Your guide to Albania from the turquoise Riviera to the wild northern Alps and the old stone towns in between
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the site.
One real day from a schedule our planner builds. Yours is built from your answers.
Every hour worked out, every place open
Day 3 · Tirana · 5 stopsFrom Palasa to Ksamil: the beaches, the coastal towns and the turquoise water of the south.
The best spots on the Albanian Riviera, from the islands of Ksamil to the beach village of Dhërmi, hidden Gjipe, laid-back Himarë and lively Saranda, plus how to string them together.
Saranda vs Ksamil compared as a base on the Albanian Riviera: beaches, hotels, restaurants, transport, day trips to Butrint and the Blue Eye, costs and crowds, with a clear verdict per traveller type.
A coast that runs from flat Adriatic sand in the north to Ionian coves under a mountain road in the south, and the beaches worth the drive.
An honest three days in Saranda and Ksamil: a day by day plan for beaches, Butrint at dawn, quiet coves, and the five mistakes that swallow a short trip in Albania.
A working port city with a long promenade, the square where the country was founded in 1912, and the road south that turns into the best drive in the Balkans.
A karst spring in southern Albania where the water comes out of the rock at an unknown depth and an impossible colour, half an hour from the coast.
Compare prices on hotels and rentals across Albania.
Our on-the-ground guides to the Alps, the trails and the wild corners of Albania.
A complete guide to the Albanian Alps: the villages of Theth and Valbona, the famous Theth to Valbona hike, when to go, where to stay, and how to plan the journey in.
A week-long route through the Albanian north: Shkoder and its lake, the Koman ferry, the Valbona valley and Theth, with where to sleep each night and how the pieces connect.
A pass between two Alpine valleys, a gorge that ends at a beach, a national park at a thousand metres above the coast road, and very little mountain rescue.
Every destination, beach and town from our guides, on one map.
Destination
More than 450 of the best places in Albania, in one guide with photos and tips.
Three or four days is enough for one region done properly and not enough for the country. Which single region to pick, how to lose the least time, and what to leave out.
They share a sea and a border and they are not the same holiday. Where each one wins, where Albania is genuinely behind, and how to do both.
Why travel insurance matters for Albania, from hiking the Accursed Alps and driving winding coastal roads to watersports, private clinics in Tirana, medical evacuation and theft, plus what a good policy should cover.
The coast is warm and calm, the drives are shorter than the map suggests, and a cable car out of Tirana buys you an afternoon that nobody complains about.
The best spots on the Albanian Riviera, from the islands of Ksamil to the beach village of Dhërmi, hidden Gjipe, laid-back Himarë and lively Saranda, plus how to string them together.
A coast that runs from flat Adriatic sand in the north to Ionian coves under a mountain road in the south, and the beaches worth the drive.
The core guides to start from.
The best things to do in Tirana, from the colourful main square and communist-era bunkers to the buzzing Blloku district, cable car mountain views and the city best cafes and food.
Planning your first trip to Albania? Here is when to go, how to get around, the visa and money basics, where to base yourself, and how to skip the rookie mistakes.
Is Albania cheap? Daily budgets for backpackers, mid-range and comfort travellers, what food, transport and rooms cost, and how to make your money go further.
Do you need a visa for Albania? Many travellers do not, but not everyone. Here are the rules by nationality, passport requirements, what happens at the border, and customs basics.
Albania weather month by month: sea temperatures on the Riviera, rain in Tirana, when snow closes the Alps passes, and the best months for beach, hiking and cities.
Where to stay on the Albanian Riviera: Saranda for restaurants and transport, Ksamil for the water, the quieter villages between them, and what a sea view actually costs.
Pick a topic and get every guide that fits.
Most visitors can enter Albania visa-free for up to 90 days with a valid passport. Albania is not part of the Schengen area, so time spent here does not count against the EU 90-day allowance. Always check the current rules for your own nationality before you fly.
May to mid-June and September to October are the sweetest spots: warm weather, a swimmable sea and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy on the Riviera beaches, while winter suits Tirana and the historic towns.
Albania is one of the most affordable destinations in Europe. Food, stays and transport are cheap: a meal at a local restaurant runs about 6 to 12 euros, and a good room costs roughly 40 to 70 euros a night in season.
The currency is the Albanian lek (ALL). Many places also take euros in cash, but it is better to withdraw lek from an ATM for a fairer rate. Cards work in cities and hotels, though villages and markets need cash.
Not essential, but a rental car gives you the most freedom, especially along the Riviera and to the hidden beaches. Cheap buses and minibuses (furgon) connect the bigger towns, but frequency varies and timetables are loose.
Sign up and get the destinations guide right away, more than 450 hand-picked places with photos and tips, then new guides and deals, no spam.
