Things to Do in Permet

Benja Thermal Baths

About fifteen minutes south of town, these open-air pools sit beside an Ottoman-era stone bridge. Sulfurous hot water bubbles up into natural rock basins right next to the icy Lengarica River. You can soak in the steaming pools. Then plunge into the cold current. This is the Albanian version of hydrotherapy. You'll do it all under the arch of the crumbling bridge. The smell of minerals hangs in the air.

The City Stone (Guri i Qytetit)

This massive limestone monolith rises directly out of the old town. It dominates Permet's skyline. No photograph quite captures it. A stone staircase spirals up its flank to a small viewpoint at the top. You can see the Vjosa curling through the valley below. The Nemercke range spreads to the south.

Langarica Canyon hiking

The Lengarica River has carved a narrow limestone gorge just outside town. The walls close in tight overhead. The water runs a deep emerald green. Local guides lead half-day walks through the canyon. You'll wade through knee-deep pools. You'll scramble over smooth boulders. You'll pause at hidden waterfalls. The spray is cold enough to make you gasp.

Vjosa River rafting

The Vjosa is one of Europe's last wild rivers. It runs undammed from its Greek source to the Adriatic. The stretch near Permet offers Class II and III rapids in a spectacular canyon setting. You'll paddle past sheer cliffs. You'll spot herons standing motionless in the shallows. You'll feel the shock of the icy meltwater on every splash.

Traditional cooking and raki tasting

Several families around Permet open their homes for hands-on sessions. You'll learn to make qifqi, the fried rice-and-mint balls the town is famous for. You'll taste the region's celebrated raki. The smell of frying oil mingles with fresh herbs from the garden. The meal that follows tends to stretch on for hours. Expect multiple courses. Expect generous pours.

Old Town (Qyteti i Vjeter). The cluster of streets around Republic Square and beneath the City Stone puts you within a few minutes' walk of every restaurant, cafe, and evening promenade in Permet. Stone-fronted family guesthouses dominate here. You will wake to the sound of church bells and street sweepers.

Riverside (Buze Vjoses). The strip of guesthouses along the Vjosa's northern bank trades the buzz of the center for the sound of running water and open views across to the mountains. It is a five-minute walk to the main square. Popular with hikers and rafters who appreciate rinsing off gear on outdoor terraces.

Northern Slopes. Head uphill on the roads climbing toward Kelcyre and you will find newer guesthouses with panoramic terraces looking down over the town and river. The walk into the center takes fifteen minutes. The sunset views and cooler evening air are the trade-off.

Southern Approach. The neighborhoods along the road toward Benja are where you will find agrotourism farms and family-run stone houses set among fruit orchards and vineyards. Less convenient for evening dining. Ideal if the thermal baths are your main focus.

Kelcyre Gorge Villages. About twenty minutes north, the villages perched above the Kelcyre gorge, including Ballaban, offer stone-built rural accommodation with dramatic canyon views. Stay here if you want silence, homemade food, and a car for exploration.

Bënjë Village. The tiny village right beside the thermal baths has a handful of simple guesthouses run by families who have been there for generations. This is the deep-rural option. Quiet as anything after dark. Steeped in the sulfur smell of the springs.