Best Places to Stay in Albania
If you’re thinking about visiting Albania, just go! This Balkan country has so much going on – pristine beaches, mountains, ancient cities, fantastic food and wine, and beautiful nature. In my opinion, these are the best places to stay to experience Albania.
Albania isn’t a big country, but it packs a lot in. I think you’ll be surprised at how varied and beautiful it is.
One thing Albania isn’t (at least not yet) is a polished tourist destination. Tourism is still fairly new and the infrastructure is a work in progress. Credit cards are not accepted everywhere, the older generations don’t speak much English, and the inter-city bus system is dated.
But this gives Albania a very authentic feel, and locals are genuinely happy to see tourists. It’s also an incredibly safe country – one of the safest I have travelled to.
Quick Reference
- Currency in Albania is the Albanian lek (ALL)
- Credit cards are not accepted everywhere – having cash is essential
- Electricity is 230 V and frequency 50 Hz, type C and F plugs
- Language is Albanian (Shqip), English is spoken in tourist areas but not widely
- Best sim for connectivity is Vodafone
- You can’t drink the tap water
Best Places to Stay in Albania
I’ve been all over Albania and these are the best places to stay in my opinion. From UNESCO historic cities to beach resorts and hidden gems, this list covers it all as well as my personal thoughts on each.
1. Tirana
Albania’s quirky capital has got to be one of the most under-rated cities in Europe. Famous for fabulous street art and a thriving cafe culture, Tirana is the best place to learn about Albania’s communist past, with many landmarks and museums dedicated to this.
Tirana is extremely walkable with almost all attractions within 10 minutes of the centre, Skanderbeg Square. There’s great places to eat, excellent hotels and fascinating architecture – everything from Italian neoclassical, to communist brutalism and avant-garde highrises.
2. Berat (UNESCO)
In my opinion Berat is the most beautiful historic city in Albania. If you only have time for one UNESCO city, this should be it. Don’t come for a daytrip – spend 2 or 3 nights in Berat.
There’s ancient churches and mosques, historic Christian and Islamic quarters, cobblestone streets, museums, and Berat Castle is one of Europe’s oldest living castles. The city is beautiful – basically a post card everywhere you look. It’s also in the heart of Albania’s wineland with fantastic wineries nearby.
Berat is one of the most visited places in Albania, but it never feels over crowded, even in peak season.
3. Gjirokaster (UNESCO)
A visit to Gjirokaster is one of the best things to do in southern Albania. It’s a beautiful city, called the ‘City of Stone’ for the slate-roofed houses, cobblestone streets and hilltop castle.
Gjirokaster really feels like a historic city. Between the 12th century castle, Ottoman era bazaar, and windy cobblestone lanes – it’s like you’ve stepped back in time.
This is a city you can do as a daytrip, but an overnight visit is better so you can enjoy it without the day crowds. The old town is on a mountainside and steep, and the roads are rough stone. Sensible shoes are a must.
If you’re trying to decide between Berat and Gjirokaster, this article will help you.
4. Vlore
Vlore is considered the gateway to the Albanian Riviera. It’s the largest city on the Riviera and has a good mix of restaurants, things to see, day trips and a long and lively beachfront promenade (called the Lungomare).
The beaches in Vlore are okay, but there’s much better ones just south of the city at Radhime and Orikum. Vlore is a great base for exploring Berat, Apollonia and Llogara National Park.
It’s easy to reach from Tirana with many buses and private transfers.
5. Himare
Himare is the perfect mix of small beach resort town, culture and history. Located on the Albanian Riviera, Himare has a unique Greek culture, a historic old town with living castle, beautiful beaches and is surrounded by nature.
After Saranda, Himare is my favourite place to stay on Albania’s coast. It still feels authentic. Apart from the beaches and Himare Old Town, there’s not much to see in town, but if you have a car you can explore secluded beaches and Porto Palermo Castle.
6. Ksamil
Ksamil is Albania’s premiere beach resort town. It’s in the south of Albania, almost at the Greek border. These are the best beaches in Albania, but the town is very touristy and lacks culture.
Visitors seem to either love or hate Ksamil. If all you want to do is walk to a different beach every day and enjoy white sand and turquoise water, then you’ll enjoy Ksamil. Locals consider it expensive, but compared to beach resorts in Italy and Greece, it’s a lot cheaper.
If you want more culture and history either stay in Himare, or base yourself in Saranda and visit Ksamil for the day.
If you’re trying to decide between Ksamil and Himare, here’s my opinion after staying in both.
7. Saranda
Saranda is the most popular and prettiest city on the Albanian Riviera. I love spending time here, but avoid it in July and August when tourists outnumber locals and temperatures (and prices) soar.
There’s a definite laid back Mediterranean vibe in Saranda – palm trees, seafood restaurants and waterfront restaurants and cafes. The city itself doesn’t have many sites, but it’s a great base to explore nearby Butrint National Park, Gjirokaster and Syri i Kalter. You can also take the ferry to Corfu, Greece in 30 minutes.
In summer there’s quite a bit of night life – beach clubs, party cruises. It’s not my thing, but I’ve spent enough time in Saranda to know it’s there!
8. Theth
Theth is a remote mountain village, very popular with hikers. But even if you’re not a hiker it’s worth visiting Theth. This is one of the most beautiful places to stay in Albania. Completely surrounded by the Accursed Mountains, the scenery is stunning.
The village is mostly famous for being at one end of the 17 km Valbona Pass Trail, but there’s a couple of sites about tribal mountain culture (called Kanun).
In Theth the scenery and hiking are the main attractions. I’m not a hiker and really enjoyed my 3 nights in the village. There are great restaurants, decent guest houses and clean mountain air.
The drive from Shkoder to Theth is one of the most beautiful in the Balkans.
9. Shkoder
Shkoder is Albania’s most northern city, very close to the Montenegro border. It’s a popular jumping off point for tourists visiting the Albanian Alps, Komani Lake or hiking the Valbona Pass Trail.
Compared to popular cities in the south, Shkoder is more relaxed, cheaper and very pretty. Shkoder has some interesting sites – enough to keep you busy for 2 or 3 days. There’s also lots of cycling. I rented a bike to explore nearby Lake Shkodra and the village of Shiroka.
10. Permet
Permet is the best place to stay in southern Albania for nature lovers. While the city itself only has a handful of attractions, its location in the Vjosa River Valley means there is excellent hiking, cycling and river rafting.
It makes a great base for visiting the Benje Hot Springs, hiking the stunning Langarica Canyon or wine tasting in Leskovik.
Permet is known for being the slow food capital of Albania, with many official slow food restaurants. It’s a small and very walkable city that doesn’t see a lot of tourism and is more budget friendly than the coastal cities.
11. Korce
Korce one of Albania’s most-under places to stay. It’s considered the cultural capital of Albania because of its long history of philanthropy, education and many museums. It’s often called the Paris of the Balkans.
Korce also has a fantastic food scene (beer gardens, creperies, food trucks), wide leafy boulevards with Italian style mansions, a restored Ottoman era bazaar, cobblestone lanes and many parks. This is a surprising Albanian city, in the best possible way.
12. Pogradec
Pogradec is a less obvious choice to stay in Albania, but I really liked this small city. Long popular as a domestic holiday destination, there still isn’t much foreign tourism. It’s laid back and budget-friendly.
The city is located on one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe, Lake Ohrid. The lake is the social and recreational centre of Pogradec with a fantastic long promenade. It’s great for families with sandy beaches, playgrounds, boating and waterslides.
It’s better to have a car if visiting Pogradec. The best sites are out of the city, like the Selca Royal Tombs, Drin National Park and the village of Lin. There’s good bus connectivity to Tirana, but it’s not as well connected as other cities in Albania.
13. Durres
Durres is Albania’s largest port and second largest city. Because it’s located just 31 km from the Tirana International Airport it’s a great beach destination if you don’t have a lot of time.
The city is divided into two main areas, the city centre and the beach. I’ve stayed in both and prefer the more cultural city centre. But if beaches are your priority it’s better to stay near the beach (the Plazhi area).
Durres has a great cafe culture, seafood, cheap restaurants, the biggest ancient amphitheatre in the Balkans and the best archeological museum in Albania.
14. Golem
Golem is a coastal village, 50 km from Tirana. It’s just south of the port city of Durres, on the same long stretch of Adriatic coastline. Golem is much smaller and quieter and the beach is cleaner than Durres.
This is a quiet beach village, with ocean front hotels and smaller ones tucked down sandy lanes behind the beach. There’s a nice promenade with seafood restaurants and cafes.
For many, Golem will be too quiet, but it’s extremely convenient if you want a nice beachfront destination not far from Tirana.
15. Agritourism & Winery Stays in Albania
There’s another option for where to stay in Albania, and that is an agritourism. Albania has many agritourism restaurants and some have guest houses. Several wineries also have beautiful guest houses.
If you have a car, I recommend at least 1 or 2 nights in an agritourism. They are always located in the countryside, family run and full of authentic Albanian charm and hospitality. You’ll experience a side of Albania most visitors don’t even know exists.
I’ve visited a lot of agritourism and wineries in Albania. This is one of the best ways to see rural Albania, try amazing wine, and eat farm to table food. And the rooms are usually very nice.
I particularly like Alpeta Agrotourizem & Winery in the charming village of Roshnik, and Mrizi i Zanave Agroturizem near the village of Fishte.
Do You Need a Car in Albania?
To get from city to city you generally don’t need a car. Albania has a dated, but extensive bus network. But for exploring outside of the city centres a car is very convenient.
The best places to stay in Albania without a car are bigger cities that have good bus connectivity and day tour options, like Tirana, Durres, Vlore, Saranda and Shkoder. Cities like Pogradec, Permet and Theth will be more challenging without a car.
For more information see my article on how to get around Albania without a car.
Best Time to Visit Albania
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Albania. April and May, and mid September to end of October are perfect. It’s not too hot or crowded, and prices are a bit lower.
Summer is hot and busy in Albania. If you are travelling at that time make sure to book your accommodation and car rental in advance. Do not show up without reservations. Every summer there’s always a few tourist that end of sleeping on the beach because they didn’t book a hotel before arriving.
Winter can be cold and wet, and mountain villages like Theth are not accessible. There are some popular winter spots in Albania like Voskopoja and Razem, but it’s not beach weather!
How Long Do you Need in Albania
I think 2 to 3 weeks is perfect, but you can make it work for 5 days or as long as 2 months. There’s lots to see and experience – you won’t run out of things to do if you stay longer.
If you have a shorter trip, stick to sites closer to Tirana (if you are flying in), like Durres, Shkoder, Berat and Kruja.
Last Words on Best Places to Stay in Albania
These are all great places to stay in Albania. There’s something here for everyone, whether you want beaches, history, nature or food and wine. Albania is extremely diverse, and I hope you stay in several of my favourite places to experience it all.
