt, inside the castle grounds.

Berat Castle – best for staying in historic castle grounds

The historic castle stands proudly on a hill above Berat, and yes, you can stay within the castle grounds, with some fantastic hotels housed in centuries-old historic buildings (refurbished, of course!).

We recommend the Berati Castle Hotel, and the cheaper alternative, Hotel Kalaja, both located on the first square inside the Berat Castle – comfy rooms, and views of the walls. Also, if you’re coming by car, you can park right in front.

For families and groups, a top choice is Villa Athina, a historic three-bedroom house right at the Castle Gate – you can book the whole place for an excellent price.

Mangalem Quarter – best for staying in a traditional area

Right under the castle hill is Mangalem, a historic quarter with cobblestone streets, also known as the Old Town, and the “thousand windows” part of Berat. It’s perfect for staying right in the heart of the city.

In the Mangalem Quarter, Villa Elmar is a comfortable hotel right in the old town streets, and for a budget stay, you can’t go wrong with Tomor Shehu Guesthouse.

But our favorite is Guesthouse Panorama on a high point in Mangalem Quarter, true to its name, with incredible views, especially from some of the rooms where you can see the Osum river, Ura e Varur bridge and the whole Gorica neighborhood.

Gorica neighborhood – best area for amazing views of Berat

Across the river of Mangalem, under the Gorica hill, is the Gorica neighborhood, one of the oldest parts of Berat, with great hotels inside its beautiful cobblestone streets. Plus, it’s still within walking distance of the Old Town.

An absolute gem of Gorica is the Vista Boutique Hotel, with, you guessed it, amazing views of Berat. Not every room has a view, but those that do, have a fantastic one. Plus, there’s a rooftop deck/patio everyone can go to.

Even though it’s on a higher street in Gorica, where cars can’t go, they can pick you and your luggage up with a buggy.

For a more budget stay in Berat’s Gorica, we recommend Maya, a really good value-for-money hotel near the Gorica riverside and promenade. They’ve got well-equipped private rooms, but it’s also a hostel with dormitory rooms.

Camping in Berat

We saw so many camping grounds in and around Berat for campervans and campers. So if you’re planning to camp in Albania, it’s worth noting that Berat seems to offer plenty of camping amenities.

We passed by Riverside Camping, which looked like a good spot within walking distance of the town. For a stay closer to nature, check the Caravan Camping Natyra e Qetë, which also seems like a good place for tent camping.

Since we were exploring Albania by car, it wasn’t relevant to our visit, but we thought it’d be a good idea to let others know.

Continue your Berat and Albania trip planning