Phoenice Archaeological Park
Phoenice Archaeological Park
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4.0
26 reviews
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11
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st25w
Paris, France515 contributions
May 2019 • Family
About 15 mins drive from Saranda, you drive up a steep road build exclusively to access the Archaeological Park of Finiq. Cost was 200 LEK. Walk up the steep hill for about 50 meters and you are on top the mountain with a beautiful panoramic view of the entire area. We were lucky enough to visit on a clear sunny with spring flowers starting to bloom. We were the only tourists on the mountain which made it extra special. The site is well preserved especially the amphitheater. As with most parts of Albania there are a few concrete bunkers. If you are visiting Butrint, this should also be on the itinerary. Enjoy.
Written 15 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John B
Toronto, Canada2,873 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Phoinike sits atop a large hill with a commanding 360 degree view of the area. Access is by narrow road up from the tiny village of Finiq. A word of caution - the road is little used, covered with debris and with blind corners that must be taken very carefully. There is parking at the top beside the manned information booth (there was no entry fee the day we visited).
You access the hilltop by a steep path. There is a relatively smooth gravel path that winds across the hilltop. Most of the main sights can be seen early on including the theatre (all that remains is the stage - but you can see where the seats were carved into the hill together with a great view to the valley) - take the left path at the fork to get to the theatre.. There are some information plaques that provide a bit of information. Otherwise, you really do need to use your imagination as to what the ancient town looked like. Most of the ruins still lay beneath the ground and those that have been excavated are in rough condition.
As a bonus, this is probably one of the best places to get a close up look at the Hoxha cement pillboxes that dot the country (,ore than 173,000 of them!). There are many on top of the hill as the former communist government had a military installation here (which also damaged some of the ruins).
You access the hilltop by a steep path. There is a relatively smooth gravel path that winds across the hilltop. Most of the main sights can be seen early on including the theatre (all that remains is the stage - but you can see where the seats were carved into the hill together with a great view to the valley) - take the left path at the fork to get to the theatre.. There are some information plaques that provide a bit of information. Otherwise, you really do need to use your imagination as to what the ancient town looked like. Most of the ruins still lay beneath the ground and those that have been excavated are in rough condition.
As a bonus, this is probably one of the best places to get a close up look at the Hoxha cement pillboxes that dot the country (,ore than 173,000 of them!). There are many on top of the hill as the former communist government had a military installation here (which also damaged some of the ruins).
Written 15 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Perpetual Motion
Florida504 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
We were driving back from Blue Eye and saw a historic marker so we decided to take a look. After about 2 mile we entered a small town and came across a small sign pointing the way to Finiq. After a very steep drive up a sketchy road we reached the entrance to the park. Normally there is a fee of 200 Lek but as we were the only people there we paid nothing. From the small parking area you still have a steep climb to the top of the mountain but if you are fit it is not an issue (I’m 70). Once on top you are rewarded with a spectacular 360 view. The ruins are just that but the limited signs give you some information about this ancient and important town. There is evidence of native, Greek, Roman and Byzantine occupation including a theatre. Of particular interest are the many bunkers left from the cold war era and the paranoid communist regime. All in all the effort to get there is worth it and I recommend for those who are able.
Written 3 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KAD
25 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
I am admittedly a fanatic for history, historical places, and archaeological ruins, so I really enjoyed Phoenice. First, in high summer, it is crispy up there. There is no cafe, water, or any other source of hydration, so go prepared. Second, as other reviewers have indicated, you will need a bit of imagination. There is signage and it is really great, but there probably needs to be a sight map or at least a brochure with your ticket (200 lek), to know which side path to take. Of great interest to me were the theatre and the enormous blocks of the city walls, which only some sections of which are visible or remain. There are lots of the former communist state's fortifications, which are also interesting for this history student. What I probably enjoyed the most was the absolute silence of the place; I was the only person there. The views are spectacular and give a real indication of this site's importance as a fortification. There was an abundance of wildflowers that were also quite beautiful, with loads of butterflies and various types of bees that I also found really beautiful and interesting.
The regular, ever-day tourist who is not a history fanatic should probably consider visiting another location. You need at least an hour because of the walking and climbing around the site. Do be careful as some of the dirt paths are a bit rugged. Wear shoes with traction and consider wearing pants because of the briers.
The regular, ever-day tourist who is not a history fanatic should probably consider visiting another location. You need at least an hour because of the walking and climbing around the site. Do be careful as some of the dirt paths are a bit rugged. Wear shoes with traction and consider wearing pants because of the briers.
Written 11 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikiu
Petrele, Albania163 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
Phoenice is easily reachable from the main road from Saranda to Gjirokastra. You have to follow the road signs and in 15 minutes (from the main road) you'll be on top of the hill that housed Phoenice. The road is asphalt up to a small parking place beneath the city walls. After that you have to walk for some 30 meters. First you get to see the city walls but after that there is only a large field on top of the hill with some small scale excavations going on. There are some bunkers and the scenery is great, you can see as far as Buthrotum. I wonder if they communicated with fire signals back then. Don't let the emptiness of that field take you down. Walk toward north and there are some ruins. I couldn't make out if from communism era or older. But you can distinguish some communism slogans on the walls of the ruins. Walking further, with no signs or whatever, you may find a slightly larger excavating area with some stones. While there, try to walk toward the west slope of the hill. There lays the amphitheater... Not much remains though. I wish they find out more in the future, although I doubt so.
Written 27 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
renee m b
5 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Isolated and beautiful site at the top of a mountain peppered with Hoxa era bunkers. Signage could be improved. Archeological excavations still in progress.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BaghdadSuzanne
Brussels, Belgium282 contributions
Sept 2019
As already mentioned, this consists of a small collection of ruins lost atop a hill with as usual in Albanian archeological sites stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Quite well marked out and explained and as far as I was concerned the bunkers add nothing to the place, even though they are probably important in the history of the country as yet another important period in time. I was alone with my driver/guide and the stillness was wonderful. Once there, both access and the visit were easily accessible and from the little I know of driving (i.e. nothing) the drive up there from Finiq was easy.
Written 7 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lioged
Kristiansand, Norway85 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
This is a important place in Phoenician history. Sadly the kommunist army build some bunkers on the same spot and destroyed a lt of the older and important buildings. The bunkers are still there as a reminder of Albanias histrory as the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. You must have a special interest otherwise you should not visit. We were the only 2 people on site and beside the good view, a roman teatre and a few remains of some older buildings, it is not worth it.
Written 23 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate O
London, UK29 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
There is only one signboard for the entire site at the entrance, which I am not sure really helps explain what one is about to see- for example I was left wondering whether the site had anything to do with the Phoenicians which given the name is a bit worrying! The ruins are spread out across several hill tops, and pretty ruined, meaning one has to use one's imagination - which is hard without more information. That said, it is a beautiful walk through flowers and butterflies- we came across a tortoises and several lizards- and the views of the surroundings are impressive. That said, if you are not a major history buff, perhaps give it a miss.
Written 10 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A L
JONESBORO16 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
I hiked up to Phoenike after getting a minibus to the city. A man in a bar offered to escort us up, and he took photos with us at the top. The views are nice, but the ruins are minimal and overgrown. Essentially, this is probably a good sight for visitors who have lots of time to explore the area or a special interest in the history of Epirote tribes.
Written 31 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I will be in Sarande next week and Finik site is on my list. Any idea how to get there pls. Also did u viet Bylis and if so how did u get there. Many thanks Suzanne
Written 23 August 2019
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