5 Days in Albania Itinerary: Two Routes I Actually Recommend

I’ve travelled all over Albania, and am going to give you my two favourite 5 day itineraries. These are both realistic routes you can actually do in 5 days, and not spend all your time travelling from one place to the next.

The first is a popular route that includes the Albanian Riviera and a famous UNESCO heritage city. The second takes you to an under rated region of Albania, the south east – truly a hidden gem. Both routes start in Tirana, the quirky and engaging capital city.

5 Days in Albania Itinerary: Two Routes I Actually Recommend

These itineraries are best done with a rental car. It’s not that you can’t do them by bus – you can, but doing them in 5 days by bus would be tricky. On such a tight time frame you really need to have a vehicle at your disposal.

Before you go any further, I highly recommend using Discover Cars to rent a car in Albania. I use them all the time and have gotten some great deals. The last time I used them I found a car in Durres for €17 for 4 days, including mileage.

Where to Stay in Albania

These are my top hotel choices for these two 5 days in Albania itineraries. They are all very nice hotels with excellent locations:

• Best in Tirana: Hotel Colosseo
• Best in Vlore: Abi’s Hotel & Spa Vlore
• Best in Berat: Hotel Mangalemi
• Best in Pogradec: Seven Cafe & Hotel
• Best in Korce: Vila E’bel Boutique Hotel & Spa

Is Albania Safe?

Yes, Albania is very safe! It’s a great destination for solo travel. I’ve spent considerable time in Albania solo and have never felt unsafe. And I’m not the only one, tourists (especially women) overwhelmingly report feeling safe travelling around Albania.

This is not the kind of place you have to grip your purse to your side, or hide your phone when walking around. Locals are friendly, welcoming and have a very strong sense of honour.

Driving in Albania

My honest experience is that Albanian drivers are courteous and respectful. Some like to drive fast, but just let them pass – I’ve never had an aggressive driver flash his lights or try to intimidate me.

Parking is a different issue. I’ve seen lots of double parking, and some very questionable parking spots (blocking half a driveway), but are Albanians terrible drivers? No, they just have their own way of doing things.

The roads are another story. For the most part they are very good. Once you’re onto the secondary highways they can get narrow (is it really meant for two-way traffic?), but as long as the roads are numbered they’re usually okay.

Tirana traffic is horrible and driving there can be stressful, but apart from that I found the driving fine.

Here’s everything you need to know about renting a car and driving in Albania.

Things to Know Before Travelling to Albania

Here are the most important things to know before you land in Albania:

• Cash is king. Make sure have local currency (lek). Not all places take cards. Get some lek at the airport ATMs when you arrive. ATM fees are high, so get as much as you think you’ll need in one go.
• You can’t drink the tap water. There are exceptions, but in most places you’ll have to drink bottled water. Tap water is okay for brushing teeth and cooking.
• There’s lots of strays. The dogs are generally passive and in many cases friendly. The cats just want to be pet and fed.
• Not everyone speaks English. Most in the tourist sector and the younger generations do, but many older people don’t.
• Tipping is not mandatory, but very appreciated.
• You can’t flush toilet paper.

For the complete list, including tips on eating out, local culture and safety, see my Albania travel tips.

When to Visit Albania

The best time to visit is shoulder season. April-June and September-November. Summers get very hot in Albania, with temperatures routinely hitting 40°C now (104°F). Winters are wet and cold.

As someone who has visited Albania is every season, I think the nicest months are April and October. That’s when temperatures are perfect and there’s fewer tourists, plus prices at hotels and Airbnbs are lower. May is good too, but it gets hot toward the end.

5 Days in Albania Coastal Route – Itinerary #1

This 5 day itinerary is great if it’s your first time in Albania. You’ll start in Tirana, head south to Vlore on the Albanian Riviera, and then over to beautiful Berat, a UNESCO designated historic city.

If you’re wondering why I’ve excluded Saranda and Ksamil, it’s because Saranda is a 5 hour drive from Tirana, and Ksamil is even further. With only 5 days in Albania, it’s better to focus on a coastal city that won’t require spending all day in a car.

Day 1: Tirana – Albania’s Eclectic Capital City

Start your 5 days in Albania’s capital city. Tirana is a great European city and completely under-rated. It’s super walkable and compact with all the sites near each other.

There’s fantastic street art, a huge cafe culture, and lots of great restaurants. Plus, it’s one of Europe’s most budget-friendly capital cities.

If you’re curious about Albania’s communist dictatorship (1944-1992), this is where to explore that. Evidence of the repressive regime are all over, but nowhere more so than Tirana.

These articles may be helpful:

• What to Do in Tirana: 26 Things to See & Experience (2026)
• Where to Stay in Tirana: the Best Areas and Places to Stay 2026
• Where to Eat in Tirana: 16 Personal Favourites (2026)
• Is Tirana Worth Visiting? Pros and Cons (2026)

Day 2 & 3: Vlore – Where the Adriatic & Ionian Seas Meet

Using the seaside city of Vlore as your base, explore the coast and historic sites on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. It’s only 2 hours from Tirana, so perfect for this quick itinerary.

Vlore is the start of the Albanian Riviera, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea. I suggest driving down the coast to Dhermi and spending a beach day there. Dhermi is very pretty and looks like a Greek island.

On the day you explore Vlore, take a half day and drive up to the ruins of the ancient city of Apollonia, built in 588 BC (UNESCO tentative list).

This article may be helpful:

• Albanian Riviera: Your Complete Guide to Albania’s Stunning Coast

Day 4 & 5: Berat (UNESCO) – Albania’s Most Beautiful Historic City & Wine Tasting

Berat is an easy drive from Vlore (1.5 hours).

The first time I visited Berat was as a day trip from Vlore (big mistake – as soon as I saw Berat I wanted to stay longer). Out of all the historic cites I’ve visited in Albania, this remains my favourite.

Berat is a small, often called the City of Thousand Windows for the Ottoman era homes with narrow, but many windows. It is divided by the Osum River, and is basically a post card everywhere you look.

On my last trip to Berat I spent my time strolling through the cobblestone streets, exploring Byzantine churches, historic mosques and Berat Castle, where people still live and work today.

I didn’t realize until my first trip to Albania that there is a thriving and very old viticulture. And Berat is right in the heart of vineland. Visit some wineries and enjoy wine tasting (several have good restaurants too). Albanian wine is really good!

These articles may be helpful:

• What to Do in Berat: Albania’s Most Beautiful Historic City
• Berat Castle: Guide to Visiting Albania’s Living Castle
• Where to Stay in Berat, Albania: Best Areas & Hotels
• Where to Eat in Berat – 10 Favourites

This is the end of your 5 days in Albania. Berat is less than 2 hours from Tirana by car. If you don’t want to spend more time in the capital, just drop your car off at the airport, and catch your flight.

I’ve done this and found the drop off to be pretty quick (just park in the parking lot that is beside the car rental places).

5 Days in Albania South East Route – Itinerary # 2

This 5 day itinerary is perfect if you’ve been to Albania before, or want to get off the beaten path. Like the first itinerary, it starts in Tirana, but then heads south east to two beautiful cities, Pogradec and Korce.

Korce is known as the cultural capital of Albania, full of museums and stately mansions. Pogradec is on Lake Ohrid, and a popular summer destination for Albanians.

I recently spent a month between Pogradec and Korce and fell in love with the area. The region is full of natural beauty and cultural sites, but so far has flown under the radar of most tourists.

Day 1: Tirana – Albania’s Quirky Capital City

Start your 5 days in Albania’s capital city. Tirana is a completely under-rated European capital. It’s easy to explore with all the sites within walking distance of each other.

There’s fantastic street art, a huge cafe culture, and great restaurants. Plus, it’s one of Europe’s most budget-friendly capital cities.

If you’re curious about Albania’s communist dictatorship (1944-1992), Tirana is where to explore that. Evidence of the repressive regime are all over Albania, but nowhere more than in Tirana.

These articles may be helpful:

• What to Do in Tirana: 26 Things to See & Experience (2026)
• Where to Stay in Tirana: the Best Areas and Places to Stay 2026
• Where to Eat in Tirana: 16 Personal Favourites (2026)
• Is Tirana Worth Visiting? Pros and Cons (2026)

Day 2 & 3: Pogradec – Albania’s Lake Ohrid Retreat

From Tirana it’s just over 2 hours to Pogradec. Once you go through Elbasan, the drive goes through the mountains and is very scenic. Stop at one of the road side cafes and fill up your water bottles with fresh spring water.

Pogradec is a small city on Lake Ohrid, Europe’s oldest lake. Evidence of pile dwellings from 6000 BC have been found near Pogradec.

I visited in October, but in summer Pogradec is very popular with locals and Europeans. This is a laid back and relaxing place to spend a couple of days.

Pogradec doesn’t have many sites itself, the best ones are outside of the city, but with a car that will be no problem. One word of caution: get your car in Tirana because I had a hard time finding a car rental place in Pogradec.

This article may be helpful:

• Guide to Pogradec: Albania’s Lake Ohrid Getaway

Day 4 & 5: Korce – Albania’s Cultural Capital

Korce is definitely a hidden gem of Albania. Not only is the city beautiful, there’s quite a bit to see including a restored Ottoman era bazaar.

Although only 40 km from Pogradec it is very different. While Pogradec has a holiday vibe, Korce is more stately and historic.

Wide leafy boulevards with European style mansions, cobblestone streets, so many museums and parks, a fantastic food scene – Korce is full of surprises (like French restaurants and an art deco theatre).

I recommend spending one full day in Korce to explore and one day doing a day trip to the mountain village Voskopoja. Voskopoja is famous for its beauty and number of 17th and 18th century churches with frescoes.

These articles may be helpful:

• What to Do in Korce: Albania’s Cultural Gem
• Korce Itinerary: How to Spend a Perfect 2 or 3 Days
• Where to Stay in Korce: the Best Areas & Places to Stay 2026
• Where to Eat in Korce: Restaurants & Street Food

This is the end of your off the beaten path 5 days in Albania. The drive to Tirana is 166 km, less than 3.5 hours by car, and back the same way you came.

If not spending more time in the capital (or even if you are – you don’t need a car in Tirana and can take the airport shuttle to the airport), drop the car off and grab your flight home.

Where to Go Next if You Have More Time

If you have more than 5 days in Albania, you could spend a few more days in Tirana, or visit one of the destinations listed below.

Tirana has enough to keep you busy for at least 3 days, but it’s also a great spot to take day trips from. Being the capital, it’s well connected by bus and road.

From Tirana you can explore Albania’s agrotourism scene by eating at Mrizi i Zanave (one of the most famous restaurants in the country) near Lezhe, or spend the day in the mountain town of Kruja. Tirana is also only 30 minutes from Durres, so that can be another easy day trip.

1. Saranda: I spend a lot of time in Saranda – it’s a great small city built around a bay on the Ionian Sea. Lots of beaches, seafood, cafes, ocean views from everywhere. Perfect in the shoulder seasons – it gets crowded in summer. Good place for day trips to Syri i Kalter (the Blue Eye), Butrint National Park (UNESCO), Gjirokaster and Corfu, Greece.
2. Ksamil: The beach capital of Albania, often dubbed the Maldives of Europe. It’s becoming over commercialized, but as far as Albanian beaches go it can’t be beat. Very close to Butrint National Park.
3. Gjirokaster: UNESCO designated mountain town. Very beautiful, historic castle and bazaar, restaurants, fortress homes to explore. Good for an overnight visit. Gets very busy in summer, but crowds thin out when the day tours leave.
4. Durres: I like Durres a lot. It has a very laid back, local vibe for a coastal city. And compared to the Albanian Riviera, the prices are a lot lower. The beaches are okay, but there’s even nicer ones 12 km south in Golem. Durres has great seafood, and is home to one of the largest ancient amphitheatres in Europe.
5. Shkoder: Shkoder is only 100 km from Tirana, but has a completely different vibe – even the food is different. It’s considered the gateway to the Albanian Alps, and lots of hikers use Shkoder as their base for hiking around Theth. But it’s a pretty city and worth visiting even without hiking. I did a fantastic day trip to Komani Lake from Shkoder.

Last Words on 5 Days in Albania: Two Routes I Actually Recommend

While 5 days isn’t a lot of time, you can definitely see some beautiful parts of Albania and get a feel for the country. Albania has so much natural beauty, a stunning coast, and such welcoming locals I’m sure you’ll want come back again.

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