Koplik

Koplik is a town on the edge of Lake Shkodra in the Shkodër County in northern Albania. It is part of the Malësi e Madhe regions near the border with Montenegro. The town sits in a mountainous area, surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

Koplik is a starting point for hikers wishing to explore the literary famous Malsia e Madhe (the "Great Highlands") which receive much literary attention in the travels of the early female anthropologist Edith Durham in her book High Albania, and from others including Lord Byron, Margaret Hasluck and many native figures.

Understand

Koplik mosque

In 2011, Koplik was home to 3,700 people.

Agriculture and livestock are the basis of the city's economy. Agricultural products are: cereals, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, tobacco, sage, watermelon, fruit trees. Animal husbandry is also developed primarily cattle, and pigs in the mountainous regions. There is also some fishing.

During the Ottoman occupation, many of the inhabitants of the town converted to Islam, although the rural population in Malësia e Madhe continued to be mainly Catholic.

Get around

Minibuses on the main highway arrive every 3 to 5 minutes on average. Each minibus is usually privately owned and operated so there are no fixed fares; passengers are expected to pay the market price depending on the length of journey with the price from Koplik to the village of Dober (about a 2- to 3-mile journey) being around 20 lek.

See

• 1 Te Foleta, Flaka. This is a famous old tree. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Monument for Batlle of Koplik. There is a monument for Battle of Koplik which took place in 1920 when the Albanian forces defeated the Yugoslav forces. (updated May 2024)

Do

• Malsia e Madhe is an area that offers hiking opportunities.
• 1 KS Veleçiku Koplik. The city's football club plays in their home ground at the Kompleksi Vellezërit Duli. They compete in the Kategoria e Dytë (Albanian Second Division). (updated May 2023)

Buy

Koplik is the trading centere of Malsia e Madhe. It is generally the place where from the rural villages go for anything from buying household items, clothing and other everyday things to attaining services such as health care, and haircuts. As a result, Koplik is filled with shops, restaurants, hardware stores, Internet cafes, and a casino. It has branches from the major banks operating in Albania. It also has a variety of business from a few hunting shops for the purchase of licensed fire arms and ammunition to mobile phone shops, bureau de change to a variety of high-street stores to be found in most major settlements.

Eat

• 1 Mireli, Dobër. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Veleciku, Rruga nacionale Shkoder. (updated May 2023)
• 3 Baresha, Qafë-Gradë. (updated May 2023)

Drink

• 1 Te Fazlia, Rruga Liqeni. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Te Faiku, Rruga Sterbeqit, Stërbeq. (updated May 2023)
• 3 Rubens, Rruga E Liqenit. (updated May 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Culaj, Rruga culajve. (updated May 2024)
• 2 Hotel Holiday, AL, Rruga Kishës, ☏ +355 697311111. (updated May 2024)
• 3 Deluxe Resort & Spa, ☏ +355 684040117. (updated May 2024)