albania tourist budget

Albania Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 18, 2024

Albania is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Though it increases in popularity each year, the country is largely ignored by tourists; many still think of it as a post-communist backwater (as if the world hasn’t changed in the last 30 years).

Yet this is a land of untouched natural beauty, with a rich history dating back to the ancient Illyrians and Greeks. It has become a solid favorite of backpackers looking for an affordable, off-the-beaten-path destination to explore.

I absolutely loved my time visiting Albania. It’s a country full of good food and welcoming people. I enjoyed it so much that I extended my stay.

Hikers and nature lovers can partake of all the hiking and trekking here, beach lovers have the Albanian Riviera along the Ionian coast, and history buffs can marvel at the country’s uncrowded UNESCO sites in Butrint (an ancient Roman city), Berat, and Gjirokastër.

Albania is on the up and up, with more tourists visiting each year. I think it will become as popular (and expensive) as Croatia in the next couple of years, so visit now before the crowds come!

This travel guide to Albania can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this underrated destination!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• How to Stay Safe
• Where to Stay
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• How to Get Around
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Albania

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Top 5 things to see and do in albania.

1. Explore Tirana

Albania’s capital is rapidly transforming into a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, with its bustling cafes, eclectic museums, and trendy shops and galleries. Sip coffee at one of many espresso bars, dive into the developing digital nomad scene, soak up history in Skanderbeg Square, and enjoy the city’s booming nightlife. For a hefty dose of local culture, check out Bunk’Art, a former bunker built during the Cold War that’s since been turned into an interactive art space. If you’re in town for more than a couple of days, take the Dajti Ekspres to the top of the nearby mountain, check out the cave of Pellumbas, or go and explore the Roman and Byzantine ruins in nearby Durrës.

2. Visit the historic town of Berat

A city that’s been around for 2,400 years, Berat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the highlights of visiting Albania . It’s also known as “the City of a Thousand Windows” because of its unique white-walled Ottoman homes, picturesquely stacked atop one another on a crumbling hillside and characterized by their many windows. Visitors should make it a point to wander around Kala, an ancient neighborhood with panoramic views, historic mosques and churches, and a 14th-century castle. There are also a number of noteworthy museums in Berat, including the Ethnographic Museum, which is housed in an ornate 18th-century Ottoman home.

3. Drive the Llogara Pass

The Llogara Pass is a steep (at times the incline is 11%), winding road that rises over a thousand meters (3,500 feet) into the mountains and overlooks the glittering Ionian coast, which has been nicknamed the Albanian Riviera. This road goes from Orikum to Dhërmi, and there are lots of scenic stops along the way. If you need to stretch your legs, the trails at Llogara Pass National Park are a fantastic place to do so. Post-hike, grab lunch at one of the many roadside restaurants in the park. Though it used to be a dangerous and narrow road, the Llogara Pass was repaved in 2009. It’s still a tricky route, but it’s worth it — this is the most scenic drive in the country (and one of the most scenic drives in all of Europe).

4. Hike from Valbona to Theth

T of the most famous day hikes in Albania, this is an old mule trail that leads you across the Accursed Mountains. This section is moderately challenging and takes around eight hours in total. There are fresh water springs along the way, as well as some cafes on the route, but make sure you bring plenty of water just in case. It’s a stunning area with an abundance of flora, fauna, and wildlife to see. In Theth, there are some other hikes as well. Most notably, the Blue Eye of Theth is a shockingly blue pool of water fed by a small waterfall that can be reached in about three hours (one way) from Theth.

5. Wander around Gjirokastër

Also protected by UNESCO, Gjirokastër is famous for its stonework. Wander the cobblestone streets, hike and explore the castle, swim in nearby waterfalls, and visit the best examples of Ottoman-era architecture in the area. There’s a C old W ar museum here that’s housed in an old 800-meter-long (2,624-foot) bunker from the 1970’s. Close to the nearby village of Muzinë is the incredible natural spring called the Blue Eye. Gjirokastër, for me, is one of the best spots in the country.

Other Things to See and Do in Albania

1. relax on the albanian riviera.

Pristine beaches, turquoise water, cheap and delicious seafood — the Albanian coast has all the beauty and wonders of Croatia, without the high prices and crowds (for now). Dhërmi and Ksamil are considered to have the best beaches in the country, with miles of white, sandy beachfront. If you want a busier beach destination, go to Himarë, where the beach has a promenade lined with cafés and bars. For something more off the beaten path, make your way to Gjipe Beach. For a bustling, developed beach town, visit Sarandë, which is packed with hotels, restaurants, and nightlife.

2. Enjoy the view from Rozafa Castle

Situated near Shkodër in northwestern Albania, the 4th-century Rozafa Castle has panoramic views of the area, including the Buna and Drin Rivers. The fortifications here originally date to the 10th century BCE, when the Illyrians lived in the area (the current castle replaced those fortifications). Legend has it that a young woman sacrificed her life to imbue the castle walls with longevity. There isn’t a whole lot to see here, but the ruins are impressive, and it’s a good spot from which to watch the sunset. The Shkodër History Museum provides a great overview of the castle’s past, including the background of the medieval families who lived here. Admission is 150 ALL.

3. Visit the National Museum of History

The National Museum of History in Tirana offers a view of the country’s rich history and is divided into eight sections: antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, independence, iconography, the National Liberation Anti-Fascism War, the Communist Terror, and Mother Teresa (who was born in Albania). There’s a remarkable collection of ancient Greek and Roman mosaics, columns, and statues unearthed in Albania as well. The collection is extensive, so give yourself around three hours here. Handily, nearly the entire collection is signed in English. Admission is 500 ALL.

4. Explore the ancient ruins of Butrint

Greeks from nearby Corfu settled Butrint in the 6th century BCE. It quickly became a large trading city that was still prosperous when the Romans took over in 167 BCE. Nowadays, you can wander the pathways between what’s left of the city, including well-preserved arches and colonnades. In 2003, Butrint was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. It makes for an ideal day trip from Sarandë. I took my time there and spent about three hours exploring the ruins. The entrance fee is 700 ALL and the 45-minute bus ride costs 100 ALL.

5. Admire the art at Bunk’Art

Bunk’Art 1 and 2 are former bunkers that have been turned into museums and galleries underneath Tirana. Built in the 1970s for Albania’s elite, the bunkers’ 100 rooms have now been transformed into a museum and art space. Bunk’Art 1, located on the outskirts of Tirana, focuses on Albania’s communist past and the lives of average people under communism. Bunk’Art 2, the more recent addition, is located right in Tirana; it focuses more on the secret police that were used by the regime to terrorize the population and maintain order. Admission is 500 ALL.

6. See the ancient ruins at Apollonia

Like Butrint, Apollonia was one of the most important cities in the ancient world. The Greeks founded it in 588 BCE, and it fast grew into a city-state with a huge slave trade (just like Butrint). The Romans took over in 229 BCE, when it became a cultural center with an important philosophy school. Even Julius Caesar sent his nephew (Octavius, who became Emperor Augustus) to study there. Today you can visit the ruins (a UNESCO Heritage Site), which include a theater and the restored façade of the administrative center. Admission is 300 ALL.

7. Visit Shkodër

As the largest town in the north (and home to the Rozafa Castle), it plays host to many of the country’s biggest festivals like Carnival, Lake Day, and the Shkodra Jazz Festival. The city’s Old Town is filled with picturesque, pastel-colored homes and buildings. A lot of people breeze through Shkodër on their way to Montenegro from Tirana, but I recommend spending a day or two here. Check out one of the interesting museums here, like the Marubi National Photography Museum and the Site of Witness & Memory Museum. The former is an Albanian photographic museum; the latter commemorates the victims of the communist regime in the city. e to get to Valbonë. If you don’t want to do that, there are day trips available. You can spend a couple of hours on the lake before going up the Shala River, where you can eat lunch, rent a kayak, or chill on the “beach” (the rocky embankment). The mountain water of the Shala is super clear and clean; it looks almost tropical. The restaurants here also rent rooms (or let you camp for free) if you want to stay the night.

9. Go hiking

Albania has lots of incredibly scenic hikes. If you spend most of your time in the south, you’ll get your pick of coastal hikes along the Ionian Sea, including Mount Çika and through the Ceraunian Mountains. In the north, the hike over the Valbona Pass to the village of Theth is popular for a reason; it’s an incredibly beautiful route (and not for the faint of heart). Routes around the country vary in length and difficulty and trekking information isn’t readily available — large parts of these hikes are still undeveloped, so hire a guide if you want to explore. Outdoor Albania has lots of options to help you get started.

10. Take a wine tour

Albania has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in all of Europe. Albanian wine makes use of incredibly rare grapes, and some of the traditional practices date back to the Bronze Age. Many wineries are family-owned and located in breathtaking settings. You can take wine tours from Berat, Lezhë, and Tirana, on which you can sample some of the country’s finest. Expect to pay at least 6,500 ALL for a day trip.

11. Get spooked at Sazan

The “ghost” island of Sazan is a 30-minute boat ride from the southern port town of Vlorë. It served as a Soviet military base and chemical weapons facility for many years before being abandoned. In 2017, the government opened it for tourism, although officially it remains a military base. The rooms in this vast network of nuclear bunkers and tunnels are still stocked with beds and kitchen supplies, and you can still find abandoned gas masks in the valley nearby. Tours don’t run all the time, so you need to ask in the tourist information office in Vlorë. They can book you onto a tour if they are running. Expect to pay 3,500 ALL or more for a day tour to the island.

12. Hike Osumi Canyon

This gorgeous river canyon in southern Albania makes for the perfect day trip from Berat. It is over three million years old, stretches for 40 kilometers (25 miles), and towers 40 meters (131 feet) above the river. The most popular way to see it up close is with a rafting tour. Tours are available February-June and start at 7,000 ALL per person, which includes transportation from Berat, lunch, and 2-4 hours on the water. You can also opt to hike down through the canyon and explore the ancient rock formations and caves via a 12-kilometer trail.

13. Visit the House of Leaves

The Museum of Secret Surveillance, aka the House of Leaves, is an award-winning museum in Tirana located in the old Sigurimi building (the Sigurimi were the secret police). The building was originally used by the Gestapo during the German occupation, continuing as a base of operations for the secret police until 1991. The exhibitions highlight what life was like under German and then communist rule, shedding light on the methods used to spy on, prosecute, and execute enemies of the regime. It’s sobering but incredibly insightful. Anyone even remotely interested in the dark side of Albania’s past will find this museum fascinating. Admission is 700 ALL.

How to Stay Safe in Albania

Albania is generally a safe country to visit. Violent crime is rare but petty crime can be an issue so don’t flaunt your possessions and always make sure your valuables are out of reach while on crowded buses.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

If you’re using public transportation in Tirana, pickpocketing can be a concern, as in most other urban areas around the world. Never set down valuable items; keep them tucked away out of sight.

Locals are really proud of their country, and Albanian culture has a long tradition of guest hospitality. Moreover, Albania is a “nighttime” country (i.e., people stay out late), so there are always eyes and ears out, keeping would-be criminals in check. (Many of the women I met there told me they feel very safe walking around at night for that reason.)

The main danger in Albania is reckless driving. Albania has some of the highest road fatality rates per capita in all of Europe, so be sure to pay extra attention when driving or while walking near busy roads.

Near the border with Kosovo, landmines can still be found. Avoid hiking off the marked trails there, and keep an eye out for signs and warnings.

Scams aren’t super common, but they do occur. You can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. This protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations . It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Where to Stay in Albania

You won’t find many hostels outside of the main tourist cities, but private guest houses are pretty cheap in the countryside anyway. Here are some of my favorite places to stay in Albania:

• Saranda Backpackers (Sarandë)
• Trip’n’Hostel (Tirana)
• Friends Hostel (Gjirokastër)
• Himara Relax Hostel (Himarë)
• The Wanderer’s Hostel (Shokder)

Albania Travel Costs

Accommodation

• Hostel Dorms – 950-1,340 ALL per night
• Hostel private rooms – 2,450-5,000 ALL per night
• Budget hotels – 2,500-3,500 ALL per night
• Airbnb private rooms – 1,800-3,600 ALL per night
• Airbnb apartments – 5,800 ALL per night
• Campsite – 1,200 ALL per night
• Sit-down restaurants – 500-2,000 ALL
• Casual take-out places – 550-900 ALL
• Fast food (think McDonald’s) – 600 ALL
• Beer – 150 ALL
• Glass of wine – 150-250 ALL
• Cappuccino/latte- 140 ALL
• Bottled water – 70 ALL
• Groceries for a week – 2,500-3,500 ALL

Albania Suggested Budgets

Backpacker – 4,400 all per day.

A backpacking budget covers a hostel dorm, cooking your meals, limiting your drinking, using public transportation to get around, and sticking to free and cheap activities like hiking and free tours. If you plan on drinking a lot add another 500-1,000 ALL to your daily budget.

Midrange – 9,000 ALL Per Day

On a mid-range budget, you can stay in a private hostel room or private Airbnb. You’ll be able to eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks at the bar, see more museums and palaces, do a day trip or two, and take the occasional taxi to get around.

Upscale – 15,000+ ALL Per Day

On a “luxury” budget, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, see all the sites you want, do lots of day tours, and take taxis where you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury. The sky’s the limit!

Albania Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Albania is an affordable country to visit. You’ll be hard-pressed to spend a lot of money, even if you’re staying in private rooms or hotels. You really have to go out of your way to spend money here. But, if you are looking to travel cheap, here are some tips on how to save money:

• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here usually isn’t safe to drink, so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand, as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure that your water is always clean and safe.
• Take a free walking tour – Tirana Free Tour offers a free walking tour that highlights the city and its sites. There are also free walking tours in Berat and Shokdër. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Cook your own meals – Many hostels here include kitchen facilities, so if you want to save money, cook your own meals. Groceries are cheap here and there are a lot of farmer’s markets around where you can pick up fresh produce.
• Stay with a local – Staying with a local via Couchsurfing is a great way to save money and connect with a knowledgeable local who can share their insider tips and advice.
• Bunk up in a hostel – Hostels in Albania are cheap, especially if you book a shared room.
• Walk everywhere – Most towns and cities in Albania are walkable, so skip the public transportation and taxis to save money.
• Enjoy the outdoors – There are plenty of free hiking trails and outdoor activities around the country that can fill your days.
• Take advantage of wild camping – As it is legal to camp anywhere in Albania, traveling with a tent, or in a camper van, is the perfect way to save money on accommodation.

How to Get Around in Albania

Public transportation – In most towns and cities, almost everywhere is accessible on foot. Otherwise, take the bus. The fares cost around 40 ALL per ride.

To get from the airport to Tirana, the cheapest way is via the airport shuttle. It runs from 6am until 6pm and drops you off near the National Museum of Tirana. It costs 400 ALL (one-way) and takes around 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi for around 2,500 ALL.

Taxi – Taxis are readily available in all the major cities. Expect to pay 300 ALL to turn on the meter plus another 300 ALL for every kilometer. A lot of taxis will try to quote you a price instead of using the meter, which is almost always overly inflated. Make sure they put on the meter to avoid getting ripped off.

Train – Albania has a small rail network, but I never saw or heard of anyone taking it. The locals I talked to say it is too unreliable and slow. Buses are much faster, cheaper, and more reliable so use them instead.

Bus – Buses are the main form of inter-transportation in the country. They loosely follow a timetable. From major cities and starting points, they tend to leave on time but after that don’t count on it. But getting to your destination? Add an hour buffer just to be safe. The roads are always jammed and aren’t in great shape, so on-time arrivals are rare.

Buses cost from 300 ALL to over 1,000 ALL depending on how far you go. A bus from Sarandë to Tirana takes about 5 hours and costs about 1,700 ALL, while Berat to Tirana costs about 400 ALL and takes under three hours. The two-hour journey from Vlorë to Berat is around 400 ALL.

Pre-booking is never necessary. Just show up at the bus station and grab your ticket.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Car Rental – Car rentals start at 1,500 ALL per day. The roads are in bad shape, so be sure to drive carefully. Drivers need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent a car here.For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking is generally safe in Albania. It’s very common, and there are lots of travelers doing it. It’s pretty easy to find a ride here. HitchWiki is the best website for more hitchhiking info.

When to Go to Albania

Albania has a Mediterranean climate, which means super-hot summers (July-August), with a daily temperature averaging over 32°C (90°F), mild winters on the coast, and cold winters in the mountains (November-February).

The best time to visit Albania is during the spring (May-June) or fall (September-October). During this time, the weather is mild, with average daily temperatures around 21°C (70°F), making it perfect for hiking and other outdoor activities.

Of course, if you want to enjoy Albania’s incredible coastline, the best time to come is during the summer. Albania is not yet a huge tourism draw in Europe, so it is rare to find sites and attractions overly crowded, and prices don’t inflate much during peak season. It’s sweltering at that time of year, however, so come prepared for hot weather!

Those who want to get the most bang for their buck should plan to travel during the off season, from November to March. Prices are at their cheapest — though it must be said that the weather can get very cold. If you’re visiting the coastal areas, don’t expect to be able to swim.

Albania Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

GO DEEPER: Nomadic Matt’s In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

There’s a lot of free information online but do you want to spend days searching for information? Prob not! That’s why guidebooks exist.

While I have a lot of free tips on Europe, I also wrote an entire book that goes into great detail on everything you need to plan a trip here on a budget! You’ll get suggested itineraries, budgets, even more ways to save money, my favorite restaurants, prices, practical information (i.e. phone numbers, websites, prices, safety advice, etc etc), and cultural tips.

I’ll give the insider view of Europe that I got from years of traveling and living here! The downloadable guide can be used on your Kindle, iPad, phone, or computer so you can have it with you when you go. Click here to learn more about my book on Europe!

Albania Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more tips for your trip? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Albania travel and continue planning your trip:

Albania: An Unexpected Journey

Albania: A Case for Sustainable Tourism

My Step-By-Step Guide to Backpacking Europe

Get your  free travel starter kit.

Enter your email and get planning cheatsheets including a step by step checklist, packing list, tips cheat sheet, and more so you can plan like a pro!

• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

• Travel Planning Guide

Albania Travel Budget - Visit Albania on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Albania Costs

• Is Albania Expensive?
• How much does a trip to Albania cost?
• Albania Hotel Prices
• Albania Cities: Hotel Prices by City
• Best Business Hotels in Albania
• Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Albania
• Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Albania
• Best Hotels for One Night in Albania
• Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Albania
• Best Hotels for One Week in Albania
• Best Cheap Hotels in Albania
• Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Albania
• Best Luxury Hotels in Albania
• Best Beach Hotels in Albania
• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Albania
• Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Albania
• Hostel Prices & Reviews
• Albania Tour Prices
• The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Albania
• The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Albania
• The Best Historical Tours in Albania
• The Best 10-Day Tours in Albania
• The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Albania
• The Best 3-Day Tours in Albania
• The Best Bicycle Tours in Albania
• Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Albania
• The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Albania
• The Best Adventure Tours to Albania
• The Best Eco Tours in Albania
• The Best Art History, Museums, and Cultural Tours Tours in Albania
• The Best Sightseeing Tours in Albania
• The Best Cultural Tours in Albania
• The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Albania
• The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Albania
• The Best Walking Tours in Albania
• The Best Tours Under $1000 in Albania
• The Best Budget Tours to Albania
• The Best Tours for Seniors to Albania
• How much does it cost to travel to Albania? (Average Daily Cost)
• Albania trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

How much do package tours cost in Albania?

Is albania expensive to visit.

• How much do I need for a trip to Albania?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Albania?

You should plan to spend around $83 (Lek7,539) per day on your vacation in Albania. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $21 (Lek1,938) on meals
• $15 (Lek1,403) on local transportation
• $61 (Lek5,497) on hotels

A one week trip to Albania for two people costs, on average, $1,166 (Lek105,549) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 83 Lek 7,539
• One Week Per person $ 583 Lek 52,775
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 1,166 Lek 105,549
• One Month Per person $ 2,498 Lek 226,177
• One Week For a couple $ 1,166 Lek 105,549
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 2,332 Lek 211,098
• One Month For a couple $ 4,996 Lek 452,354

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Albania cost?

A one week trip to Albania usually costs around $583 (Lek52,775) for one person and $1,166 (Lek105,549) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Albania on average costs around $1,166 (Lek105,549) for one person and $2,332 (Lek211,098) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Albania will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Albania on average costs around $2,498 (Lek226,177) for one person and $4,996 (Lek452,354) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Albania is $177 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.

• Albania Explorer “Illyria Route” 6 Days - 16 Destinations $ 866
• 5 Days Albanian Country Side UNESCO Lake and old Towns Tour 5 Days - 9 Destinations $ 1,296

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Albania is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability . If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Albania is reasonably affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 25% of countries in Europe for its affordability . You can find more affordable countries such as Ukraine, but there are also more expensive countries, such as Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands.

For more details, see Is Albania Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Albania?

The average Albania trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Albania travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Albania

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Albania is $30 (Lek2,748). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Albania is $61 (Lek5,497). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 30 Lek 2,748
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 61 Lek 5,497

Hotel Prices in Albania

Looking for a hotel in Albania? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in Albania based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $49. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Recommended Properties

• Hotel Mucobega Budget Hotel - Kayak $ 73
• Hotel Butrinti & SPA Luxury Hotel - Kayak $ 136

Local Transportation Budget in Albania

The cost of a taxi ride in Albania is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $15 (Lek1,403) per person, per day, on local transportation in Albania.

• Local Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 15 Lek 1,403

Recommended Services

• Transfers Airport - Tirana Viator $ 31
• Tirana to Skopje via Ohrid/Prizren | Private Transfer Viator $ 224

Food Budget in Albania

While meal prices in Albania can vary, the average cost of food in Albania is $21 (Lek1,938) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Albania should cost around $8.56 (Lek775) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Albania is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 21 Lek 1,938

Recommended

• Traditional Albanian Food Cooking Class in Tirana Viator $ 51
• Berat Cooking Class- Traditional Albanian Cooking Class /By Vato Viator $ 43

What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in Albania are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in Albania, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Lunch Lek 850
• Frappe Lek 60

Entertainment Budget in Albania

Entertainment and activities in Albania typically cost an average of $8.97 (Lek812) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 8.97 Lek 812

Recommended Activities

• Full Day tour of Theth & Blue Eye from Tirana or Shkoder Viator $ 175
• CUSTOMIZED Private Tours in Albania (Book your favorite tour options!) Viator $ 193

Tips and Handouts Budget in Albania

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Albania is $62 (Lek5,594) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Albania is 5% - 15% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 62 Lek 5,594

Alcohol Budget in Albania

The average person spends about $9.18 (Lek831) on alcoholic beverages in Albania per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 9.18 Lek 831
• Tour of Kruja and Wine Tasting in one Day from Tirana Viator $ 155
• 3 Hour Pub Crawl Tour in Tirana Viator $ 23

Water Budget in Albania

On average, people spend $2.09 (Lek189) on bottled water in Albania per day. The public water in Albania is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 2.09 Lek 189

Albania on a Budget

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The Cost of Travel in Albania: My 2024 Budget Breakdown

Albania is one of the most underrated travel destinations in Europe. Filled with stunning outdoor adventures such as day hikes to enchanting villages like Theth, an underrated cuisine containing delights like Byrek, and a dark history that is still evident all over the Balkan country to this day.

Spending two weeks in Albania really opened my eyes and showed me that there’s more to Europe other than the popular countries and cities. I kicked my trip off from the north of the country in the interesting city of Shkodër and slowly went down the west coast before crossing the border into Greece. This was nowhere near enough time, as I would have loved to see what the eastern region of Albania had to offer.

My two weeks in Albania were arguably one of my favorite trips to date because I managed to see so much and meet the friendliest of people. Taking the bus from Montenegro to Shkodër, I didn’t know what to expect. After a few days of taking on breathtaking hiking trails, I knew this trip would be one to remember. 

After Shkodër, I ventured to the capital Tirana to learn about Albania’s past communist rule and how society has changed since those times. Following my stop in Tirana, I took a bus to Berat, a city famed for being the city of a thousand windows because of the old Ottoman houses being perched up on a hill. 

My next stop was Gjirokaster, loved for its stone buildings and unique architecture, and wow, was it impressive. The charm this place has is unlike anywhere else I have ever been.

It’s important that you choose the right time of year to visit Albania. The country gets extremely hot summers and cold winters, but it depends on where you’re going. The west coast is the hottest region in the country, with Sarandë being the warmest city. If you can, try to visit Albania in the shoulder season months of April and March, the weather is nice then and not too hot.

One thing I do want to mention upfront is that the internet is littered with articles claiming that Albania is the cheapest country in Europe. I wouldn’t be surprised if the authors of said pieces visited pre-pandemic, because Albania in 2024 actually isn’t that inexpensive.

Sure, it’s cheaper than tourist-filled spots in neighbouring Greece and Croatia, but it’s likely not as cheap as you’re expecting it to be. Prices have been steadily increasing over the past couple of years and there’s little sign of them slowing down.

During my trip, I stayed in either guesthouses or mid-range hotel rooms and used public transport to go everywhere. I found the further south you go in the country, the more expensive things start to get; this is where all the stunning beaches are, so more tourists go there. But don’t worry; it’s never too overpriced.

Using Albanian public transport is an experience in itself. The main way to get around is by taking minivans as there’s no national train line, but often the drivers won’t leave until the bus fills up, and there’s barely any AC on board, so you’ll often be stuck in 35-degree heat on a crammed bus waiting for the last seat to fill.

I have written this article to fill you in on the cost of travel in Albania. This Balkan beauty is a very affordable destination to visit. You get great value for money, whether it’s food, tours, excursions, or accommodation.

So, without further ado, let me show you how much your travel expenses for Albania will be. It’s time to start planning your vacation of a lifetime.

The Cost Of Accommodation In Albania

Albania has accommodation for every type of budget, from boutique apartments in Tirana at $35 a night to private villas overlooking the city of Berat for $54. Whatever city you visit, bargains are waiting to be snapped up.

Apartments and guesthouses are in abundance in Albania, and they’re very affordable, especially when you compare them to some big-name hotel chains. That’s why I mostly opted to stay in them, plus a lot of the time; complimentary breakfast was served, saving me money on an extra meal every day. It was the same in most hostels too.

Everyone has their own style of accommodation they like to stay in, so I’ll go through each one in detail to give you a better idea of what to expect when you’re in Albania.

How To Save Money On Accommodation In Albania

Let’s start with saving money on accommodation in Albania for budget travelers. Anyone who’s a backpacker will be happy to know that there are countless ways to save yourself some dollars on places to stay.

Couchsurfing is a phenomenon that has always been around but recently has gained huge interest from backpackers in particular. It’s a cool concept that allows travelers and locals to connect on a platform where travelers can request to be hosted by someone living in the city they’re visiting. 

Often, the host will offer up their couch or sometimes even a spare bedroom if you’re lucky. And the best thing is, it’s absolutely free. As well as that, you get to learn firsthand about a new culture that you wouldn’t discover if you were staying in a fancy hotel alone.

Maybe you’re thinking about volunteering somewhere; if so, you need to look into WOOFING. It’s an interesting website with a huge catalog of volunteering opportunities available worldwide in various regions. Whether it’s working on a local family-run farm or a sustainability project in the countryside, you’ll find all sorts of exchanges there. A lot of the time, your meals and accommodation will be included too, so you won’t have to spend a dime.

House sitting is another excellent way of finding somewhere to stay for free. Log on to the house sitting website, type in the city you’re visiting, and apply to look after somebody’s home as well as their pet when they’re on vacation. More often than not, you can find yourself staying in mansions with ample swimming pools, which isn’t anything to complain about.

Hostels In Albania

A popular way of saving money on accommodation in Albania is bunking in a hostel. If you’re willing to share a room with five or six other people, you can easily cut your costs in half. You’ll be surprised how cheap hostels are.

There are hostels in all of the major cities in Albania, and they have a different vibe from the ones in western Europe. In places like Amsterdam or Prague, you’ll find most of the time they’re filled with young groups of friends, whereas in Albania, it’s mostly solo travelers staying in hostels, so you have much more of a chance of meeting like-minded people.

Here are my Albania hostel recommendations you need to check out for your trip.

• You have to stay at the charming Wanderers Hostel in Shkodër , a quintessential backpacker hub with a wonderful social vibe. It’s only a few minutes from the city center and on the side of an adorable street. A basic four-bed mixed dorm a night costs $12.5 0, and a four-bed private room will set you back $43 .
• There’s only one hostel where you should stay when in Tirana: the Vanilla Sky Backpacker’s Hostel . Six-bed mixed dorms cost $16 , and a double private room is only $39 . That’s fantastic value for a capital city. Just a short walk from Skanderbeg Square, and there are coffee machines in each dorm, which is a nice touch. 
• Everyone loves the Saranda Backpackers Hostel in Sarandë for its prime location and the boat tours they run every day. Not to forget the BBQs they host in the summer. A bed in a six-person dorm at this property costs $14 . Sadly, no private rooms are available, but the cozy dorms with modern air conditioning systems make up for it.
• Situated in a 300-year-old UNESCO-protected building, the Berat Backpackers offers a unique stay for backpackers with traditional Ottoman features and five garden terraces for socializing. A night’s stay in an eight-person dorm costs $13 , and a double room with a private balcony costs $30 .
• Stone City Hostel in Gjirokaster has been voted the best hostel in Albania for three years in a row. For a good reason, it’s filled with the best amenities, has lovely common areas, a fully functioning bar, and a relaxed atmosphere. A single bed in a 10-person dorm there will only cost $14, and there aren’t any private rooms available.

Hostels in Albania are extraordinarily cheap and provide guests with modern places to stay. On average, you’ll spend between $12 and $16 per night on a bed in a dorm room or $30 and $43 for a private room.

The Best Hotels To Stay in When Traveling In Albania

The alternatives to hostels in Albania are guesthouses, apartments, and hotels, and they’re still affordable. Since Albania isn’t a hugely popular travel destination, I was able to book some of the guesthouses I wanted to stay in on the day of check-in, which gave me tremendous flexibility for planning my days ahead.

Booking.com is hands down the best and cheapest tool to use when booking a place to stay in Albania. There are so many options there, like you wouldn’t believe. As I love finding great value accommodation options, I always use the website’s “top reviewed” filter, which gives me an insight into the properties that people enjoyed their stay at, so I don’t end up somewhere below standard.

I have listed my Albania accommodation recommendations below.

• Shkodër – Ridi’s Comfort Apartment – ($29 a night for a one-bedroom apartment) – Enjoy a stay at one of the top-rated properties in Shkodër city center, featuring one spacious bedroom, a fully stocked kitchen, and a flatscreen TV. Clean and comfortable with the friendliest landlord Arseld who’s a great help with whatever you need; you couldn’t ask for much more, especially for the price.
• Dave and I absolutely adored our colourful room at UrbanBllok5! It’s located in the coolest neighbourhood in Tirana, surrounded by all the best bars and restaurants. Despite that, the room was silent, even on busy weekend nights. The internet was super fast, the shower pressure was great, and the air conditioning worked well. We met the owner outside the property after flying in to Tirana, which made checking in easy. There was even free fruit for all the guests! All in all, a wonderful place to stay in the city!
• Sarandë – Villa Balbi 34 – ($61 a night for a deluxe double room with a balcony and sea view) – Spend your time in beautiful Sarandë at the Villa Balbi 34, a gorgeous property 200 meters away from the city’s beach which you can see from your balcony. Each unit contains huge double beds with plush mattresses and crisp sheets, air conditioning, and modern-styled en suite bathrooms. I would describe Villa Balbi 34 as a home away from home.
• Berat – Olive B&B – ($36 a night for a double or twin room with a private bathroom) – This delightful B&B is situated just outside the center of Berat, right on the city’s river. With well-maintained rooms and a convenient location with all the main sights, only a few minutes walk away. The complimentary breakfast served every morning is to die for and will have you full until late in the afternoon.
• Gjirokaster – Stone Rooms 1850 – ($27 a night for a double room with a private bathroom) – While there are many admirable guesthouses in Gjirokaster, Stone Rooms 1850 has something special about it. The guest rooms boast contemporary private bathrooms, a work desk, and city views and are designed to make you feel like you’re back in the Ottoman Era. It’s located steps away from the old town, so you’re only a saunter away from all the delightful restaurants and bars.

The average cost of a mid-range hotel per night in Albania is $27

The Cost Of Transportation In Albania

I’m going to be honest with you here: I’ve been to 100 countries and Albania’s public transportation is probably some of the most infuriating I’ve ever encountered! Truly, by the end of my time here, I was starting to dread every travel day.

Something always seemed to go terribly wrong, no matter how much preparation I’d undertaken!

In this country, you’ve got three options for getting from A to B, each with their own sets of advantages and difficulties.

• Advantages: Avoiding the complexities of bus travel in Albania, mostly! Plus the freedom to stop wherever you like, explore the country in more depth, and not be beholden to irregularly-running minivans.
• Disadvantages: Parking can be particularly complex in places like Berat and Gjirokaster, where you’ll be attempting to navigate single-lane cobblestone alleyways on steep gradients with aggressive local drivers honking at you to hurry up.
• Advantages: Provides an inexpensive way of getting around the country, where you’ll rarely pay more than €4-8 for a multi-hour journey.
• Disadvantages: Bus stations are often random street corners or stretches of motorway in the middle of nowhere with no indication that you’re in the right place. Often, timetables are inaccurate and station locations are incorrect. You can’t easily book tickets in advance. Most don’t have air conditioning.
• Advantages: No need to worry about parking, dealing with aggressive drivers, or spending hours trying to work out where the bus stations are located.
• Disadvantages: It’s more expensive than the alternatives, taxis can often be rundown, drivers might occasionally pull over and ask for more money, and it doesn’t feel particularly safe as a solo traveller.

I had several bus-related mishaps while I was travelling in the country. To give an example of the complexities of this system, I’ll tell you about my attempts to get from Berat to Gjirokaster.

There were two direct minivans running between these inland cities; one at 8 a.m. and one at 2 p.m. The earlier bus would mean an early rise and skipping our guesthouse breakfast, while the later one would mean waiting around for hours after our 10 a.m. check out, while it was pouring with rain. Neither was appealing.

We hopped on to Girafa Travel , a local website that (in theory) lists most of the bus/minivans available along with their timetables. It turned out there was a 10 a.m. bus from Berat to Fier, then, after a 30 minute wait, a bus from Fier to Gjirokaster. Too easy!

Narrator: it was not, in fact, “too easy”.

Our minivan driver unloaded us in Fier on a random street in the city that was decidedly not a bus station. Unconcerned, we simply searched for the city’s bus station on Google Maps and walked the 15 minutes over there.

The station, like in many Albanian cities, was more of a car park, with a couple of minivans lingering around, neither of which were heading in the direction that we were.

Sitting on our backpacks, we waited for the bus to Gjirokaster. And we waited. And waited. Eventually, we started asking around and the locals told that there isn’t actually a bus to Gjirokaster at all.

When we protested and showed the bus’s existence on Girafa Travel, one guy shook his head, took my phone from me, and dropped a pin beside a motorway that was 10 km outside of town. That, he told us, was where the bus would drive past.

This was a disaster for several reasons.

• We had missed our original bus and there wouldn’t be another one to Gjirokaster for two hours.
• We weren’t entirely sure that this guy was correct. If we were to take a taxi out to this motorway and the bus didn’t drive past, we would be stranded and unable to get back into town, as there are no working taxi apps in Fier. It really was just the side of a motorway in the middle of nowhere.
• The clouds had just decided to empty themselves on our heads, drenching us at this open-air bus station and we had no idea what to do.

In a fit of panic, we decided to take a taxi to Gjirokastër instead, but even that proved to be impossible. As we walked through the streets of Fier, soaked to the bone, we could not find a single taxi in the city.

We started wandering inside travel agents to ask for help but nobody could speak English.

We continued asking around, however, and somehow managed to meet our guardian angel.

Inside a small local shop, the woman behind the counter dropped everything to help. She called her personal driver, every taxi company she knew, and every bus company she could think of.

She took an hour out of her day to help us come up with a solution: she had found a bus company that would be passing through Fier to Gjirokaster and was willing to stop at the side of the road to pick us up on their way. (Yes, really).

All we had to do was wait around for two hours, then walk to the random pin she had dropped on my Google Maps, and the bus driver would — in theory — find us and pick us up. I dread to think how an inexperienced traveller would have been able to work their way out of this situation!

And isn’t that the most ridiculous experience?! I’m afraid to say that our travel days in Albania often seemed to devolve into confusion and misadventure.

But let’s now talk about prices.

The bus system in Albania is extremely inexpensive. Here’s what I paid for the local buses on my 2024 trip:

• Tirana to Berat:
• Tirana to Gjirokaster:
• Gjirokaster to Saranda:
• Saranda to Himare:
• Saranda to Tirana:

It turns out, the bus system in Albania operates a kind of make it up as you go like arrangement. They’ll cram as many people on as possible, stop to pick up their friends along the way completely off-route and drive like they’re in Mario Kart. 

While bus fares are cheap, the drivers will also have different prices for each person; for example, if you’re the last person to arrive, nine times out of ten, you’re getting charged more than the first person. 

Barely any information about bus schedules is online, so you have to show up at the station — or side of the road — and hope for the best. Although this sounds like a bit of an adventure at the start, it can be a pain after a while.

I inserted a price list for the popular bus journeys when I visited in 2024, but this might have changed since.

The alternative to buses is hiring a car since there’s only one major airport in the country and no train line. Many government travel warning websites will tell you to avoid hiring a car because the roads in Albania are poor, but that information is now outdated. The roads in Albania were great/ If I were to return, I would look into a car rental. Many of the guesthouses have free parking available, and fuel is generally cheap.

See below for the average car rental prices in Albania.

• Car Wiz – Tirana – $37 a day
• Sur Price – Shkodër – $60 a day
• Sur Price – Sarandë – $49 a day

Uber has not yet established itself in Albania, but taxis are readily available and quite cheap. Always negotiate a price with your driver before you get in the cab, as some drivers are notorious for scamming tourists. If you’re going to the airport, ask your guesthouse owner to organize it for you and get them to agree on the price, so you don’t get ripped off.

There aren’t many domestic ferries you can take in Albania, but if you are interested in going to either Greece or Italy, some routes are available from Durrës and Sarandë. Prices vary depending on the time of year, but to get the cheapest tickets, head down to the port the day before and enquire.

The average cost of transport per day in Albania is $6.

The Cost of Food In Albania

So, Albanian food wasn’t my favourite cuisine in the world. I was a bit surprised by this, because I absolutely adore the local eats in both Croatia and Greece, but alas! I have to confess I found the food a bit too meat-heavy and bland in Albania. That’s not to say that there aren’t some absolutely delicious dishes to uncover while you’re on the ground, but also, don’t be surprised if you end up opting for some international eats while you’re there, too.

If you’re confused about what you should try, stick to the basic snacks like cevapi and byrek. After you’re fed up with those, branch out with things like tava e kosit and speca të mbushura. Don’t forget fërgesë, either — that was my absolute favourite local dish in Albania!

I also have a bit of a funny story to share about Dave and Albanian food.

There are just two things in the world that Dave can’t eat: dairy and bell peppers, as he has a painful intolerance to both.

Let me tell you that it sure felt like 95% of the dishes in Albania contained both of these items!

We’d wander down for our hotel breakfast in the morning and be greeted with a cheese and pepper omelette; we’d sit down for dinner and be greeted by a free appetiser of… bell pepper-infused tzatziki; Dave would order meatballs and they’d come with… a side of bell peppers; we’d a peruse a menu at a traditional restaurant and have to leave because every single dish contained peppers. It was hilarious frustrating to deal with.

But hey, if you love your meat, cheese, and bell peppers, you’re going to be very happy in Albania.

In terms of prices, the food was all super affordable, even in the most touristy of areas. On average, I paid L700 [€7/£6/$8] for a meal. I’ll give a brief rundown, now, of the typical dishes you can expect to run into for each meal, as well as what you’ll likely pay for them.

Typical breakfast dishes in Albania:

Byrek: arguably the most well-known food in Albania,This tasty pastry is perfect for breakfast and can be picked up from most bakeries across the country. The flaky snack consists of layers of dough with different fillings available, such as ricotta cheese, spinach, onions, tomatoes, or meat. My favourite version was from Byrek Special “Luani” in Tirana, where I paid an unbelievable 50 Lek (50 cents!) for a spinach and cheese one.

Flija – Similar to Byrek, but with a twist, Flija is another scrumptious breakfast bite that’s made with multiple layers of pancakes and drenched in cream, sour cream, and butter. Be warned; you need to have a big appetite to get through a serving of this. A slice of Flija usually costs between $1.00 and $1.50

More typical breakfasts in Albania

• Fergese (bell peppers, onions, spices, feta cheese, and tomatoes) at a cafe – $3 to $4
• Trahana (wheat flour and yogurt made into chunks the size of pasta) at a local eatery – $3 to $4
• Petulla (fried dough) at a street food stall – $2

Lunch Prices In Albania

Fërgese – Every restaurant will have Fërgese on their menu. It’s one of the country’s signatures that’s almost like consisting of tomatoes, peppers, onions, spices, and cottage cheese. Don’t forget to order yourself some bread for dipping. Fërgese will typically cost about $3 to $4 with a side of bread.

Imam Bajalldi – Originating from Turkey but making its way to Albanian shores decades ago during the Ottoman period is Imam Bajalldi. It’s a simple recipe with stuffed eggplant filled with cheese, onions, tomato puree, and parsley. A serving of Imam Bajalldi is priced between $3 and $4.

More typical lunches in Albania

• Tavë Kosi (lamb and rice bake) at a typical Albanian restaurant – $4
• Kackavall ne Furre me Domate (baked cheese with tomatoes) in a locally owned dining venue – $3.50

Dinner Prices In Albania

Cevapi – You can’t leave Albania without sampling some Cevapi; it would be a sin. This meal is eaten all over the Balkans, but the way the Albanians prepare it is special. It’s made by grilling minced meat and rolling it into pieces of finger-sized sausage. The meat is then put into a certain type of bread and sprinkled with onions. A full Cevapi should only cost a maximum of $4.

Tave Mishi – Dinner for two, anyone? Tave Mishi is a massive spread of meat that usually comes out for big occasions. There’s just about everything in there, from lamb to sausage. If you order Tave Mishi at a restaurant, a side of lemon will be served alongside it for some added flavor. The price of a platter of Tave Mishi varies, but expect to pay between $6 and $10, depending on how much food is on it.

More typical dinners In Albania

• A plate of Qofte (meatball-based dish) in a restaurant – $3 to $4
• Peshk dhe Perime ne Tave (fish and vegetables) at a seafood eatery – $5 to $6

Alcohol in Albania is cheap. A locally brewed beer only costs around $2, and for imported ones, it’s $3 to $3.50. On the days you don’t find yourself drinking beer, you’ll probably be drinking Rakia, an anise-flavored liqueur made with fermented grapes or plums, drank by Albanians on every occasion, whether it’s to wake up or to celebrate somebody finishing their exams.

Shots of Rakia only cost about a dollar, but go easy on that stuff because it’s distilled at home usually, which means they can make it as strong as they want; after a couple of them, you’ll end up not remembering your name.

This stuff is sold everywhere, from the side of the road by locals to high-end bars. It’s super strong, so be careful when choosing your portion sizes.

Different Food Budgets For Albania

You could easily get by on less than $10 a day on food in Albania if you don’t drink alcohol, especially if you only eat two times a day. Of course, there are high-end restaurants where you can spend copious amounts of money, but if you’re just sticking to local eateries, you’ll spend very little.

In Albania, I don’t recommend getting your own ingredients and cooking your own food just because eating out is cheap. Obviously, if you have some sort of allergies to certain foods, well then you should go about doing some shopping. If that’s the case, you could spend $10 to $15 on supplies in a supermarket.

Even though alcohol in Albania is cheap, it will still add a bit to your budget. If you like to have a drink after a day of exploring, you’ll spend at least $15 a day between food and a couple of beverages. 

We all love to treat ourselves sometimes, but if you’re someone that luxurious restaurants are your guilty pleasure, you could spend anything for $60 and up.

The average cost of food per day in Albania is $10.

The Cost Of Activities In Albania

There’s so, so, so much to keep you entertained in Albania, both free and paid — but the paid activities are usually pretty well-priced.

Over my two weeks in Albania, I spent money on the following activities:

• Tirana — Entrance ticket for Bunk’art 1: L500 [€5/£4/$6]
• Tirana — Entrance ticket for Bunk’art 2: L500 [€5/£4/$6]
• Tirana — Entrance ticket for House of Leaves museum: L700 [€7/£6/$8]
• Tirana — Return ticket for the Dajti Ekspres cable car: L1400 [€14/£12/$16]
• Berat — Entrance ticket for the Onufri Iconographic Museum: L400 [€4/£3/$4]
• Gjirokaster — Entrance to Gjirokaster Castle: L400 [€4/£3/$4]
• Butrint — Entrance ticket for Butrint National Archaeological Park: L1000 [€10/£8/$11]

If you’re looking to do some guided tours, they’ll set you back quite a bit. Here’s a full list of activities you shouldn’t miss in Albania.

Day Trip to Bogë and Theth National Park from Shkodër – $77.20 per person – Go deep into the Albanian Alps through Theth National Park in search of the picturesque village of Bogë. Soak up alluring mountainscapes and immerse yourself in the Balkan countryside.

The Gamti Mountain Hike – from Tirana – $85.77 per person – Take on one of Albania’s most impressive hikes, the Gamti Mountain Hike. Follow an experienced guide as they take you through the challenging trek one step at a time. As you reach the top, you’ll be treated to a fabulous view of the crystal clear, ice-blue Bovilla Lake. This one’s a popular one, so do book in advance!

Osum Canyon and Bogove Waterfall Tour from Berat – $75.05 per person – Visit the largest canyon in Albania, Osum Canyon, which is 76 kilometers long. Experience natural beauties such as Bogove Waterfall, a natural pool, clear waters, skyscraping cliffs, and more. To top it all off, indulge in a lovely Albanian picnic lunch provided by your guide.

The Blue Eye and Lekuresi Castle Tour From Saranda – $63.26 per person – No doubt you’ve heard about Albania’s national symbol, the blue eye, a clear freshwater spring where you can see from a depth of over 50 meters. This tour takes you to see it for yourself as well as making a stop at the Lekursi Castle, embedded within rolling hills.

Old Baazar and Cfaka Walking Tour In Gjirokaster – $16.08 per person – Roam through Gjirokaster’s famous old town in search of the delightful Old Bazaar, where you can pick yourself up some souvenirs. See the well-known Zerzebili Bridge before stopping by the ancient district of Cfaka, lined with Ottoman buildings housing cute bars, bakeries, restaurants, and corner stores.

The average cost of activities per day in Albania is $20.

How Much Does it Cost Per Day to Visit Albania?

And that’s all of your expenses for traveling to Albania. Now, we need to determine how much the total costs of your trip will add up to.

• Accommodation: $12.54 a night for a budget traveler + $27 for a mid-range traveler
• Transportation: $6 per day
• Food: $10 per day for a budget traveler + $60 for a mid-range traveler
• Activities: $20 per day

Total expenses for each day – $48.54 (budget traveler) or $113 (mid-range traveler)

Albania is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe, but get there soon, as it’s starting to get a bit more attention in recent years, and soon it will end up as popular as places like Croatia.

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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Albania Travel Costs: 2024 Albania Budget Guide

Albania is the perfect country to visit as a budget traveller. The local food is great, the public buses are affordable and there’s a lot of beautiful places to see. So if you’re planning a trip to Albania, here’s our ultimate budget guide on everything you need to know!

Albania is one of the most affordable countries in Europe! We tracked all of our Albania travel costs on  TravelSpend  (a budget-tracking app)! It was the easiest way to keep track of everything we spent, especially as we used a lot of cash in Albania.

Our travel style is between basic and moderate. We’re not luxurious travellers at all, but you can still enjoy Albania luxuriously! We also travelled in peak season which means some of our accommodations might be a little higher than usual. We mainly noticed this at the beach destinations.

Overall, you won’t struggle to stick to a budget in Albania , as long as you know how to travel on a budget. Choose public transport over car hire, eat the local food and enjoy Albania’s inexpensive activities.

In our Albania budget guide, we’ll share how much we spent on our 2.5-week trip to Albania with a few tips along the way.

This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you .

Table of Contents (Skip to a section!)

Albania Travel Costs & Budget Guide

Before we jump into the breakdown of costs for each category, we want to share the total spend of our trip! This total doesn’t include flights or pre-travel expenses such as travel insurance, visas or clothes. As we’re from the UK we didn’t need a visa to enter Albania.

Overall spend – £1,285.02 (£642.51 per person) Daily Average – £71.39 (£35.70 per person)

£1,285.02 is the total for 2 people spending 18 days in Albania.

We feel pretty happy with our Albania travel costs and managed to do everything we planned! The prices are similar to other Balkan countries, apart from Greece and Croatia. It’s a little more expensive than Southeast Asia but cheaper than the UK and Japan.

Our Albania Budget Breakdown

We’ve separated this Albania budget guide into categories such as accommodation, food and transport. Here’s all of our Albania travel costs!

Accommodation in Albania on a budget

We spent £474.56 (£237.28 per person) which is 37% of our total cost. Accommodation was our highest expense when travelling Albania on a budget. We paid for 17 nights’ worth of accommodation and varied different prices. The most expensive places were Sarande (beach destination) and Theth (mountains)

• Shkoder Hostel – Private Room – 2 nights – €63 (€33 per night)
• Valbone Guesthouse – 1 night – €32 per night
• Theth Guesthouse – 2 nights – €90 (€45 per night)
• Tirana Apartment – 3 nights – €77 (€26 per night)
• Berat Guesthouse – 2 nights – €69 (€35 per night)
• Gjirokaster Hostel – Private room – 2 nights – €57 (€29 per night)
• Sarande Apartment – 5 nights – €200 (€40 per night)

If you’re travelling Albania on a budget expect to spend around £30 a night for two people in a private room. £10-15 a night if you’re travelling solo. Our average nightly spend was £28 a night, but we stayed in a mix of hostels, guesthouses and apartments.

Where to stay in Shkoder on a budget: Mi Casa es Tu Casa  (Shkodra Backpackers Hostel) – One of the best and most affordable hostels in Shkoder with friendly staff and bike rentals –  Find on Booking.com here !

Where to stay in Valbone on a budget: Bujtina Albjoni  – As Valbone is a small mountain town, there isn’t a huge variety, but this guesthouse was a good price with free breakfast (not great options for vegans though). We also paid €5 for a drive to the hiking point – Find on Booking.com here !

Where to stay in Theth on a budget: Rrashkadoli Guesthouse  – A great place to stay just outside of Theth Village. They offer cheap food, dorm rooms and private rooms –  Find it on Booking.com here

Where to stay in Tirana on a budget: Lovely One-Bedroom Studio in Tirana  – The perfect little apartment for a stay in Tirana. We felt at home here and saved extra money cooking our own meals. This was one of our cheapest accommodations during our Albania trip – Find on Booking.com here !

Where to stay in Berat on a budget: Ariabaci Guesthouse  – A very affordable stay in Berat! It’s slightly uphill but this meant that we had great views –  Find it on Booking.com here .

Where to stay in Gjirokaster on a budget: Friends Hostel  – A family-run hostel with private rooms, we cooked pasta for dinner here and saved money by chilling on their beautiful terrace instead of a restaurant for the night –  Find it here on Booking.com !

Where to stay in Sarande on a budget: Vila Marina apartments  – Although Sarande accommodation wasn’t budget-friendly for us, (compared to the rest of Albania), it was still a great price compared to Western Europe! We had a full kitchen and cooked a lot –  Find it here on Booking.com !

Albania Travel Costs at Restaurants

Truthfully, we ate at restaurants for around 75% of our trip and this is due to local food being affordable! We spent £295.42 (£147.71 per person) on restaurants during our 2.5-week Albania trip , which is about 23% of our budget .

This price also includes tipping which is between 5-10% on most meals . We didn’t feel the need to tip at every restaurant depending on the style and service but it is something to consider when dining in Albania.

Our most expensive dinner was at Albania’s only vegan restaurant, Green Life, costing €33 (2 mains, 1 drink, 1 dessert). €33 is considered expensive in Albania, whilst in London that price is very normal. Check out our vegan in Albania guide !

One of our cheapest meals in Albania was a Gyro each in Sarande costing €8.40 (2 gyros). A gyro is not as filling as a full restaurant-style meal, but it’s a great on-the-go lunch.

Traditional Albanian food on average costs 500 lek per dish (€5) . Here’s a few examples of our final bill at restaurants around Albania. Shkoder – €19, Valbone – €15.50, Theth – €17.50, Blue Eye – €12, Shkoder – €12, Berat – €16.50 and Berat – €14.

Most of these meals were three main dishes shared between two with a drink. Here’s a few more of our dining-out travel costs in Albania:

• 2 Icecream scoops in Shkoder – €2
• 4 Icecream scoops in Tirana – €5.60
• 2 Falafel Wraps in Triana – €9
• 2 Pizza’s in Theth – €14
• Breakfast in Shkoder (smoothie bowls) – €10.70
• Burek (Albanian Pastry)- €1.20
• Soda (coke) – €0.80
• Grilled Corn (street food)- €1

We’re not big coffee or alcohol drinkers, so our budget is slightly lower due to mainly drinking water and soda. Although we probably make up for it in vegan snacks and some more convenient vegan food like plant-based milk in Albania. It’s quite pricey.

The best way to stick to a budget in Albania is to eat traditional food and try some local specialities! We mainly ate stuffed peppers, stuffed eggplant, potatoes and vegetables.

We have a full guide on how to spend 2 days in Shkoder before the mountains!

Transportation Costs in Albania

One of the most important factors of travelling is the transport ! We saved a lot of money by taking public transport instead of hiring a car, especially as we travelled during peak season.

Our total transport costs were £215.32 (£107.66 per person) which was 17% of our Albania travel budget .

We’ve heard that it can cost from €40 a day to rent a car which would have cost over €600 (plus fuel) for our trip. As much as we love the freedom of travelling by car, we really wanted to backpack Albania and catch the local transport. We rented a scooter twice as it was cheaper than booking a tour.

Here’s all of our travel costs in Albania for transport:

Cross-Country Buses in Albania:

• Tirana Airport – Shkoder (Minivan) – €10 each
• Shkoder – Valbone -(2 Minivans and 1 ferry) – €26 each
• Theth – Shkoder (Minivan) – €12 each
• Shkoder – Tirana (Bus) – €5 each
• Tirana – Berat Bus – €5 each
• Berat – Gjirokaster Bus – €10 each
• Gjirokaster – Sarande – €4 each

Local Travel Costs in Albania:

• Guesthouse Taxi to Hike Starting Point – €5
• Blue Eye Minibus Return – €10 each (€5 each way per person)
• Local Tirana Bus – €0.40 each journey (total of €1.60)
• Tirana to Kruje Return – €2 each journey (total of €8)
• Berat Local Bus Return – €0.30 each journey (total of €1.20)

Scooter Rental Travel Costs in Albania:

• Scooter Rental (Berat) 1 day – €15
• Scooter Fuel – €8
• Scooter Rental (Sarande) 2 days – €40
• Scooter Fuel – €13

The travel costs in Albania increase each year, so although these figures are current now, you may want to use our transport travel costs as a guide. A lot of prices have increased compared to the photos on Google Maps.

Fuel is quite pricey in Albania , especially compared to the UK which is considered expensive. On the few days we rented a scooter, we drove around for a couple of hours, so we would estimate €8 a day for fuel and maybe €15 for a car.

Buses in Albania are an experience! We travelled in the 35°C heat of July and the buses do not have air con. It was a pretty sweaty ride, but it wasn’t too uncomfortable. They’re such an affordable way to get around, we would definitely travel by bus again.

Check out our 2 day Berat itinerary if you’re planning a visit to the historic city!

Activities in Albania on a budget

Our total spend for activities in Albania on a budget was £132.05 (£66.03 per person) , which was 10% of our travel costs. Most activities are inexpensive or free around the country, especially in the mountains! As we tracked all of our Albania travel costs, here’s all the activities we paid for:

• Shkoder Museum Tickets – €2 each
• Shkoder Castle Tickets – €4 each
• 2 Bicycle Rentals – €6 each
• Theth Tower – €1.50 each
• Bunker Art Museum – €9 each
• Gjirokaster Castle Tickets – €4 each
• Gjirokaster Cold War Tunnel Tickets – €2 each
• Sunbed Jale Beach – €20
• Butrint National Park – €10 each
• Sarande Boat Trip – €30 each

As soon as we visited the Albanian Riviera, the prices started getting higher for activities!

Boat Trips in Sarande , Ksamil or Himare range from €20 – €60 if you want a large boat, small boat or private boat. We paid €30 for a small boat that included snorkelling gear! Check out our Sarande Travel Guide !

Sunbeds in the south can also vary in price, but usually, they’re €10 for a pair of beds and an umbrella. We paid €20 for a cabana-style bed at the front of the beach as it was SO hot.

Museums are usually quite affordable in Albania, although Bunk Art 2 in Tirana was a little pricey.

Cost of Groceries in Albania on a budget

We spent £114.43 (£57.22 per person) on groceries in Albania which was 9% of our travel costs. Even though we knew restaurants in Albania were affordable, we also wanted to cook our own food. We made sure that some of our accommodations had kitchen access and bought a few ingredients at each destination.

A portion of our budget went on fruit and snacks in between meals! We only had breakfast at a restaurant once, so we bought bread, fruit, oats or cereal for breakfast.

• 4 Bananas – €1.50
• Peanut Butter, Pasta, Sauce, Drinks – €7.91
• Porridge Packets – €2.40
• Fruit, Watermelon, Nectarines & Bananas – €4.20
• 1L Water – €1
• 3 Peaches – €0.34
• Pasta, Snacks & Drinks – €5.86
• Rice Cakes & Avocado – €2.78
• Bag of Crisps – €0.67
• Dinner Ingredients & Drinks – €5.98

➤ Visiting the capital of Albania? Check out our Tirana Travel Guide !

Other Travel Costs in Albania

We spent £32.68 on general items in Albania like our sim card, luggage storage and some food for animals. This only came to 2.5% of our travel costs.

Sim Card : €25 (Vodafone 40GB 21 Days) – We bought a Vodafone sim card at the airport and shared it together throughout our Albania trip . Most of the time we had wifi in our accommodation. You can also buy an E-sim online for a cheaper price, but you’ll get less data.

Bag Storage: €6 (Shkoder Hostel 3 nights) – Our hostel in Shkoder looked after our bags for 3 nights whilst we were hiking in Valbone and Theth . It was €1 per person, per night.

Miscellaneous : €2 – Random shopping

Food for Animals: €4.40 – We spent €1.20 on dog food, and €3.40 on two cat food packets.

We didn’t do any shopping in Albania, other than a €1 fridge magnet, but this is where we would have included it! You can find lovely souvenirs in Kruje or Gjirokaster and modern goods in Tirana!

➤ Check out our Gjirokaster itinerary to plan your trip!

Exchange Fees

Annoyingly, Albanian Banks charge a fee for foreign cards. So if you’re planning on using an ATM to get money out in Albania, you’ll have to add at least €5. After testing most of the Albanian banks, we found that ABI Bank had the lowest fees at 500 lek (€5).

Other banks can charge anywhere from 650 lek at Credins to 1190 lek at OTP. We spent a whopping £20.56 on ATM fees which is the last 1.5% of our Albania budget.

A way to get around this extra expense is to bring euros in cash for the whole of your trip or bring your own currency (Pounds or US Dollars) to exchange at a booth.

Need travel insurance?  Check out  SafetyWing  –  Find out more here!

Breakdown of our Travel Costs in Albania

Our own currency is the British pound, so we’ve written our breakdown in pounds. However as Albania use Lek and Euro, we’ve used euros as a reference throughout this budget guide. 100 Lek is equal to €1, but this exchange rate can change!

Currently, £1 is €1.18 and $1.31, but you can use XE Currency Converter to compare to your own currency. Our breakdown is for 2 people spending 18 days in Albania on a budget .

• Accommodation – £474.56 (€561.83 / $623.04)
• Restaurants – £295.42 (€349.75 / $387.86)
• Transportation – £215.32 (€254.92 / $282.69)
• Activities – £132.05 (€156.33 / $173.36
• Groceries – £114.43 (€135.47 / $150.23)
• General – £32.68 (€38.69 / $42.91)
• Exchange Fees – £20.56 (€24.34 / $26.99)

Overall spend – £1,285.02 / €1521.34 / $1687.49 (£642.51 per person) Daily Average – £71.39 / €84.52 / $93.75 (£35.70 per person)

Overall, we’re happy with our Albania travel costs and wouldn’t change a thing! There’s a few ways we could have saved extra money like less dining out and bringing cash instead of using an ATM.

Pre Travel Expenses for Albania

For full transparency on how much our Albania trip cost, we wanted to include some pre travel expenses that aren’t included in our Albanian Budget Total.

Flights: This can vary depending on where you’re coming from and what time of year you fly! We flew with Ryan Air from the UK into Tirana and took a ferry over to Corfu to fly home with EasyJet, but it was August! (Use Skyscanner and book directly on the airline website). Here’s our pre-travel expenses on flights:

UK – Tirana Flight : £57.58 (for 2 people including 2 cabin baggage Sarande – Corfu Ferry : €44 for 2 tickets Corfu – UK Flight : €230.96 for 2 people including 2 cabin baggage

Travel Insurance: This is an important cost of travelling! SafetyWing is a great nomad insurance if you’re travelling for a month or more, otherwise, we use Compare the Market to browse for options.

Transport Costs getting to the airport : We usually take a local bus to the airport in our home city, but you may need to pay for parking or grab a taxi. This price will add to your total travel costs!

Other : From suncream to clothes, shoes, luggage, toiletries, vaccinations and visas for some countries. You may have quite a few purchases to make before visiting Albania. Some things may be cheaper in your home country (like suncream)!

➤ Get your Albanian E-sim in advance here !

How to travel Albania on a budget

Eat Local – Albanian food is incredible, even for vegans and vegetarians ! We lived off stuffed peppers, stuffed eggplants, potatoes and vegetables! It was some of the tastiest traditional food we’ve had in Europe!

Cook your own meals – Although Albanian food is affordable compared to other countries in Europe, we recommend cooking your own meals from time to time to save extra money! Grab some bread, cheese, yoghurt, cereal and pasta so you can cook on the road and have meals at your accommodation.

Avoid Luxury Hotels – Albania is filled with lovely guesthouses for a reasonable price, you won’t need to stay at luxury hotels here! Plus it will feel more authentic staying in Albanian houses!

Get Breakfast Included – A few places in Albania give you free breakfast which can really help with travel costs when you’re on the go! Sadly there’s not great options for vegans.

Choose Transport VS Car Hire – The buses in Albania are fast, and reliable and will take you everywhere on our 2 week Albania itinerary . We saved around €500 by using public transport instead of hiring a car. Although we did travel during July when car hire is the most expensive.

Travel during the Shoulder Seasons – We recommend travelling during May to June or September to October if you want to save extra money in Albania! We had to pay more for our Sarande accommodation as we travelled there in August!

Choose the Acitivies you really want to do – Acitivies in Albania are quite affordable, but they can add up! Do some planning beforehand and choose the activities that interest you the most!

Budget Guide for Albania

After travelling Albania for 2.5 weeks, we saw all types of prices around the country! So here’s an average of the cost of travel in Albania (prices will vary depending on the location).

• Local bus : 40 lek in Tirana / 30 lek in Berat
• Long Distance bus : 400 – 1000 lek
• Hostel dorm : 800 – 1,500 lek depending on the location
• Double room : 2,500 – 4,000 lek depending on the location
• Local Food : average 400 lek per dish
• Western Food : 400 – 800 lek
• Coffee / Juice : 150 – 250 lek
• Museums : 200 – 900 lek
• Data Package : 2100 lek with Vodafone or get an E-Sim online !

Is it easy to travel Albania on a budget?

As Albania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe , it’s definitely easy to travel on a budget. You can see from our Albania travel costs that accommodation, transport and dining out is very inexpensive!

If you spend more time on the beaches, you may spend more as it’s the most popular area of the country. But overall, we definitely think Albania is a budget-friendly destination for any traveller – especially compared to other European countries!

That’s the end of our Albania travel costs and budget guide! We also have a Morocco Budget Guide , South Korea Budget Guide and Japan Budget Guide ! Check out our other Albania travel guides to plan your trip!

• How to Save Money for Travelling
• 2 Day Berat Itinerary
• Best Things To Do in Theth
• 1 day Gjirokaster Itinerary
• Top Things To Do in Shkoder
• 2 day Tirana Itinerary
• 2 Week Albania Itinerary
• Best Things To Do in Krujë
• Things to do in Sarande, Albania
• Vegan in Albania Guide

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Amy & Dan are the founders of The Sunrise Dreamers. They are travellers from the UK who have been on the road since 2017 whilst living in places like England, Canada, Thailand and the Canary Islands. They share their knowledge of travelling the world with detailed travel guides and tips. They're experts in vegan travel and show their audience how to travel on a budget.

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Is Albania Cheap? 2024 Trip Costs & Pro Budgeting Tips!

• December 20, 2022

There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As ever, all opinions are my own.

Albania is skyrocketing to the top of people’s Europe bucket lists at the moment, and with its reputation as one of the cheapest countries in Europe, it’s no surprise!

But is Albania really that cheap? How much will your trip to Albania cost? And what are the realistic prices you can expect to pay once you get to Albania for things like accommodation, food and activities?

In this blog post, I’m going to cover everything you need to know about the cost of travel in Albania, including up-to-date prices, to help you work out how much money you will need to take to Albania. At the end of this post, I’ll also provide a suggested daily travel budget for Albania.

Before we get started, though, I just wanted to point out that when I say “cheap” in this post I definitely don’t mean bad quality. In fact, Albania is one of the best countries I’ve been to when it comes to getting bang for your buck.

The cost of living in Albania is very low, which translates to low prices for travellers from the UK, US and Western Europe. There are so many other reasons to visit this wonderful country besides the low prices, though!

With that said, then, let’s get started!

Where I’ve Been In Albania

Albania is a fairly small country, but despite this, costs vary quite a bit depending on where you’re visiting. In general, though, Albania is very cheap for tourists and offers excellent value for money!

I visited Albania in September, which is the shoulder season. There’s a fairly short peak season on the Albanian Riviera, which lasts from July to August, and these are the months when you’ll find the highest prices. Shoulder season in Albania offers great value as the weather is (usually) still great but the crazy summer crowding and prices are gone.

I spent two weeks in Albania, visiting the following destinations:

Gjirokaster (mountains)

Himare (coast)

Berat (mountains)

Tirana (capital city)

I was pretty happy with these destinations as I feel that I managed to get a good taste of the different areas of Albania. However, there is one notable destination missing here – the Theth to Valbona hike.

I unfortunately couldn’t get to northern Albania due to unseasonal storms during the end of my trip, but I’m already planning a return trip to do this hike!

Obviously, I haven’t travelled across the whole of Albania, and I still have a lot of exploring to do. That said, though, I feel like the destinations I did visit offer a great sample in terms of prices and costs in Albania.

Top tip: The currency of Albania is the Albanian Lek (LEK), but I have listed most of the prices in this post in both LEk and Euros to keep everything simple.

Price of Accommodation in Albania

You’ll be surprised by just how affordable accommodation in Albania is. Standards are generally good, and there are a wide range of hostels across the country – perfect for those travelling on a super tight budget!

You can get a top-quality, fully-furnished and renovated apartment in the centre of Tirana for just €40 per night. A double room in a budget hotel will cost around €30 per night! A private double room in a hostel will cost you around €28 per night, and a dorm bed will cost around €12 .

Something worth bearing in mind is that if you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, or are worried you’re too old to stay in one, Albania is the perfect place to try it out. 

At every hostel I stayed at in Albania there was a wide range of people staying there – from 18 year old backpackers to retired couples! Hostel culture in Albania is far more inclusive and it’s socially acceptable for people of all ages to stay at hostels.

Just double check there’s no age policy at the hostel before you book and you’re good to go!

My Recommendations for Budget Accommodation in Albania:

Here are the places I stayed at in Albania, along with how much I paid for them:

Gjirokaster : Gjirokaster was my first stop in Albania and, since I left my booking fairly last minute, many options were sold out. I ended up staying in a dorm at this family-run hostel for €9 per night. It was very clean, quiet and well-located. It also has a few private rooms which look lovely. This is perfect for you if you want a quiet stay. However, there was no social atmosphere. If I return to Gjirokaster I’ll book in advance so I can stay at this top-rated hostel .

Himare : So… I stayed at this popular hostel in Himare for €13.80 per night, but for the life of me I can’t work out why the ratings for this are so high… The place was pretty dirty, with flies all over the kitchen, but the main gripe I had was that the water for the shower barely worked, and one night we were actually left without any water or electricity, so we all had to sit in the dark! I don’t recommend it… I have heard pretty good things about this hostel instead.

Berat : I stayed at this lovely hostel in Berat and couldn’t recommend it highly enough! The dorm bed was the comfiest I have ever slept in, the owner was AWESOME and the building is so quaint and cute! I paid €11 per night.

Tirana : I had been travelling Albania solo up until this point, but my boyfriend flew out to meet me in Tirana, so we chose to stay in an apartment. We stayed in this wonderful apartment which I can’t fault at all! I wish we could have stayed there for a month! We paid €48 per night, but split between the two of us that worked out at €24 each – incredible value!

The average daily cost of my accommodation in Albania was €15.

Cost of Food and Drink in Albania

The cost of food and drink in Albania for tourists is very low. Unfortunately, there isn’t a huge range of cuisines or drinks available in Albania, but Albanian food in general is pretty yummy so you’ll definitely have enough variety for a couple of weeks.

Most hostels in Albania offer free breakfast, so I recommend picking somewhere that offers this to save yourself some money! If your accommodation doesn’t offer free breakfast, though, you’ll be pretty limited. Byrek (flaky filo pastry typically stuffed with spinach and cheese) is the most popular breakfast. A byrek costs around 150 LEK ( €1.50 ).

You can also find croissants at most places, which cost around 150 LEK ( €1.50 )

It’s not common to find specialty coffee such as lattes and flat whites outside of the capital city, Tirana, but you’re usually able to find cappuccinos for around 150 LEK ( €1.50 ). An espresso or black coffee can cost you as little as 50 LEK ( €0.45 )!

Lunch and Dinner

Albanian food overall is hearty, heavy and very filling – but you’re able to find lighter options too! Since Albania shares a border with Greece, you’ll find a few Greek dishes such as Tzatziki dip or Greek salad on almost every menu across the country.

I didn’t notice a huge variation of the prices of lunch and dinner across Albania with the exception of Himare. Since coastal Albania is so popular with tourists almost everything costs more here – especially food and drink. That said, though, you’ll find the country’s best seafood on the coast.

Here are some examples of what I paid for different dishes in Albania:

• Ferges with bread (cottage cheese, pepper and eggplant dish) – 400 LEK ( €3.50 )
• Bean soup – 300 LEK ( €2.65 )
• Stuffed peppers – 250 LEK ( €2.20 )
• Meat and cheese casserole – 480 LEK ( €4.25 )
• Doner kebab – 200 LEK ( €1.75 )
• Mushroom pasta at an Italian restaurant – 600 LEK ( €5.25 )

Cost of Drinks in Albania

When it comes to drinking, Albania is very affordable. I imagine it’s just a few years until stag and hen (bachelor and bachelorette) parties start coming here, since Albania is sooooo cheap for drinking!

Beer is probably the most common alcoholic drink in Albania, and you can find it everywhere. The most common and popular brand of beer is probably Korce, which is also very affordable, but it’s hardly something worth writing home about. Other local options include Peja and Tirana.

Albania also produces wine, and you can even go on wine tours from places like Berat. I only tried wine a few times in Albania but it’s certainly… different… to what I’m used to. It’s very popular with Albanians, though, so you should definitely give it a try!

Obviously the cost of beer and wine in Albania is way lower in the supermarket than at a bar or restaurant, but there’s not a huge price difference. I doubt you’ll have to worry about how much you’re spending when you go out to drink in Albania!

Here are some examples of what I paid for different drinks in Albania:

• 330ml bottle of Peja beer at a restaurant – 150 LEK ( €1.30 )
• 500ml bottle of Korce beer at a bar – 200 LEK ( €1.75 )
• Bottle of mid-range wine at supermarket – 750 LEK ( €6.55 )

Price of Activities in Albania

Most things to do in Albania are very cheap – from boat tours, to museums, to walking tours. Museums outside of Tirana typically cost just 100-200 LEK to enter ( €0.85 – €1.75 ). That said, though, the museums outside of Tirana generally aren’t worth writing home about.

The more expensive museums are those in Tirana, but boy are they worth the extra money! Bunk Art (500 LEK – €4.35 ), Bunk Art 2 (500 LEK – €4.35 ) and the House of Leaves Museum (700 LEK – €6.15 ) are essential stops on your Tirana itinerary. 

The cost of outdoor activities in Albania can vary quite a lot. It’s worth just going ahead and booking them though, and not worrying about the cost, because Albania’s nature is out-of-this-world! 

A full-day tour of the Osum Canyon from Berat, including lunch, cost me 5000 LEK ( €44 ), and a beach-hopping boat tour from Himare cost me 2500 LEK ( €22 ). As you can see, even the more “expensive” activities in Albania have very reasonable prices.

Price of Transportation in Albania

I can only describe public transportation in Albania as organised chaos. It makes no sense, seems to follow no rhyme or reason, but works surprisingly well! 

Unless you’re planning to hire a car, which is not something I would personally do (Albanians drive like maniacs and the mountaintop roads are very narrow and windy!) you’ll be using the public buses, also called furgons, to get around.

You can read my full post on how to use Albania’s buses for more information, but in terms of prices, it’s safe to say that bus travel in Albania is very cheap.

I paid between 400 ( €3.50 ) and 700 ( €6.15 ) LEK per intercity journey in Albania, with the shortest journey still taking 90 minutes. As you can see, then, the cost of your ticket is very good value when you consider the distances covered!

Once you’ve arrived at your destination you’ll only rarely need to use local transportation, since towns in Albania are so walkable. Exceptions are Tirana and Berat, where you’ll need to catch a city bus from the bus station to the city centre. These buses cost just 40 LEK each way ( €0.35 ).

The bus from Tirana airport to the city centre costs 300 LEK ( €2.60 ) each way.

Flights to Albania

Flights to Tirana (the only international airport in Albania) can be surprisingly cheap if you’re flying from another country in Europe. That’s because a few budget airlines, such as Wizz Air and Easyjet, fly there directly. From London, return flights to Tirana cost around €60 .

However, if you’re flying to Albania from further afield you’ll have to first fly to one of Europe’s main transport hubs before catching a connecting flight. New York is usually the cheapest place to fly from in the US, and you can get return flights (with a layover in Rome) for around $600 .

Cost of Travel Insurance for Albania

If you have even a single brain cell, then travelling without travel insurance is absolutely out of the question! It’s a necessity no matter where you’re travelling to, and although Albania is a safe place to visit, bad luck can happen to anybody.

Of course, I can’t force you to buy travel insurance, but I’ve heard of far too many people who skip paying the small price of travel insurance and instead end up with a hospital bill worth thousands of Euros when they accidentally get injured on their trip. 

Travel insurance will also cover you if your flight is delayed or cancelled, if any of your devices are lost or damaged, or if the airline loses your luggage, which happens alarmingly frequently!

For my readers I recommend SafetyWing . This is probably the most popular insurance in the world for backpackers and adventurous travellers. It also covers a ton of fun activities so you can go hiking or mountain climbing with no worries.

Click here to get a quote from SafetyWing!

Average Travel Insurance cost = €30 for 1 month (€1 per day!) .

Daily Budget for Travelling in Albania

Phew… I know there has been a lot of information in this post, so let’s bring it all together to calculate a realistic daily budget for travelling in Albania:

• Budget hotel room shared with travel partner = €15 each
• Byrek and coffee at a bakery = €3
• Lunch and dinner at traditional restaurants (not including drinks) =  €8.50
• Four beers at a bar or restaurant (hey, I’m not judging!) = €7
• Entry to a big museum, and a few free attractions = €5

Total average travel cost for one day in Albania = €38.50

Obviously this budget takes the mid-range option, so it’s possible to spend far less in Albania if you need to.

At a push, you could bring your spending down to around €25 per day by staying in hostel dorms, cooking your own food, limiting your drinking and visiting only very cheap and free attractions.

But honestly, why would you? There’s really no need to rough it in Albania just to save a couple of LEK when it is so cheap to travel there to start with! Albania is not a wealthy country, and your tourist money will go a long way to helping the tourism industry develop here.

Is Albania Expensive?

As you can see, Albania is the complete opposite of expensive. It’s one of the most affordable places I’ve ever visited, and I’m pretty sure Albania is the cheapest country I’ve ever been to in Europe! 

Albania is not an expensive country to visit for tourists from Western Europe, the USA and Australia, which is where most of my lovely readers are based.

I hope this guide has helped you to work out the realistic cost of travel in Albania. Hopefully you now have some clarity on how much you’ll need to budget for a trip to Albania. As you can see, prices across the board are very low, and for these prices you still get amazing quality. 

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to book your trip to Albania!

FAQs about Prices in Albania

Still have questions? No worries, here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the cost of travel in Albania:

How much is a meal in Albania?

A main meal (lunch or dinner) in a restaurant in Albania costs, on average, around 450 LEK (€4). 

How much is a coffee in Albania?

Cappuccinos in Albania cost around 150 LEK ( €1.50 ), and an espresso typically costs around 75 LEK ( €0.65 ), but can be as little as 50 LEK ( €0.45 )! Coffees such as flat whites or lattes are not common in Albania outside of the capital city, and it is very rare to find soy, oat, or almond milk at a coffee shop in Albania.

Is Albania cheaper than Greece?

Yes! Albania is much cheaper than Greece. I arrived in Albania straight from Greece, and my daily spending instantly dropped by about 60%! Therefore, in my experience, Albania is around 60% cheaper to travel to than Greece.

Is Albania cheaper than Croatia?

Albania is cheaper to travel to than Croatia, although prices on the Albanian Riviera are creeping closer to those of coastal Croatia in recent years.

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The Best Albania Itinerary for 2 Weeks (2024)

Are you visiting Albania for the first time and looking for the perfect Albania Itinerary for 2 Weeks? Follow our route from Tirana to Theth and make the most of your visit. Relax on the most beautiful beaches of the Albanian Riviera, visit UNESCO sites, explore historic cities, then get off the beaten path and hike in the Albanian Alps.

We’ve put together a detailed Albania Itinerary for 14 days, covering all of Albania’s main attractions, stunning beaches, best tours, and some hidden gems.

Our Albania Travel Guide includes the best places to visit, how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Albania. You’ll also find all the useful tips and information you need to plan your Albania Trip Itinerary.

Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through our link. This is a free way to support us and allow us to continue to create inspiring travel guides.

Tirana Airport to City Center

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How to Get to Albania

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a small country in Southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. The best way to travel to Albania is by plane. There are many direct flights to Tirana from the UK, Dubai, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Germany, and other international countries.

Tirana International Airport Nene Tereza, known as Rinas Airport (airport code TIA), Albania’s only international air transport hub.

TIP Use  Skyscanner  to get cheap flights to Albania.

You can easily get to Albania by bus or car from Montenegro, Kosovo, Greece, and North Macedonia. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Corfu (Greece) or Bari (Italy).

Most travelers to Albania arrive at Tirana Airport, as you can get cheap flights there. However, if you want to start your Albania Itinerary in Saranda or Ksamil , we recommend flying to Corfu and then taking the ferry from Corfu to Saranda.

The distance between the airport and the city center is about 19 km, which is 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic and mode of transport. You can easily get to the city center from the airport by taxi, bus, rental car, and private transfer.

We have a detailed post on how to get from Tirana Airport to City Center with all the information you need.

There is no metro or train connection between the airport and the city center.

Buy an eSIM and data package for Albania.

How to Get Around Albania on a 2-Week Itinerary?

Getting around in Albania is easy. You can’t travel between cities by train. But you can get from one place to another by bus, minibus (furgon), taxi or rental car.

Tirana and Saranda are perfect bases for day trips, and you can easily join organized tours to get to the best places. Alternatively, you can book a private transfer from Tirana Airport to cities in Albania and the Balkans.

During our first week in Albania, we rented a car and visited Kruje , Himare, Ksamil, Gjirokaster , and Berat. Then we used public transport.

Albania Itinerary without Car

The cheapest way to get around in Albania is by bus. We found traveling by bus in Albania easy and safe. The buses are air-conditioned and have comfortable seats and big luggage compartments. The disadvantage is that there is no direct bus service between all cities.

Check the current bus timetable on GjirafaTravel.

The best way to get around Albania is by car, as you can easily reach the best places and hidden gems. Once you arrive at Tirana International Airport, you can easily rent a car at the airport or pick up your pre-booked car. Driving makes this Albania Itinerary much easier and more flexible.

You don’t need to rent a 4×4. The car rental costs will be different when you travel to Albania in high season (June to September) or low season and rent a car in advance or at the last minute. You will spend around 30-50 EUR daily for a standard car with full coverage.

Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability  HERE.

Book your rental car with Discover Cars here.

Best Time to Visit Albania

Albania has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The best time to visit Albania is from May to October. The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for sightseeing, hiking, and exploring the best beaches on the Albanian Riviera. The hottest months are July and August. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 40°C.

The summer months are the peak season in Albania when hotel prices are higher and attractions are busier. In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance! If you want to avoid the crowds, you should visit Albania in the low season.

We went to some beaches at the end of May, and although the weather was warm, the water was still a bit cold.

Weather conditions can change throughout the year, so check the weather forecast before visiting Northern Albania. Roads and hiking trails may be covered in snow, making Valbona and Theth inaccessible.

See also → How to Visit Gjirokastra Castle

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2-Week Albania Itinerary

Day 1: arrive in tirana & travel to berat.

Welcome to Albania! We hope you had a great flight and are ready to explore this beautiful country. Tirana is the best place to start your Albania Itinerary, as there are many cheap and direct flights to Tirana. When you arrive in Albania’s capital, rent a car and travel to Berat.

Unfortunately, our flight was delayed for more than 4 hours, so we only arrived in Berat in the evening. So, we started to explore the city early the next morning. Although the sightseeing was a bit rushed, we saw the main sights.

Berat, also known as the City of a Thousand Windows , is an unmissable place in Albania. You can visit Berat Castle , explore the ancient neighborhoods of Mangalem and Gorica, try traditional Albanian food, see historic Ottoman houses, and enjoy the medieval atmosphere.

Recommended post → Things to Do in Berat

How to Get from Tirana to Berat

The distance between the two cities is about 130 km, which is 2-3 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport. You can easily get to Berat by taxi, bus, and rental car or join an organized tour that includes transport.

We have a detailed post on  how to get from Tirana to Berat  with all the information you need.

We drove from Tirana Airport on the SH2 highway towards Durres and took the SH4 road to Berat. The roads were in good condition. Always wear your seat belt and obey the speed limit! The drive time is usually 2-2.5 hours, depending on traffic.

For the best experience, stay at  Berati Castle Hotel  or  Hotel Klea. Berat does not have luxury hotels, but you can stay in boutique hotels or charming traditional accommodations. These are our recommendations.

• Mid-Range:   Hotel Colombo  or  Tradita e Beratit
• Budget:   Hotel Orestiada  or  Hotel Ajka

Add an extra day to your Albania Itinerary and take a day trip to the Osum Canyon & Bogove Waterfall.

Day 2: Head to the Albanian Riviera – Himare

Good morning! Are you ready for the best part of your Albania Itinerary? We recommend you get up early and make the most of your visit to Berat. Explore the city’s most iconic sites and learn more about its history, culture, and architecture on a  guided walking tour.

We suggest you first stroll through the cobbled streets of the charming neighborhoods, then visit Berat Castle, and finally have lunch at the Temi Albanian Food restaurant. We highly recommend you try these traditional Albanian dishes: Moussaka, Byrek, Tavë Kosi, Village Salad, and Fergese.

After lunch, drive to Himare. Depending on when you arrive in Himare, relax on one of the nearby beaches or watch the magical sunset at Himara Castle.

Recommended post → Things to Do in Himare

How to Get from Berat to Himare

There are no direct buses between the two cities. Therefore, the best and most comfortable way to get to Himare is by car. We drove from Berat via Vlore along the scenic coastal road to Himare. The travel time was about 3.5 hours, and the roads were in good condition.

Himare has some luxury hotels, but accommodation options are available for all budgets. We recommend booking a sea view hotel near Himare Beach. Alternatively, stay in Dhermi, a 30-minute drive away. These are our recommendations.

• Luxury:   Miamar Luxury Hotel & Spa  or  Rea Boutique Hotel
• Mid-Range:   Oniro in Sea & Sun
• Budget:   Alex Boutique Hotel

Recommended post →   Where to Stay in Himare

Day 3-4: Explore Himare & Dhermi

One of the best things to do on your Albania Itinerary is to discover the Albanian Riviera. So our itinerary gives you a full day to enjoy the best beaches.

Himare is a beautiful beach destination on the Albanian Riviera with stunning pebble beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, hidden coves, and exciting water activities.

If you have limited time in Albania, there are two beaches you shouldn’t miss: Gjipe Beach and Aquarium Beach. Trust us, you will not be disappointed by their beauty.

Himare and its surroundings have many beautiful beaches. We’ve put together a list of the  most beautiful beaches in Himare.

On Day 4 of your Albania Itinerary, take a day trip to Dhermi. Dhermi is a picturesque village just a 30-minute drive northwest of Himare. We loved walking around the cobbled streets and visiting the nearby beaches.

Don’t miss the incredible view of the old village of Dhermi from the Monastery of St Mary. You can drive to a small car park and then take the stairs up the hill, which takes less than 10 minutes.

After your visit, relax on Dhermi Beach. This beautiful beach is surrounded by beach clubs, hotels, restaurants, and shops. Spend a few hours relaxing on the beach and head back to Himare. Alternatively, stay in one of the stunning hotels in Dhermi.

• Luxury:   La Brisa Boutique Hotel
• Mid-Range:   Nassau Hotel  or  Splendor Hotel
• Budget:   Sofo Hotel Dhermi

Recommended post →   Dhermi Beach Hotels & Resorts

Day 5: Travel to Ksamil – A popular place on your Albania Itinerary

Good morning! We hope you enjoyed your visit to Himare. But it’s time to continue your Albania Road Trip Itinerary to Ksamil. Ksamil is a beautiful coastal town and the most popular destination on the Albanian Riviera. It is famous for its pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and stunning islands.

Unfortunately, many people have a negative impression of Ksamil as it is very crowded in the high season. But every Albania Itinerary should include a visit to Ksamil. Once you arrive, check into your accommodation and enjoy a magical sunset at Ksamil Beach.

The bars have happy hours from 5 PM to 9 PM, and cocktails cost just 500 LEK (5 EUR).

Recommended post → Things to Do in Ksamil

How to Get from Himare to Ksamil

There are no direct buses between Himare and Ksamil, so you have to travel first to Saranda and then to Ksamil. We drove from Himare to Ksamil. The distance between the two cities is about 70 km, and the journey takes 1.5-2 hours along a scenic coastal road (SH8). On the way, we recommend you stop at Porto Palermo Castle.

Best hotels in Ksamil

Ksamil offers a wide range of accommodation. Alternatively, stay in Saranda, a 30-minute drive away. But in our opinion, Ksamil has better beaches and is more relaxed than the bustling city of Saranda, known for its nightlife. These are our recommendations.

• Mid-Range:   Colosseum Hotel  or  Hotel Denoel
• Budget:   Hotel ABA

Recommended post →   Ksamil Beach Hotels

• Luxury:   Yacht Premium Hotel
• Mid-Range:   Demi Hotel  or  Rozafa Palace Hotel
• Budget:   Keos Hotel

Day 6-7: Discover Ksamil

On Day 6 of your Albania Itinerary, start your day with a visit to the stunning Butrint National Archaeological Park, just a 10-minute drive from Ksamil.

Butrint is an ancient port city about 2,500 years old and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your visit, you can see beautiful sights such as Triconch Palace, the Lion Gate, the Venetian Acropolis Castle, the Sanctuary of Asclepius, and the Roman Theatre.

After visiting the national park, relax on the best beaches like Ksamil Beach, Mirror Beach, and Pulebardha Beach. Then, discover the breathtaking Ksamil Islands.

TIP Add an extra day to your Albania Itinerary and take a day trip to Corfu.

Keep reading →   How to Visit Butrint National Park

On Day 7 of your Albania Itinerary, visit Blue Eye Albania. We drove to the Blue Eye, and the travel time was about 1 hour. The Blue Eye, known as Syri i Kaltër, is a natural freshwater spring famous for its crystal clear turquoise water. From above, this natural wonder looks like a human eye.

Did you know that there are two Blue Eyes in Albania? One is near Saranda, and the other is in Theth.

Although swimming is not allowed. We saw some people swimming in the water, so we think you can take a dip at your own risk! Then, spend the day exploring Saranda and visit Lekursi Castle.

Read the full post →   Blue Eye Albania

Day 8: Travel to Gjirokaster

Good morning! It’s time to continue your Albania Itinerary and travel to Gjirokaster. Gjirokaster, also known as Albania’s Stone City, has well-preserved Ottoman architecture and typical stone houses.

This is one of the most charming towns in Albania, a perfect place to buy souvenirs and try traditional Albanian and authentic local dishes. The historic center of Gjirokastra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We suggest you first walk around the Old Bazaar, then visit Gjirokastra Castle & Museum, have lunch at the Restaurant Tradicional Odaja, and finally hike to the Ali Pasha Bridge.

Recommended post → Things to Do in Gjirokaster

How to Get from Ksamil to Gjirokaster

There are no direct buses from Ksamil, but you can easily get from Saranda to Gjirokaster by bus. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from Ksamil to Gjirokaster.

For the best experience, we recommend staying in the Old Town. These are our recommendations.

• Mid-Range:   Sharm Hotel Luxury  or  Kerculla Resort
• Budget:   Hotel Fantasy  or  “Villa 70” Guesthouse

Day 9: Visit Kruje & Travel to Shkoder

On Day 9 of your Albania Itinerary, get up early and travel to Tirana to return your rental car. On the way, take a detour to the charming historic town of Kruje. We drove from Gjirokaster to Kruje, and the driving time was about 4 hours.

After arriving, we parked in the small car park next to the Old Bazaar. The parking fee is 200 LEK (2 EUR) for 2 hours or 500 LEK (5 EUR) for the whole day.

It takes just 2-3 hours to explore the main sights. You can visit Kruja Castle, stroll around the Kruja Bazaar, see the museums, buy local handicrafts, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

Recommended post → Things to Do in Kruje

TIP Most people only take a quick visit to Kruje. But if you have more time, spend at least 1 night there.

Best hotels in Kruje

• Mid-Range:   Hotel Panorama Kruje
• Budget:   Rooms Emiliano Castle of Kruja  or  Mervin Hotel

After exploring Kruje, head to Tirana Airport and drop off your rental car. The journey time is approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic. Then, travel to Shkoder.

How to Get from Tirana to Shkoder

You can easily get to Shkoder by car, bus, minibus, and taxi. We traveled by minibus from Tirana Airport, and the journey was about 1.5 hours. The minibus ticket costs 1000 LEK (10 EUR) per person.

A taxi to Shkoder costs between 7000-7500 LEK (70-75 EUR). The cheapest way to get to Shkoder is by bus. Buses depart from the East Terminal of Tirana, outside the city center. The bus ticket to Shkoder costs 500 LEK (5 EUR) per person.

Check the current bus timetable  HERE.

• Mid-Range:   The Red Bricks Hotel  or  Hotel Tradita
• Budget:   Hotel Epoka  or  Hotel Kurtabeg

Day 10: Take a Day Trip to the Lumi i Shales (Shala River)

Are you ready for one of the highlights of your Albania Itinerary? Although there’s not much to do in Shkoder, it’s the perfect base for a day trip to the stunning  Lumi i Shales.

The Shala River is also known as the “Thailand of Albania” for its crystal clear turquoise waters and stunning green mountain scenery. Experience an unforgettable trip in Albania and enjoy the unique landscape.

After arriving, you can spend about 3-3.5 hours at the river. During your visit, you can sunbathe, swim, rent a kayak, or go ziplining if you want a more adventurous activity.

Book your day trip via  Viator  or  GetYourGuide.

For the best experience, stay in one of the guest houses and enjoy this magical place without the crowds.

• Mid-Range:   Eagles Land
• Budget:   Bee Eco Guest House  or  Guri i Lekës Guesthouse

Since we spent a short time in Shkoder, we didn’t have time to explore the city’s attractions. But we think Rozafa Castle, Mesi Bridge, and Lake Shkoder are worth a visit.

Read the full post → How to Visit Lumi i Shales

Day 11: Travel to Valbona & See Komani Lake

Good morning! Continue your trip to Valbona via the beautiful Komani Lake. Valbona Valley National Park is a beautiful and unique destination on your Albania Itinerary. Once you arrive, spend the day relaxing and enjoying the stunning landscape, and the next day, start the Valbona Pass hike.

How to Get from Shkoder to Valbona

To get to Valbona, you must first travel by minibus from Shkoder to the port of Lake Komani, which takes about 2 hours. The minibus leaves once a day from Hotel Rozafa at 6:45 AM.

The ferries depart from Koman every day at 9 AM, and travel time to Fierze is approximately 2.5-3 hours. Once you arrive in Fierze, it is only a 1-hour drive to Valbona. The shuttle driver will drop you off directly at your hotel. You can enjoy fantastic views on the way.

• Minibus from Shkoder to Koman Ferry Terminal – 800 LEK (8 EUR) per person
• Ferry from Koman to Fierze – 1000 LEK (10 EUR) per person
• Minibus from Fierze to Valbona (any accommodation) – 800 LEK (8 EUR) per person

You can easily book your minibus/ferry tickets through  GjirafaTravel or Berisha.

Don’t take unnecessary things to Valbona and leave your suitcase in Shkoder! We stored our luggage at the  Hotel Kurtaberg  for 2 euros a day and collected it when we returned from Theth.

• Mid-Range:   Valbona Resort & Spa  or  Villas Jezerca
• Budget:   Hotel Margjeka  or  Guesthouse Drinos Valbone

Day 12: Hike from Valbona to Theth (Valbona Pass)

On day 12 of your Albania Itinerary, head to the Albanian Alps. Hiking from Valbona to Theth is the most beautiful and popular hike in the Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps), as the two mountain villages are not connected by road. The Valbona Pass Peak is 1,795 m above sea level and offers breathtaking views.

The Valbona Pass is a moderate hike, and the total hike from the Valbona trailhead to Theth is 17 km. We hiked from Valbona to Theth, which took us about 8 hours. It was an epic hike in the Albanian Alps that didn’t disappoint us.

After finally arriving in Theth, reward yourself with a delicious pizza at Fast Food Pizzeri Jezerca.

Important note The Valbona Pass is only open from June to October.

Read the full post →   Valbona Pass Hike

There are many guesthouses, hotels, and campsites in Theth for all budgets. These are our recommendations.

• Mid-Range:   Hotel Jezerca Theth  or  Vidis Chalet Hotel
• Budget:   Gurra Family Guesthouse  or  Logu i Harushave

Day 13: Explore Theth – Featured Destination in your Albania Itinerary

Good morning! Get up early and make the most of your visit to the mountain village of Theth. The Theth National Park is home to fantastic natural attractions such as the Grunas Waterfall and the Blue Eye.

For the best experience, take a scenic hike to the Blue Eye Theth, passing by the iconic church and the beautiful Grunas Waterfall. Swimming is allowed in the Blue Eye. But the water is ice-cold, and the average temperature is 10°C.

TIP If you have a short time, skip Valbona and go directly from Shkoder to Theth.

Recommended post → Things to Do in Theth

Day 14: Go back to Shkoder & Travel to Tirana

On Day 14 of your Albania Itinerary, travel back to Shkoder, collect your luggage, and take a bus to Tirana. Spend your last day exploring Albania’s capital.

How to Get from Theth to Tirana

There are no direct buses from Theth to Tirana, so you need to travel to Shkoder first. The minibus leaves only three times a day, at 10 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11 AM. Travel time is approximately 2-3 hours, depending on traffic. The minibus to Shkoder starts from 1200 LEK (12 EUR).

From Shkoder, buses depart from the bus station near Hotel Rozafa to Tirana, and the journey time is usually 2 hours. The bus ticket to Tirana costs 500 LEK (5 EUR) per person.

Get Bus Tickets through  GjirafaTravel.

• Luxury:   Rogner Hotel Tirana
• Mid-Range:   Mondial Hotel  or  Hilton Garden Inn Tirana
• Budget:   Blloku Unique Apartments

Day 15: Leave Albania

We hope you enjoyed your visit to Albania! But it’s time to leave Tirana and fly home. Alternatively, add an extra day to your Albania Itinerary and take a day trip to Bovilla Lake & Gamti Mountain.

Book this excellent tour via Viator or GetYourGuide.

The cheapest way to get to the airport is by bus. The journey time takes 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic. The bus ticket to Tirana Airport costs 400 LEK (4 EUR) per person. Luna buses depart every hour from the central station behind the Opera & Ballet Theatre near Skanderbeg Square.

Get Bus Tickets here.

Albania Itinerary Map

Albania travel guide: faq about albania itinerary, is albania worth visiting.

Absolutely! Albania is a fascinating small country with a diverse landscape, from rugged mountains to pristine beaches. Although still an underrated European country, it is becoming an increasingly popular destination in the Balkans.

Is it Safe to Travel to Albania?

Yes, traveling to Albania is generally safe! But small thefts and pickpockets can happen everywhere.  So always take care of your valuables! The locals are friendly.

Tap water is not safe to drink in most places in Albania.

Keep reading →   Best Filtered Water Bottles

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose  SafetyWing  for our travels.

How many Days do you Need in Albania?

Most people spend 7-10 days in Albania and skip Northern Albania on their first visit. But if you can, we recommend you spend at least two weeks in Albania and explore the best places at your own pace.

You can easily modify our Albania Itinerary to extend or reduce the days.

Do I need a Visa to Travel to Albania?

Probably not. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe don’t need a visa to travel to Albania.

Requirements for entry to Albania: Passport or ID card valid for at least three months. Visas are not required for visits of less than 90 days.

Use  iVisa  to check if you need a tourist visa for Albania and apply for an e-visa online.

How Much Does it Cost for 2 Weeks in Albania?

It is one of the cheapest countries in Europe. The cost depends on the mode of transport you choose, which accommodation you prefer, and how much you are willing to pay for restaurants or cafes.

Budget travelers will spend around 50-60 EUR per day.  Prices are even higher during the peak season (June to September), so avoid these months if you want to save money! We did this Albania Itinerary at the end of May.

Albania Travel Costs

• Accommodation: 150-180 EUR
• Food: 220-250 EUR
• Transport: 280-300 EUR (1 week car rental + 1 week public transport)
• Activities: 40-60 EUR

A 14-day trip to Albania will cost between 700-800 EUR per person.

TIP Save money, avoid ATM transaction fees when traveling abroad, and pay in local currency with a  Wise Card.

We hope our Albania Itinerary will help you plan your next trip to the Balkans. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com Car Rentals – Discover Cars Flights – Skyscanner eSIM –  Airalo Travel Insurance – SafetyWing Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide Bus/Transfer – Bookaway

RECOMMENDED POSTS

How to Spend One Day in Kruje, Albania: Things to Do & See

Theth Albania Guide: Best Things to Do in 2024

Valbona Pass: How to Hike from Valbona to Theth (+Map)

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Welcome traveler!

We're Andre & Lisa, adventurers and experienced budget travelers.

We have over two decades of travel experience and  since 2018 have led a full-time nomadic lifestyle.

L earn more  about us !

Thank you for visiting and we hope you find value in our destination pages! ​We thoroughly research and curate all content ourselves and everything you find on this site is put together by only the two of us.

ALBANIA TRAVEL GUIDE

Albania offers a remarkable array of unique attractions, not least due to this very isolation: alluring azure lakes, surrounded by mountains and picturesque valleys littered with Roman ruins and charming Ottoman towns largely undiscovered by mainstream tourism. 

With its stunning mountain scenery, a thriving capital in Tirana, and beaches to rival anywhere else in the Mediterranean, Albania has become the sleeper hit of the Balkans. Despite its small size, Albania offers a diverse landscape from beautiful coastlines to rugged mountains, and it has a growing reputation as a tourist destination.

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⬇️ REGIONAL GUIDES ⬇️

Travel guide.

⬇️ COUNTRY GUIDE ⬇️

Capital : Tirana

Currency : Lek (ALL)

Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)

Language: Albanian (There are two dialects: Gheg and Tosk)

Interestingly, more Albanians live outside the country than within it, with significant populations in Italy, Greece, and the United States.

• 14 March, Summer Day
• 22 March, Nevruz Day
• 1 May, May Day.
• 19 October, Beatification of Mother Teresa
• 28 November, Independence Day
• 29 November, Liberation Day (World War II)
• 8 December, National Youth Day

Also, Good Friday, Easter, Orthodox Easter, Easter Monday, Eid al- Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.

Albania offers a rich tapestry of festivals throughout the year, celebrating everything from its cultural heritage to modern music. 

Notable among these is the Gjirokastër Folk Festival , a vibrant showcase of traditional Albanian culture and one of the country's most significant events. For film enthusiasts, the Tirana International Film Festival is a key cinematic event. Music lovers can enjoy a range of genres at the Kala and UNUM festival s, set against the stunning backdrop of the Albanian landscape.

Other festivals you might want to consider when visiting Albania are:

The South Outdoor Festival which combines tradition, culture, and outdoor activities, usually from April 29th to May 3rd.

The Berat City Festival celebrates the cultural heritage of Berat.

The Korca Beer Festival is one of the largest beer festivals in the region, usually held in August.

The Lighting Of The Torch Festival (Festa E Flamurit)  -  Marks Albania's independence, celebrated on November 28th.

For specific dates and details, it's best to check closer to the event as dates can change from year to year.

QUICK BOOKING RESOURCES

SEASONS AT A GLANCE

Most destinations have different times of the year when they’re more or less popular with tourists. 

Peak Season

Shoulder Season

Off Peak Season

BEST TIME TO VISIT ALBANIA

For a relatively small area, Albania has a high number of climatic regions. The country lies at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns throughout all seasons and with a coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas along with its highlands along the Balkan mass it creates remarkable diversity.

The coastal lowlands experience more typical Mediterranean weather; with the highlands a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather can again vary markedly from north to south. The lowlands have much milder winters, averaging about 7 °C with summer temperatures averaging around 24 °C. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time and the best winds for kite-surfing in Albania are usually from March to November.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation and low winter temperatures in the mountain regions are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and river valleys are very high, but the nights are almost always cool. During the rainy season, precipitation can be heavy with many storms accompanied by high winds and torrential downpours.

June - Enjoy the perfect Mediterranean climate and deserted beaches.

August - Albania's beaches may be packed, but this is a great time to explore the mountains.

December - See features and shorts at the Tirana Film Festival, while the intrepid can snowshoe to Theth.

BEST TIME FOR:

Albania offers a variety of snow sport opportunities, especially in its mountainous regions. The best time for snow sports in Albania is typically from December to February when the mountains are transformed into picturesque landscapes perfect for winter activities. 

The Albanian Alps, in particular, are known for their heavy and consistent snowfall during these months, providing ideal conditions for skiing and snowboarding. For those seeking a unique experience, heli-skiing is available, offering access to remote and rugged terrains with breathtaking views.

Albania offers a plethora of hiking opportunities, particularly in its mountainous regions. The Valbona to Theth trail , known as the Accursed Mountains, is a highlight for many hikers, offering breathtaking views and a challenging trek. For those seeking a variety of landscapes, the Via Egnatia Trail provides a historical journey through several Balkan countries. 

The best time for hiking in Albania is generally from May to October, with spring and autumn offering mild temperatures and the most comfortable hiking conditions. However, it's advisable to avoid the Valbona to Theth trail until June due to snow. September is often recommended for its cooler temperatures and minimal tourism, allowing hikers to fully enjoy the changing autumn colors.

Albania is home to some stunning beaches, with the Albanian Riviera being a highlight. Places like Dhërmi and Palasa offer beautiful stretches of white sand and clear waters, perfect for beachgoers looking to relax or explore secluded coves. 

The best time to visit these beaches is during the summer months, from June to August, when the weather is ideal for sunbathing and swimming. However, it's worth noting that this is also the peak tourist season, so planning ahead is advisable to secure accommodations and enjoy the beaches without the crowds.

Albania is emerging as a surfing destination with its beautiful Adriatic and Ionian coastlines. Notable spots include Dhermi Beach, known for its clear waters and consistent waves, and Jale Beach, which offers a vibrant atmosphere and challenging wave patterns. 

The best time for surfing in Albania is during the summer months, especially from June to August, when the weather is ideal for water sports. With less crowded beaches and unspoiled natural beauty, Albania presents a unique opportunity for surfers seeking new adventures.

Albania offers a variety of kitesurfing opportunities, particularly along its Mediterranean coast, which is known for its perfect shallow water spots and warm temperatures ideal for the sport. 

Notably, the area around Durres, such as Lalzit Bay, is popular among kitesurfers. The best time for kitesurfing in Albania is from March to November, when the conditions are most favorable, with a consistent wind that is ideal especially from the temperatures.

For more details on kite surfing in Albania expand this section!

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ALBANIA TRAVEL COSTS

Albania is relatively inexpensive for Western tourists, especially when compared to some of the nearby countries like Croatia and Italy.

You will find accommodation for a reasonable price and plenty of great cheap food options. Museum tickets and public transportation fares are also very affordable. Some prices could go up slightly during the summer, especially in seaside towns, since that’s the peak of the season.

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Find discount flights to albania, travel tips for albania.

If you find yourself landing in Tirana, which is where the only airport in the country lies, avoid expensive local taxis and head straight to the Rinas Express’s bus station . The bus connects the Tirana Mother Teresa Airport to the city centre, near Skanderbeg Square, and takes about 20 minutes for 300 Albanian Lek.

Tiranë - TIA: every one hour starting from 07:00 until 23:00

TIA - Tiranë: every one hour starting from 08:00 until 24:00

A taxi is much more expensive, costing about 2,500 lekë (20€), one-way.

Tirana is connected to the main Albanian towns only by bus, as Albania doesn’t have railways. While buses are always cheap, the journeys can sometimes be quite long, so keep this in mind if you need to get somewhere in a hurry.

To enter Albania with your own vehicle you'll need a Green Card (proof of third-party insurance, issued by your insurer); check that your insurance covers Albania. You should also be able to purchase insurance at the border.

REGIONS & HIGHLIGHTS OF ALBANIA

Not surprisingly most visitors to Albania makes their way straight to the capital of Tirana - nowadays a buzzing city with a mash-up collection of traditional restaurants and trendy bars amongst wonderfully garish painted buildings. To seek the true Albania you should head to its mountains and explore drowsy hillside towns filled with friendly locals - Berat and Gjirokastra can easily be mistaken as open-air museums of life during the Ottoman times. For hiking head to the stunning valley of Valbona where the limestone mountains tower offers incredible biodiversity.

From an affordable ski destination at the snow-capped peaks of the interior to its Ionian coastline with immaculate, undeveloped beaches Albania will be a revelation. In a mountainous country with a long coastline, the main activity attractions are pretty obvious – there are some amazing places to swim along the Ionian coast, while the most accessible hiking is in the national park area of Mount Dajti.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN ALBANIA

Tirana - Albania’s colourful, chaotic capital is better for strolling than sightseeing, but there’s plenty to keep you occupied and you should take the time to sit down and sip an espresso while watching the world go by. The looming Mount Dajti is easily visible from Tirana and city dwellers head to its forested slopes in droves over sunny days. The mountain’s network of paths feels surprisingly remote even though you’re only 25km from Tirana.

Kruja - This ancient city is the hilltop scene of national hero Skanderbeg’s resistance to the Ottoman invasions of the fifteenth century. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Skanderbeg's castle is a tourist focal point that contains museums, restaurants, even a hotel. Kruje also has an old-style Ottoman bazaar with shops selling traditional and vintage goods amid its cobblestone streets.

Berat - The 'town of the thousand windows' is known for its pretty rows of Ottoman houses lining the hills. Thought to be one of the oldest towns in Albania, it is now a new member of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Berat has a well-preserved citadel with residents still living inside its protective walls. The 14th-century Kalasa citadel towers above the town and is accessed via a steep, cobbled road.

Gjirokastra - Another UNESCO-listed city located in the south which is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. Gjirokastra is one of Albania’s most attractive towns and home to some of its friendliest people. It's the birthplace of former communist leader Enver Hoxha and Albania's most internationally famous author, Ismail Kadare who's homes both now serve as museums. Other than the imposing 6th-century castle dominating the town skyline, Gjirokastra's most appealing sight is its collection of Ottoman-style houses.

Korce - Located in southeast Albania, several miles from the Greek border, this city is full of life during the summer, when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. You can hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Moravia and view the city and its surrounding landscape. Don't miss the Korca Brewery, famous throughout Albania, which has a nice beer garden.

Tirana  - Albania’s colourful, chaotic capital is better for strolling than sightseeing, but there’s plenty to keep you occupied and you should take the time to sit down and sip an espresso while watching the world go by. The looming Mount Dajti is easily visible from Tirana and city dwellers head to its forested slopes in droves over sunny days. The mountain’s network of paths feels surprisingly remote even though you’re only 25km from Tirana.

Kruja  - This ancient city is the hilltop scene of national hero Skanderbeg’s resistance to the Ottoman invasions of the fifteenth century. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Skanderbeg's castle is a tourist focal point that contains museums, restaurants, even a hotel. Kruje also has an old-style Ottoman bazaar with shops selling traditional and vintage goods amid its cobblestone streets.

Berat  - The 'town of the thousand windows' is known for its pretty rows of Ottoman houses lining the hills. Thought to be one of the oldest towns in Albania, it is now a new member of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Berat has a well-preserved citadel with residents still living inside its protective walls. The 14th-century Kalasa citadel towers above the town and is accessed via a steep, cobbled road.

Gjirokastra  - Another UNESCO-listed city located in the south which is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. Gjirokastra is one of Albania’s most attractive towns and home to some of its friendliest people. It's the birthplace of former communist leader Enver Hoxha and Albania's most internationally famous author, Ismail Kadare who's homes both now serve as museums. Other than the imposing 6th-century castle dominating the town skyline, Gjirokastra's most appealing sight is its collection of Ottoman-style houses.

Korce - Located in southeast Albania, several miles from the Greek border, this city is full of life during the summer, when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. You can hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Moravia and view the city and its surrounding landscape. Don't miss the Korca Brewery, famous throughout Albania, which has a nice beer garden.

WHAT TO EAT IN ALBANIA

Albania, like the Balkans in general, has a primarily Turkish influence in its cuisine. This influence stems from over 400 years of Ottoman rule in the region. Recent influences after the fall of communism in the early 1990s have been from Italy and Western Europe in general. Most Albanian people make their own bread, but going out for meals is very common. Some sort of hearty stew is commonly included in Albanian suppers - easy to make, and flexible with ingredients which usually include potatoes, onion, and rice.

• Byrek - a common type of savoury pie made in different ways depending on the region. Some variations include spinach and feta cheese or ground meat and onion.
• Tavë kosi -a simple dish of baked lamb and rice served with a yogurt sauce. It is often referred to as the national dish of Albania.
• Qofte të fërguara - Albanian fried meatballs with feta cheese. Traditionally served with fried potatoes or rice.
• Ayran - a drink served with food is made by mixing yogurt with chilled or iced water (sometimes carbonated) then seasoned with mint. Two byreks and an ayran is a very common breakfast option!
• Gjirofarma - cheese is similar to the Greek feta cheese and one of the few cheeses that are exported from Albania.
• Don't forget to check out the many pastry shops ( pastiçeri ) offering a wide variety of tasty pastry including delicious cakes.
• Baklava - is a popular dessert and is usually made as a dessert during New Year's Eve.
• Oshaf – A fig and sheep’s milk pudding

LGBTQ IN ALBANIA

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WHERE TO STAY IN ALBANIA

When visiting Albania for the first time, choosing the right area or region to stay in can greatly enhance your experience. Each region offers its own unique attractions and accommodations to suit various budgets. Here are some recommendations:

WHERE TO STAY IN TIRANA :

In Tirana, Albania, you'll find a variety of accommodations to suit different preferences and budgets. Here are some highly-rated options in each category:

Hotel Baron:   Hotel Baron provides budget-friendly rooms in a convenient location near Tirana's main attractions. The hotel offers comfortable accommodations with basic amenities and friendly service.

Hotel Theranda:   Hotel Theranda offers comfortable mid-range accommodations in a central location. The hotel features stylish rooms, a restaurant serving Albanian and international cuisine, and a rooftop terrace with city views.

The Plaza Tirana:   The Plaza Tirana is a luxurious five-star hotel located in the city center. The hotel features elegant rooms and suites, a rooftop swimming pool, spa facilities, multiple dining options including a rooftop restaurant with panoramic views, and a fitness center.

Rogner Hotel Tirana:   Rogner Hotel Tirana offers upscale accommodations surrounded by lush gardens. The hotel features spacious rooms and suites, a swimming pool, tennis courts, spa facilities, and several dining options including a traditional Albanian restaurant.

Best Value Tip:  Accommodation prices in Tirana are generally lower during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn), offering excellent value for money.

WHERE TO STAY IN DURRES:

In Durres, Albania, you'll find a range of accommodations to suit different preferences and budgets. Here are some highly-rated options in each category:

Hotel Aragosta:   Hotel Aragosta offers budget-friendly accommodations near the beach in Durres. The hotel features simple yet comfortable rooms, a restaurant serving Albanian and international cuisine, and a bar.

Hotel Dyrrah:   Hotel Dyrrah provides affordable accommodations with easy access to the beach. Guests can stay in clean and comfortable rooms, enjoy access to a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine, and relax in the hotel's garden area.

Hotel Durres Beach:  Hotel Durres Beach offers mid-range accommodations overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The hotel features modern rooms and suites, a swimming pool, spa facilities, and multiple dining options including a beachfront restaurant.

Hotel Nais Beach:   Hotel Nais Beach provides comfortable mid-range accommodations near the beach. Guests can stay in well-appointed rooms, enjoy access to a swimming pool, fitness center, and restaurant serving Albanian and international dishes.

Tropikal Resort:  Tropikal Resort is a luxurious beachfront resort offering upscale accommodations in Durres. The resort features elegant rooms and suites, multiple swimming pools, spa facilities, tennis courts, and several dining options including a seafood restaurant and beach bar.

Adriatik Hotel:   Adriatik Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel located on the beachfront in Durres. The hotel offers luxurious rooms and suites with sea views, a private beach, swimming pools, spa facilities, tennis courts, and multiple dining options including a rooftop restaurant.

Best Value Tip:  Consider visiting Durrës during the offseason (late spring or early autumn) to find great deals on accommodations and enjoy quieter beaches.

WHERE TO STAY IN SARANDE :

Sarandë , located on the Albanian Riviera, offers a unique and memorable experience for travelers.

Hotel Blue Sky:  Hotel Blue Sky offers budget-friendly accommodations near the beach in Sarande. The hotel features simple yet comfortable rooms, a restaurant serving Albanian and international cuisine, and a bar.

Hotel Alpha:   Hotel Alpha provides affordable accommodations with easy access to the beach. Guests can stay in clean and cozy rooms, enjoy access to a restaurant serving Mediterranean dishes, and relax on the hotel's terrace.

Hotel Santa Quaranta:   Hotel Santa Quaranta offers mid-range accommodations overlooking the Ionian Sea. The hotel features modern rooms and suites, a swimming pool, spa facilities, and a restaurant serving Albanian and international cuisine.

Bougainville Bay Hotel:   Bougainville Bay Hotel is a luxurious beachfront resort offering upscale accommodations in Sarande. The resort features elegant rooms and suites with sea views, multiple swimming pools, spa facilities, tennis courts, and several dining options including a beachfront restaurant and rooftop bar.

Best Value Tip:  Look for accommodations in Sarandë during the shoulder seasons (May-June or September-October) for lower prices and fewer crowds while still enjoying pleasant weather.

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Recent blog posts, plan your trip, visa services, let ivisa take the pain out of travel planning and assist you with electronic visas, travel authorizations, visas on arrival, and even paper visas. they can also help with health declarations and embassy registrations. if you're from the us, they also provide a one-stop shop to renew your passport securely and error-free..

FLIGHTS Find a cheap flight by using  Sky scanner  or  Momondo . These are our favourite  flight search engines. They index other travel websites and airlines across the globe to easily find you the best deal.

ACCOMMODATION

Booking.com is our number one resource for researching and booking accommodation. In addition to Booking.com , we have found  Agoda.com to consistently returns the cheapest rates in Southeast Asia. 

TRANSPORT ​

DiscoverCars.com is a leader in online car rental bookings; we compare car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose which is best for your trip.  12Go   connects the world door-to-door, from transfers to flights, under the same user-friendly ticket.

INSURANCE Travel insurance can protect you against unexpecte d illness, injury, theft, and cancellations.

Heymondo (International Travel Insurance)

World Nomads   (Travel / medical insurance for long-term travellers and nomads)

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (Travel / medical insurance for long-term travellers and nomads)

Need more help to book your trip? Check our complete resource page  for all the best companies to use when you travel. You will only find the companies we use ourselves.

Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you,

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Your Complete Guide To Low Budget Travel in Albania

In this guide we’ll discuss traveling around Albania using public and private transportation, accommodations, low cost activities and budgeting for food.

Almost everyone has a budget in mind when traveling. Albania has plenty to offer the budget traveler. Using this guide you can plan a trip low budget to a mid-range budget with a few overindulgences.

Transportation In Albania

Public transportation in albania.

The most budget-friendly ways to get around Albania are also the most popular forms of daily public transportation. We’re talking about buses and minibuses! You also have the option of taxis and even renting a car depending on your destination.

If you’re feeling exceptionally adventurous, you can bike around the country in a group! Here is what you need to know.

Buses in Albania

The first option for traveling around Albania while on a budget is the bus. When you land in Albania, most likely, your first destination will be the capital city of Tirana. From there, you can grab a bus to any number of destinations in the country.

Bus from Tirana Airport to the City

Catching the bus from Tirana International Airport to the capital city is pretty straightforward. Once you step outside the airport, you’ll see a ton of buses ready to pick you up. You can grab one that’s heading to downtown Tirana and only pay around $3 USD (300 LEK).

Not far from the airport, Kruje was the home to Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg. Kruje Castle should be at the top of your list of places to visit. We’ll talk more about this low-cost activity in a moment, back to the buses.

Northern and Southern Destinations

If you want to head south to Berat, Dhermi, Himare, Vlore, Durres, Gjirokaster, and Saranda, there is one bus station. If your plans are taking you north to Shkodra or Kukes, you can head to this same bus station.

The bus station is located about 1.5 miles from downtown Tirana , and here you can view the various schedules for each destination.

Southeast Destinations

You’ll want the Southeastern Albania Regional Bus Terminal if you want to head to Korce, Pogradec, Permet, and Elbasan. This bus terminal is about a mile outside of downtown Tirana. You can view the bus schedule here .

The cost of a bus ticket will depend on your destination, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $5-$12 per person! You usually pay for your ticket at a kiosk or pay when you get on the bus.

International Destinations

Though we want you to spend as much time as possible in Albania, you can take a bus to other countries, including Kosovo, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. If you’re looking to expand your travels, check out all 36 bus options !

City Bus Routes in Tirana

There are about ten intercity bus routes in Tirana, with the average cost per ride around 35 cents USD (40 LEK). Kids under the age of seven ride for free. You can also purchase a general pass that will take you anywhere in Tirana for about $15 USD (1600 LEK).

You can see all the bus routes and schedules by clicking here .

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Minibuses in Albania

The must-know Albanian word when traveling around the country is furgon , which is Albanian for minibus. Furgons are privately owned and are the most popular form of public transportation in the country, as many natives use minibuses to travel back and forth from different cities. During popular tourists months, it can be more cramped than usual.

It’s all part of the adventure of exploring a new country! And many of these minibuses head to major cities, as well as smaller, picturesque villages. If you change your mind and want to get off the minibus during the trip, no problem! Just let the driver know. And if you see another minibus heading somewhere else, flag them down and see if they have room. If they can squeeze you on, they will!

The cost of a minibus ticket is also inexpensive, and the cost will depend on where you want to go. You can expect to pay anywhere from $3 USD (300 LEK) to $12 (1,300 LEK). You can usually grab a minibus at the regular bus stations or just flag one down when you see one. The timetables are usually loose, so plan for some buffer time.

When in doubt, you can ask someone at your hotel or the bus station. If locals can speak English, they are usually happy to point you in the right direction.

Taxis in Albania

Like anywhere else, you can always grab a taxi when you need to get across town. It usually costs $2 (250 LEK) to turn on the meter, and then it’s $2 for every kilometer. So depending on where you need to go, or perhaps it’s just too hot outside to walk, you can grab a taxi.

Car Rental in Albania

If you’re a free soul that wants to travel on your own time, renting a car is certainly an option. All you need is your U.S. driver’s license, and you can expect to pay only about $20 a day for an economy car, but be careful driving! Many of the roads have seen significant improvement, but some are still in questionable shape.

See our blog post: 15 Reasons Why You Should Rent A Car When Traveling In Albania

Biking in Albania

If you want to bike your way around Albania, you’ll undoubtedly save money and have thighs of steel once you’re done. It’s a very mountainous country, but if you love a challenge, it’s feasible to bike your way to your destination!

There are also different cycling tour groups you can join. Joining a bike tour is also inexpensive, starting at around €950/person, and is all-inclusive, including hotels, food, and a support van.

What About Trains in Albania?

Tourists and natives love using trains throughout Europe, so if you’re wondering where are the trains in Albania, the answer is: well, they don’t really have any. When the country transitioned from communism to democracy, the new government destroyed most of the passenger trains in an effort to erase anything built under communism.

There are very few trains operating, but any local will tell you not to waste your time or money. The trains are extremely slow and unreliable.

The good news is there are plans to build and upgrade railways. By summer 2023 , there will be an upgraded railway from Tirana to Durres and a new railway connecting the Tirana International Airport to the capital city.

Low Cost Accommodations in Albania

There are so many great quality hostels in Albania, and they are super affordable. You can choose the ‘dorm room’ style for around $12/night (1,200 LEK) or a private room for about $23/night (2,450 LEK). Some high-rated and affordable hostels include:

The English Hostel in Tirana

Stone City in Gjirokaster

Saranda Backpackers in Saranda

You can also look on Airbnb and Couchsurfing if you’re looking to stay with a local. Not only do you get an extremely affordable place to sleep, but also the help of a local Albanian.

If you’re more of a hotel person, you can find a comfortable hotel room for about $28/night (3,050 LEK). You can easily search for hostels and hotels by browsing agoda.com and hostelworld.com .

But depending on how you define “affordable,” you could even stay at a “luxury” hotel for only about $47/day (5,000 LEK)!

Low Cost Activities in Albania

Now that we covered transportation and accommodations, we can focus on what fun activities you can do without breaking the bank! The good news is you don’t need a ridiculous budget to have fun in Albania.

Honestly, you may not even have to worry about a budget at all. That’s how affordable the country is!

Low Cost Activities in Tirana

Tirana definitely offers plenty of entertainment that is free or extremely affordable.

• Sign up for a free walking tour of the city
• Enjoy the parks, including the Artificial Lake of Tirana
• Take in the sights and sounds of the markets, including the New Bazaar
• Grab the bus to nearby Kruje and visit the castle of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania. The entrance fee is about $4 USD.
• Get lost in history by visiting the National History Museum . The entrance fee is only $2/person (200 LEK).

Low Cost Activities Around Albania

1. relax on the beach.

Albania is known for its crystal blue waters and white, perfect beaches. The Albanian Rivera is home to some of the best beaches in the country. You can read more about them here .

2. Visit amazing historic castles

Albania has an incredible history, and you can feel like you’re stepping back in time by visiting any number of castles. Some of our favorites include:

• Berat Castle: Entrance fee $1 USD.
• Kruje Castle: Entrance fee $4 USD.
• Elbasan Castle: You can walk around the city and view Elbasan Castle!
• Butrint: A UNESCO World Heritage Site that will guarantee to blow your mind. One of the more “expensive” entrance fees is $10/person (1,000 LEK).

You can view more ancient castles by clicking here .

3. Connect with nature by visiting national parks, hiking, and camping  

One of the most notable national parks in Albania is Drilon Park in Pogradec. There are several small cafes for a quick coffee, and you can spend time feeding the swans that float in the picturesque lakes.

Check out blog post: The 14 Most Amazing Natural And Historical Wonders of Albania

There are also incredible campsites available where you can choose to pitch your tent in the mountains, stay in a beautiful cottage in a valley, or sleep along the beach. You can view some of the most amazing campsites here .

You can view hiking trips, cycling groups, and more by checking out these options .

The Cost of Food in Albania

We covered transportation, accommodations, and activities, but of course, we can’t forget about budgeting for food! We are also happy to share that food is both delicious and inexpensive. So no matter your budget, you will not go hungry while in Albania.

• Most conservative budget: $10 USD/person/day (1,000 LEK), including cooking some of your meals
• In the middle budget: $25 USD/person/day (2,500 LEK), includes eating out for all meals with drinks
• Luxury budget: $47 USD/person/day (4,800 LEK), includes eating out for all meals plus drinks and probably anything else you could want with your meals!

Budget travel possibilities are endless in Albania. In Albania your must-see/must-experiences are most low cost, you could splurge sporadically and still stay under $50 a day.

A majority of our best experiences in Albania involved very little to no money. The atmosphere is relaxing, especially on the beaches, in the cafes and while moving from place to place.

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TRAVEL to ALBANIA – Tips and Information Guide [2023]

Here is our complete guide to tell you everything you need to know to travel to Albania!

Whether you’re into epic mountain adventures, relaxing beach vacations or partying it up in a bustling city, Albania has something for you!

Albania is perfect for those who like to spend their time getting lost in the natural treasures of a country.  

The beautiful coastline, stunning mountains and the flora are only a few of its wonders that bring tourists here from around the world.

Along with a rich history and culture, it is a great holiday destination for both energetic and chilled out tourists.  You can count on spending a perfect beach vacation here, but you can also choose a more active approach.

The urban areas, although rather small, like the capital Tirana, have a unique spirit worth visiting. On the other hand, the Albanian Alps offer great hiking opportunities for mountain-lovers.

While its popularity is continuously growing year after year, it is still considered to be the Balkan’s hidden gem.

Unfortunately this stunning and diverse country is still relatively off the beaten path, thanks to a couple of major tourists hotspots in its vicinity.

Maybe that should inspire you to travel to Albania and try to uncover all it has to offer!

More and more tourists travel to Albania to experience its gritty, vibrant streets or to take a dip in its waters. Not only is Albania surrounded by two seas (the Adriatic and the Ionian), it also has a few wonderful rivers and lakes.

But in our opinion it would be a shame to visit Albania and not explore the Theth National Park, along with its gorgeous natural landmarks.

The food is an experience itself, combining influences that have shaped the history of the Balkan peninsula through the years!

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to delve into our guide to travelling to Albania and get you prepared for your next big adventure!

Albania Travel Guide

For a more detailed display of things you should see and do, make sure you read this  Albania Travel Guide !

Along with those suggestions, you will also get all the important information necessary for a pleasant trip.

All you have to do is pack your bags and decide when you’ll take some time for yourself!

General Info

Here’s a list of certain things that you will definitely find useful on your visit.

The general info will come in handy one way or another!

• Currency: Albanian lek
• Capital: Tirana
• Language: Albanian
• Population: 2,876,591
• Area: 28,748 sq. km
• Electricity Voltage: The standard voltage is 220-240V at 50 Hz. If you have 110V appliances, you should use a voltage adaptor whilst in Albania.
• Electricity Sockets: Type C (also works with plug E and F) and type F (also works with plug C and plug E)

How to Get to Albania

There’s a bunch of different ways to travel to Albania, and the method you choose depends on where you are coming from, how long you have, and what your budget is.

When it comes to air travel, Albania has one major airport in Tirana – the Nënë Tereza.

Direct flights to it are available from many European cities, as well as Israel and Turkey.   If you’re travelling from another continent, you will need to have a layover in a major city in Europe.

There still aren’t any direct flights available from North America, South America, Africa or Australia. The closest option for those coming from the Americas is flying to London or Frankfurt first.

The majority of the flights come from Italy (from around 15 cities), while German cities are in second place.

The large airlines that fly to Nënë Tereza are British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Alitalia.  If you’re interested in low-cost airlines, Wizzair has flights from Budapest, London and Dortmund.

Another airport, called the Kukës, should start working in 2020, and it should primarily be a low cost airport.

Getting to the Nënë Tereza from town is fairly simple.

You can take the shuttle (Rinas Express) from the centre of Tirana or travel by taxi.

The bus ticket costs around 2€, while the taxi fare is around 18€.

Make sure you look for the ATEx sign on the cars, since they are the only approved taxi company at the airport.

One of the most popular ways of reaching Albania is by ferry.

Most of them depart from Italy and arrive at either Durrës, Vlorë or Sarandë, although some come from Greece too.

Ferries for Durrës leave from Ancona, Bari and Trieste.  If you go to Brindisi, you can catch a ferry to Vlorë and Sarandë.

There’s also a connection between Sarandë and Corfu in Greece.

The well-known Italian ferry operators are Adria Ferries, Adriatica di Navigazione, Azzurra Line, Venezia Lines and Ilion Lines.

On the other hand, if you’re planning to travel to Albania from Greece, check out Sarris and Ionian Seaways.

The prices depend on the number of passengers, whether you have a vehicle or not and the time of year.

There are a couple of ways to get to Albania by coach. Even though it’s not the most comfortable way to travel, it’s usually inexpensive and fairly frequent.

You can catch a bus to Albania from Istanbul, Athens, Prishtina, Tetovo, Thessaloniki, Sofia, Larisa, Ohrid and Ulcinj.

The prices go from 10€ to 35€ for a one-way ticket, depending on your starting point.

Albania Visa Requirements

All EU citizens, as well as those from the USA, Canada, Australia and UK, can travel to Albania without a visa.

The only condition is that they don’t spend more than 90 days there.

In total, there’s 55 countries whose nationals don’t need a visa for a 90-day stay in Albania.  Check if yours is on the list by clicking here .

Those who didn’t find their country on the lists above must be issued with a visa.

They can be issued free of charge or cost up to 55 euros, depending on the country.

5 Interesting Facts About Albania

• The flora of Albania makes 30 percent of the entire European flora.
• The Albanian language is very unique. It is Indo-European, but it forms its own independent branch and it has no relatives!
• Until 1991, there were only around 5000 cars in Albania. The Communist dictator Enver Hoxha banned them and insisted that citizens walk or use some type of public transport.
• The Albanian Vjosa river is considered to be Europe’s very last free-flowing river. Make sure you see its beauty in person.
• Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was Albanian!

Best Time to Travel to Albania

Albania’s climate is divided into 3 zones: the warm coast, the continental interior and the cold mountains on the north. Depending on what you’d like to see and do, you should choose different times of the year for your trip.

However, the best time to visit in general would be late spring and early fall.  The temperatures will be pleasant and you’ll be able to enjoy all your activities.

So, anywhere between April and June, and then September and October.

If you’ve chosen Albania as your summer vacation destination and you like the heat, visit in July. That is the peak of the tourist season and the weather is extremely warm.

It is advised that you avoid the period between December and March , since it can get really cold and wet.

But, if you’re a lover of snow and winter sports, use this time to visit some of Albania’s ski destinations!

Another advantage of visiting during the cold months is that you’ll be one of the few tourists in Albania. Basically, it will be like living with the locals.

Albania Travel Itineraries Suggestions

Albania is a country of great variety and vibrancy.

Visiting different parts of it could feel like visiting multiple countries!

Planning your stay can get difficult, but we’ve created a couple of itinerary suggestions, based on different preferences.

Most of them require renting a car, but you could also rely on buses or the kindness of strangers.

Here’s a few ways to spend 10 days in Albania:

1. The Seaside

• Catch a ferry to Vlorë from Italy
• 2 days in Vlorë
• 2 days in Dhërmi
• 2 days in Sarandë
• 3 days in Ksamil
• Go back to Sarande and catch a ferry  

 2. Culture

• Fly to Tirana
• 3 days in Tirana
• 2 days in Berat
• 2 days in Gjirokastër
• 2 days in Krujë
• Go back to Tirana to fly out

Budget for Travelling in Albania

In general, Albania is inexpensive for Western tourists, especially when compared to some of the nearby countries, Croatia and Italy.

You can find accommodation for a reasonable price and there are great cheap food options. Museum tickets and public transportation fares are very affordable.

Some prices could go up slightly during the summer, especially in seaside towns, since that’s the peak of the season.

However, it’s never too drastic.  Of course, it all comes down to your needs and personal spending habits.

There’s always something interesting to try and something to spend money on. But, if you put in a little effort into your planning, you could experience Albania on a budget!

The prices below are per day.

Budget for Backpackers in Albania

Single Traveller: 20€ – 40€

If you’re visiting during the spring or summer, backpacking is a great way to explore Albania.  Accommodation in a hostel in Tirana is around 7-15 euros per night.

If you book ahead, you will be able to find the cheaper rooms.

Another suggestion is Booking.com or AirBnB, since you can really get lucky with the prices.

Click here to get $35 off your first stay on AirBnB.

Certain budget hotels can be very affordable, so you can get a room for around 20 euros/night. Ask around and try to find some free tours, since volunteers organise them from time to time.

If you’re trying to save money on food, there are always great on-the-go options for 2-3€ in total. For example, instead of eating in a restaurant, try the delicious, traditional Balkan pastry – burek.

It’s a win-win!

Use public transportation to get around, just like the locals do. The minibuses they often travel by are called furgons.

They don’t have a specific timetable, but they are cheap. Buses are even less expensive, but they’re slightly slower.

Flashpacker

Single Traveller: 50€ – 80€

Having a bigger budget means more comfort and luxuries, such as museums and restaurants.

The entrance to the National Museum in Tirana costs less than 2€, and most museums have the same prices.  Make sure you visit as many as you can, for a glimpse into Albania’s history and culture.

You can have a delicious, satisfying meal for 5€ – 10€, as long as you avoid the most expensive places. Having a cup of coffee will never cost you more than 1,5 €.

Therefore, taking a break in a cute cafe can become your daily ritual.

The starting price for taxis is around 2€ – 3€, while every kilometre is approximately 1€.

You can treat yourself to this type of transportation, since it’s probably cheaper than in your home country!

You can find a mid-range hotel room in the very centre of Tirana for an average of 35€ – 45€/night.

The people are incredibly friendly, so you should consider asking a local for some recommendations!

Single Traveller: 90€ and more

Accomodation in Albania’s most luxurious hotels can cost you anywhere from 60€ to 90€ daily. That will allow you to enjoy private spas and transport to and from the airport, to name a few things.

You should consider booking a tour and letting a guide introduce you to everything this country has to offer.

Why travel to Albania if you’re not going to get to know it properly? Tours of the capital will cost you around 20€, while a full-day hiking tour will be close to 80€.

Depending on what you like, you’ll definitely find an option that fits your budget and your interests.

Fine dining won’t be too costly compared to average European prices. You won’t pay more than 40€ for the most expensive meal in a luxurious restaurant!

Consider buying an authentic Albanian souvenir to remind you of your experience.

Traditional Albanian rugs called kilims and the famous Skënderbeu Cognac are a great choice!

Top 5 Places to Visit in Albania

It’s hard to single out only 5 places, when there’s so much to see and do. But these five spots should be the ones you must not miss!

• The Blue Eye Of Theth : Located in one of Albania’s most beautiful national parks, this might be the most stunning sight in the country. If you’re into hiking, plan your route around this, it will definitely be rewarding!
• Gjirokastër : This lovely place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It gives visitors a chance to experience a real Ottoman town, as the architecture and the cobbled streets are well preserved!
• Berat : Berat is yet another UNESCO Site, also known as the “city of a thousand windows”. Visit its castle. churches and mosques to understand the diversity of Albania’s history and culture.
• Tirana : The capital is also the biggest and busiest city. Try to meet some locals and blend in with them so you could feel the real spirit of Tirana. Even though it’s not the most beautiful city you’ll see, you’ll see for yourself why it’s so appealing to tourists!
• The Riviera : You can’t travel to Albania and not spend some time on the seaside. The crystal clear waters of the two seas and the fairly cheap prices guarantee a good vacation. The Albanian riviera is a hidden treasure when it comes to European holiday destinations!

Top 5 Experiences To Have In Albania

• Hiking From Theth To Valbona : Albania’s most popular hike is also one of the most beautiful ones in this part of Europe. As long as you’re prepared for approximately 7 hours of walking, you’ll really enjoy the incredible scenery. Make sure you bring all of the necessary equipment and enough food, so that you can truly be focused on the nature. This isn’t the easiest journey, but it sure is worth the struggle!
• Experience xhiro : Xhiro is an authentic Albanian tradition. Every evening, people go out into the streets, usually the big boulevards, and take a walk. They use this time of day to catch up with their friends or neighbors and hear about each other’s days. Many use xhiro to sell their products, so they bring out whatever it is they’re selling into the streets. Don’t be surprised if you see people having a barbecue party on the sidewalk – it is all possible during xhiro. This Albanian social ritual is something you must be a part of while you’re in the country.
• Take a Tour About Albania’s Communist Past : As you may or may not know, Albania was under a Communist dictator Enver Hoxha until 1991. This era shaped the country into what it is today in many ways. There are still many sites to see all over Albania that are closely linked to that era. For example, entire parts of Tirana were restricted to those who weren’t members of the Communist party. This tour will introduce you to all the interesting facts about Albania’s 20th century history. It is exciting and strange and something you should definitely learn about!
• Osum River Rafting : The breathtaking Osum river canyons are a must-see for every nature enthusiast. Try to visit during the spring, since the water levels will allow you to see all the waterfalls. The adrenaline rush combined with the beautiful scenery will make for an unforgettable experience. There’s also an interesting legend involving the river and the two mountains surrounding it, Tomorr and Shpirag. The story says that two brothers killed each other because of a girl named Osum and that her tears formed the river.
• Visit the bazaars : Authentic Albanian bazaars exist in a few cities and they’re an amazing way to get to know their culture. They are a great place for buying traditional, handmade products, such as kilims and çifteli, an Albanian instrument. The Krujë bazaar is one of the most famous ones, since it has existed for hundreds of years. If you’d like to buy some souvenirs or just feel the bustling spirit, this is the place to be. Supporting small local businesses and craftsmen is something you should do in your country and abroad!

Transport in Albania

Using public transport in Albania can be unreliable, since timetables pretty much don’t exist. However, it is very cheap and fairly fast, so it’s still very popular among tourists and locals.

Most people travel by bus.   The fares are very low, so you’ll rarely spend more than a few euros on the ticket.

The tricky part is that the bus leaves the station when it gets full, not according to the timetable. That means that you can’t really predict when it’s going to come.

It’s best to ask a local who uses the bus often to tell you an approximate time of arrival. Also, always get in the bus with the most passengers, since that one will leave first!

People also travel by furgon – a minibus or van of sorts – for a more pleasant trip. The same rule about leaving when full applies here as well.

Be aware that the driver picks up and drops off people along the way. Therefore, you can get off anywhere you want and get on whenever you hail the driver.

This type of transport is very unpopular and rarely used by the locals. The rail system is not developed and the trains are in bad condition, so it’s best to stick to other options.

If you do choose to try it, you’ll be happy to know that the tickets are cheap and the views are beautiful.

The trains operate between a couple of cities and towns, such as Durrës, Shkodër, Vlorë and a few more.

Also, you should know that Albania is not connected to other countries by train.

Even though taxis are the most expensive type of transport in Albania, they’re cheap compared to standard European prices.

The starting price is 250 lek, which is roughly 2-3 €. Every kilometre is an additional euro.

Most taxi drivers speak some English, so communicating won’t be an issue.

To avoid getting scammed, ask a local or the staff in your hotel to find you a taxi.

Accommodation in Albania

Whether you’re a backpacker or someone who needs more comfort, Albania covers it all.  From hostels and tiny hotels to the, large world-famous ones, there are options for everyone.

An interesting way to spend your vacation is in an authentic guesthouse.  There’s quite a few of them in Albania, but you might have to ask the locals for suggestions.

It’s really fascinating to wake up in a traditional Albanian household and eat freshly prepared meals!

The riviera destinations are growing more and more and, therefore, there’s an abundance of hotels.

However, wherever you go, AirBnB might be a good option, since it’s usually inexpensive.

Food in Albania

If you’ve ever been to the Balkans, you know that the food is incredible in every country.

Since it was influenced by many cultures through the centuries, it is a wonderful mix of flavours, ingredients and textures.

Many Albanian dishes have meat in them, but you can find vegetarian and vegan options.

If you have a sweet tooth, you won’t be unsatisfied. The desserts are usually made with nuts, crunchy dough or fruit.

The Berat region has the biggest fig plantation in Europe and their fig preserves are delicious!

Here’s a few dishes you must try when you travel to Albania:

• Tavë Kosi (baked lamb with rice and yogurt)
• Speca me Glizë (peppers stuffed with rice, veggies and ground meat)
• Fërgesë (creamy vegetable and cheese stew – could also be made with meat)
• Byrek (filo pastry filled with different toppings, such as cheese, spinach, meat and cabbage)
• Trilece (creamy, milky cake)
• Qofte të Fërguara (fried meatballs)

Safety in Albania

In general, Albania is a safe country for all visitors. There hasn’t been many instances of violence against tourists.

It’s even safe for solo women travellers, since the people are friendly and welcoming.

Pickpocketing is very rare and there aren’t any parts of Albania that are more risky than the others.

Of course, it is always advised that you take certain precautions, like keeping your money in a safe place.

One thing you should be careful about is the traffic.

Albanian drivers are notorious for not exactly following the rules and regulations, so be cautious when crossing the streets.

The roads are slowly getting better, but if you’re a driver yourself, you will need some patience.

Packing List For Albania

If you decide to come during the spring and summer, you won’t need a ton of clothes. The weather will be nice and pleasant, ideal for walking around.

But if you’re travelling to Albania during the colder months, please add a winter jacket to this list!

• 3 x t-shirts
• 1 x sweater
• 1 x sunglasses
• 1 x swimsuit
• 1 x flip-flops
• 2 x swimsuit
• 1 x comfy leggings/sweatpants

Miscellaneous Items

• Waterproof case

Medical Care In Albania

Since Albania is a relatively poor country, the state of the healthcare system is pretty much the same.

Tirana is the most developed in that sense and you shouldn’t have a problem finding help there.

You will be able to find a variety of medication in Albanian pharmacies, called barnatore.

However, if you’re on some type of regular prescription medication, make sure you bring it with you, along with a doctor’s letter.

It is recommended that you have travel insurance before you travel to Albania. Sometimes, you will have to pay in advance even if you’re covered.

The private hospitals and clinics in Tirana mostly have English-speaking doctors and nurses, so you’ll be able to explain your symptoms.

You shouldn’t be afraid of any specific diseases in Albania, but make sure you have all your vaccinations.

If you plan on spending time in the nature, pay attention to ticks and wear long sleeves and trousers.

In summary, if you have to seek medical care, try to go to Tirana, since the quality and safety is best there.

Travel Tips For Albania

• Try not to drink tap water. The water in some mountain areas is safe to drink and also very delicious, but make sure you educate yourself properly.
• Remember this: nodding in Albania means no and shaking your head means yes! Either adapt to the locals or stick to communicating with words only.
• Get used to the traffic chaos. Look left and right multiple times before crossing the street, get used to the honking and the speed. Also, public transport is irregular and often too packed with people.
• It is useful to know a few Albanian phrases and the locals will certainly appreciate it. For example, përshëndetje means hello and faleminderit means thank you. If you’d like to ask someone whether they speak English, say Flisni Anglisht?
• If you’re planning on exploring the Albanian mountains, bring some type of insect repellent. Also, cover your skin as much as possible, to avoid unpleasant rashes and insect bites.
• Try some of the Albanian wines! Albania has a very long tradition of wine making, dating back to the ancient Roman era. You can stick to the classics, or try some of the rare or more luxurious wines. For example, the Uka Farm is the only place in the world where you can drink Ceruja wine. If you’d like to switch things up, try the orange wine.

Read Our Albania Posts

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The PERFECT Albania Itinerary For 1-2 Weeks

Table of Contents

This post may contain affiliate links to things like tours, hotels, Amazon associates and products. These help me earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Planning a trip to Albania ? I had an INCREDIBLE trip and can’t wait to share my Albania itinerary with you. This was my favourite new country of the year even though it had destinations like Slovenia and Montenegro to compete with! Albania is so worth visiting thanks to its rich diversity. There are well-known beach towns like Sarandë and Ksamil, lesser-known beach towns like Himarë, incredible hiking near Shkodër and adorable small towns like Gjirokastër and UNESCO-heritage Berat. Then, there’s the capital city, Tirana, with everything from sushi to cocktails and third-wave coffee.

ALBANIA ESSENTIALS Accommodation : Booking.com / Hostelworld Getting there : flight / car / bus Activities : GetYourGuide / Viator

Read next: my Balkans trip itinerary for 2-8 weeks

How long to spend in Albania?

Well, I spent almost a month in Albania but I think that says more about me and my slow, remote working lifestyle! I would recommend at least 2 weeks in Albania to get a real feel for its diversity, visit the key places and eat lots of yummy food! With 1 week in Albania, I would suggest visiting a maximum of 2-3 places.

How to get to Albania (and where to start your trip)

The capital of Tirana is one of the most popular places to start an Albania travel itinerary. Flights from other European cities start from as little as €15. Browse flights to Tirana with Skyscanner , selecting ‘whole month’ (if you can be flexible) to get the best prices. If you’re coming by land, get the Flixbus to Tirana. The other popular way to begin an Albania trip is by flying into Corfu island , Greece and taking the ferry to Sarandë. This is good because you’re starting at the bottom of the country and can travel up. If you start in Tirana, there are attractions both south and north so you may have to pass through the capital more than once.

Getting around Albania

Car – this is your best option for an Albania road trip. I recommend Rentalcars.com for hiring cars abroad; they have agencies in Tirana and Sarandë (consider collecting it in one and returning it in the other so you don’t have to go back on yourself). Bus – if you choose to take public transport like I did, you’ll be taking the bus. However, I will warn you that these can be super crowded and VERY hot in summer. Also, there will often be long, uphill walks between bus stations and your accommodation with no taxis available in small towns. Buses are best paid for in cash (like everything in Albania) usually to a member of the bus company who walks up the aisle collecting fares when the journey has begun. I made the mistake of booking my first journey (Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia to Sarandë) online and, not only did I pay double what other passengers did but the staff were confused by me even having a pre-booked ticket! Getting around towns and cities – most are small enough to walk between the main attractions. Even Tirana is walkable unless you travel to the base of Dajti Cablecar , in which case you can take a city bus. Tirana has taxis but most smaller places don’t… Or at least not ones you can easily hail on the street or via an app.

Tip – to check bus timetables, your best bet is the Gjrafa Travel website. I didn’t always find it totally accurate so I’d suggest double-checking with your accommodation before travelling.

Albania map

Albania itinerary overview

1 week itinerary:

• Day 1 – Tirana
• Days 2-3 – Berat OR Gjirokastër
• Days 4-5 – Himarë or Sarandë
• Day 6 – Blue Eye day trip

If taking this itinerary, I’d pick Gjirokastër and Himarë over Berat and Sarandë. But I’d advise doing some research to pick the best one for you.

2 week itinerary:

• Days 1-2 – Tirana
• Days 2-3 – Berat
• Days 4-5 – Gjirokastër
• Days 6-7 – Sarandë
• Days 8-9 – Himarë
• Day 10-11 – Shkodër
• Days 12-13 – Theth hiking.

Slow travel alternation – I did the above itinerary over 3 weeks. Although you can squeeze it into two, if you like slow travel it may be better to omit 1-2 places so you can travel slower and spend longer in places. You could choose between Sarandë and Himarë beach towns; I’ll discuss their differences later.

Tirana: 1-2 days

Tirana isn’t my favourite city but that’s okay. I found a few fun things to do and learnt about the country’s gripping history. I ate at great cafes and restaurants in the Blloku area south of the river which, in my opinion, is the best place to stay. It’s a pleasant and residential neighbourhood with only a short walk required to reach the city centre.

Read next: the best things to do in Tirana, Albania

Where to stay in Tirana:

• Budget – for a fun and social hostel, stay at Trip’n’Hostel or for a quieter more luxurious hostel, pick Vanilla Sky Boutique .
• Mid-range – Deluxe Tirana has breakfast, hot tub, free parking and aircon from €50 a night.
• Splash out – Arte Boutique hotel is a 5* hotel with a reasonable price tag of €170.
• Browse Tirana hostels and apartments on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld .

Things to do in Tirana during your Albania itinerary:

• Take a free walking tour – departing at 10am and 2pm daily, this informative walking tour is one of the best I’ve been on. To understand Albania better and its communist past, it’s a must. Give €5-10 if you enjoy it.
• The House of Leaves Museum – easily my favourite attraction in Tirana, this old house is dedicated to mass surveillance technology (aka spy equipment) used during the Communist era. You can learn stories, watch propaganda movies, and see old footage from devices planted in houses, embassies and even fridges!
• Bunk’Art 2 – despite having ‘art’ in the name, this is not a gallery but a museum located in one of the old military bunkers built by ex-dictator Enver Hoxha when he closed borders and communication with the rest of the world. It tells the story of Albania’s harrowing past in a confronting way, underground. Although history is important and I liked the way bunkers have been repurposed, I found it slightly distressing and claustrophobic.
• Dajti Cablecar (and Bunk’Art 1 ) – for the best view of the city, catch a bus to the cable car lower station and board a 20-minute ride to the top of Dajti Hill. You can see for miles! Also, at the bottom is the other Bunk’Art which is bigger and more informative than the city centre bunker with interactive exhibits and even some art. I preferred this one. If you visit both Bunk’Arts, there’s a discounted ticket.
• Shop and eat at Pazari i Ri Bazaar – this market sells fresh produce and has a few popular cafes and restaurants around it. Most of the options are meaty so if you’re veggie, grab lunch in Blloku instead.
• Skanderbeg Square – attractions surrounding the main square include the National History Museum , Et’hem Bej Mosque and Kulla e Sahatit tower offering city views.
• Take a city and food walking tour or a 3-course Albanian cooking class .

Food and coffee in Tirana:

• Gjelber – this healthy cafe has loads of options including avo toast, bowls, salads, wraps, burgers and smoothies. Most of it is vegetarian. It’s open from 7am to 11pm so it’s good for any meal of the day.
• Happy Belly – my first meal in Tirana was the healthiest. The owner is lovely and serves healthy veggie meals with grains and loads of organic veggies, plus great smoothies. It’s a bit expensive for Albania but typical for this kind of food.
• Pastaria Tirana – honestly some of the best and cheapest pasta I’ve ever had. There are so many combinations. The truffle shrimp tagliatelle was so delicious I came back at 11am for another serving before my bus leaving town!
• Antigua Specialty Coffee – this third-wave coffee shop is THE place for coffee snobs in Tirana. From V60 to Chemex and espresso-based coffees, you won’t be disappointed. There are lovely cakes, too.
• Coffee Lab – great coffee and cannoli. Definitely the best coffee in town after Antigua.

Drinks & nightlife in Tirana:

• Radio Bar Tirana – this is a cool place for drinks that gets busy at weekends. The cocktail list is huge with regular and creative options like the basil smash. The bar is full of retro clutter and old movie posters.
• Nouvelle Vague Tirana – this is a nice bar with outside seating and unique cocktail options with an Albanian theme, like iced mountain tea with local honey.

Tirana itinerary

For a 2-day Tirana itinerary, I’d suggest a free walking tour on the morning of day 1 followed by an afternoon exploring the main attractions such as the House of Leaves. For day 2, catch the bus to Dajti Cablecar for fantastic city views, then spend the afternoon in Tirana’s Blloku district enjoying speciality coffee and cocktail bars. Dinner at Pastaria is a must!

Berat: 1-2 days

Tight on time? Take a Berat day tour from Tirana

The UNESCO heritage city of Berat is nothing short of enchanting, although if you only have time for one small city during your Albania itinerary, I’d suggest Gjirokastër (keep reading). Known as the City of a Thousand Windows, the distinctive Berat houses built in the 18th-19th centuries are stacked upon the hillside… If you hate hills, it’s worth checking if your accommodation is near the bottom level! Things to do in Berat:

• Climb up to Berat Castle (make sure to take the shortcut ) and the Holy Trinity Church – if you can handle the hike to the top, there are no better views for miles around.
• Go for an evening walk along Boulevard Republika – summer daytimes are too hot for long walks but, as the sun starts setting, locals come out for a xhiro (walk), bringing the city to life.
• Wine tasting at Alpeta Agroturizem – we had a fun evening (organised by our hostel) sampling Albanian wines and rajika at this beautiful countryside winery surrounded by mountains. It’s also a restaurant and, although we didn’t eat a full meal, I can vouch for the cheese, olives and fresh figs served with our wines. Çobo Winery is another popular one.
• Wander the Mangalemi quarter finding historic buildings and traditional restaurants.
• Cross the bridge over the river to the Gorica quarter known for its tight alleyways. Climb to the top of the hill for the best sunset view in town.

Where to stay in Berat

• Budget – Maya is the most social hostel in town while Mangalem is a nice, chilled base. Both cost around €12 a night.
• Mid-range – Amalia Boutique hotel has rooms from €30 while Berat Castle Hotel has rooms for €40.
• Splash-out – Hotel Colombo is one of the fanciest buildings in town and surprisingly affordable with rooms from €70.
• Browse all Berat hostels and apartments on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld .

Day trip to Osum Canyon & Bogove Waterfall

One of my favourite days in Albania was spent exploring the countryside around Berat. From waterfalls to canyons, the captivating landscape is yet another reminder of how beautiful and underrated Albania is! Our first stop was Bogove Waterfal l . After a 30-minute nature walk from the parking area, we reached the 20m waterfall cascading into pools of freezing water. Although I wanted to jump right in, my skin was screaming at me to stop. A few very brave people made it in although I’m not sure how! Next, we stopped at the incredible Osum Canyon where the waters are much warmer. We spent a good hour swimming through the canyon and admiring the incredible views. Around the top level, there are several striking viewpoints and spots for daredevils to cliff jump.

Book a day tour to Osum & Bogove from Berat for €65

Where to eat in Berat

Easily my most memorable meal in Albanian was eaten at Lili Homemade Food . Lili is a character! Not only does he freshly prepare local dishes, but he gives a presentation on them during the two evening sittings held in the garden of his home. There are just a few tables that are always booked a couple of days in advance. I’d suggest going to his place when you first arrive in Berat and securing a table within the next couple of days. We ordered burek, tomato rice, stuffed aubergine, and a rich sheep’s cheese dip, washed down with local wine. It was delicious and affordable.

Getting to Berat

Driving from Tirana to Berat takes around 1 hour 40 minutes. The bus takes approx. 2 hours and costs 400 lek at the time of writing. From Berat bus station, we jumped on a local bus to the city centre.

Gjirokastër: 1-2 days

There’s no doubt about my favourite stop during my Albania itinerary. Gjirokastër took my breath away (in more ways than one: the walk from the bus station to my hostel was a KILLER) and I could have easily spent a week there. The charm of Gjirokastër, also known as Stone City, is its quaint cobblestone streets, colourful craft markets and views of the Gjerë mountains. The regional cuisine made it memorable for me; I tried plenty of dishes not found elsewhere.

Getting to Gjirokastër

The drive from Berat takes 2 hours 40 minutes. There’s an 8am and 2pm bus taking 3 hours. If you’re coming from Tirana, the drive is 3 hours 15 minutes and the bus ride is just under 4 hours with several daily departures.

Things to do in Gjirokastër

• Climb up to Gjirokastër Castle for the best views over the city and mountains. Inside, there are eerie tunnels filled with weaponry and a small museum dedicated to the city’s history. Castle entry and museum entry cost 200 lek each.
• Gjirokastër Bazaar – in the oldest district of the city, the bustling bazaar has over 500 years of history. Colourful goods spilling out of the shops onto the streets include jewellery, rugs, cushions, tapestries, clothing, chinaware and more.
• Skenduli House – one of the most impressive buildings in Gjirokastër is preserved as it would have been in Ottoman days. A ticket includes a guided tour during which you’ll learn about the previous residents, their customs and ways of life. Entry is 200 lek.
• Zekate House – requiring an uphill walk, this period house offers a similar experience to Skenduli with panoramic views and fewer tourists.
• Cold War tunne l – hidden below Gjirokastër lies a maze of 59 rooms connected by 800 metres of tunnel. For a fascinating insight into Cold War history, head to the Tourist Information office beside the tunnel opening and jump on the next tour for 200 lek.
• Hike to Ali Pasha’s Bridge – this countryside hike to a huge aqueduct built is a fun way to get out of the city. Remember sun protection, water and comfy footwear.
• Visit the Bazaar Mosque – pop inside the city’s main mosque and learn how Islam was prohibited during communist rule.

What & where to eat in Gjirokastër

I thoroughly enjoyed the food scene in Gjirokastër. Like most Albanian food, it has Middle Eastern influences using fresh produce like figs and vine leaves. Other Balkan dishes like burek reminded me of my foodie adventures in Split , Zagreb and Ljubljana . Plenty of dishes are veggie-friendly such as stuffed aubergines and spinach borek. A few regional dishes I didn’t see elsewhere in Albania were:

• Pashaqofte – soup with meatballs
• Qifqi – rice balls fried with herbs and spices and served with a sour cream dipping sauce
• Oshaf – yoghurt mixed with fresh figs and topped with cinnamon
• Japrak – grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat.

Some restaurants I can vouch for include Kujtim , Mapo and Odaja . These are all in the city centre with tasty, homecooked food and pleasant surroundings overlooking Gjirokastër’s cobbled streets.

Where to stay in Gjirokastër

• Budget – Stone City comes to mind as one of the best hostels I’ve EVER stayed in… Which is a lot, by the way! The interior looks like a boutique hotel, the beds are comfy, the staff are fantastic (leading informative daily walking tours) and there’s free breakfast.
• Mid-range – Hotel Kalemi has grand, beautiful bedrooms with city views for €45.
• Splash-out – you’ll get a luxury resort with a pool for €90 at Kerculla Resort !
• Browse all Gjirokastër hostels and apartments on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld .

Sarandë: 2 days

Sarandë is a popular beach town. Despite its popularity, Sarandë wasn’t my favourite stop on my Albania itinerary. With overpriced beach bars and crowded beaches, it doesn’t have a lot of charm. It’s more a place for holidaymakers than backpackers and travellers. I was happy to move onto Himarë, a beach town I’ll discuss next that I preferred.

Getting to Sarandë

One way is by flying into Corfu and getting a ferry across to Sarandë. If you’re mid-itinerary, arrive by bus or car. Between Sarandë and Gjirokastër, the bus takes 1.5 hours and costs 400 lek. Tip – if travelling by car, you could visit the famous Blue Eye en route between Sarande and Gjirokaster.

What to do in Sarande

• Hike, drive or take a taxi to Lëkurësi Castle for sunset – I walked and it took around an hour. The views of the Albanian Riviera and Corfu are spectacular. You can stop for a sundowner drink at the top although it’s quite pricey. The wine was terrible so I recommend a beer instead!
• Enjoy the Sarandë beaches . There are a few within walking distance of the town and plenty more a short drive away as you head towards Ksamil.
• Soak up the history at 40 Saints Monastery and the Ancient Synagogue remains .

Where to stay in Sarandë

• Hostel – I stayed at the friendly cosy Backpackers SR run by the legend that is Tony. The other hostels in Sarandë are party hostels without great reviews so I would advise booking in advance to stay here.
• Mid-range – Hotel Mano boasts comfy double rooms and beachfront access from €50.
• Splash out – a stay at Hotel Oasis includes bedroom terraces with ocean views and 4* comfort.
• Browse all Sarandë hostels and apartments on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld .

About Ksamil

This is the exclusive, upmarket area of the Albanian Riviera located down the peninsular from Sarandë. It’s mainly known for beautiful beaches but, at the bottom, is Butrint Archaeological Park , an ancient city with Greek and Roman influences surrounded by olive groves. Nearby, Ali Pasha’s Castle (Porto Palermo) is an 1800s Ottoman ruin on an island accessed by boat. Entry to the park is 700 lek (€6.10). You could consider staying in Ksamil rather than Sarandë, or spending a night or two in Sarandë then moving here so you can properly experience them both. I didn’t feel I needed THAT much beach time so I chose to just visit Ksamil as a day trip from Sarandë. You can do this by car or local bus.

Although the beaches are undeniably idyllic, I didn’t love Ksamil as I found everything quite expensive and crowded. There’s nowhere to relax on a beach for free as they’re packed with sunbeds charging around 2,000 lek for a set of loungers and an umbrella. Not great value for solo travellers in Albania like myself who don’t need two beds!

Where to eat in Sarandë

• Taverna Fredi – we had fantastic, affordable seafood here including sea bass and grilled shrimp. Even the green veggies we ordered as a side were perfectly seasoned, plus there was great wine. Taverna Laberia is another lovely seafood spot.
• Proper Pizza – there are a couple of these pizza joints around Albania. They serve a huge range of toppings and combos, alongside alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Hashtag2 – as a coffee snob, I was disappointed by the coffee options in Sarande. Your best bet is iced coffee at this place, although sadly everything is served in plastic.
• Baci A Tutti – this is a cute deli with desserts, pastries and iced coffee. Great for grabbing a picnic to-go when heading out for the day.

The Blue Eye – day trip

A 30-minute drive from Sarandë is the Blue Eye , a must for your 2 week Albania itinerary. In unbelievable shades of blue and green, Syri i Kaltër is a natural spring pool with sections up to 50m deep. Due to its popularity, the main viewing platform is very crowded so I suggested walking to the area near the restaurant where you can go for a swim or paddle. I warn you the waters are FREEZING. Getting in up to my knees was the most I could handle! Entry is just 50 lek (€0.50).

Related activity: day tour from Sarandë to Butrint Park & the Blue Eye

Getting to the Blue Eye

My hostel, Backpackers SR , organised the trip for us with a return taxi ride. Do the same and agree a price with a local driver or, alternatively, take an organised trip with GetYourGuide , or hire a car in Sarande . There’s also a local bus but it drops at the road junction, a 2km walk to the Eye. If possible, I would advise going early because it gets very busy and hot in the summer months. The walk from the parking area takes about 20 minutes with no shade.

Tip – there’s nowhere to buy food at the Blue Eye apart from the restaurant which is overpriced with poor reviews. Bring a picnic and enjoy it in nature, or leave Sarandë early and arrive back in time for lunch. You only need a couple of hours at the Blue Eye.

Himarë: 2 days

Himarë is a quieter and lesser-visited beach town on the Albanian Riviera, a 1.5-hour drive from Sarandë. There’s tasty food with Greek influence, beautiful beaches and boat trips around the region. As with Sarandë (and any other beach town), spend as many days here as you need to chill. My Albania itinerary was busy, so I used my time in Himarë to rest and recoup. There are plenty of beaches to find in the area if you’re feeling adventurous. I say adventurous because many not only require a car to reach but also involve a trek down to the beach once you’ve parked.

Where to stay in Himarë

• Budget – the best hostel is Sun Bakers . For €12 a night, you’ll get a home-cooked breakfast each morning. The hostel’s garden area is a great place to meet other travellers, and the sunsets are the best!
• Mid-range – Aphrodite Gardens has fantastic reviews and even better sea views from the balcony bedrooms.
• Splash out – Sea View Hotel is a luxe option with a pool and ocean views.
• Browse all Himarë hostels and apartments on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld .

Things to do in Himare

• Visit Himare Castle – take an hour’s uphill walk or hail a taxi for beautiful views of the coastline.
• Take a boat trip – from Plazhi i Himarës , you can book daily boat trips that visit beaches and islands for swimming and snorkelling. Arrive in the morning to reserve a spot.
• Explore the beaches – the main one is Himarë Beach but there are plenty of better beaches if you’re happy to travel. Mateus Beach near the Old Submarine Bunker is a nice spot, a 15-minute drive away (with a 15-minute walk down to the beach).
• Take a trip to Gjipe Beach – although it’s a 30 min drive away, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Albania. It requires a 2km walk from the car park and there are a couple of restaurants and beach beds for hire.
• Visit Dhermi – this adorable hilltop town has quaint churches and amazing coastal views. Spend an afternoon and stay for sunset. You can drive there from Himarë in 30 minutes or catch a local bus. There are nearby beaches but these require a short drive or 40-minute walk from the town.

Where to eat in Himarë

• Taverna Stolis – my hostel friends and I ate affordable, homecooked Greek food here almost every day. The tzatziki, garlic bread, garlic mash, feta salad, moussaka, fresh fish and stuffed aubergine were all delicious.
• UMI Sushi & Cocktail – for a break from traditional food, try the best sushi and cocktails in town here. It’s not especially cheap but everything was great.

Getting to/from Himarë

It’s easily reached from Sarandë. You can drive or take a bus in 1.5 hours. There are several daily bus departures. If you’re coming to or from Tirana, it’s a 3.5-hour drive or a slightly longer bus ride. You’ll want to be a confident driver because the mountain pass you’ll need to make it over is intimidating. As a bus passenger, I felt VERY sick on this journey! For the next section of this Albania itinerary, you’ll need to take your longest travel day yet. If you have time, you may wish to spend the night in Tirana to break up the journey. Alternatively, take the very windy 4-hour bus from Himarë to Tirana followed by a 2-hour bus to Shkodër.

Shkodër  – 2 days

Shkodër is a pleasant town in the North of Albania near the border with Montenegro. Most people who visit are using the town as a launching point for hiking adventures in the Albanian alps, something I HIGHLY recommend if you have time. The Theth Pass hike is stunning, usually requiring two overnight stays, one in Valbona and one in Theth with a day hike between the two. The accommodation and transport can be organised in Shkodër. Before we get into this, I’ll run through what to do in Shkodër before or after your hike.

What to do in Shkoder

• Take the free walking tour – it begins at City Hall (Bashkia) at 10am daily between mid-June and mid-October and lasts 2 hours. If you enjoy it, give what you think it’s worth.
• Hire a bicycle and cycle to Lake Skadar on the border of Montenegro through beautiful landscape. Swim in the lake, stop for a picnic and spot birds and other wildlife. Hire a bike in Shkodër or take a guided tour for €11 .
• Hike to Rozafa Castle – it takes 30 minutes on foot to reach this 14th-century castle with fantastic views.
• Check out some museums – the History Museum , the Site of Witness and Memory   and Marubi National Photography Museum are worth a visit.

Where to eat in Shkodër 

Stolia Coffeehouse & Brunch – after a lot of heavy (but delicious) Albanian food, I was thrilled to find this healthy cafe with serious Bali vibes. Think excellent coffee, smoothie bowls, salads and avo toast. The cafe is cute with good Wi-Fi and outside seating. I ate there every day! EKO Club – this is another cute cafe with indoor murals, colourful cushions, books galore and even indoor swings! They serve local produce like cheese & meat platters and traditional Albanian desserts. I tried sheqerpare : shortbread soaked in syrup. It was delicious but very sweet! Restaurant Pizzeria Italia – a friend and I had a real feast here of garlic bread, pasta and wine. We paid €15 for two courses and drinks… Not per person. Bargain!

Getting to Shkoder

Every 30 minutes between 6.30am and 5pm there’s a departure from Tirana regional bus station taking 1 hour 45 minutes. If you’re arriving from the Albanian Riviera and getting straight on a bus to Shkodër, you’re in luck because they depart right next to one another. You can also depart and arrive in Shkodër for Montenegro. My hostel ( Wanderers ) organised a shuttle over the border which dropped me at Ulcinj Bus Station but there are also buses to the capital, Podgorica.

Where to stay in Shkodër

• Hostel – Wanderers is easily the best budget accommodation. They organise regular activities like €2 cocktail nights and €2 buffets, plus there’s a bar and ping pong table. Organising the Theth Pass hike is a massive plus.
• Mid-range – Hotel Bicaj   has comfy rooms, free bikes for hire, a shared lounge and garden area for €35.
• Splash-out – Hotel Treva has a terrace, bar and tasty daily breakfast for €60 a night.
• Browse all Shkodër hostels and apartments on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld .

Theth hiking – 2 nights

The highlight of my Albania itinerary was hiking in the mountains in the region of Theth. I’d heard little about this area before planning my trip. It’s so underrated and beautiful, much like my other favourite hike in the Balkans , the Rila Lakes trail near Sofia, Bulgaria. Although I started the hike in Valbona and finished in Theth, you can do the hike in either direction. If you do it my way, I’d advise travelling the day before the hike. When you finish the hike in Theth, you can get a bus back to Shkoder (note that the last one is at 1pm so unless you’re super speedy, you’ll need to stay overnight in Theth). Since the Valbona Pass hike I booked included 2 overnight stays in different towns, I left my luggage in Shkodër and trekked with minimal belongings. I packed pyjamas, a couple of lightweight outfits, underwear, suncream, toothpaste and facewash. You’ll also want hiking snacks and a water bottle. There are a couple of points on the hike where you can fill up.

How to organise the hike

It all sounded complicated but I had learned that Wanderers Hostel organise the service for you. I simply paid them the money (I believe around €20) and they gave me the boat and bus tickets for the Shkodër-Valbona leg and the bus ticket for the Theth-Shkodër leg, and booked both my guesthouses for me at €25 a night inc meals. Pick-up was from the hostel so there was no organisation needed. You don’t need to worry if you’re doing the hike solo. If you book with Wanderers, you’ll be in the same group the whole time including at the guesthouses at the start and end of the hike. Whether you decide to hike solo or with the group is up to you. I did most of the hike solo and didn’t find it unsafe or too difficult.

Transport summary

• Shkodër to Valbona leg #1: shuttle taking 1.5 hours
• Shkodër to Valbona leg #2: Komani Lake ferry taking between Koman and Fierze (3 hours)
• Shkodër to Valbona leg #3: shuttle bus to guesthouse (20 minutes)
• Theth to Shkoder: 2.5-hour shuttle bus.

Valbona Pass hike stats

• 800m elevation
• 5-10 hours average (someone in my hiking group did it in under 5 but he was very experienced).
• Difficulty level: medium.
• Best season: June to late September.

Other Theth hikes

After hiking with terrible shoes and getting blisters, I didn’t do any other hikes in Theth but there are several you can do. A few people in my hiking group did these other hikes after the main hike and during the following morning before catching the bus back to Shkodër. Not quite sure where they got the energy! Blue Eye – Albania’s other Blue Eye is much more tranquil than the one near Sarandë thanks to its secluded location. It’s a 2 hour 45 minute walk from Theth or you can hire a driver to take you to the final parking area, then it’s just a 45-minute walk to the eye. Qafa e Pejës – this 7-hour trek is a hard but beautiful one with striking views from the pass. It starts with 2 hours of flat land before a tough 1.5-hour ascent.

Browse all Theth hiking tours with Viator

Other places to visit during an Albania itinerary

If any of the above places don’t appeal to you, here are a couple to swap into your Albania itinerary.

Kruje – just north of Tirana is an adorable medieval village that you can visit as a day trip, or stay overnight for some R&R. Dating back to the 12th century, there are historic sites like the castle, museum, old market and medieval tower offering views over the rolling countryside. Durrës – on the coast close to Tirana, this is an option for a beach break without travelling too far. Durrës is one of the oldest cities in Albania with 3,000 years of history and countless ancient ruins. In a rush? Take a Durrës and Kruje Castle tour from Tirana Vlorë – lodged between the sea and mountains just north of Himarë, this is a popular destination in Albania. I didn’t visit myself because I heard that Himarë and Sarandë were nicer, cheaper and safer… That was enough for me!

Budget for Albania travel

Albania is so affordable! Here are a few average costs: Accommodation in hostels: €8-15 per night. Accommodation in hotels: from €20. Transport: €4-10 per bus journey. Meal in a restaurant: €5-10 including a drink.

Here’s some useful info to help you plan your Albania itinerary…

What’s the best time of year to visit Albania?

The summer months (June-August) have the best weather but it’s also the most expensive and busy time to visit. Shoulder season (April-May and September-October) offers bargains on accommodation and activities, and a better chance of getting the beach to yourself. In the winter, most things will be closed and the weather is cold.

Is Albania worth visiting?

100%! Albania is worth visiting for its beautiful beaches, hiking opportunities in the northern mountains, charming historic towns, affordable prices, friendly people and tasty cuisine. It was my favourite place I visited in 2022 which is high praise because I had a travel-packed year .

Is Albania safe?

Yes, as a solo female traveller , I felt very safe in Albania. The locals are super friendly; I’ll always remember chatting to a shopkeeper about his family and him giving me my groceries for free! I had no problems anywhere in Albania and even felt safe walking in the evenings.

Where next?

Albania shares a border with several other fantastic Balkan countries including Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Some fantastic spots I’d suggest are:

Lake Ohrid : this stunning lake borders Albania and North Macedonia but it’s most popular to visit from the Macedonian side. The crystal-clear waters are the perfect swimming temperature in the summer. It’s such a hidden gem! I also enjoyed visiting the Macedonian capital, Skopje , and taking a day trip to Matka Canyon. Bar/Kotor/Budva, Montenegro: the country’s capital of Podgorica doesn’t have a very exciting reputation but the coastal cities are spectacular. I spent a wonderful peaceful time in Stari Grad, Bar . During my Montenegro itinerary , also had an amazing trip to Kotor taking boat trips on the lake and day trips into the mountains.

Thanks for reading my Albania itinerary!

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TRUSTED RESOURCES FOR VISITING ALBANIA Getting around by air – I use Skyscanner and search by month to see the cheapest dates. Driving in Europ e – use Rentalcars.com to compare car rentals in European countries (and all around the world). For buses around Europe, I use Flixbus . It doesn’t connect cities in Albania but it does connect Tirana to other European capitals. For hotels and self-catering apartments, I use Booking.com . You can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. For hostels, I use Hostelworld . To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters , a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets. Browse tours and activities on GetYourGuide and Viator . Need travel insurance ? I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote . For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing . Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and budget tips from my 10+ years on the road!

Rose is a solo traveller from the UK who has been on the road since 2015. She wants to show other women that solo travel isn't scary and doesn't have to be expensive! Rose has lived in Mexico, Canada and all over Asia, seeking out food, bubble tea and street art wherever she goes!

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Albania's stunning mountain scenery, crumbling castles, boisterous capital and dreamy beaches rival any in the Mediterranean and continue to enchant.

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Easy 2 Week Itinerary for Albania: Nature, Culture & History

This easy itinerary for Albania has a strong focus on nature, history and culture. Use it to plan the perfect 2 weeks in Albania or more, travelling exclusively by bus (no car required!).

After travelling overland in the Balkans for 6 months, Albania stands out as one of my favourite countries in the region.

Compact and relatively easy to get around, in a short space of time you can wander beautiful UNESCO Old Towns Berat and Gjirokaster , soak up the incredible scenery of the Albanian Alps on the Valbona Theth trek , eat delicious Albanian food in the country’s best restaurants, and bask in cafe culture and visit quirky museums in the cosmopolitan capital city, Tirana .

That’s to say nothing of the beautiful beaches along the Albanian Riviera , other natural wonders including waterfalls and Blue Eye water holes , and alternative Albanian cities such as Korca .

This easy Albania itinerary by bus focuses on history, culture and cuisine, with a bit of nature thrown in.

• For even more inspiration, see my list of the 21 best things to do in Albania .
• Planning to rent a car? See my intrepid 2-week road trip in Albania itinerary .
• Don’t forget to read my essential travel tips for Albania !

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

About this Albania itinerary

This Albania itinerary follows a slightly unconventional route, starting in Shkoder in the far-north and ending in Korca in Albania’s southeast. Fitting with my travel style, it prioritises destinations that highlight culture, history and cuisine with a little bit of nature time as well.

You’ll notice that there are no beaches on this Albania itinerary. If you’re a beach person (and it’s the right season), you can easily slot in a few days on the Albanian Riviera after Gjirokaster. At the end of the itinerary, I’ve included more options for extending your stay.

When is the best time to visit Albania?

We visited Albania in mid-June – summer, and the start of the high season. Because Albania is still a relatively off-the-beaten-track destination in Europe, it doesn’t tend to get overcrowded, even in Tirana. An exception would be the beaches along the Albanian Riviera, which do get busy in the summer months (especially July and August).

If the Valbona Theth trek is on your Albania wish list, remember that the high mountain pass is only accessible at certain times of year. The best time to do the trek is between June and September, but the trail might be open as early as May and as late as November depending on weather conditions.

If you’re planning a visit in high season (June to August), there are a couple of things you should book in advance, including your accommodation in Tirana and most importantly your transportation for the Valbona Theth trek.

In this detailed guide to the Valbona Theth trek , I provide instructions and links for booking the Komani Lake Ferry and van transport from Shkoder.

How much time do you need for this Albania itinerary?

I’ve purposefully kept this itinerary quite loose so that you can adjust it to fit your schedule. However, you’ll need a minimum of 2 weeks to cover all the points of interest mentioned.

We did this itinerary in three weeks travelling at a slow pace. If you have longer to spend in Albania, you can easily extend your itinerary by adding on the Albanian Riviera or more trekking in the north.

One of the best things about travelling in the Balkans is being able to hop across the border. From Albania, you can easily continue your travels in Ulcinj and Montenegro , Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia , Kosovo , or Thessaloniki and Northern Greece . The choice is yours!

Recommended 2-week Albania itinerary

Day 1: Shkoder Days 2-5: Valbona & Theth Day 6: Kruje Days 7-9: Tirana Days 10-11: Berat Days 12-13: Gjirokaster Day 14: Korca

How to get around Albania

Before visiting, I heard lots of horror stories about bus travel in Albania that made me quite anxious about getting around. In the end, I had nothing to worry about.

Compared to some other countries in the region ( Slovenia , for instance), bus schedules are a bit looser and the roads are a bit rougher. But all things considered, buses in Albania run pretty smoothly. Stations tend to be well signposted (if not a bit chaotic), there are plenty of bus services running in all directions, and vehicles themselves are usually quite modern, with AC and plenty of luggage room (though don’t expect WIFI or USB portals).

Bus tickets in Albania are well-priced, making this a budget-friendly way to travel.

We did this entire Albania itinerary using a combination of furgons (minivans) and coach buses, plus one ferry. If you want to replicate our route, I’ve included full public transportation instructions for getting from place to place under each destination.

Top tip: Use the website Gjirafa to check bus routes and schedules for Albania and neighbouring countries in English.

Should you hire a car in Albania?

Some people elect to hire a car in Albania and self-drive. While you can certainly pack more into your Albania travel itinerary if you have your own car, it’s not mandatory.

If you do want to go down this path, I recommend using comparison website Discover Cars to find the best deals on international companies and local agents.

Check out my round-up of the best road trip itineraries in the Balkans (including Albania) for more inspiration.

→ Browse Albania car rentals here on Discover Cars .

Where to stay in Albania: Hotels recommended in this itinerary

For quick reference, here is a list of all the accommodations recommended in this Albania itinerary. Further details can be found under each destination.

• Where to stay in Tirana: Arté Boutique Hotel (luxury); Bujtina Shqiptare (mid-range); Tirana Backpacker Hostel (budget); top 10 Tirana Airbnbs .
• Where to stay in Shkoder: Hotel Tradita (boutique); Sweet Living Apartment (mid-range); The Wanderers Hostel (budget).
• Where to stay in Valbona: Guesthouse Mehmeti (mid-range guesthouse).
• Where to stay in Theth: Guest House Bec Villi (mid-range); Bujtina Polia (farm stay).
• Where to stay in Kruje: Rooms Emiliano inside the castle (mid-range).
• Where to stay in Berat: Hotel Klea (boutique); Villa 97 (mid-range); Berat Backpackers Hostel (budget).
• Where to stay in Gjirokaster: Hotel Muse’e (luxury); Bed and Breakfast Kotoni (mid-range); Stone City Hostel (budget).
• Where to stay in Korca: Life Gallery Hotel (luxury); Bujtina Oxhaku (mid-range); Stacioni Hostel (budget).

The perfect itinerary for Albania: Nature, culture & history

Arrive and start your albania itinerary in shkoder.

• Recommended time in Shkoder: 1 night

When you arrive, I recommend heading straight to Shkoder (Shkodër) in Northern Albania. Shkoder is the jumping-off point for trekking in the Albanian Alps. The city itself is small and friendly, and will offer you a good introduction to Albanian history and cuisine.

Shkoder sits on the edge of Southern Europe’s largest lake, Lake Skadar . We did a boat trip on the lake from the Montenegrin side during our road trip (the huge marshland straddles the border), but it’s also possible to explore the lake starting from Shkoder.

Like most cities in Albania, Shkoder is very walkable. Explore the Old Bazaar area, visit the Ethnography Museum , and wander down the main pedestrian street at dusk. The Ebu Bekr Mosque dominates the city’s skyline and can be visited outside of prayer times.

My top recommendation for Shkoder is to hire a bicycle and ride south. A long path follows the two twisting rivers that branch off from the lake, connecting the city with a set of smaller villages where you can find cute restaurants and waterfront cafes.

Rozafa Castle , Shkoder’s medieval fortress, contains a small antiquities museum. It’s located high on a hill, making it a great place to watch the sunset over the lake.

→ Here are more great things to do in Shkoder .

Where to stay in Shkoder

Boutique: Hotel Tradita – beautiful boutique rooms finished with Albanian textiles, set inside a 17th-century building. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Mid-range: Sweet Living Apartment – a self-contained, one-bedroom apartment in the heart of the city, with full kitchen and bikes for hire. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Budget: The Wanderers Hostel – comfortable dorms and private double/family rooms with a colourful courtyard for socialising. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

How to get to Shkoder

From Tirana: If your Albania trip starts in the capital, take a direct bus to Shkoder from Terminali i Transportit Ndërkombëtar dhe Kosovës. Coaches and furgons leave every 30 minutes between 7am and 5pm. Tickets cost 400 LEK, and the journey takes around 2 hours. Double-check times locally.

From Durres: If you’re coming from Italy on the Bari Durres overnight ferry , you can either take a direct bus to Shkoder from Durres station, or change buses in Tirana.

From Montenegro: Buses from Ulcinj on Montenegro’s southern coast bound for Kosovo make a pit stop in Shkoder on their way through. In summer, there are at least two afternoon services on this route.

Take the Kolman Lake ferry to Valbona

• Recommended time in Valbona: 1 night

Leaving Shkoder, press north-east into Albania’s mountainous border region in preparation for the Valbona Theth trek . This is by far the most beautiful part of the country and vies for the most dramatic natural landscape in the whole region.

After travelling to the ferry terminal by road, the first step is to cross Koman Lake (Lake Komani) and the Drin River via a massive prehistoric gorge carved through the mountains. After a few hours on the water, the legendary Koman Ferry terminates in the village of Fierza , where you then jump in a furgon to travel the rest of the way to Valbona (Valbonë).

For full details about getting from Shkoder to Valbona and instructions on how to buy tickets, see this guide .

Valbona itself is small and peaceful, with a scattering of lodgings set in its verdant valleys . When you arrive, eat a home-cooked dinner and get an early night – tomorrow is going to be a big day!

Where to stay in Valbona

Guesthouse: Guesthouse Mehmeti – spotlessly clean family run guesthouse in a serene location. Home-cooked meals are fresh and tasty, and staff speak English and can organise a car transfer to the Theth trailhead. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Hike to the alpine village of Theth

• Recommended time in Theth: 2 nights

Detour: The Valbona Theth hike requires a medium level of fitness. If you’re not keen on the trek, take the Koman ferry as instructed above and spend a couple of nights relaxing in Valbona instead.

The walk from Valbona to Theth was the highlight of my time in Albania . Because of the altitude, you can only do the trek in the warmer months (we still saw traces of snow in June!).

It’s hard to describe the trek without going on and on – but in a nutshell, it involves ascending a steep mountainside, crossing the Valbona Pass , and walking down the opposite side of the mountain into Theth village. There is no other way to get from A to B, so you have to carry all your gear with you and organise lodgings on the other side (for this reason, I recommend leaving your big luggage in Shkoder).

Once you get to Theth, stay for a couple of nights so you can relax and take in the mountain air. There are a number of short walks around town if you need to stretch your legs after the hike, including one trail to a Blue Eye .

Theth is more pleasant than Valbona, which is one of the many reasons I recommend doing the hike in this direction.

Where to stay in Theth

Guesthouse: Guest House Bec Villi – simple family run guesthouse with a beautiful garden terrace. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Farm stay: Bujtina Polia – a tranquil property in the centre of Theth featuring light-filled rooms and an onsite restaurant. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Leave the mountains & return to Shkoder

The ride back to Shkoder from Theth is a bit of a rough one (3-4 hours over bumpy dirt roads), so I recommend spending an afternoon and night in Shkoder to break up the journey before you continue south.

Stay at the same accommodation in Shkoder so you can collect your bags.

A nice way to spend an evening in Shkoder is with a walk through the city park, stopping off at some of the textile and handicraft shops along the main street. Indulge in a full spread of Albanian cuisine at Peja Grill , or treat yourself to a meal in the courtyard at the historic Vila Bekteshi .

Alternative option: If you’re fighting fit after the trek, you can always head straight through to Kruje or Tirana without stopping in Shkoder for the night.

Learn about Albanian history in Kruje

• Recommended time in Kruje: 1 or 2 nights

Kruje (Krujë) is only 30km north of Tirana, so most people end up visiting as a day trip from the capital. Since it’s on the way from Shkoder to Tirana, I suggest stopping off for a night or two – if only to spend the night sleeping inside the castle complex , which is a very special experience.

Kruje was Albania’s first capital and is the spiritual home of the country’s most revered leader, Skanderbeg . The military hero is memorialised in a wonderful museum located adjacent to Kruja Castle, which overlooks the Old City. On a clear day, you can see right to the Adriatic Sea from the top of the old walls.

I enjoyed Kruje for a couple of reasons. It’s quiet – most tourists visit for the day and leave at dusk, which makes wandering the cobbled Old Bazaar after dark all the more atmospheric.

Secondly, there are a couple of guesthouses located inside the castle grounds. It’s a really unique experience to wake up and eat breakfast amongst the ruins .

Where to stay in Kruje

Mid-range: Rooms Emiliano – a wonderful family-style guesthouse inside the castle complex. Wander amongst the ruins at night and eat breakfast with a view in the morning – it’s a very special place to spend a night or two! Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

How to get to Kruje from Shkoder

There are regular buses from Shkoder to Tirana that can drop you off on the highway in Fushë-Krujë, the new part of Kruje.

In the absence of a bus station, coaches leave from the roundabout in the centre of Shkoder ( see the exact location here ) every 45-60 minutes between 6am and 5pm. Tickets cost 300 LEK and the trip takes just over an hour. There is a large white sign on the street marking the departure point and advertising the times.

When you get on the bus, inform the steward that you want to jump off early in Fushe-Kruje (the ticket price will be the same). They will drop you off on the highway. From there, walk east into town towards the bank and George Bush Statue to pick up a minivan, which will take you to Old Kruje on top of the hill (roughly a 20-minute drive; 100 LEK).

Vans stop just shy of the castle grounds. If you’re staying at the very top of the hill, you’ll need to either walk or take a taxi the rest of the way (approx. 300 LEK).

Immerse yourself in Tirana, Albania’s hip capital city

• Recommended time in Tirana: 2-4 nights

After starting your Albania itinerary in the tranquil north, Tirana will be a bit of a shock to the system – in a good way! Some of the most interesting museums and galleries in the Balkans are located in Tirana, including the famous BunkArt 1 and BunkArt 2 , which are set in two of Albania’s disused concrete bunkers.

Cafes, restaurants, street art, quirky architecture and communism-themed bars are just some of the other things to check out in quirky Tirana. This is one of my favourite cities in the Balkans.

→ See my Tirana City Guide for more inspiration .

• Where to stay in Tirana

Luxury: Arté Boutique Hotel – old-world opulence (think parquet floors, emperor-sized beds and velvet drapes) behind a historic facade in the hip Blloku neighbourhood. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Boutique: La Suite Boutique Hotel – modern luxury (white marble bathrooms; generous timber-floored suites) on the river near the Pyramid of Tirana. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Mid-range: Bujtina Shqiptare – homely self-contained apartments with full kitchens and private balconies 700m north from Skanderbeg Square. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Budget: Tirana Backpacker Hostel – mixed dorms and private singles in a friendly hostel with outdoor gardens and communal lounge spaces. Conveniently located 10 minutes’ walk west from Skanderbeg Square. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Airbnb: A-Tirana Apartment – this contemporary, light-filled apartment sleeps 4 and has all the mod-cons of a boutique hotel nestled inside an atmospheric 1968-built Commieblock. Browse more great Tirana Airbnbs here.

How to get to Tirana from Kruje

Make your way back down the hill to Fushe-Kruje by van or taxi. A constant supply of coaches, furgons and city buses ferry passengers between Kruje and Tirana, so you’ll never have to wait more than 15 minutes for a departure.

The trip to Tirana takes 30-60 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets cost around 150 LEK.

Continue to Berat, the ‘city of a thousand windows’

• Recommended time in Berat: 2 or 3 nights

Berat is the first of the twin UNESCO Listed Old Towns you’ll be visiting on this Albania itinerary. Nicknamed the ‘City of a Thousand Windows’ for its signature architecture, Berat oozes with old-world charm.

Spend your days in Berat ambling along the twisted cobble streets of its two opposing neighbourhoods, Mangalemi and Gorica , the old Muslim and Christian quarters. Together they make up Berat Old Town.

Pop into the Ethnographic Museum, eat yourself silly at the terrific Berati restaurants in town, climb up to Berat Castle at sunset for beautiful views, and set a day aside for a trip to the incredible Osumi Canyon and waterfalls outside the city.

→ See my complete guide to Berat for more inspiration .

Where to stay in Berat

Boutique: Hotel Klea – basic rooms in a charming stone building nestled inside the Berat Fortress complex. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Mid-range: Villa 97 – simple self-check rooms with en suites and air-con. Check prices & availability on Booking.com .

Budget: Berat Backpackers Hostel – a well-regarded budget option in the Gorica neighbourhood. Check prices & availability on Booking.com .

How to get to Berat from Tirana

Buses and furgons bound for Berat depart every 30-60 minutes from Tirana’s Terminali i Transportit Ndërkombëtar dhe Kosovës. The journey takes approximately 2 hours, and tickets cost 400 LEK (bus) or 500 LEK (furgon).

In Berat, buses terminate at the Terminali i Autobusave 3km north of the Old Town ( see the exact location here ). From there, you can either take a city bus (30 LEK per person) or a taxi (500 LEK) to reach the Old Town.

Go south to the charming town of Gjirokaster

• Recommended time in Gjirokaster: 2 nights

A small city in the mountains cut from slate and stone, Gjirokaster (Gjirokastër) is absolutely one of the most beautiful places to visit in Albania. Like Berat, it’s Old Town has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural and historical value.

As well as a meandering Old Bazaar and unique fortified houses , this charming town boasts a hilltop castle, Gjirokaster Fortress , that houses a fantastic museum. An easy walk from town, you’ll find an Ottoman-era aqueduct nestled in the hills.

Do a walking tour with Stone City Hostel to explore the underground city and war tunnels.

→ See my complete guide to Gjirokaster for more inspiration .

Where to stay in Gjirokaster

Mid-range: Bed and Breakfast Kotoni – quaint guesthouse with city views and a spectacular complimentary breakfast. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Boutique: Hotel Muse’e – 200-year-old property fitted out in proper Gjirokaster style. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Luxury: Kerculla Resort – modern hillside resort with a generous outdoor pool and commanding views. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Budget: Stone City Hostel – popular dorm accommodation with free walking tours of Gjirokaster for guests. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

How to get to Gjirokaster from Berat

Take a city bus back to the Berat Bus Terminal to board a coach or furgon for Gjirokaster. Tickets cost 900 LEK per person, and the trip takes around 3 hours. Most buses then continue to Saranda.

In Gjirokaster, buses terminate at the bottom of the hill. To get to the Old Town, either walk or pick up a taxi – just be careful to negotiate the price first (we unfortunately got scammed by a driver in Gjirokaster and ended up paying triple what we should have).

Finish your Albania itinerary in Korca

• Recommended time in Korca: 2 nights

Korca (Korçë) is unlike any other city in Albania in terms of both its look and feel. Located in the south-east corner of the country close to the border with Greece and North Macedonia, Korca’s history is intertwined with Greek and Aromanian heritage, giving the city a distinctly European feel .

Pretty architecture, a huge cathedral , several amazing museums and the oldest school in Albania are among Korca’s claims to fame.

While you’re there, sip on a Birra Korca at the brewery , cafe hop in the restored Old Bazaar, and visit the outstanding National Museum of Medieval Art .

→ See my complete guide to Korca for more inspiration .

Where to stay in Korca

Boutique: Hani I Pazarit – a historic inn inside with Old Bazaar, featuring a sweet internal courtyard and an acclaimed restaurant. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Luxury: Life Gallery Hotel – a modern and minimal boutique choice with floor-to-ceiling windows and free-standing baths. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Mid-range: Bujtina Oxhaku – a lodge-like guesthouse with city views and homely rooms. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

Budget: Stacioni Hostel – a popular hostel (dorms and privates) that offers free bike hire. Check prices and availability on Booking.com .

How to get to Korca from Gjirokaster

Furgons coming from Saranda make a pit-stop in Korca before continuing on to Gjirokaster. At the time of our trip, there was only one van a day leaving in the early morning. I recommend going down to the bus station the day before to inquire in person. Note that these vans leave from the station office opposite the roadside where you got dropped off.

Tickets cost us 1,300 LEK per person, but the price does fluctuate with the cost of fuel. The trip takes around 5 hours.

Onward travel: Departing from Korca

From Korca, you can either take a bus back to Tirana via Pogradec (3.5 hours) or continue your travels overland into Greece or North Macedonia. We took a bus from Korca to Thessaloniki .

Another option is to go halfway to Pogradec then catch a bus to Ohrid on the North Macedonian side of the lake.

Extra time? More great places to visit in Albania

Albanian beaches.

If some beach time is in order, the pristine beaches in Southern Albania beckon with their white sands, beach bars and sweet thatched umbrellas.

There are dozens to choose from – some have been developed into resorts, while others remain hidden gems. Sarande, Himare, Gjipe Beach, Drymades Beach and Dhermi Beach are all good places to start.

Find more Albania beach recommendations here.

Occupied by both the ancient Greeks and Romans, Butrint is home to a spectacular arena and a range of other ruins . It’s a must-visit for history buffs. Butrint is located at the very southern tip of Albania’s coastline, so the easiest way to visit is on a day trip from Saranda.

Read more about visiting Butrint here.

Pogradec & Lake Ohrid

Lake Ohrid, which Albania shares with neighbouring North Macedonia, is one of the prettiest landscapes in the Balkans. Pogradec is the biggest town on the Albanian side and serves as a nice base for exploring the lake and surrounding wineries .

If you’re game, you can even hire a bicycle and circumnavigate the Ohrid in a day, crossing two international borders along on the way.

Albania’s National Parks

If you’re looking for more hiking trails and outdoor activities, Albania has 15 national parks, all with stunning scenery and beautiful mountains. See this list for inspiration.

Albania travel costs: How much to budget for your trip

Albania is one of the most affordable countries in the region and an incredible budget-friendly destination all round. Our main costs (aside from accommodation and food) was museum entrance fees. You can easily save cash by sticking to free activities: Albania has no shortage of beautiful scenery, beautiful churches and mosques, all of which are completely free.

Eat local for affordable prices on food, stick to buses and furgons rather than embarking on an Albania road trip, and you’ll have no trouble keeping your costs down.

Here is a breakdown of our expenses for 23 days in Albania:

• Sim card & data package: 1,600 LEK
• Restaurant meals: 31,640 LEK
• Groceries: 9,714 LEK
• Coffee, drinks & snacks: 8,650 LEK
• Ground transportation: 13,000 LEK
• Activities & entrance fees: 11,580 LEK
• Souvenirs: 300 LEK
• Total: 76,484 LEK (627.58 Euros) = 13.60 Euros/person/day

What to pack for Albania

• A good quality backpack. The easiest way to get around Albania is with an anti-theft day pack and a large pack for your main luggage. Here are a few of my favourite minimalist backpack designs for inspiration.
• A scarf (women). A lightweight cotton scarf is my number one travel item. In Albania, it will come in extra handy for covering your hair when entering a mosque or Orthodox Cathedral. This neutral travel scarf goes with anything, and it even has a hidden pocket.
• Walking shoes. From cobbled streets to rocky peaks, comfy walking shoes are absolutely essential for Albania. I love these comfy sandals , and my partner lives in these waterproof shoes .
• A reusable water bottle. Avoid single-use plastics whenever you can. I love my S’Well water bottle for warm climates because it doesn’t sweat.
• Wine Wings. Should you decide to buy a drinkable souvenir in Albania, these handy custom-made bottle protectors will keep your vino safe and sound in your luggage. A travel corkscrew and a wine stopper are bound to come in handy, too.
• Entertainment for long bus/furgon journeys. If you don’t suffer motion sickness, an e-reader is great for passing the time on long road journeys. If you have a travel buddy , pick up a headphone splitter – probably my favourite travel gadget of all time – so you can share a screen or a podcast. Check out my full list of essential items to make a long train or bus journey more comfortable .
• Biodegradable wet wipes. Try this convenient travel pack .

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• One day itinerary for Tirana
• Guide to the Valbona Theth hike
• Things to do in Gjirokaster
• Things to do in Berat
• Things to do in Korca
• Best beaches in Albania
• How to visit the Albania Blue Eyes
• 21 best things to do in Albania
• 22 useful travel tips for Albania

hi Emily interesting blog, great information. minus the hikes, do you think I could do this in November??

Hi Cindy, we just came back from spending October in Albania. It was still surprisingly warm! I think early November would be fine. The coast is obviously very quiet now, but Tirana and the interior are beautiful with fall colours.

awesome thanks, we not going for a beach holiday so will be fine. will be visiting Albania and North Macedonia for 5-6 weeks, November and 1st week of December. will have warm clothes as we travel to Poland for the rest of December.

Hi Emily, Great guide full of inspiration as always:)

We will be in Albania in early April for two weeks. April is too early for Theth or the beach, so now we are considering Albania and Kosovo. With two weeks, would you stick to Albania only or add Kosovo too?

Tirana looks like a place we want to stay for a week perhaps, or is that too long?

Hey De Wet! Awesome to hear you’re planning a trip. I would have happily stayed in Tirana for a week, there are a couple of day trips and the city itself is lovely. We are going back in October and plan to do that. If you can add in Kosovo, it would be a great addition. Even just Pristina and Prizren (though Gjakova was my favourite place). But maybe you can still get up to Theth via the new road? It’s a lovely spot to relax and do short hikes, even if you can’t do the big walk.

I’ll look into the new road to Theth as well as Prizren and Pristina, thanks.

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Is Albania expensive to visit?

Upon return of my visit to Albania, many of my friends and relatives have asked if it is expensive to visit Albania. For many people, Albania is still “unknown” as a travel destination. However, I absolutely love visiting Albania, so I decided to write a blog post about the cost of travelling to Albania.

Is Albania expensive to visit? Albania is not expensive to visit. Compared to other European countries, Albania is a cheap holiday destination. The average daily travel costs are €42 per person per day. A double room in a hotel costs only €25-€40. A cheap meal is €2-4 or a local restaurant costs €4-€10. A museum ticket is €1-€4.

Albania is a hidden gem in Europe. It has beautiful beaches and impressive mountains, and it is very affordable. So, you can travel to Albania on a budget, without feeling you missed out on anything.

Let’s calculate how much money you need for your trip to Albania. So that you can relax and enjoy your holiday in Albania, without having to worry about the money.

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How much does it cost to travel to Albania?

On average, it costs €42.00 per person per day to travel in Albania. This number was calculated by “Budget Your Trip”, which is a travel website where people can enter their actual travel costs.

Average Travel costs per day = €42.00 per person

Even though, the €42.00 per day is an average. It gives you a good idea, that travel in Albania is very affordable. In many European countries, you spend €42.00 per day on accommodation alone. Due to the low costs, one week of travel in Albania costs €293.00 per person on average.

Average accommodation cost per day = €16.00 per person Average accommodation cost per day = €32.00 for a double occupancy room

Accommodation in Albania is cheap. The average cost of accommodation is €16.00 per person per day. For a double occupancy room, the price is €32.00 on average. These amounts are the average of what former travelers spend in Albania, calculated by Budget Your Trip.

Dorm bed per day = €10 – €15 Budget hotel room = €25 – €40 Midrange hotel room = €40 – €60 Luxury hotel room = €80 or more

The Lonely Planet travel guide also calculated the average for accommodation in Albania. According to Lonely Planet, a dorm bed costs only €10 – €15 per person per day.

However, it is often not worth staying in a dorm bed, because budget hotels are very affordable in Albania. A double room in a budget hotel is between €25 – €40 per day. Mid-range hotel rooms are between €40 – €60 per day. And top end hotel rooms are €80 or more.

Bear in mind that the vast majority of hotels in Albania are in the budget or mid-range. Only in the larger cities, there are some high end hotels.

Meals for one day = €13.00 per person

On average, former travelers spend €13.00 on meals for one day per person. This might seem very low, but food and drinks is very affordable in Albania. Bakeries, for instance, will sell you a whole bag full of bread and pastries for only €1 – €2. Be sure to try the Byrek pastry, which is the national dish.

Cheap meal = €2 – €4 Lunch or dinner in a local restaurant = €4 – €10 Dinner in a leading Tirana restaurant = €15 – €30

The Lonely Planet calculated the average prices for a meal in Albania. A cheap meal in a cafe will only cost you €2 – €4. And lunch or dinner in a local restaurant is only €4 – €10 per person.

Food in a local restaurant in Albania is very enjoyable. The food is similar to Greek food, Turkish food and Italian food. There are many places that make Greek salads, BBQ meats and Gyros. Moreover, everywhere in Albania you can see Italian style restaurants, shops and supermarkets. And desserts are often baklava and Turkish coffee.

Intercity furgon / minibus = €2 – €7 Short taxi ride = €5 – €10

Transportation is very affordable in Albania. The cheapest way to travel around the country is with the Furgon. Furgon is the Albanian word for a minibus. According to the Lonely Planet, it will cost you between €2 – €7 for a minibus trip, depending on your destination.

Because there are no effective train connections, the minibus is the most popular way to travel between cities in Albania.

Travelling by furgon is an authentic Albanian experience. The minibuses are very informal. The bus drivers will stop along the way to greet friends, to take a coffee break and to let people off the bus close to their house. You have to be patient and relaxed, but it is a very affordable way to travel.

The Lonely Planet calculated a short taxi ride between €5 – €10. If you are staying in Saranda for instance, you can take a taxi ride to a nearby beach, like Ksamil beach. A 10-minute taxi ride to Ksamil will cost you €10.

Car rental per day = €20 – €50

The most expensive way to travel through Albania is with a rental car. A rental car will cost you between €20 – €50 per day. It is very convenient to rent a car in Albania. Because you can easily make a round trip through the country, without having to search for the local buses.

If you plan on renting a car, you do need to decide beforehand. Because car will significantly increase your daily travel budget.

Moreover, if you plan on driving to remote areas and on mountain roads, you will need a four wheel drive car. The roads along the Albanian Riviera, Vlore, Saranda, Tirana, Berat, Shkodra and Durres are in a good condition. But some of the remote areas, like Valbona and Theth, in the mountains do require a four wheel drive car. Renting a four wheel drive car is more expensive and usually starts from €30 – €35 per day.

Admission to a museum = €1 – €4

According to the Lonely Planet, a ticket for a museum will cost between €1 – €4 per person. Actually, my experience is that entrance tickets are very cheap in Albania, especially compared to other European countries.

Bunk Art museum = €4 National history museum in Tirana = €1,60 Butrint UNESCO = €5,50

Butrint is the most attractive UNESCO heritage site in Albania. An entrance ticket will only cost you 700 Leke, which is €5,50. Which is very cheap, because in other European countries an entrance ticket to a UNESCO sight will easily cost you €25.00.

Is Albania expensive, compared to other countries in the Balkans?

Albania is cheaper than the other countries in the Balkans. Budget Your Trip calculated the average travel cost per person per day, based on the money former travelers spend. And visiting Albania is less expensive, than visiting Montenegro, Croatia, Greece or Macedonia.

Average Travel costs (per person per day) Albania = €42.00 Montenegro = €59.00 Croatia = €69.00 Macedonia = €73.00 Greece = €110.00

In Albania, you will spend less money on a holiday. In Albania, on average travelers spend €42.00 per person per day. Whereas, in Montenegro former travelers spend €59.00 per person per day. And Greece for instance is much more expensive with an average travel cost of €110.00 per person per day.

The reason why Albania is less expensive, is because it is off-the-beaten-path. Whereas Greece has an established reputation for beach and island holidays, Albania is still relatively unknown.

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It is unbelievable, to think that Croatia, Montenegro and Greece are along the same coastline, but Albania is still unfamiliar for most people. Albania has a stunning coastline along the Ionian Sea, and close to the Greek border. You can basically have the same Greek coastline, but spend less money for accommodation and food in Albania.

The main reason why Albania is so undiscovered, is its recent history. Until 1992, Albania was completely isolated from the rest of the world. Albania was ruled by a communist dictator, who build a wall around the country. That communism ended in 1992 and Albania has been democratic since.

Throughout the last 25 years, Albania has worked hard on becoming democratic and more western. They are also applying for membership of the European Union. And tourism has been growing steadily.

The fact that Albania is off-the-beaten-path is one of its perks. Because Albania has beautiful virgin beaches, that nobody knows about.

How much money to take to Albania?

You could take around €50.00 per day to Albania for your holiday. This €50.00 per day will cover accommodation, meals and transportation. These amounts are based on averages from Lonely Planet and the Budget Your Trip website.

Daily travel budget of €50.00 per day: 1. Accommodation is a budget hotel room = €25 – €40 per night 2. Meals in local restaurant, cafe, bakery = €13 per person for one day 3. Transportation by furgon minibus and short taxi rides = €2 – €10 per day

If you are travelling on a budget, you do not have to worry about accommodation. Because finding affordable accommodation is easy. Within the €25 – €40 per night price range, will give you plenty of hotels to choose from.

Similarly, it is easy to save money on food and drinks in Albania. You will be astonished to see how cheap the local bakeries, little supermarkets and local restaurants are.

However, if you plan on renting a car in Albania, you must add some money to the travel budget. Car rentals are expensive and usually cost between €20 – €50 per day. There are car rental offices of Avis, Europcar, Eurocar and Hertz at Tirana International Airport. You can inquire about their pricing online, before you travel to Albania.

****Insider Tip*** Bring some cash money with you for your trip to Albania. Because currency exchange is cheaper than withdrawing cash from the ATM machine. More details below.

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Can you use credit cards in albania.

You can use credit cards in Albania at luxury hotels, fancy restaurants and at big supermarkets. However, most Albanian people pay for their expenses in cash. In many local restaurants, little supermarkets and at local markets, you can only pay by cash.

Lonely Planet: “Acceptance of credit cards is normally confined to upper-end hotels, restaurants and shops, although every year their usage becomes more widespread.”

Therefore, it is best to carry some cash for your holiday in Albania. Because during your holiday, you don’t want to miss out on some of the local experiences. Let me give you some examples of places, where you can only pay in cash.

Places in Albania, where you can only pay in cash:

1. Byrektore Byrek is the national pastry in Albania. For sure, you will want to try this local pastry during your holiday, and this can only be paid in cash.

2. Buying bottled water During you holiday, it is safest to only drink bottled mineral water. So, guaranteed you will want to buy a bottle of water at a local shop, while you are walking around.

3. Castle entrance ticket Some of the smaller castles, like the Castle of Porto Palermo, only accept cash payment for the entrance ticket.

4. Touristic attractions Some of the touristic attractions, like Kepi Rodonit or the clock tower, only accept cash of entrance fee. Definitely, you don’t want to travel to the attraction, and then not have cash to pay the entrance fee.

5. Local restaurants The Albanian cuisine is lovely. There are grilled meats, Greek salads, Italian pasta, white cheese and fresh breads. Surely, you will want to try some fresh food on one of the terraces. But local restaurants almost exclusively accept cash.

6. Coffee houses Albanian people really enjoy going for a coffee, often several times a day. And you will see multiple coffee houses on every street. Some of them serve the traditional Turkish style coffee. Local coffee houses only accept cash most of the time.

Are there ATMs in Albania?

There are ATMs in Albania in the cities, but not in the more remote areas and mountain villages.

For instance, if you are going on a hiking tour in the North of Albania. You must withdraw money from the ATM machine in the city Shkodra. Because once you travel to the mountain villages, like Theth or Valbona, you can only pay in cash.

In the Albanian Riviera, you can expect ATM machines in the bigger cities, like Vlore and Saranda. However, if you are travelling to a virgin beach, like Monastery beach or Mirror beach. Then you will only be able to pay cash as the local restaurant on the beach. Even if you bring your food along for the trip, still bring some cash to buy bottled water.

There are ATM machines at Tirana International airport as well. You can withdraw cash in the arrivals hall. But it is smart to bring some cash euros with you, because you can pay the airport bus and airport taxi in euros.

Cash withdrawal from ATMs in Albania is expensive

Withdrawing cash from an ATM machine in Albania, is quite expensive for foreigners. The ATM machine might charge you €4 – €5, if you withdraw €100.

The reason is that Albanian is not a part of the European Union. Within the European Union, banks are forced to disclose their withdrawal fees and exchange rates. Because there are transparency rules and laws in the European Union.

However, Albania is not a part of the European Union, so banks do not have to disclose their fees. If you withdraw money with a foreign card, there is also a currency exchange involved. Some of the banks might charge you €4 – €5, if you withdraw €100.

These charges for the ATM transaction are often “hidden fees”. Because the machine won’t disclose its fees before you do the withdrawal. Therefore, you won’t know about the fees until checking your bank account afterwards. Not all ATM machines charge high fees, but you won’t know until you try.

***Insider Tip*** If you want to save money, bring some cash euros, pounds or US dollars on your trip to Albania. Because currency exchange is much cheaper, than withdrawing cash from an ATM machine.

Currency exchange costs less than 1% at currency exchange offices in Albania. Whereas, withdrawing from an ATM can cost you €4 – €5, if you withdraw €100.

What is the currency in Albania?

The currency in Albania is the Lek. Albanian Lek is only used in Albania. But many of the touristic cities and hotels, you can pay in euros as well. However, you will get a better deal, if you pay for items with the Albanian lek.

1 euro = 124 Leke 1 pound = 140 leke 1 us dollar = 110 leke

You will feel rich in Albania, because 1 euro is worth 124 leke. So you will find yourself paying 200 leke for 1 cup of coffee.

There are Albanian bank notes of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 leke. Although, there are some small coins, the value of these is very little.

Because Albanian Lek can only be used within Albania, it is best to exchange small amounts at the time. Before you go home, you will want to spend all your remaining currency. If you bring the Albanian lek home with you, you won’t be able to exchange it anywhere.

Where can you buy Albanian lek?

You can only buy Albanian Lek in Albania. It is not possible to buy or sell the Albanian currency abroad.

Albanian people pay for everything in cash. Many local restaurants and local shops only accept cash money. Therefore, it is best to carry some Albanian lek in cash with you, for your travel in Albania.

The cheapest way to get Albanian lek, is through currency exchange. Currency exchange is very cheap in Albania. At the currency exchange agencies in Albania, you can exchange for a margin less than 1%.

Withdrawing money from an ATM machine can cost you €4 – €5, if you withdraw €100. Therefore, exchanging cash money is cheaper, as they only charge you a 1% margin.

Currency exchange is very popular in Albania. Because many Albanians have family members, who work abroad. Albanian people regularly receive foreign currency transfers. It is very common for Albanians to carry cash euros, pounds or us dollars. Which they exchange at the currency exchange agency.

In Albania, there are currency exchange agencies on every high street in the cities. Don’t make the mistake to exchange your foreign cash at the bank, because they will charge you 7% for a margin. Whereas currency exchange agencies will charge you less than 1% as a margin.

It is best to exchange small amounts of money into Albanian Lek. And then make sure you use all your Albanian lek, before you go home. Because you cannot exchange Albanian lek, in your home country.

Can you use euros in Albania?

The Albanian currency is the Lek, but euros are widely accepted. You can use euros in Albania to pay for:

1. The airport taxi 2. Car rentals 3. Most hotels 4. Travel agencies 5. Tours

The best currency to bring to Albania is cash euros. Once you arrive at the airport, you can pay for your car rental or taxi with euros. Then, at your hotel you can settle the bill in euros as well. Most hotels quote their price in euros. For hotels, you can choose to pay for the hotel in either euros or with Albanian lek.

After getting to your hotel, search for a currency exchange agency close to the hotel. It is better to avoid exchanging money at the airport, because it is more expensive. Instead exchange currency, once you have gotten to your hotel.

Lonely Planet: “The lek is the official currency of Albania, though the euro is widely accepted; you’ll get a better deal for things in general if you use lek.”

Although, you might be able to pay some of your travel expenses in euros, it is still smart to exchange some Albanian lek. Because you will be charged less, if you pay in Albanian Lek. In Euros, the prices tend to be rounded up.

If you do not have cash euros, then the other good currencies to bring are pounds or us dollars. Because these currencies are easy to exchange everywhere in Albania.

Is bargaining for lower prices normal in Albania?

In Albania, bargaining for a lower price only happens on the street markets, in souvenir shops and for taxi rides. In any other shops, you should not bargain for a lower price.

Lonely Planet: “It’s perfectly acceptable to haggle at markets and at shops selling souvenirs. Elsewhere it’s not common. For long-distance taxi rides, haggling is definitely a good idea.”

Albania has many lovely bazaar markets. The most popular markets to visit for tourists are: -Bazaar market in Kruja -Bazaar market in Gjirokastra -Pazari i Ri market in Tirana

At these traditional bazaar markets, you can buy local handicrafts and souvenirs. For instance, you can buy traditional Albanian clothes, local honey, homemade wines, wooden handicraft products or traditional rugs.

If you visit one of these street markets, you should absolutely bargain for a lower price. Because you are actually expected to bring the price down a little bit.

For a taxi ride, it is best to agree on the price before your depart. Like anywhere in the world, a taxi driver may try to overcharge you for the trip. If you are taking a taxi from the airport, you can check the official price list on the website of TIA taxi before you travel.

For other popular taxi rides, you can find the correct pricing online. On forums, like TripAdvisor, people give you a clear price indication. So that you know what a reasonable price is for the distance you travel.

In mini-markets or clothes shops, you are not expected to bargain. The prices for many of the little markets are incredibly low, compared to European prices. You will be astonished how many groceries you can buy for only 1-2 euros.

Do you tip in Albania?

You tip in restaurants, bars and cafes in Albania. A normal tip is usually about 10% of the price. In coffee houses, you can simply leave 100 Albanian Lek for the waiter.

The salaries in Albania are low compared to European standards. Many employees make around 300 euros a month in Albania. So it is best to leave a small tip for the waiters and servers you meet on your trip. A small tip makes a large difference for them, because the wages are low in Albania.

How much money can you take into Albania?

You can take the value of 1.000.000 Albanian Lek into Albania. If you take more than the value of 1.000.000 Albanian lek into Albania, you should declare it at customs.

Here is an indication of the amount of money you can take to Albania:

1.000.000 LEK = 8200 Euros 1.000.000 LEK = 7300 British pounds 1.000.000 LEK = 9050 US dollars

You are allowed to take the equivalent of 1.000.000 Albanian Lek into Albania. This amount is the total value of cash in any currency you carry into the country. It includes any precious metals, gems, valuable items and antiquaries.

If you exceed the value of 1.000.000 Albanian Lek, you should declare this at customs. You will be asked for the reason of carrying more than 1.000.000 Albanian Lek into Albania. And you should prepare the correct forms and documents for the border control. More information on the Albanian Government website.

What is the best time to visit Albania, if you are travelling on a budget?

The best time to visit Albania between April and October, because the weather is sunny and warm. Albania is very affordable year-round. However, if you are travelling on a budget, try to visit just before the high-season or just after the high season.

The high-season in Albania is in July and August. Therefore, the prices for hotels are a bit higher in these months.

The months April, May, June and September are just outside the high-season, but the weather is still lovely. These months are the best period to visit Albania, because you can travel on a budget, enjoy the sunshine and avoid the any crowds.

High season: July and August Average temperature: 29 ° C Saranda and the Albanian Riviera: 33 ° C

The high-season in Albania is in July and August. This is the period, where the temperatures are the highest. The average temperature is 29 degrees in July and August. But in the Albanian Riviera in the south of Albania, the temperature is even higher at 33 degrees.

In these months, it is best to rent a car and visit one of the hidden beaches. So that you can avoid any other tourists and enjoy true privacy. Try visiting Gjipe beach, Mirror beach or Aquarium Bay for instance.

Pre-summer season: April, May, June Average temperature: 17 ° C in April, 23 ° C in May, 27 ° C in June Saranda and the Albanian Riviera: 22 ° C in April, 24 ° C in May and 29 ° C in June

The months April, May and June are just before the high season. In this period, the weather is getting warmer. But it is still quiet and there are not many tourists yet. The average temperature is 17 degrees in April, 23 degrees in May and 27 degrees in June. Travel to Saranda in the South of Albania, for the warmest weather. In June, it is 29 degrees in Saranda, for instance.

April, May and June are the best period to visit the famous place, like Butrint and Ksamil beach. Because the real tourism season has not started yet. And a paradise beach is best explored in privacy!

Post-summer season: September and October Average temperature: 26 ° C in September and 21° C in October Saranda and the Albanian Riviera: 27 ° C in September and 22 ° C in October

If you visit in September or October, you are able to avoid any crowds and travel on a budget. Especially, in September the temperatures are still really lovely. The average temperature is around 26 degrees. And the seawater in Saranda is still warm, at a pleasant 26 degrees.

How much does Airbnb cost in Albania?

An Airbnb costs on average 27 pounds (or 32 euros) per night in Albania. The company Vouchercloud researched the average Airbnb price per night for European countries.

The cheapest countries to book an Airbnb night are Macedonia (£26 per night), Albania (£27 per night), Moldova and Kosovo (£28 per night).

Spending 27 pounds (or 32 euros) per night on an Airbnb in Albania is very realistic. Because different sources reveal the same information. The website Budget your trip calculated an average accommodation cost of €32.00 for a double occupancy room. And the Lonely Planet states that a budget hotel room costs between €25 – €40 in Albania.

Tirana in Albania is one of the fastest growing travel destinations according to Airbnb

In 2019, Airbnb revealed that many UK travelers are searching for cheaper city breaks. The popular booking website of Airbnb revealed a top 10 of the cities in Europe where booking numbers are growing the fastest. According to Airbnb, Tirana in Albania is number two on that list. The number of travel reservations in Tirana have been growing extremely fast between 2018 – 2019. Because UK travelers have discovered that Tirana is a very affordable city break destination.

Tips to travel on a budget in Albania

Travelling in Albania is very affordable, but like in any country, there are some ways you can save money while travelling.

Tip 1: Bring some foreign cash and exchange it in Albania Currency exchange is very cheap in Albania. If you want to exchange foreign currencies, like euros, pounds or us dollars in Albania, it is very affordable. The margin for currency exchange is less than 1%.

To get the best currency exchange rates, you must go to a currency exchange agency. The rates are displayed an include a 1% margin. There are no currency exchange commissions or fees in Albania, so do not accept paying those.

Avoid banks when exchanging currency. Because it is much more expensive to exchange at a bank. Banks can charge you around 7-8% for a margin, instead of the normal 1%.

Tip 2: Remember the hidden costs of paying by card in Albania Paying by card in Albania is expensive. If you pay by card or withdraw money from an ATM machine in Albania, you may be charged hidden fees.

Because Albania is not a part of the European Union, there are no transparency rules and regulations. Within the EU banks are forced to disclose their fees and exchange rates on the ATM machine.

However, in Albania banks make their own fees and exchange rates. And the ATM machine or card machine, does not always disclose the rates before the transaction. Therefore, you may be charged 4 – 5 euros for a 100 euro withdrawal at the ATM machine.

Therefore, it is recommendable to bring some cash money with you to Albania and exchange it. Moreover, if you withdraw cash from the ATM, check your internet banking afterwards. If it is expensive, use a different ATM next time.

Tip 3: Plan your transportation, because transportation can be expensive in Albania Travelling by rental car, by private transfer or by taxi can be expensive in Albania. And there are no trains in Albania. Only travel by furgon minibus is affordable.

Let’s say you are travelling from Tirana airport to the city center of Tirana. You can choose from the following options:

Bus from airport to Tirana = 250 LEK (€2) Taxi from airport to Tirana = costs 2500 LEK (€20) Rental car at airport = €20-€50 a day

As you can see travelling by bus is very affordable. However, travelling by rental car or taxi is rather expensive. Since there is no train connection available, these are your only options.

If you want to travel cheaply in Albania, then the Furgon minibus is the best option. The furgon buses are privately owned. Basically, the driver of the bus owns the bus. Furgons stop at the local bus stations.

You do have to be patient, if you choose to travel by furgon. The buses have a schedule, but they often wait to depart until the bus is full. Moreover, they make many stops along the way at mini-markets and coffee houses. The bus driver may play local music in the background or call his friends while driving.

How to book a cheap flight to Albania?

In many cases, the flight to Albania might be your biggest travel expense.

Albania has only one international airport, which is Tirana International Airport. This airport is still relatively small and the number of airlines that fly to Tirana airport is limited.

You can book a direct flight to Albania with these airlines:

If you cannot find an affordable direct flight from your country to Albania, you can choose to fly to Corfu island instead.

Corfu island is a small Greek island, in front of the Albanian coastline. From Corfu, you can take a ferry boat to the Albanian coast. The ferry boat trip takes between 30 – 70 minutes, depending on the boat you book. And the ferry boat trip is quite affordable between €18.00 – €23.80 for one adult for a one way ticket.

The advantage is that there are many European airlines, that offer a budget flight to Corfu island. So it is likely, that it is cheaper for you to fly to Corfu airport, than flying to Tirana airport.

The airlines that offer flight Corfu are: Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Alitalia, Armenia, ASL Airlines France, Astra Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Aviolet, Blue Air, Blue Panorama Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Condor, Easy Jet, Edelweiss Air, Ellianir, Enter Air, Eurowings, Finnair, First Choice, Jet Time, Jet2.com, Lufthansa, Mistral Air, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Olympic Air, Ryanair, Sky Express, Small Planet airlines, Smart Wings, Sun D’or, Swiss International Air Lines, Transavia, Travel Services Hungary, Travel Services Slovakia, Tui, Tui fly Belgium, Tui fly Deutschland, Tui fly Nordic, Tui Ireland, Volotea, Vueling and Wizz Air.

Related Questions

What is the best currency to use in Albania? The best currency to use in Albania is the Albanian Lek. Because you will get a better price for items, if you pay in Albanian lek. However, Euros are widely accepted in travel agencies, hotels and taxis.

Is Albania dangerous for tourists? Albania is not dangerous for tourists. According to the UK government, the public security in Albania is generally good. If there is crime in Albania, it is not targeted at foreign travelers. It is still smart to book a comprehensive travel insurance, including medical coverage.

I am an Albania Tour Guide , who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania . I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania! Kind regards, Manon

Welcome to Albania!

I am a tour guide in albania.

I am an Albania Tour Guide , who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania .

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8 Days Tour in the south and Central Albania

A week in albania: tirana to saranda, south albania outdoor in 1 week, self drive: albania north to south, albanian riviera - beach, culture & hike, 3 days 4×4 jeep tour in south albanian coastline, albanian alps tour - hiking in albanian alps / 4 day tour from / theth valbone hike including shkoder, 3 days tour in theth albania with 4x4, hiking day tour of pellumbas cave & erzeni canyon from tirana, local food experience & walking tour of tirana.

• Dine at a revolving restaurant on Dajti Mountain
• Ride the Dajti Ekspres cable car to the summit
• Explore the ancient city walls and amphitheater in Durres

“The itinerary was packed with lots to do and learn about Albania while also offering down time to relax.” Alana, traveled in May 2024

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year
• Explore BunkArt 1 and Skanderbeg Square
• Tour Butrint Park and relax at Ksamil Beach
• See Berat Castle and Onufri Museum

“Excellent variety of cultural sites and nature and outdoors. Saw the major sites but also the remote and less visited ones.” Christopher Potter, traveled in August 2024

• Visit the UNESCO-listed city of Gjirokaster
• Relax on the sandy beaches of Ksamil Islands
• Stroll through Berat's ancient castle

“The hotel staff almost everywhere was nice and the hotel quality varied in terms of the actual rooms.” Rachel Lynn Goldstein, traveled in August 2022

• Walking Adventure
• Explore Rozafa Fortress and its panoramic views
• Discover Berat's historic sites and Iconographic Museum
• Visit Butrint Park and enjoy Ksamil Beach

• Swim and dine at Gjipe's hidden bay
• Tour medieval sites in Butrint and Gjirokaster
• Explore the UNESCO site of Berat

“It was a really interesting tour with diverse landscapes and beautiful mountains and beaches.” Shannon Butler, traveled in July 2023

• Visit the National Park of Llogara
• Explore South Albania by 4x4 Jeep
• Swim at the stunning Borsh Beach

• Trek through the Albanian Alps to Theth
• Sail along the Shala River in Koman
• Visit the mesmerizing Blue Eye spring

“What a magnificent place!! Highly recommended :)” Tia El-Kharrat, traveled in August 2016

• Journey through Theth's picturesque National Park
• Explore Rozafa Castle and Shkodra Lake views
• Visit the Blue Eye and Theth's waterfall

“The Pellumbas cave and Erzeni Canyon hike was very challenging and beautiful! Cool foot dip in Albania River at end!” Kent Eudy, traveled in July 2024

• Hiking & Trekking
• Explore the ancient Pellumbas Cave
• Relax after a scenic hiking adventure
• View wild mountains and Erzeni river

“Interesting to learn so much while we walked and enjoyed so much food. Going to small side street locations and walking through in more common areas.” Zachary Smith, traveled in March 2024

• End with a sip of Albanian Raki
• Start with a local Byrek breakfast
• Taste traditional Albanian coffee

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