Best Tirana Regional Trips: Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia

Overview

The perfect way to see more of the region from Tirana, Albania is to join an organized day trip to one of Albania’s neighboring countries, Kosovo, Montenegro, or North Macedonia.

Of course, you can also do these trips independently by yourself by renting a car in Tirana and driving to all of these spots yourself. However, on an organized trip, you don’t have to worry about the logistics and enjoy a guided experience.

Best trips to neighboring countries from Tirana

All the trips we listed in this article include fun, knowledgeable guides who will lead the way and teach you the history of each place you visit. Pick-up is included from Tirana and often from Shkoder, as it’s literally on the way to all three countries from Tirana.

1. Kosovo: Prishtina and Prizren

On a day trip from Tirana to Kosovo, two must-visit places are Prishtina, the capital, and Prizren, the country’s historical capital on the Bistrica River, near the Sharr Mountains.

This way, you can see most of Kosovo in just a day, and learn about its history from a knowledgeable guide.

It’s going to be a long day, as visiting Kosovo from Tirana means you’ll be away for about 13 hours after a very early morning start from Tirana. But not to worry, as the views on the road will make up for the time spent, as you pass by beautiful mountains, plus make short stops on the way.

We highly recommend this top-rated Kosovo Tour where you’ll be guided by a professional guide who knows what she/he’s doing. It’s a really great value-for-money option, plus in addition to a pick-up in Tirana, they can organize your start from Durres or Golem.

2. Montenegro: Kotor and Budva

Our favorite option is definitely Montenegro, as it’s also by the sea and offers fantastic seaside places to visit.

To visit Montenegro from Tirana on a day trip, you have more options than to Kosovo, as the country is also larger and has much more to see, including seaside historic old towns.

The first option is to visit the southern destinations like Ulcinj, stop by Sveti Stefan, and then visit Budva.

The second option is to also visit Budva, but combine it with a visit to the walled old town of Kotor, a UNESCO site and the Montenegro alternative to Croatia’s Dubrovnik, plus Sveti Stefan on the way.

Much like Kosovo, the day trip to Montenegro from Tirana means you’ll be away for the full day. Good to know: In addition to Tirana, you can arrange to be picked up in Lezhe or Shkoder.

We highly recommend choosing this Kotor & Budva Tour, as it allows you to see Montenegro’s two best cities in a single day.

3. North Macedonia: Ohrid Lake and Saint Naum Monastery

On a day trip from Tirana to North Macedonia, definitely visit the historical old town of Ohrid, the lake, and the Saint Naum Monastery, which dates back to 905.

The grand jewel and largest in North Macedonia, the Ohrid Lake, one of Europe’s oldest and deepest, is a fantastic day trip option from Tirana, especially since it’s only a 3-hour drive from Tirana. So it’s perfect for visiting a new country and not spending an enormous amount of time driving.

Good to know: Although Ohrid is known as the lake of North Macedonia, 30% of the lake actually belongs to Albania, where it’s called the Lake of Pogradec.

The most notable attractions and sights on Ohrid Lake are on North Macedonia’s side, though Pogradec, on Albania’s side, is also worth a visit, especially since it’s not yet crowded, unlike other destinations in the country.