Albania is becoming the next big Europe travel destination due to its unexplored stunning outdoors, paradise beaches and amazing cultural heritage cities, so this is a list of the top attractions to visit in Albania and many travel tips to plan your trip to Albania

This travel guide to Albania will give you all the top things to do in Albania. It provides all the travel tips to discover the best of Albania. You can plan your travel itinerary more effectively.

TOP 15 THINGS TO DO IN ALBANIA

My top things to do in Albania include a variety of different experiences. They are enriching and showcase the incredible attractions that Albania has to offer.

The list of the must see places in Albania can be of course adapted by traveller depending on your interests. I enjoy exploring various travel experiences. Here are the absolute best spots to visit in Albania, presented in a random order.

These are the top 15 things to do in Albania:

1. SHKÖDER
2. THETH NATIONAL PARK
3. TIRANA
4. BOVILLA LAKE
5. KRUJE
6. BERAT
7. GJIROKASTER
8. HIMARE
9. GJIPE
10. DHERMI
11. PORTO PALERMO BEACH
12. KSAMIL BEACH
13. BLUE EYE SARANDE
14. VLORE
15. DURRES

Here below is a map of Albania with all the top things to do mapped. Although Albania is a relatively small country and has average to good roads, travel between the main cities will take longer. The delay is due to traffic on the national roads.

TRAVEL ITINERARY ALBANIA AND HOW LONG TO PLAN FOR ALBANIA TRIP

My recommended time to make a trip to Albania is 10-12 days. In week 1, focus on covering cultural sites and nature hiking. Enjoy the hidden gems Albania offers. During the remaining days, explore the Albanian Riviera leisurely. Your journey can culminate at the paradise of Ksamil in the South. If you only have one week, then you could cover the Southern Riviera. You can also see the essential highlights from Central Albania. This includes Berat and Gjirokaster, capital Tirana, and Bovilla Lake.

Below is an itinerary you can do in 1 to 2 weeks:

Further below I will show you the top things to do in Albania in more detail.

WHEN TO GO TO ALBANIA

The best time to go to Albania is by late Spring from the end of May to mid-October. During this period, temperatures will rise to above 25 degrees. The sea temperature will also become warmer from May onwards. In August there might be some very severe hot weather around 40 degrees. so beware of that and stay in the shade those days during midday hours.

April / May would be good shoulder seasons for sunbathing without the crowds in the south. However, they are not suitable for swimming yet. Nights will still be cool.

HOW TO GET TO ALBANIA AND GET AROUND ALBANIA

The best way to get to Albania is by boat from Greece or Italy. Speed hydrofoil boats frequently depart from Corfu town harbor. They journey almost hourly to Saranda in the Southern Albania Riviera. The trip takes 1 hour. This is really practical. Ideally, Albania trips should start from the south and go all the way to Northern Albania. You can fly out of Tirana or take the boat from Sarande back to Corfu. The companies connecting from Corfu to Sarande are Ionian Seaways and Finika Lines, tickets cost around 20€ per person one-way.

This is also the cheapest way. Most flights to Corfu are still cheaper than flying to Tirana. Tirana is the only city with a big international airport in whole Albania. As more companies start connecting to Tirana by plane, this will become cheaper. Low cost airlines will especially affect this price reduction.

There are also land border crossings from Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Travelling by car is an alternative to be considered. Ensure you have the necessary travel insurance to Albania since it’s not an EU country.

Ideally, you should get around Albania by car. Distances are not extremely big. Road connections are in good to very good condition. Outside some major cities and on the coast roads, traffic is manageable as well as driver’s style. Major rental car companies offer good rates in Albania. However, I chose a local one that I was really well satisfied with: Surprice car with good value for money. Take the full insurance when you rent. Don’t purchase it online. Complete the insurance with the rental company on site for better coverage. (Online options are from the website). In sarande the rental car companies

In case you don’t want to drive, there are plenty of local tour companies and taxi drivers. They offer good fares per day, depending on the distances. Alternatively, you can take the local mini buses. These are mini vans with yellow plates can take 8-12 people and luggage with it for just a few euros. You can spot the bus stops almost everywhere.

In Tirana, local city buses provide a solid network. They also travel to all major Albanian cities.

Contact me for a personalized itinerary that can fit your schedule, budget and interests.

WHERE TO STAY IN ALBANIA

The best places to stay in Albania depend on which part you are visiting. In the southern part, along the coastline and especially at Ksamil, prices will be very high. You will find luxury apartments, hotels, and also villas. As you move north in Albania, prices will significantly drop. You will find some excellent value for money accommodation.

In Albania, a 5-star property will usually be equivalent to a 4-star hotel in Western Europe or the US. A 3-star hotel can be as good as it gets. come with a significantly lower price tag.

My recommendation is to save more on accommodation in Ksamil and the Albanian Riviera. Then, choose some better accommodation up North. If you really want to splurge, and enjoy luxury travel, then you will find some excellent properties in Ksamil. They offer the finest options.

The best hotels to stay in Ksamil are located at the end of the southernmost Beaches of Paradise and Lori. These include the Mira Mare Hotel, Hotel Renato, and Meta Hotel. They are all modern hotels with superb rooms. They are only 5 minutes walking from the beach, offering great views from the terrasses. If you really want a luxury resort in Ksamil, then Poda Boutique Hotel would be your place to go! And wherever you stzay in Ksamil, there will be always a party going on by the beach!

Stay one night at stunning Berat as you move North. It is a city with 1000 windows. Choose a hotel on the opposite side of the main city center for a special panorama. My absolute favorite would be Muzaka boutique hotel but I also found NGorice and Koroni hotels really good

In Tirana, I recommend staying at a 3-star hotel near the city center. It should be within walking distance (10-15 mins) from Skanderberg square, the heart of Tirana. There are many good value for money properties below 75€, so just check what is available on booking.com . I liked City 5 Hotel, simple, good breakfast and very convenient location.

Durres is also worth staying en route between the North and South Albania. the beach in Durres is lovely for a morning or late evening walk in a lovely Mediterranean promenade. And the Hotel and Restaurant Cosmo has a superb location, excellent food and service for a 3-star hotel.

At Shkoder region, ideally in Theth National Park, I suggest a more nature-oriented accommodation. The stunning sceneries around you include lakes, mountains, rivers, and forests. Most of these sceneries are still as pristine as it gets. In Theth, there are several lodges that make you feel like you are in the Alps. Stay in one for a couple of nights for a great experience. Thethi Paradise or Alpet Theth are excellent options, other guesthouses around the area will tend to be good service.

Other alternative places to stay in Albania are in the Himare region. It is less touristic than Ksamil but is developing fast as more tourists visit Albania. The good thing is that you can still find small bays or coves where you can be almost. Dhermi beach, Himare itself are excellent options.

WHERE TO EAT IN ALBANIA

Food in Albania is a blend of Turkish cuisine. It incorporates many Italian and Greek elements. This combination creates a unique mix of flavors in the Balkans area.

can be extremely interesting. You just need to be open to try the local dishes. These dishes combine fish, vegetarian, and meat with delicious spices! For more budget travellers there are great options with the famous kebab restaurants with tasty meat on bread or spite. I found both options to be really good so you will be having great experiences depending on your taste.

My favorite restaurants across Albania where mostly great value for money even if in Ksamil you will already pay a very high price vs other parts of Albania, These were my favorite restaurants there:

• Theth NP: Alpet Theth restaurant (mid range)
• Shkoder: Piazza Park( mid range)
• Tirana: Millennium Garden (mid range), La Gioia (value for money), Zgara King Pils (mid range), Oda Garden (mid range)
• Durres: Cosmos Restaurant
• Berat: Ajka (mid range), Tradita e Beratit (mid range)
• Girokaster: Taverna Lani (mid range)
• Ksamil: Principitos & Tulum Resort (luxury) Bianco (high-range), Albatros (mid-range), Korali (mid-range)

Here some of the great dishes I had the luck to enjoy in Albania:

USEFUL TRAVEL TIPS FOR ALBANIA

• VISAS – EU citizens don”t need a Visa as well as UK, US and Canada nationals, being allowed to stay up to 60 -90 days for tourism every 6 months. There is also no entry fee at any borders for these nationalities, authorities will only control your passport (EU ID cards are also accepted) and might ask a few questions on how many days you will stay, an address and if you have a return ticket. For more infos and to know if your counbtry needs a Visa check this Albanian government website link: https://punetejashtme.gov.al/en/regjimi-i-vizave-per-te-huajt/
• MONEY- The local currency is the Albanian LEK but everyone in Albania accepts EUR as payment (usually also USD), so you don’t necessarily need to exchange your money. In most cities credit cards are accepted as well as Revolut. Its a relatively stable currency so count to get 100 LEK for 1 EUR or 1 USD. Best is to exchange your money at the city banks or withdraw it in an ATM, check the rates on the bank. Do not exchange money at the airport unless you absolute need it.
• CELL PHONE – buy a local SIM Card on arrivals from Vodafone- either at their stand on arrivals (ferry or airport terminals). Newspaper stands and supermarkets often sell SIM cards too. EU SIM cards DO NOT work in Albania and you will have high roaming costs. Buy a 50 GB package for 10€ for a week. No need to sign up or login anywhere, its immediately ready to use in your phone, you still have access to your original Whatsapp number .
• CAR RENTAL – Its quite great value for money if you book it for 7 days or more, expect to pay around 40EUR/ USD per day for an average car in high season during Summer . No need for 4WD , roads are in good shape, even up North in gravel roads. Buy insurance at the rental car company and haggle fora discount, DO NOT buy insurance online from 3rd party booking websites as these are not accepted by the rental company and its an hassle for you.
• TRAVEL ESSENTIALS – During Summertime bring mostly light clothes, even at night is usually very warm. Bring a light jacket and some waterproof hiking shoes if you are visiting Northern Albania mountains as it will be cooling off at night, just in case it might get cooler one or two nights. Bring also reef shoes as some beaches will be pebbly (not Ksamil beach) In Autumn/ Winter bring a rain jacket and some warm clothes. Bring also snorkeling gear, sunscreen , water refillable bottle and a torchlight.

Do ask me for a personalized itinerary or any specific tips about Albania . Look out for my next Albania post about the top things to do soon.