Welcome to our Albania itinerary! If you are looking for well-crafted tips for an unforgettable trip, you are in the right place. Feel free to get inspired!
Albania is a country that many Slovaks do not know very well. Concerns about it are often mixed with fear, but once you overcome that, you will not understand why this amazing travel destination has escaped you for so long. In this itinerary, “Albania – Travel Advice, Tips, and Itinerary,” we will provide you not only with essential travel advice and tips, but also with a logical travel itinerary.
Visa
Citizens of the Slovak Republic may enter Albania with a valid passport or national ID card, with a maximum visa-free stay of 90 days.
When citizens of the Slovak Republic enter the Republic of Albania, local legislation requires their travel document (passport or, where applicable, national ID card) to be valid for at least three months beyond their expected departure date from the country and until the document’s expiration date.
When traveling to the Republic of Albania, minor children must have a valid passport that remains valid for at least three months beyond their expected departure date from the country and until the document’s expiration date. If a minor child is traveling with one parent, the consent of the other parent is required; if traveling with an authorized accompanying person, the consent of both parents is required. The parents’ signatures must be notarized, and the parental consent must be in Albanian or English.
Safety
Please, let’s forget the crazy 1990s, when Albania was synonymous with street gangs, the mafia, and smugglers. Just as cars no longer explode here as they did in the 1990s, Albania is no longer a dangerous country either. Quite the opposite. You will be surprised not only by the services, but also by the well-developed infrastructure, which is better than in Serbia or Bosnia. Many Albanians have returned home from emigration and want to improve their country—and you can feel it. Not only will you be able to communicate in English, but people will also be happy to help you.
When to go
The best time to travel is from May to October. If you want to avoid the intense summer heat, the best months are May–June and September–October.
You can also travel during the winter months, but you will not be able to do any trekking then because there is a lot of snow in the mountains, and temperatures are around 0°C. However, prices are significantly lower during the winter months.
Transportation
Air travel
Mother Teresa International Airport in Tirana is approximately 15 km from the city center. A taxi to Tirana costs between €15 and €20.
Airlines that fly here directly from Vienna or Budapest:
- Austrian Airlines: Vienna – Tirana
- Wizz Air: Vienna – Tirana
- Wizz Air: Budapest – Tirana
Intercity transport
There are regular bus connections between cities. The buses vary in quality and size. Sometimes you may get lucky with a luxurious, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan, while other times you may end up on an old bus.
Nevertheless, it should be said that the buses run on time, regularly, quickly, and at very low prices. You can find some prices below in the “Prices” section. It is best to travel in the morning, when there is not much traffic on the roads and you can avoid the intense heat.
Bus stations are located approximately 3 to 4 kilometers from the city center.
Maritime Transportation
Ferries
Italy
- Ancona – Durrës
Bari – Durrës - Brindisi – Durrës
- Brindisi – Vlorë
- Trieste – Durrës
Greece
Corfu/Kerkyra – Sarandë
You can find ferry information here:
Car rental
Probably the best way to travel around Albania is by renting a car. The earlier you book your car, the better your chances of getting a good price. There are a huge number of rental companies with different prices. It is probably best to rent a car through a reputable company such as Europcar or Avis. I used Europcar in Tirana and was extremely satisfied.
What should guide your choice of car?
- The car should have unlimited mileage. Some companies state that if you exceed a certain limit, you pay for every additional kilometer. Therefore, choose from those that say “unlimited kilometers.”
- Definitely insure the car. If something happens, you could pay a very high amount. However, the insurance does not cover the wheels or a cracked windshield.
- They drive on the right-hand side
- I recommend an automatic transmission
What do you need when renting a car?
- You need your driver’s license plus an International Driving Permit
- You can get an International Driving Permit while you wait at the document offices of the public order police at the relevant district directorate of the Police Force. It costs €6.50, and you must present your current driver’s license and one photograph
- At least two years of driving experience, or a driver’s license that has been held for at least two years
The price of gas is a little lower than in Slovakia.
Road quality
Probably the most common question and concern. Albania has invested a significant amount of money in road repairs in recent years. Major cities are connected by highways or first-class roads. I think that, in many cases, the roads here are better than we might expect. Of course, if you are going to remote villages, you cannot expect roads like those back home. This is the well-known Balkans. However, the roads between Tirana, Sarandë, Shkodër, and Durrës are in good condition.
Which rules should you watch out for?
In cities, the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h, while on expressways and highways it is generally 90–100 km/h, unless otherwise indicated by specific road signs. Even if you see an empty road ahead and want to speed up, do not do it. There are speed cameras in many places, and a fine may later be sent to the rental company you rented the car from, meaning you will have to pay it afterward, or there may be police officers around the corner.
Border Crossings
- Albania–Montenegro: Muriqan–Sukobin, Hani i Hotit–Božaj, Vermosh–Gusinje (Plav)
- Albania–Kosovo: Morinë–Vërmicë
- Albania–North Macedonia: Qafë Thanë–Kjafa San and Shën Naum–Sveti Naum
- Albania–Greece: Kapshticë–Krystallopigi, Kakavia–Ktismata
Summary of transport. If you want to see as much as possible, want freedom in travelling and to stop wherever you want, we definitely recommend renting a car. I have only had my driving licence for 5 years and I managed it easily. There is no need to worry. I paid approximately 22 euros per day for the car plus 10 euros per day for insurance. If you dare to drive a manual, the prices are even lower—around 15 euros per day. It probably does not need to be mentioned that if you are travelling as three or four people, the rental price is divided.
Prices
Travelling around Albania is among the cheapest in Europe. Below, we list current prices (during COVID, accommodation in particular is significantly cheaper).
In Albania, the local currency is the lek, and €1 is worth approximately 123 lekë. You can find the current exchange rate here.
- Transport Tirana–Berat (approximately 2.5 hours) – €2.20
- Transport Tirana–Valbonë (approximately 5.5 hours) – €7
- A traditional meal at a restaurant, excluding drinks – from €2.20
- Street food – around €1
- Burek from a bakery – around €0.70
- Beer in a shop – €0.60
- Beer in a restaurant – €1.20
- Accommodation in a guesthouse – €5
- Three-star hotels from €15
- Four-star hotels from €22
- Espresso – €0,50
- 1 liter of water – €0,20
- car rental – from €22 per day
- Local SIM card with 20 GB of data – €11
You can also find all current prices here.
Internet, electrical outlets, bank cards and more
If you buy a local SIM card (at the time of my visit, a Vodafone SIM card with 20 GB of data cost €11), you will not only be able to stay online the whole time, but you can also book accommodation on the go if your plans change, and so on. However, hotels have Wi‑Fi, so there is no need to worry that you will not be able to send a message back home.
Electrical sockets are exactly the same as at home in Slovakia, so you do not need an adapter. You can use bank cards in cities for purchases at large supermarkets or in better accommodation. Always carry local cash and exchange money in town, where the exchange rate is better. However, if you run out of local currency, you can pay in euros almost everywhere.
Itinerary
This itinerary, “Albania – Travel Advice, Tips and Itinerary,” is designed so that you can see not only mountains and beaches, but also beautiful historic towns and get a glimpse of less well-known locations. The best time to travel using this itinerary is from May until the end of September.
Day 1: Arrival in Tirana. The capital itself will probably not impress you very much. It is a mix of unappealing socialist architecture and modern buildings, creating an unidentifiable mixture of feelings. Do not form your opinion of Albania based on the capital alone. Nevertheless, there is still something to discover here.
The heart of the city is Skanderbeg Square, where you will find a statue of the national hero, government buildings, and plenty of cafés. If you like museums, head a short distance from the square to Bunker Art 2, where you can learn about the situation in Albania during the second half of the 20th century and why the country was the most closed-off state in Europe.
- Then continue on foot for two kilometres along the main boulevard, “Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit,” to Mother Teresa Square, where you will see more modern as well as socialist-era buildings. During the communist period, Mother Teresa Square was reserved exclusively for high-ranking officials.
- Above Mother Teresa Square is the pleasant city park, “Grand Park of Tirana,” where you will find not only cafés but also statues and monuments.
- If the weather is nice, take a taxi (approximately 900 lek) to the “Dajti Express” cable car, which will take you above the city, where you can enjoy views of Tirana.
- Near the lower station of the cable car, there is another bunker, “Art Bunker 1.” It is one of the best museums in the country and introduces Albania’s history from 1939 to 1991. The entire museum is located inside a real bunker where the country’s leaders would have taken shelter. You can find more information, including opening hours, here.
If you are interested in nightlife, visit Rruga Pjeter Bogdani, where there are plenty of bars and restaurants. If you are looking for a bar that not only serves Budvar on tap but also has a pleasant atmosphere with live concerts, definitely check out Iron Brush Bar at Rruga Komuna e Parisit, Villa No. 2,
Day 2: Travel from the bus station (approximately 3 kilometres from the city centre – Rruga e Shkodrës) to the town of Shkodër (approximately 2 hours). The town will feel more like a Western European metropolis. It has a compact historic centre, an imposing castle, and, above all, an old Ottoman bridge over the Buna River.
Day 3: At 6:30 a.m., take a taxi or pre-arranged transfer to the village of Koman, where you will board a ferry scheduled to depart at 9:00 a.m. This is followed by a beautiful 2.5-hour cruise through the canyon. You will arrive at the port of Fierzë, where taxis will be waiting to take you to the Valbonë Valley.
The valley is one of the most beautiful in the entire Balkans. The best accommodation in the whole valley can be found in the village of Valbonë itself.
Day 4: The trek from Valbonë to Theth is simply something you have to experience. Set off early in the morning so that you have time for photographs, views, and similar stops. The trek is about 15 km long, with an elevation gain of nearly 1,000 metres. When you reach the mountain pass before the village of Theth, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view. For this route, you need proper hiking boots, plenty of water (at least 3 litres), and some food, which you can buy in Valbonë. If you have an offline map in Maps.me, you can find the route on your own. In Theth, check into your accommodation and spend the rest of the day exploring the area and wondering whether you are in Switzerland or Albania.
Day 5: Arrange a transfer to Shkodër through your accommodation (around €10 per person in a shared car, with the journey taking approximately 2.5 hours). Check into your accommodation in Shkodër and celebrate a great trip.
Day 6: Take public transport to the town of Krujë. It is the first historic town on the route. The town is located in the hills and can be reached in approximately 2.5 hours. Stay as close to the castle as possible, and definitely pay extra for a room with a view. You will appreciate it in the evening over a glass of local wine 🙂
Day 7: Travel to Tirana, rent a car, and head to Berat (approximately 2 hours). It is another historic town, also known as the city of a thousand windows. The historic centre is small but unique. Make sure to watch the sunset from the fortress, where you will have the city at your fingertips.
Days 8–9: In the afternoon, head south towards Sarandë along the coast. Spend the first night near Dhërmi, where you will find several beautiful beaches: Dhërmi, Drymades, and Gjipe. The following day, continue towards Sarandë and stop at Borsh, Albania’s longest beach. In the late afternoon, travel through Sarandë to Ksamil, where you will stay overnight.
Of course, if you are beach lovers, extend your stay by a day or two.
Day 10: Near Ksamil lies Butrint, Albania’s best-preserved ancient site. It impresses not only with its well-preserved amphitheatre, but also with its basilica, fortifications, and Greek houses.
The visit takes approximately two hours, after which you will travel to Gjirokastër (around 70 km—two hours via winding roads). On the way, you will come across the turn-off for the Blue Eye.
It is approximately two kilometres from the main road. It is a natural turquoise spring from which more than 18,500 litres of water flow every second. Arrive in Gjirokastër in the late afternoon—stay as close as possible to the old-town centre and choose accommodation with a view.
Day 11: The most beautiful town in the Balkans? Set aside a full day for it and wander not only around the imposing fortress and beautiful town centre, but also take a trip to the Ali Pasha stone bridge, which is about 2.5 kilometres from the old town centre (you need to go on foot).
Day 12: Today will be a long but beautiful day. Your first stop will be the Ottoman stone bridge at Bënjë Thermal Baths, where you can bathe in the thermal springs beneath it. You will find the turn-off after the village of Përmet. At around 1:30 p.m., set off for Korçë. Why leave so early? This is where you will experience very poor Albanian roads. Although the road near the Greek border as far as Leskovik is good, the stretch from Leskovik to Ersekë is very bad. You definitely do not want to drive there at night. You will cover around 200 km that day.
Day 13: The town of Korçë will surprise you mainly with its evening atmosphere. Start the day by exploring the town—the cathedral, the market, and the city centre. In the afternoon, drive 20 km to Voskopojë, where you will find beautiful Christian churches. In the evening, enjoy the bars, restaurants, and atmosphere in the town centre.
Day 14: Travel to Tirana via Lake Ohrid (165 km). Stop in the town of Pogradec, where there is a lakeside beach with views of North Macedonia and the mountains. On the way to Tirana, you will pass Elbasan, although there is little to see there apart from its city walls.
Day 15: Fly home
Budget
If you are traveling as a group of three or four and sharing a car, staying in three-star hotels, eating not only street food but also at restaurants in the city center, and enjoying some wine and other treats, the trip will cost you approximately €400 per person, excluding flights.
Do you have any questions about the article “Albania – Travel Advice, Tips and Itinerary”? Leave them in the comments and we’ll be happy to answer.
