Përmet

A small town on the Vjosa river, known for gliko, raki, warm springs and some of southern Albania's wildest scenery.

Përmet (often written Permet) is a small town in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania, on the banks of the Vjosa river at about 300 metres above sea level. It lies between the Trebeshinë and Dhëmbel mountains, with the Nemërçkë range rising along the Greek border to the east. People come for the Vjosa, which became Europe's first Wild River National Park in 2023, for the warm springs at Benja, for walking in the Hotova–Dangëlli fir forest, and for gliko, the preserved-fruit sweet that Përmet is known for across Albania.

The town itself is small. Most of what brings visitors here, from the river to the thermal baths and the mountain trails, is a short drive away, and one to three days is a common length of stay.

Përmet at a glance

Country and region	Albania, Gjirokastër County
Setting	On the Vjosa river, at about 300 m above sea level
Population	About 8,000 in the whole municipality (7,980 in the 2023 census); about 4,800 in the Përmet administrative unit
Municipality area	About 600 km² (602 km²)
Mountains	Trebeshinë, Dhëmbel and Nemërçkë (the highest peak of the Nemërçkë range, Papingu, is about 2,480 m)
Known for	Gliko (a Slow Food Presidium product), raki, local wine, warm springs, the Vjosa river, hiking
Nickname	Sometimes called the "City of Roses"
From Gjirokastër	About 60 km, roughly 1 hour by road
From Sarandë	About 110 km, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by car
From Tirana	About 249 km by road, about 3.5 hours by car
Benja thermal baths	About 13 to 14 km, roughly 20 to 25 minutes by car
Best months	May to June and September to October; rafting runs from April to October
Currency	Albanian lek (ALL)

Why people come to Përmet

The Vjosa river. A free-flowing river that was declared Europe's first Wild River National Park in March 2023. Rafting runs from April to October, and kayaking trips are offered too. See Vjosa Wild River National Park and the rafting guide.
Benja thermal baths. Natural warm sulfur pools beside an 18th-century Ottoman stone bridge, free to enter. See Langarica Canyon and the Benja guide.
Hiking. From the Sopot waterfall and the church at Leusë to the high ridge of Nemërçkë. See the hiking guide.
The fir forest. Hotova–Dangëlli National Park protects a large forest of Macedonian fir.
History and culture. Frashër, in the Përmet municipality, is the home village of the Frashëri brothers, three leading figures of the Albanian National Awakening.
Food and drink. Gliko, raki and local wine. See the food and drink guide.

What to see in town

The Stone of the City (Guri i Qytetit). A large rock above the town. Local guides describe the climb as about five minutes, with views over the town and the Vjosa valley from the top.
The Church of Saint Friday (Shën Premtes). An Orthodox church that the Albanian tourism agency lists as a monument of historical value, with a panoramic view over the town and the valley.
Places of worship side by side. According to local guides, an Orthodox church, a mosque and a Bektashi tekke stand close together in the town.
Leusë. A village on the slope of Dhëmbel mountain, about 1 to 2 km from the centre, with a post-Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Mary. Local guides mention preserved frescoes and a carved wooden iconostasis. You can walk there, and it is part of a short hiking loop.

A short history

Like most of Albania, the Përmet area was part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries, until the early 20th century. In the 19th century the district gave Albania some of the leaders of its National Awakening: the Frashëri brothers were born in the village of Frashër.

In May 1944, during the Second World War, Përmet hosted the Congress of Përmet. On 24 May, 188 delegates from the Communist Party, the National Liberation Movement and partisan brigades met in the town and elected the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Council and a provisional government. It is a landmark of 20th-century Albanian history.

The name Përmet is explained in one account as coming from an Albanian dialect expression meaning "to quench thirst", because travellers along the Vjosa valley drank from the streams here.

Food and drink

Përmet is best known for gliko, whole fruit, nuts or even small vegetables cooked slowly in sugar syrup. In Albanian homes it is served to guests on a spoon, followed by cold water and coffee. Përmet gliko is a Slow Food Presidium, a status given to traditional food products at risk of disappearing. The town is also known for raki, the Albanian fruit spirit, and for local wine; Debina, a white grape grown in Albania mainly around Përmet, is the best-known local variety. Read more in the food and drink guide.

When to go

Përmet has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Average daytime highs reach about 29 °C in July and August and about 8 °C in January, and around 1,100 to 1,200 mm of rain and snow fall in a year, most of it between autumn and spring. May and June, and September and October, suit most plans. Rafting runs from April to October, and snow lies on the high Nemërçkë ridge from about November to April. The best time to visit guide goes month by month.

Getting to Përmet

There is no railway to Përmet, and the nearest international airport is Tirana, about 249 km away. By car, Tirana takes about 3.5 hours and Gjirokastër about an hour. Buses and minibuses connect the town with Tirana, Gjirokastër and other cities, but timetables change, so check locally. See getting to Përmet for routes and tips.

Plan your visit

There is nothing to book here directly yet. Search live availability across the whole area, or browse tours and activities and places to stay.

Përmet: questions and answers

What is Përmet known for?

Përmet is known for gliko (preserved fruit in syrup, a Slow Food Presidium product), raki and local wine, for the Vjosa river, which became Europe's first Wild River National Park in 2023, and for the warm springs at Benja. It is also the home area of the Frashëri brothers, leaders of the Albanian National Awakening, and it hosted the Congress of Përmet in 1944. It is sometimes called the "City of Roses".

Where is Përmet?

Përmet is in Gjirokastër County in southern Albania, on the Vjosa river at about 300 metres above sea level. It is about 60 km from Gjirokastër and about 249 km from Tirana by road. The Greek border runs along the Nemërçkë mountains to the east.

How far is Përmet from Tirana?

By road it is about 249 km, which takes about 3.5 hours by car in normal conditions. Buses take longer. See getting to Përmet.

How many days do you need in Përmet?

One to two days cover the main highlights: the Benja thermal baths, the town and a rafting trip. Plan two to three days if you want to hike or visit Frashër and the Hotova–Dangëlli forest. See the itineraries.

When is the best time to visit Përmet?

May and June, and September and October, are the most comfortable months for most plans. Rafting runs from April to October, with the fastest water in spring. Summers are hot and dry. See the best time to visit guide.

Is there a train or an airport in Përmet?

No. There is no railway to Përmet and no airport. The nearest international airport is Tirana, about 249 km away by road.

What does the name Përmet mean?

One account links the name to an Albanian dialect expression meaning "to quench thirst", because travellers along the Vjosa valley used the streams here as a source of drinking water. Place-name origins are often debated, so treat this as one explanation.

Sources

Facts checked in October 2026 against the sources above. Distances and times are approximate.