12 Top Places to Visit in Albania
Albania isn’t the first place that comes to mind when planning a European trip, but this country is stunning. With hundreds of kilometres of coastline, rugged mountains and thousands of years of history, Albania has a lot to offer. These are the top places to visit in Albania.
If I had to choose the 3 best places for a first time visitor to Albania, they would be: Tirana, Berat and Saranda.
Why Visit Albania
Albania is still an under the radar destination, but that’s starting to change. Each year sees more tourists, and the Albanian government is putting a lot of money into infrastructure to attract visitors.
It’s one of the most affordable European countries, with locals that are genuinely hospitable. Two-thirds of Albania is mountainous, but there’s also 450 km of coast on the Mediterranean Sea. We’re talking the same coastline as Greece – for a fraction of the cost.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Albania, and ended up liking it way more than I thought I would. The mountain scenery, miles of sandy beaches, seafood, thriving cafe culture, archeological sites, welcoming locals and established viticulture have me convinced this is the best country in Europe to visit right now.
Do You Need a Car to Visit the Top Places in Albania?
No, you don’t need a car to visit the top places in Albania. Albania has a very extensive bus network. The buses aren’t super modern (in many cases they’re old furgons), and the bus schedule is not exact to the minute, but it’s pretty reliable and gets you to your destination.
Here’s more detailed information about how to travel around Albania.
I’ve taken buses all over Albania. You have to be a little flexible – they make unscheduled stops, and don’t always leave or arrive on time, but they’re cheap, and they get to their destination.
Renting a car and driving in Albania is another good way to get around and visit the top places. I’ve driven quite a bit and the roads are in good shape, mostly. Albanian drivers like to drive fast, buy they’re not rude or aggressive.
I like and personally use DiscoverCars.com to find the best car rental deals.
Top Places to Visit in Albania
I’ve travelled all over Albania, and these are the top places a first or second time visitor should cover:
1. Tirana
Tirana is Albania’s quirky capital city. It was a city I didn’t expect much from, but ended up really liking. It’s an easy city to explore and is much more relaxed than most European capitals.
Almost all of Tirana’s attractions are in the centre within walking distance of each other. Tirana is compact and very walkable. This is also where the communist dictatorship ran the country from, so there’s quite a few sites about this part of Albania’s history.
There’s fantastic restaurants in Tirana, coffee shops on every corner, colourful street art, and it’s very well connected for do it yourself day trips, like Durres or Kruja.
2. Berat
Berat is simply the loveliest and most beautiful of Albania’s historic cities. With Ottoman era homes climbing up the hills on both sides of the Osum River, and Berat Castle perched on top – it’s a post card everywhere you look.
The historic centre of Berat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautifully preserved old towns in Albania. Cobblestone streets, ancient mosques and Byzantine churches plus one of Europe’s oldest living castles – it’s like stepping back in time.
Berat is also in the heart of Albania’s wine country. Albania has a very old and active viticulture. Several excellent vineyards are within 30 minutes drive offering wine tastings, like Alpeta Agrotourism & Winery.
I’ve written extensively about Berat. You might be interested in What to do in Berat and How to Get to Berat from Tirana.
3. Saranda
Saranda is a captivating, small city on the Ionian Sea in southern Albania. It’s the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, and has beautiful beaches and sunsets. There is a definite Mediterranean vibe.
Stroll along the palm lined beach promenade, spend a day on the beach, eat fresh seafood, hike to Lekursi Castle to watch the sunset over neighbouring Corfu, Greece. Popular day trips are the Blue Eye of Saranda (Syri i Kalter) and Butrint National Park.
In summer Saranda is busy and energetic. It’s been popular with Europeans and Russians for years – but off season it’s very laid back. Many nomads winter in Saranda, but I prefer late spring. The weather is perfect and the air is fragrant with orange and almond blossoms.
4. Ksamil
Ksamil is Albania’s premiere beach resort town. Often called the “Maldives of Europe,” Ksamil beaches are famous for white sand and clear blue water.
Some visitors absolutely love Ksamil, while other think it is over-commercialized. Ksamil is definitely very busy in summer, crowded and expensive (for Albania), but the beaches are the best in the country.
Besides the beach there isn’t much going on in Ksamil, but Butrint National Park is less than 5 km away and a popular excursion.
If all you want is a beach holiday, you’ll probably enjoy Ksamil. But if you want a more rounded vacation, I advise staying in Saranda and visiting Ksamil for the day. Saranda is just 15 km up the coast and easy to reach by bus or taxi.
5. Gjirokaster
Known as Albania’s city of stone for the slate-roofed houses, cobblestone streets and historic castle, Gjirokaster is another beautiful city. It’s small and many people visit as a day trip from Saranda, but a night or two would be nice also.
It’s often compared to Berat (they’re both World Heritage Sites), but Gjirokaster is smaller and has a well preserved centre with Ottoman era bazar and imposing 12th century fortress.
The best things to do in Gjirokaster are to explore the castle and historic fort-style mansions the city is famous for. I find the bazaar and old town touristy, but it’s still charming, especially with the patterned cobblestone streets.
6. Durres
Durres is a port city on the Adriatic Sea. Although it’s the second largest city in Albania it doesn’t feel that big, and the seafront location gives it a holiday feel. It’s cheaper than Tirana or the Albanian Riviera, and more laid back.
Durres does have a nice and very long beach 3 km from the centre, and it’s popular with locals. But foreign tourists come to Durres to see the ancient amphitheatre, the largest in the Balkan region.
There’s also a Venetian watchtower and fortification walls, ruins of a Roman bath and Byzantine market square, and the National Archeological Museum (temporarily closed for renovation).
Here’s all the things you can do in Durres.
I spent 2 weeks in Durres, but a couple of days is probably enough for most visitors. One of my favourite things about Durres was the fresh seafood – it was excellent and not expensive.
7. Shkoder
Shkoder is Albania’s largest city in the north and the gateway to the Albanian Alps. Two of Albania’s most famous hiking towns are accessible from Shkoder, Theth and Valbona. Shkoder is popular as the jumping off point for exploring the alpine region.
The most famous sites are Rozafa Castle and Lake Shkodra. I rented a bike and cycled around the lake, stopping to explore the village of Shiroka on the way. Shkoder has a lovely old town full of cafes and restaurants, many churches, some interesting museums and lots of bicycles.
If you’re planning to travel onward to Montenegro, Shkoder is a logical stop – it’s only 35 km from the border.
8. Komani Lake
Komani Lake is one of the most stunning natural attractions in Albania. Often compared to Norway’s fjords and China’s Three Gorges, it’s one of the most spectacular things to see in Albania.
With soaring limestone cliffs and mountains dropping into the water, the scenery is unforgettable. It’s only accessible by boat, and the easiest way to do this is a day tour from Shkoder with Berisha Ferry (that’s what I did).
The town of Koman is tiny, and I wouldn’t stay there, but lots of visitors opt to stay a night or two on the Shala River. There’s several small guest houses – it’s remote, but beautiful.
For information on the different options to visit Komani Lake, see my Komani Lake guide.
9. Theth
Theth is Albania’s most famous mountain village and one of the top places to visit in Albania. It’s located in Theth National Park, at one end of the popular Valbona Pass trail. But even if you’re not a huge hiker, Theth is worth visiting.
This is a small village surrounded by the Accursed Mountains on all sides. There’s lots of long and short hiking trails, a zip line, a couple of historic sites, but mostly the thing to do is relax and enjoy the natural beauty.
Theth is very quiet, but it does get a fair number of tourists during hiking season. I was there in late September and there were still quite a few visitors.
This guide to Theth has all the information you need to plan your visit there.
The drive from Shkoder is 80 km and takes 2 hours. The drive is one of the most scenic mountain drives I have ever done – it’s spectacular.
10. Korce
Korce is a charming small city in eastern Albania. It’s an under-appreciated gem of Albania, that so far has escaped main stream tourism. I spent 2 weeks in Korce and would gladly return for longer.
This is a very cultured city, with a long history of education and philanthropy. The centre reminded me of Paris more than Albania, with leafy boulevards and classic European style mansions.
There are museums, a lovely promenade, beautiful cathedral, restored Ottoman era bazaar, and historic neighbourhoods with cobblestone streets.
The food scene in Korce is fantastic: French restaurants and creperies, food trucks, lakror shops (Korce’s specialty), beer gardens, wonderful restaurants – it’s the best I’ve come across outside of Tirana.
11. Dhermi
Dhermi is one of the most picturesque and popular villages on the Albanian Riviera.
White washed homes with terracotta roofs sprawl down the mountain side, making Dhermi look more like a Greek island than the Albanian mainland. It’s quaint and charming with cobblestone lanes and a lovely Orthodox cathedral.
The beach area is more commercialized, catering to tourists with restaurants and guest houses. It’s a great place to base yourself for a couple of glorious beach days.
12. Pogradec
Pogradec has been popular for a long time with locals as a holiday destination, but not many tourists make it here. That’s a shame, because it’s a lovely small city on Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes.
The lake is the main draw, with sandy beaches for swimming, boating, a long lakefront promenade, and plenty of restaurants serving lake trout. Pogradec itself doesn’t have many attractions, but with a car you can easily explore the nearby village of Lin, the Royal Tombs of Selca e Poshtme or gorgeous National Park of Drilon.
This guide to Pogradec will help you plan your visit.
If you’re looking for a cheaper and quieter alternative to the beaches on the Riviera, Pogradec is an excellent option.
Where to Stay in Albania’s Best Places
These are all excellent hotels to stay at in Albania. They are all mid-range with central locations good for exploring:
- Hotel Colosseo (Tirana): boutique hotel with lovely outdoor cafe
- Hotel Mangalemi (Berat): traditional small hotel in the old town
- Titania Hotel (Saranda): small hotel right behind the beach promenade
- Emar Beachfront Hotel (Ksamil): newly renovated, very close to the beach
- Hotel Gjirokastra (Gjirokaster): traditional small hotel close to the castle
- Art Gallery Boutique Hotel (Durres): newer hotel in the centre
- Cocja Boutique Hotel (Shkoder): small and stylish, close to historic centre
- Bee Eco Guest House (Komani Lake): guest house on the Shala River
- Bujtina Pllumi Theth (Theth): guest house with mountain views
- Vila Lordev (Korce): small family-run guest house
- Elysium Hotel (Dhermi): close to the beach with ocean views
- Seven Cafe & Hotel (Pogradec): small hotel in restored mansion, near lake
How Many Days Do You Need in Albania?
The perfect holiday is 10 days to 3 weeks in Albania. With 2 weeks you can cover the top places without rushing to see everything.
If you have longer, there’s plenty to see in Albania. It’s a very diverse country, with beaches, mountains and all sorts of stunning natural attractions and archeological sites.
Here’s a two week highlights of Albania itinerary, with or without a car.
One thing that surprised me was the viticulture and agrotourism movement. Albania has a very old and thriving viticulture. There are excellent vineyards and many have farm to table restaurants.
In fact, during my next trip to Albania I’m planning a road trip with wineries and agro tourism restaurants as the main focus.
When is the Best Time to Visit Albania?
Shoulder season (spring and autumn) are the best times to visit Albania.
I really like late spring when everything is blooming and the air smells like jasmine. Mid September to mid October are really good too, especially if you want some nice beach weather.
Summers are hot, temperatures can reach 35-40°C (95-104°F), and it’s peak tourist season. Everything is busier and more expensive. Winters are cold with snow and/or rain, depending on where you are.
Last Words on Top Places to Visit in Albania
You probably won’t be able to cover all these places in one visit, but even if you see half of the top spots you’ll be seeing a lot of Albania.
From lively cities to quiet mountains and beaches, Albania offers far more than most travellers expect – and that’s exactly its charm.
