Shkodër is the fourth-most-populous city in Albania and serves as the seat of both Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city is situated on the Plain of Mbishkodra, located between the southern portion of Lake Shkodër and the foothills of the Albanian Alps along the banks of the Buna, Drin, and Kir rivers.
The area has been continuously inhabited since the Early Bronze Age, with approximately 2,200 years of recorded history. Due to its proximity to the Adriatic Sea, the city experiences a seasonal Mediterranean climate that is influenced by continental factors.