Your guide to Albania from the turquoise Riviera to the wild northern Alps and the old stone towns in between
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This is one real day from a schedule our planner builds. Yours will look different, because it is built around your answers.
Day 3 · Tirana
Every hour worked out, every place open
The rest is already waiting, it just needs a few answers
Build me a day like thisFrom 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.
A 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.
Which Albanian ATMs charge least, why the yellow machines cost more than they look, when you actually need cash, and how tipping works. A practical money guide for Albania.
Everyone does Berat, Gjirokaster and the riviera. These five are on nobody's standard route, and between them they cover stone architecture, Ottoman streets and mountain valleys.
Stone pools of warm mineral water beside a river, under an Ottoman bridge, in a valley almost nobody routes through. What it is and how to get there.
The capital and the coastal south offer completely different trips, and they are far enough apart that most visitors have to choose. A direct comparison.
Albania rewards slow travel and punishes tight schedules, which suits some older travellers very well and others not at all. An honest look at terrain, roads and comfort.
Albanian menus repeat a fairly short list of dishes, and knowing six of them is the difference between eating well and eating pizza. What to order and where.
The core guides to start from.
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.
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.
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 clear breakdown of what Albania costs, with daily budgets for backpackers, mid-range and comfort travellers, plus money, cash and saving tips for Europe's best-value coast.
Everything you need to rent a car and drive in Albania: what it costs, what to know about the roads, insurance, fuel and parking, and why a car is the best way to see the country.
Albania month by month: sea temperatures on the Riviera, hiking season in the Alps, Tirana city weather, the crowded peak and the golden shoulder months. Pick your perfect window.
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.
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