Isolated from the rest of the world for an entire century, Albania had been a big question mark for most travelers at the time. In the 90s, the country finally opened up to the world, and people have been uncovering more and more of Albania's hidden beauties that had been hidden away all this time.
From the stunning peaks of the Albanian Alps to the pristine beaches of the Albanian Riviera, we are going to uncover one of the best hidden gems remaining in Europe together.
For this travel guide, I will recommend a complete 2-week backpacking itinerary for Albania, from Tirana to the Albanian Riviera to the Albanian Alps. The guide will cover a comprehensive list of things to do in each city, how to travel around the country independently, and everything you need to know before planning a trip to Albania.
Without further ado, let's take a look at our 2-week Albania itinerary for solo travelers. Our journey begins in Tirana:
- Albania Itinerary Map
- 2 Weeks Albania Itinerary
- Albania Travel Video
- When to Visit Albania?
- How to Get to Albania?
- How To Get From Tirana Airport To The City Center?
- How to Get Around Albania?
- How Much Money Do I Need for Albania?
- Is it Safe in Albania?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Albania?
- What to Pack for Albania?
- Further Reading for Albania
Albania Itinerary Map
2 Weeks Albania Itinerary
Day 1: Tirana (2 nights)
Our journey begins in the colorful capital city of Tirana, a great place to learn about the forgotten history of Albania and its infamous dictator and his foreign invasion paranoia, which resulted in over 170,000 bunkers built all across the country.
If Tirana were a human body, Skanderbeg Square would probably be the central nervous system. This is where all the roads in Tirana lead. Skanderbeg Square is a large space surrounded by several tourist attractions, making it one of the best places to start your journey in Tirana.
Before you learn about the dark history of Albania, you will first begin your journey in Tirana at Skanderbeg Square, a large space surrounded by several tourist attractions that you should check out while you are in the city.
- Highlights of Albania (11 days)
- Classical tour of Albania (8 days)
- Albanian Highlights Private 7 days tour- From South to North (7 days)
Et'hem Bej Mosque, an Ottoman-era mosque located right in the middle of Skanderbeg Square, is a great place to start. The prayer hall inside Et'hem Bej Mosque is decorated with frescoes depicting waterfalls and nature, something that you don't see often in mosques.
Near the mosque, you will find Tirana Clock Tower, a great place to climb up if you are looking for a fantastic viewpoint to see Skanderbeg Square and the city from above.
Now that we've seen the beauty of modern Albania, it is time to learn about the history of this country. Bunk'Art 2 is a nuclear bunker turned museum that shows how cruel the communist regime was when it was isolated from the outside world.
The museum will introduce you to Enver Hoxha, the infamous dictator whose name you won't be able to get out of your mind easily throughout your trip to Albania.
The museum will take you through an actual nuclear bunker, complete with several rooms that retain their original purposes, such as the apartment reserved for the Minister of Internal Affairs and even the decontamination room.
It also shows all the dirty tricks the state did to its people, from bugging a room to spy on them, and how they prosecuted those who were deemed traitors.
If you are interested not just in the history of the communist regime, but also in the origin of the people of Albania from the beginning to the Ottoman era to the Soviet era to now, be sure to visit The National History Museum.
The museum is located in the middle of Skanderbeg Square, and its exterior is decorated with a colorful Soviet-propaganda-style mural, so you can't miss it. It's a large museum, and you can expect to spend at least an hour exploring all the rooms inside.
For the evening, I would recommend that you take a bus out to the Dajti National Park and take a cable car up Dajti Mountain to watch the sunset there.
Dajti Mountain is a 1,613 m tall mountain that is one of the most popular retreats for locals to escape the bustling loudness of Tirana and be amidst nature.
From up there, you will be able to see Tirana and all the beautiful landscape surrounding it in its entirety. It is one of the best viewpoints in Tirana, and one that I recommend you check out before leaving the city.
Other things to check out in Tirana are the Pyramid of Tirana, a creative space built on top of a communist-era pyramid structure, Tirana's New Bazaar, a great place to find delicious food to eat or go people-watching, or if you have an extra day, go on a day trip to Kruje and learn more about Skanderbeg in his last stronghold before the Ottomans took over.
Getting from Tirana to Berat
After spending a day in Tirana, it is time to travel to our next destination, Berat. To get to Berat, you will have to get on one of the several buses leaving from Tirana's Southward Bus Station.
The bus leaves from 5:40 AM twice an hour until 5 PM, and it costs around 400 LEK per person. The journey will take about 2 hours, and you will be dropped off at Berat Bus Terminal where you can catch any of the local buses directly into Berat Old Town.
Day 2 - 3: Berat (2 nights)
Berat, or as it is known, the City of Thousand Windows, is a charming UNESCO town full of Ottoman-era traditional houses, massive fortress structures, and a ton of cool things for you to do.
One of the most prominent landmarks in Berat is the Berat Castle, a Roman-era castle that sits atop a rocky hill on the left bank of the Osum River, overlooking the city of Berat.
From the bottom, it might look like there is much to do in the castle. Don't let that fool you, as that is just the wall of the castle. Inside the wall, you will find houses with people still living inside and a ton of beautiful old structures waiting for you to explore.
One of those structures is the Holy Trinity Church, a medieval Byzantine church built in the 13th Century located off the side of the Castle Hill. It makes quite a photogenic spot to capture the church, the city, and the mountain all in one frame.
Within the castle, you will also find a stunning viewpoint where you will be able to see the two-quarters of Berat Old Town, as well as the mountains that surround the city.
From that viewpoint, you will see the Mangalem Quarter, on the same side as the castle, and the Gorica Quarter, which you can explore after you are done with Berat Castle. The two quarters used to house Muslims and Christians, respectively. That is no longer the case nowadays, but the area is still full of old churches and mosques you can check out.
Be sure to check out Lead Mosque, King Mosque, and Bachelor's Mosque, as well as St. Theodore's Church and Saint Demetrius Cathedral while you are in Mangalem District.
An hour before sunset, there is a nice hike you can do that will take you up to the top of a hill behind Gorica Quarter, where you can watch the sunset over the city. From up at the top, you will be able to see Berat and the castle from the opposite side.
It is much quieter up here than at the viewpoint at the castle, which is always crowded. So, if you are looking for a peaceful place to sit and watch the sunset quietly, this hike is a must.
After the sunset, be sure to go for a walk along Bulevardi Republika and experience the "xhiro hour", an Albanian tradition where people would come out after sunset from all over the place to walk up and down the boulevard and socialize with each other.
It can turn a seemingly quiet city into a fun circus, full of locals out and about. It is quite a sight to behold.
Getting from Berat to Gjirokaster
There are 2 buses that go from Berat to Gjirokaster daily, one at 8 AM and another at 2 PM. You can catch the bus at Berat Bus Terminal, where you will have to take a local bus to get there.
To get from the Old Town to Berat Bus Terminal, you will have to stand on the right side of Berat's Main Road and flag down a local bus that is going north. The local bus will cost you 30 LEK, and it will take you around 10-20 minutes to get to the terminal in time for your bus to Gjirokaster.
The bus to Gjirokaster will cost you 900 LEK and it will take around 3 hours to reach Gjirokaster, and they will drop you off at Gjirokaster Bus Stop.
Day 4 - 5: Gjirokaster (2 nights)
Gjirokaster is another UNESCO heritage site that is also known as the Stone City of Thousand Steps. From the outside, it may seem like Gjirokaster is the same as Berat, with both having an Ottoman-era castle on top of a hill to explore, and both being UNESCO Heritage sites. But in reality, they could not have been further apart.
Gjirokaster offers a range of different things to do that sets it apart from Berat. Gjirokaster Castle, one of the most iconic landmarks in the city, is a beautiful castle that resembles more of a fortress than the one in Berat.
Within the walls of Gjirokaster, you will find large hallways full of cannons, beautiful gardens, a stunning stone clock tower, and 2 museums you can visit to learn more about the origin of Gjirokaster.
Gjirokaster Museum is the one I would recommend you visit, whereas you can skip the Arms Museum if you don't have time. Inside Gjirokaster Museum, you will learn about the ancient history of the city, the origin of the name, and legends and stories that will help you understand the city a bit more.
Gjirokaster is also the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, the communist leader responsible for all the nuclear bunkers I mentioned earlier, and you can learn more about his ordeal in the museum as well.
There are also quite a few bunkers you can explore in Gjirokaster. The best one is the one that is hidden away in plain sight on the street of Gjirokaster Old Town.
To get there, you will have to go on a free walking tour with Stone City Hostel, and Walter, the owner, will show you around as well as explain the rich history of Gjirokaster in much greater detail.
That said, he only offers the walking tour to guests from the hostel, so I would recommend you stay at the Stone City Hostel when you are in Gjirokaster.
He also offers a day trip where he would take out his jeep and go around exploring all the hidden gems around Gjirokaster. One of my favorite places he took me to is the hidden waterfall where we got to jump off a cliff. All the more reason to stay at the hostel! 😉
Be sure to also check out Gjirokaster Old Bazaar at night for a lively evening, Skenduli Traditional House to learn more about how the people lived back then, and hike to Ali Pasha Bridge, an old Ottoman-era stone bridge that is still in use today by the shepherds.
You can also go on the "The Old Bazaar, Cfake, Dunavat, Ali Pasha Bridge" walking tour if you want to learn more about the history of the city and the stone bridge.
Getting from Gjirokaster to Himara
You will have to take a 10-11 AM bus to Saranda first, which should cost around 400 LEK and take 1 hour. The bus will drop you off at the Saranda Bus Stop, where you can then catch the 1 PM bus to Himara for another 500 LEK and 1.5 hours.
To get from Gjirokaster Old Town to Gjirokaster Bus Stop, you will have to walk down for about 20 minutes to the gas station where they dropped you off before and get on a fourgon to Saranda. Just shout "Saranda" and someone will direct you to the right fourgon.
Day 6 - 7: Himara (2 nights)
After a week in Albania, we have finally arrived at the Albanian Riviera. The Albanian Riviera covers a large area along the Ionian Sea on the southwestern coast of the country, which is hard to explore without a base. That is why we are going to Himara.
Himara is a small town located right in the middle of all the beautiful beaches, making it the perfect base for you. There are also more things to do other than relaxing at the beach, such as going up to Himara Castle for a sunset, which I recommend you do on the day you arrive.
Himara Castle and the Old Town are ancient settlements that date all the way back to the Bronze Age. Within the old town, you will find old churches built with stones and a platform for you to see Himara and its beautiful beach from above, making it a great place for sunset.
As beautiful as it was, Himara Castle is not actually the best spot to watch the sunset in Himara. The best spot to watch the sunset in Himara is actually at the Sunset Restorat Bar located on a cliff south of Himara.
From the bar, you will get to see the coastline of Himara with a mountainous backdrop of the hills and mountains of Southern Albania in its entirety, a sight that is hard to forget.
From Himara, it's a 35-minute walk through the city and another 10-minute hike up to the restaurant where you will be able to see the sky turn purple and the quiet town of Himara wake up from its slumber and come to life.
During the day in Himara, I would recommend that you rent a kayak for around 3 hours and explore all the hidden caves and beaches along the Albanian coastline.
If you go north of Himara with a kayak, you will find Gjipe Beach and Jala Beach, as well as many small caves that you can explore.
If you go south, you will find a small and quiet Filikuri Beach located just below the Sunset Bar I mentioned earlier.
Be warned: Do not expect to see an empty beach waiting for you to explore. The time of discovering empty beaches in Albania is long gone. In only 2 years, all the empty beaches are filled up with sunbeds that you will have to pay to use. It is a sad reality that comes with commercializing public spaces like this.
That said, the Albanian Riviera is still one of the most beautiful places in Albania, and you will enjoy it nonetheless. Just keep your expectations of the beach in check, and you will be quite happy with what you will find in the Albanian Riviera.
Getting from Himara to Shkodra
From Himara to Shkodra, you will be traveling all the way from the south to the north of Albania, so start early if you wish to do it in a day.
First, you will have to get yourself to Tirana. There is a direct bus to Tirana from Himara that goes early in the morning in the summer, so if you are there during that time, you can go to the S8 main road in Himara and flag a fourgon down to Tirana.
There are reports that the bus comes early in the morning, ranging from 6 AM to 7:30 AM. So you will have to check with your hostel/hotel for the updated schedule. The direct bus will cost 1000 LEK and take around 5 hours.
If there is no direct bus going that day, you can also take the 9:00 AM (go earlier if you have the option) to Saranda, which will cost around 500 LEK and take 1.5 hours. Then, you can catch the hourly bus from Saranda to Tirana.
The bus from Saranda to Tirana will cost 1300 LEK and take 5 hours, which should give you enough time to catch one of the last buses from Tirana to Shkodra at 5 PM.
From Tirana to Shkodra, you will find plenty of buses leaving daily from the Northward Bus Station (not the same bus station as the one you took down south), starting from 7 AM to 5 PM. The journey takes around 2 hours and will cost you 300 LEK.
If, for some reason, you missed the last bus from Tirana to Shkodra, you can get a taxi to Shkodra for about 4,000 LEK or 35 EUR.
Once you arrive in Shkodra, the bus will drop you off at Sheshi Demonkracia roundabout, which is located in the city center, so you should have no trouble walking to your accommodation from there.
Day 8: Shkodra (1 night)
We have finally completed the South of Albania. Now, it is time to go up north and explore the Albanian Alps! The city you will have to pass through to get to the Albanian Alps is Shkodra, one of the oldest cities in the Balkans.
There are quite a few cool things you can do in Shkodra, but mostly, we will use it as a place of preparation before we embark on the epic hikes in the Albanian Alps.
The main hike we will be doing is the popular Theth-Valbona hike, a 7-hour hike that will take you from Theth to Valbona (or vice versa) through some of the most beautiful scenery you will see in Albania. We will also be spending some time doing side trips in Theth, so in total, we will be spending 3 nights in the mountains.
For supplies, you can get snacks and light meals to prepare for lunch at SPAR Supermarket, located not too far from G'juhadol Street. For all the other meals, you can rely on the guesthouses in Theth and Valbona. For more information on things to prepare for the hike, check out our packing list for the Theth-Valbona hike here.
There is no ATM up there, so be sure to carry enough cash with you for the entire time you will be in the mountains.
One of the first things you will have to pay for is the transportation from Shkodra to Theth the next morning. Your hostel/hotel can organize this trip for you, which is ideal as they can tell the driver to pick you up at your accommodation.
You will also need transportation back from Valbona to Shkodra, which is a little more complex since it involves taking 2 fourgons and a ferry, but fortunately, you can organize all this in advance with your hostel/hotel as well in Shkodra.
If you have prepared everything you need for the hikes and still have some time left, you can go and explore Shkodra and see what the city has to offer.
Be sure to check out G'juhadol Main Street, Kole Idromeno Shopping Street, and all the surrounding structures like Ebu Bekr Mosque and Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity before you end your day.
Getting from Shkodra to Theth
For this journey, you will have to organize the trip with your accommodation the day before, and a fourgon should come and pick you up at 7:20 AM the next day to take you to Theth.
The journey from Shkodra to Theth will take 3 hours with a stop at a viewpoint halfway, where you can get breakfast before it continues to Theth. The cost for the transfer is 1200 LEK, and you will pay directly to the driver when you arrive.
Theth has 2 areas, the town center, and Fushe Thethi. Depending on where your accommodation is, you can tell your driver to drop you off there so you do not have to walk.
If you are staying at Shpella Guesthouse, as I recommended, tell the driver the name, and they will drop you off in front of the guesthouse for you.
Day 9 - 10: Theth (2 nights)
From Shkodra, you should arrive in Theth by noon, which should give you ample time to do some hiking before the sunset. One of the hikes I would recommend you do is a trail that goes to Denelle.
This 5-hour hike will take you to Denelle, a giant plain surrounded by mountains, and along the way, you will be able to see the valleys surrounding Theth in their full glory from above.
At the end of Denelle Trail, you will arrive in a large field where you will meet a welcoming husband, wife, and their three daughters living in a tent tending their livestock.
The trail begins from Fushe Thethi, just east of Shpella Guesthouse and continues east towards a rocky river bed where you will have to cross to the other side.
From the other side of the riverbed, the trail is a 3-hour straight-up hike through a thick forest where you will be able to occasionally take a break and admire the view of Theth and all the surrounding valleys from above.
The hike difficulty is moderate to hard. You will be climbing straight up for 3 hours before you arrive in Denelle. It will take another 2 hours to descend, so be sure to time yourself carefully so you don't have to hike in the dark.
After the hike, you can congratulate yourself with a feast at Shpella Guesthouse with an all-you-can-eat dinner served there every evening.
Be sure to get out and see the stars at night after dinner. You can walk along the main dirt road to get away from artificial light, and you will have the entire Milky Way to yourself 😉.
For the second day, you can go and hike to the Blue Eye, one of the most popular hikes to do in Theth. The hike is easy but quite long, taking around 6 hours to complete.
Thankfully, you will mostly be walking along a flat trail with a bit of climbing towards the end, so you should have more than enough energy to spare for the big hike tomorrow.
On your way to the Blue Eye, be sure to also check out Grunas Waterfall, which is a 5-minute side trip you can take along with the Blue Eye.
After you are done with the trail, make sure to eat plenty of food, prepare the next day's lunch, and get ready to tackle the Theth-Valbona hike the next day.
Where to Stay in Theth?
Getting from Theth to Valbona
We hike. 😃
Day 11: Valbona (1 night)
Today will be a big day for you as you will be hiking the famous Theth-Valbona trail for 7 hours through one of the most beautiful mountains you will see in Albania. Your journey begins from the trailhead in Theth.
Right off the bat, you will be hiking up the mountain for 3 hours on a steep trail that shoots up to Valbona Pass, the highest point of the trail. This is the steepest and hardest part of the hike, so be sure to take it slow.
Along the trail up to the Pass, you will find several viewpoints and cafes where you can stop and relax before continuing. After you arrive at the pass, make sure to hike up further to get to a panoramic viewpoint where you will be able to see both sides of the valley from above.
Be extra careful at the viewpoint, as the trail up there is very narrow and covered in slippery gravel. Once you are done taking photos, you can continue down the pathway into the forest, and the trail will follow a rocky riverbed for another 4 hours until you arrive in Valbona.
After 3 hours of hiking, you will eventually reach a paved road. Congratulations, you have reached Valbona! Depending on where you are staying, you might have to walk a little further to get to your accommodation.
For my itinerary, I recommend you stay at Jezerca Guesthouse, which is right at the end of Valbona. However, please note that you will have to walk along the road for another 45 minutes.
The view along both sides of the road is pretty impressive, so you should be able to complete that 45-minute walk in no time. Be sure to also come out at night again if you wish to see the Milky Way one last time before leaving the mountain the next day.
Where to Stay in Valbona?
Getting from Valbona to Shkodra
If you wish to go to Shkodra the next day, be sure to tell your guesthouse that you are leaving so that they can call the fourgon driver to pick you up at the accommodation the next day.
To get back to Shkodra, you will have to first get on a fourgon from Valbona to Fierze, and then you will have to take a ferry across Koman Lake to Koman before being transferred from Koman to Shkodra with another fourgon.
You will need to have the tickets you bought in Shkodra on hand before you can take these fourgons and the ferry. If you do not, you can also buy all the tickets from your guesthouse in Valbona the day before. All three tickets should cost around 2,200 LEK.
The fourgon from Valbona to Fierze will come and pick you up at 10:30 AM, and you will arrive in Fierze in one hour. Then, you can get on a 1 PM ferry to Koman, which will take another 2 hours before they transfer you from Koman to Shkodra with another 2-hour ride. All in all, you will arrive back in Shkodra by 6 PM.
Shkodra (1 night)
After a good night's sleep, you will have to wake up and catch the 10:30 AM fourgon to Fierze. From Fierze, you can wait at the restaurant by the port for the 1 PM ferry that will take you across Komani Lake to Koman.
Once the ferry arrives, give another ticket to the ticket collectors before boarding, and make sure to find a seat outside that is under the shade. The view on both sides of the lake is truly unforgettable.
The ferry will cruise through Komani Lake for 2 hours before arriving in Koman, where there will be several fourgons waiting for you. Once you arrive in Koman, you can simply pick one of the fourgons waiting, give the driver your ticket, and you will be back in Shkodra in 2 hours.
Congratulations, you have finally completed the Theth-Valbona hike! You can either spend the rest of the day chilling out in Shkodra or you can walk to Rozafa Castle, climb up to the wall, and sit outside while watching the sunset over the beautiful landscape around Shkodra.
Getting from Shkodra to Tirana
This is the same as how you get to Shkodra but in the opposite direction. There are several buses running between Shkodra and Tirana every hour, leaving from the Sheshi Demonkracia roundabout, so you can get on one of them.
The bus will take 2 hours, cost 300 LEK, and will drop you off at the Northward Bus Station in Tirana where you can then take a taxi or walk back to the city center.
Tirana (1 night)
Once you arrive in Tirana, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing or go out and celebrate with one last dinner at Oda Restaurant or Sofra Beratase Restaurant. They are both great local restaurants that serve the usual Albanian dishes like Musaka, stuffed peppers, fried eggplants, and many more.
After spending your last night in Albania in Tirana, you can then take an airport shuttle at Rinas Airport Bus Stop, located by Shatervan Park. The bus operates from 7 AM to 12 AM every hour, and the journey will take about 40 minutes and cost 300 LEK.
When to Visit Albania?
The best time to visit Albania is from April to June and September to October, when the temperature hovers around 17-23°C, making it perfect for general and outdoor activities such as exploring a city and hiking.
The peak season is from July to August, which is not a bad time to visit as there are often events happening for you to attend in Tirana and elsewhere. That said, there will be considerably more tourists around, which may not be ideal, and the heat during mid-summer months can be quite unbearable, especially if you are planning to explore the Albanian Riviera.
The low season is from November to March, which is not recommended as it can be cold in some places, and most cities and towns are pretty quiet and inactive. Plus, the Theth-Valbona hike, one of the most popular hiking trails in the country, will be closed off due to snow. So, if you are planning on doing some hikes in Albania, stick to Spring, Summer, or Autumn.
How to Get to Albania?
If you are coming from abroad, you are likely to begin your journey in Tirana. In order to get to Tirana, you will have to fly into Tirana International Airport with one of these airlines:
From the US, you can fly into Tirana via Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, KLM Airlines through Amsterdam, Alitalia Airlines through Rome, and a few other routes that go through Europe.
From within Europe, you can go with low-cost airlines like WizzAir or RyanAir to reach Tirana. If you are coming from a place that doesn't offer a low-cost direct flight to Tirana, it might be worthwhile to travel by land to a city that does and fly from there instead of relying on expensive flights.
From Asia, the easiest way to fly to Tirana is through Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. If you want to minimize cost, you can find a way to Turkey and then, from there, you can fly with Pegasus Low-Cost Airline to Tirana. Keep in mind that you might have to change airports if you are switching from a regular carrier to a low-cost carrier in Istanbul.
To find a cheap flight to Tirana, I would recommend using Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
From within the Balkans, there are several international buses connecting neighboring countries like Montenegro, Kosovo, Greece (Corfu), and Macedonia to Tirana that you can take. The price varies depending on where you are coming from, but more often than not, the bus will drop you off at Tirana regional bus station where you can then either walk or take a taxi to the city center.
How To Get From Tirana Airport To The City Center?
From Tirana International Airport, the cheapest way to get to the city center is by Rinas Bus Service, which leaves from Bay 1 and is bound for Skanderbeg Square, right in the city center of Tirana.
The bus operates from 7 AM - 12 AM and costs 300 LEK, while the journey will take about 40 minutes. The bus leaves from Bay 1 in the airport's parking lot, and you will be dropped off at Rinas Airport Bus Stop by the Shatervan Park. This is also where you will have to be if you want to get a bus back to the airport, so remember this bus stop.
How to Get Around Albania?
Albania is not a big country, which makes it a relatively easy country to travel around. You can travel from North to South all in one day without your own vehicle. Here are a few ways you can travel around Albania:
Fourgons: This is one of the most popular ways for backpackers to travel around Albania. They are basically minivans that run from one city to another. They are cheap, reliable, and they go to every place I recommend here in this guide.
Fourgons often depart from a designated location, such as a bus station, in big cities like Tirana or from a roundabout in smaller towns like Himara. You can also flag them down along the highway, making it a great mode of transportation for day trips.
They often have a schedule that they stick to, but sometimes, they leave only when it is full, which means that it could either go later or earlier than the scheduled time.
The best way to plan your trip using fourgons is to ask your hostel/hotel for an updated schedule, which they often have on hand, and follow their recommendation.
Buses: On a long-distance journey, you can take a bus instead, which is more reliable in terms of time and more comfortable to travel in. For example, they often have buses running from Tirana to Shkodra and from Saranda to Tirana.
Organized Tours: There are many day trips and organized tours you can partake in Albania to make your trip a little more convenient. A tour like the Highlight of Albania tour, which will take you to Ksamil, Blue Eye, Gjirokaster, Sarande, and more all in one trip, will save you the trouble of having to travel with buses and fourgons. If you have the money, an organized tour is definitely a great option for you.
Hitchhiking: Hitchhiking is a great way to travel short distances if you are looking to save costs or simply looking for a way to go to places that are not on regular bus routes.
The people in Albania are the friendliest people in the region, and you won't find it hard at all to hitchhike around the country. Simply stand along the highway, stick your thumb out, and someone will pick you up in no time.
In general, it is pretty safe in Albania, but always take precautions when traveling. If you are uncomfortable with the situation you are in, follow your instincts and take action immediately.
How Much Money Do I Need for Albania?
Albania is one of the cheapest countries you can travel to in Europe. With the 2-week itinerary I recommend here, we can calculate roughly how much you will spend in Albania.
Accommodation: For 14 nights, you will be spending around 169 USD (18,731 LEK).
Food: A good meal in Albania costs around 500 LEK, and since most accommodations offer free breakfast, you can expect to spend 1,000 LEK a day. For 2 weeks, you will be spending around 14,000 LEK on food.
Transportation: A bus from Tirana to Berat costs 400 LEK. The price for Berat to Gjirokaster is 900 LEK, Gjirokaster to Himara is 900 LEK, Himara to Shkodra is 1500 LEK, all transfers to the Albanian Alps cost 3,400 LEK, and from Shkodra back to Tirana is 500 LEK. In total, you will be paying around 7,600 LEK for transportation.
Activities: Depending on what you want to do, you can expect to pay around 3,000 LEK for sightseeing entrance fees, museums, etc.
Total Budget: 43,331 LEK (391 USD).
Is it Safe in Albania?
Albania is one of the safest countries that I have traveled to. People are extremely friendly towards tourists, and they are often excited to show how beautiful their cities are.
You might find a few beggars in Berat, and there might be one or two people who would ask you for money when they help you, but 99% of the time, they are happy to help you without expecting anything back.
Hitchhiking is also safe here, and once you stick your thumb out, it won't take long before someone stops and picks you up. I have nothing but praise for Albania.
That said, it is always smart to take precautions when traveling to a new country, and if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, trust your gut and bail.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Albania?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Albania without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Albania:
The Internet is pretty good in Albania. Reliable WIFI is available in most hostels/hotels and cafes. Even in the Albanian Alps, guesthouses often have reliable WIFI in the common areas, so you can still stay connected with people at home even in the mountains in Albania.
If you are looking to buy a local SIM card, you can buy one in Tirana. I would recommend getting the Vodafone Z package, a one-month validity SIM card with 5.5 GB of regular data, 10 GB for social network usage, 400 minutes, and SMS. It costs 1500 LEK + 100 LEK for a new SIM card, especially if you are planning to travel in Albania for more than 2 weeks.
If you are traveling in Albania for only 2 weeks or less, I would recommend that you get the 14-day validity Vodafone Tourist SIM that gives you 10 GB of data and 500 minutes of calls for 1300 LEK.
The reception is good in all the places I recommend in this guide. 4G is available in most places as well, and you will find a 3G/EDGE connection even in the remote towns of Theth and Valbona, although it may be a little less reliable up there.
Either way, if you are looking for a reliable way to stay connected while traveling in Albania, I would recommend getting a local SIM card.
For more information about Albania's local SIM card: Albania Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Albania?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Albania:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Albania
Looking for more information for your trip to Albania? Here are a collection of articles about Albania that will help you with your trip planning:
- Want to plan a trip to the Balkans, but not sure where to go? Here is the 31 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Balkans.
- For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
- First time visiting Albania and looking for awesome things to do? Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Albania.
- Tirana is an excellent place to start your journey in Albania. Here’s a complete guide on things to do in Tirana.
- Berat, the city with a thousand windows and even more cool things to do, here are: Top 8 Things to Do in Berat.
- Gjirokaster, the stone city of a thousand steps, is another excellent UNESCO heritage site waiting for you to explore. Here are: 8 Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster.
- Albanian Riviera, a place where you will find hidden beaches, pristine coastline, and one of the best places to see the sunset in Albania. Here is a complete 5-day itinerary and travel guide on backpacking the Albanian Riviera.
- "Is this really Albania?" is a question you will ask yourself the moment you set foot into the Albanian Alps. Here is a complete hiking guide on the Theth-Valbona and the Albanian Alps.
- My words are not convincing you about traveling to Albania? How about you see it for yourself with my Albania travel video? Adoralbania, the Albanian Adventure Travel Video
- For all articles about Albania, visit the Albania Travel Guide page.
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? Here is the 3 Months Itinerary for Europe.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe can be extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Looking to travel the Balkans? Check out all my articles about the region here: The Balkans Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my articles related to Eastern Europe on my Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
- You can also see all of my Europe-related articles here: Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
15 Comments
What if I want to travel Albania and the Ionian Islands of Greece?
I am travelling from Amsterdam. Would it be a good idea fly to Tirana, go south and then fly back from Corfu? Or the other way around? Or maybe even a complete other way?
Hey Amina,
Many people I met are actually doing just that. They either fly into Tirana and fly out from Corfu or vice versa. It makes more sense that way as you will be traveling only in one direction without wasting days to go back and forth between your port of entry and so, if you are planning to do Tirana - Corfu, go for it.
I would even recommend you to do it your way instead of how I did it because it was more of a technicality for my nationality. You see, I needed a Schengen visa to enter Greece and I didn't have one when I was in Albania and so that route was out of the picture.
My friends told me Corfu is quite nice as well so it's a win-win situation for you if you do it that way.
I hope this helps!
Im so thankful about this informative list of how’s and what of everything in Albania.I personally will follow this itinerary for my travel thos coming October.Hope you have a good day and more wonderful travels.
Thank you for the comments Diana. Hope you found the guide useful. :)
I love the itinerary and I want to follow it, My plan is to visit Albania from 13th - 27 Dec 2021, is it the right time? should I or shouldn't
Hey Denis,
Thank you for the comments. Depending on what you are planning to do. Hiking in the Albanian Alps can be quite cold in December while the beaches might not be as comfortable to swim in the south.
If you are looking to explore cities, visit museums, and maybe immerse in the culture in places like Gjirokaster and Berat, then it is not a bad time to visit but if you are focusing on outdoors like hiking and jumping in the sea, the cooler temperature might not be ideal.
I hope this helps!
Thanks, Pete, will plan accordingly
Hey Pete,
I love reading your blog to plan my travels! Is it possible to a self driving road trip around the alps if we don't want to hike? Are the roads accessible to the accommodation in theth and Valbona? We plan on traveling in September for a week few days north and few days south.
Thank you for commenting, Andrea. Unfortunately, you can't drive between Theth and Valbona but you can drive to these places separately, just not on the same trip.
The way to Valbona is much easier to drive as the roads are all paved but you might have to take a ferry with your car across Koman Lake or you can take the long way around and drive through the mountains.
Can't say the same for Theth as you will likely need a 4WD and an experienced driver to drive up and down rugged unpaved road to Theth. I do not recommend doing this part with a regular sedan car.
I hope this helps!
Himara Castle has closed according to google.