How to explore Albania
The most optimized way to do this two-week Albania itinerary is to rent a car, at least for the second part of the trip.
You don’t necessarily need a car in the north of Albania, but in the central part, and the southern region, especially the Albanian Riviera, it’s a good way to explore and make the most of your time.
You can also follow this itinerary by using public transport. We will dive deeper into that later, but do note that many local buses cannot be booked online.
On our first trip to Albania, we rented a car only for the second part, when we came back to Tirana from the north. From there, we drove down to Vlore, Himare, Sarande & Ksamil, Gjirokaster, and, lastly, to Berat, before returning to Tirana. It’s the most optimized way to explore Albania.
Looking for an organized trip?
We visited Albania ourselves, but if you want to join an organized trip, with hotels and all other costs included, and a professional tour guide to lead the way, we recommend booking this top-rated Two Week Tour of Albania.
It follows a similar itinerary to ours, and also does the Valbona to Theth hike, which honestly surprised us, as standard tours usually don’t include cool stuff like that.
Detailed two-week Albania Itinerary
| LOCATION | SEE AND DO |
|---|---|
| Tirana (2 nights) | City Highlights, Bunkers, Mosques, Albanian Night, Bovilla Lake, Kruje Historical Town |
| Shala River – Koman Lake (1 night) | Stunning River & Lake, Stay by the water, Swimming & Kayaking |
| Valbona (1 night) | Mountain Valley, Relaxing with River Views |
| Day Hike Valbona to Theth | Hike, Valbona Pass, Mountain Views |
| Theth (2 nights) | Mountain Town & Scenery, Waterfalls, River Swimming, Hiking |
| Shkodër (1 night) | Old Town, Castle, Lake, River Swimming |
| Vlore (0-1 night) | Boat Trip to Sea Caves, Bays, Beaches |
| Himare (1-2 nights) | Best Beaches in Albania, Boat Trip, Himare Castle |
| Sarande & Ksamil (1 night) | Beach Clubs, Beaches, Butrint National Archaeological Park, Blue Eye |
| Gjirokaster (0-1 night) | Historical Town, Castle, Tunnels, Traditional Houses |
| Berat (2-3 nights) | Castle & Old Town, Canyons, Outdoor Activities |
Our two-week trip begins and ends in Tirana, but you can, of course, easily spin the itinerary around if you’re starting in Shkoder in the North, or Sarande/Ksamil in the south.
Our favorite Albania eSIM
Fast Speed and Reliable Signal
Ever since we got phones that support eSIMs, we have been hooked and never looked back. 📶
We always get the best value-for-money eSIM we can, based on reliable signal, fast internet speeds, and coverage across the country. 🌐
Now that eSIM plan prices are more than reasonable compared to regular phone plans (which are more of a hassle to get), we really see no reason not to get one for each trip.
Day 1: Tirana
We started our journey in Tirana, the capital and best place to begin a two-week Albania trip.
Tirana is easy to explore in one full day, and if you’re strapped for time or want to enjoy other parts of Albania (we get it), you can even explore most of Tirana’s highlights in half a day.
Start your exploration in the city center around the Skanderbeg Square, visiting the Ethem Bey Mosque and Bunk Art 2. If you want to see an even bigger bunker, you can head a bit further out into the suburbs and visit Bunk Art 1, which is right under the Dajti Mountain Cable Car station.
In the evening, you must join the Albanian Night show, a nightly performance showing local Albanian culture through music, acting, and dancing.
We loved the Albanian Night, and it was the perfect way to finish our first day in Albania!
You can read our Albanian Night Review or reserve your ticket right here.
Since Tirana is a walkable city for tourists, we recommend staying in the city center. Two great options are the Faces and Places Hotel and the Metro Hotel.
For couples like us, we highly recommend Sunflower Rooms, where we stayed (or the suite next door). It’s super centrally located, clean, and well-equipped.
Day 2: Day trip to Bovilla Lake and Kruje
Two great places to visit from Tirana are the stunning Bovilla Lake and the historical town of Kruje. You can see both in just one day, especially if you rent a car or book an organized tour.
We recommend visiting both in one day if you visit Albania during the summer, as the long days give you more than enough time for both.
Bovilla Lake requires a short hike to reach the viewpoint for the best views, but from the top parking lot, it’s only about 15 minutes and doable for everyone. And on a visit to Kruje, you must stroll through the Old Bazaar and visit the Fortress of Kruje.
- Read next: How to visit Bovilla Lake
Our favorite
Kruje hotel
Leaving Tirana
After Tirana, the best way to continue your two-week trip in Albania is to head to the north of the country to see the mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, swimming holes, and mountain towns.
- Need a detailed itinerary for the north? We wrote a complete One Week North Albania Itinerary, full of the best tips.
The following week, you’ll be spending time being active and hiking over a mountain from Valbona to Theth, which means you should drop off extra luggage/bags in a luggage storage facility in Tirana, or arrange it with your hotel.
We left our big suitcases at a Luggage Storage Facility near Skanderbeg Square that was open 24/7 (also has insurance up to 3000 EUR). There are many locations around Tirana, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one close to your hotel.
Day 3: Shala River and Lake Koman
Start by leaving Tirana for Lake Koman, a beautiful reservoir lake where you can stay in great family-run guesthouses right by the water.
We stayed at the fantastic Riverside Komani, which was super cozy and the best place to explore the Shala River from.
- Must-read: Review of our stay at Riverside Komani
Albania trip
MUST-HAVE ✔
💳 Save money when changing currencies or taking out cash by bringing a backup travel card. Oh, and in case an ATM swallows your card. Yes, it happened to us. 🤦♂️
🔌 Bring a Universal Travel Adapter with fast-charging capabilities (45W and Power Delivery).
📶 Stay online by getting an eSIM. You can get our favorite eSIM at a 10% discount.
It’s the perfect spot for kayaking to the Shala River, which we did as well. Otherwise, a great benefit of staying there is that you have a return boat transfer to the Shala River included in your stay, which is super convenient.
During summer, the main area at the Shala River is perfect for lounging at the beach, swimming and jumping in the water, and doing a light hike nearby.
You can also stay right in the main Shala River part with the beach, bridge, and restaurants. We recommend the Guri i Lekes Guesthouse (comfy rooms), which we planned to book before we heard of Riverside Komani.
Day 4: Valbona Valley
On the way out from Koman and Shala, you should visit Valbona Valley, the starting point for the famous Valbona to Theth hike.
In summer, Valbona is perfect for a refreshing dip in the beautiful river and hiking the many trails around. However, most people visit Valbona Valley only to hike from Valbona to Theth.
That’s why we recommended a luggage storage facility or leaving big luggage in a hotel/hostel before coming to the north, since you don’t want to carry lots of stuff over a literal mountain.
When leaving your Lake Koman or Shala River hotel, you’ll need to take a boat back to Koman village and pier, where you then board the bigger boat/ferry to Fierze. From Fierze, you then catch a minivan/bus the rest of the way to Valbona Valley.
Good to know: You can book all of the transport connections with a single company, Ferry Berisha (komanilakeferry.com), the leading boat/ferry operator on Lake Koman.
If you want to visit Valbona but not hike across to Theth, it complicates the trip a bit and makes it longer. In that case, you would need to backtrack to Lake Koman, take the ferry across to Koman village, then a van to Shkoder, before getting a van to Theth.
You can read all about this in our detailed North Albania Itinerary, where we dive deep into the details needed to plan the perfect trip around the northern mountains and share our first-hand tips.
Heads up, picking the right hotel in Valbona is incredibly important.
It’s a 5km, 1-hour walk to the Valbona-Theth trailhead from the main area. And, if you book a hotel further away, the distance/duration can easily double.
For a comfortable & more luxurious stay, choose Hotel Valbor, a centrally located higher-end hotel with incredible valley views. On a budget, we recommend Jezerca Guesthouse, which is well situated for the Valbone to Theth hike and offers comfortable private wooden huts.
Day 5: Valbona to Theth Hike
A must-do activity in Albania and the highlight of this two-week Albania itinerary is the Valbona to Theth Hike. It’s a 5 to 8-hour hike from the valley of Valbona, all the way up to Valbona Pass at 1759 meters, and then a steep descent down to the mountain village of Theth.
On the way, you get beautiful views of the Albanian Alps, the valley of Valbona on one side, and Theth on the other, plus, if lucky, snowcapped peaks.
The hike is not too challenging, and most beginner hikers can do it without much trouble. Plus, the Valbona to Theth hiking trail is well-marked and frequented daily.
If you start the hike from Valbona early, you should get to Theth by early afternoon. You can take the afternoon/evening off, since if you stay two nights in Theth, it’s a good enough time to see the main highlights.
At the top of the pass, there is a short, few-minute extra hike you can do to the actual Valbona Pass Viewpoint. And it’s so worth it, because you get an unobstructed view of the mountains and valleys all around you. Don’t miss this!
If you’re not sure if you want to hike over the mountain from one valley to another, you can visit Theth and Valbona separately. Or visit only Theth and hike up to the pass (as many people do).
In this case, renting a car for the north of Albania is a great idea, since you can drive to Koman Lake yourself, then to Shkoder, and then to Theth to do the hike and visit the other places. You can find more info later in our Transport Tips section.
Best way to explore Albania?
RENTING A CAR
We love exploring places at our own pace and on our own time, especially to avoid crowds at popular destinations we visit. Plus, watching sunrises and sunsets at epic locations is a must. ☀
That’s why renting a car for us is a no-brainer, and an unmissable part of most trips. 🚗
We love having the choice to compare prices, choose different pick-up and drop-off locations (one-way rentals), and pay for a reasonable full insurance policy without going broke. 🤑
Day 6: Theth Mountain Village
Theth is the most picturesque and famous mountain village in Albania, about a 2-hour drive away on the new road from Shkoder.
Take a morning to visit the Blue Eye and the beautiful area around it (yes, there’s more to it). Then, visit Grunas Waterfall on a short hike, before finishing off at the Church of Theth. With an extra day, you can do some more hiking or relax at the riverside, where in the summer there are a few beach bars.
Theth’s Blue Eye
The Blue Eye is a stunning spot, and the surrounding area is perfect for relaxing by the water, taking a quick dip, and spending some peaceful time in nature. You can reach the Blue Eye on foot from Theth, but most people either drive or take a taxi from Theth’s center (5 EUR one way).
Short hike to the waterfall
Grunas Waterfall is actually on the way to the Blue Eye, although just a bit outside of Theth village. A short hike gets you to the waterfall, which is quite tall and strong. From the area of Grunas Waterfall, there are a few other hiking trails you can follow, like the one to the field of Denelit.
Planning an active trip?
Don't risk it without travel insurance
We never travel outside our home countries before getting travel insurance. And sure, we don’t count on anything happening. But it can when you least expect it! 🤕
For example, Arijana twisted her ankle just because she took a wrong step when going down completely normal stairs. 🤦♀️
In those situations (and hopefully nothing worse), travel insurance comes in handy so you don’t have to pay the medical costs.
Plus, since it costs about 3 USD/EUR per day, it’s not a crazy expense, and definitely not something to ignore. 😷
Catholic Church
The most famous photo spot in Theth is the stone Catholic Church, with its unique architectural style.
The backdrop of the mountains on each side of the church makes it clear why it’s so popular. As our hotel was located nearby, we passed the church countless times. It looks best for sunrise and just before sunset when the golden light hits the mountains.
Dinner
For dinner, make a reservation at a restaurant if possible, as they get busy FAST. If the restaurant doesn’t accept reservations, arrive early and wait until the kitchen opens. You’ll thank us later!
This was the case for our favorite restaurant in Theth, Gurra Family Restaurant (vegetarian-friendly). They start taking food orders at 6 PM (when the kitchen opens). So if you’d like to get a table for food, come first for drinks around 5:30 PM, as we did.
We loved the baked potatoes in cream, the stuffed eggplant, and the portions were plentiful. It was exactly what we expected in a mountain village, as from our experience, food is best in mountain restaurants!
Day 7: Shkoder
We recommend taking the first bus so you’re in Shkoder by 1:30 PM, right on time for hotel check-in. That way, you can essentially visit most of Shkoder’s highlights in that one whole afternoon.
THE best place to visit in Shkoder is Rozafa Castle, and the best time to visit is at sunset, when it offers fantastic views of the whole area.
Other than Rozafa Castle, we recommend visiting Mesi Bridge, about 8km outside Shkoder, where you can go for a swim in the summer and chill by the river.
Further up the river from Mesi Bridge, there are more amazing spots along the water at Kanioni Ura e Shtrenjtë, where you can go swimming in the summer, plus some bars to chill at. But for this, you’d need to add another day to Shkoder – it takes too long to get there and back to fit it all into one afternoon.
You can get to spots outside Shkoder by taxi or rent a bike, which is a great way to get around.
In Shkoder, we recommend staying at The Rooftop Hostel, a chill place, right in the center, with a rooftop. We had a simple room, but it was clean and even had a table and a fridge.
In the evening, stroll along the Old Town and Kole Idromeno Street, and definitely drop by Pastiçeri Oraldi Pedonale for some delicious Tri Leche and MANY other desserts. We absolutely loved their cakes and tried three different ones, all of which were fantastic.
The next day, if you leave yourself extra time before you leave Shkoder, you can visit Shkoder Lake, which also has beaches. But it’s still a lake, so in our opinion, if you want a proper beach time, we’d wait until the seaside.
Did you know? Shkoder is right on the border with Montenegro, and from Rozafa Castle you will have views across Shkoder Lake and see parts of the neighboring country.
Leaving Shkoder for the Albanian Riviera
Finishing off the north, it’s time to hit the beaches and towns of the Albanian Riviera!
We visited the whole Albanian Riviera, and we loved the Dhermi and Himare areas the most for proper beach time. However, for beach clubs and that kind of atmosphere, Ksamil is a much better choice.
The best beaches on the Albanian Riviera are between Dhermi and Sarande, with our favorites being around Himare.
That’s why, if you want more beach time and skip some places because of that, Himare is the place to be.
Day 8: Vlore
Vlore isn’t the most famous destination in Albania for a seaside experience, but it’s a great stopover if you don’t want to make the whole journey to Himare right away.
We also stopped in Vlore and joined a fantastic boat trip to Grama Bay (and Blue Cave!), which was a superb start to our time on the Albanian coast.
Other than strolling around Vlore’s promenade, there’s really not much to do in the city itself, and we were okay to visit just for the boat trip.
That’s why if you get to Vlore early enough for the boat trip, you don’t even have to sleep there – you can move on to Himare right away. This is optional – we did stay one night as we came to Vlore quite late.
Llogara Pass
After Vlore, the next destination is Himare. If you’re driving across the country, you can take a tunnel (faster route) or go on the scenic old road over the Llogara Pass.
Once you’re on the other side of the pass, you can stop at the Llogara Panorama and take in views of the beaches from Dhermi almost down to Himare. Plus, Llogara Pass is where paragliders take off, so if you’re lucky, you can see them as well.
When we stopped, there was a massive cloud right where we were, and it didn’t want to move for a long time, so we only properly saw the paragliders once we descended a bit further down towards Dhermi.
Another great stop on the way to Himare, if you’re driving, is Dhermi, which has one of our favorite beaches.
Day 9: Himare
Once in Himare, we recommend staying for 1 to 2 nights so that you can enjoy at least a full day there. It’s THE best place to enjoy the beach in Albania, and if you want a free beach day, you should take it here.
We stayed at Marika’s Apartments, a fantastic apartment just outside of Himare town, with great amenities (including a kitchen) plus sea views.
A must-do in Himare is the Pirate’s Cave boat trip, which also visits cool spots on the way. We enjoyed this boat trip a lot.
It’s hard to say which one is better, this one or the one in Vlore. Both were really cool and visited some fantastic spots. So if you can, do both, and otherwise, skip Vlore for Himare.
The boat trips in Himare usually don’t take all day, so you have time to chill at the beach before or after.
For us, the best ones were Gjipe and Aquarium, but keep in mind that, even though they might be a bit harder to reach, they are still quite busy, even outside the season. So come early!
For late afternoon, Himare Castle is a good option. There, we enjoyed some Tri Leche dessert and coffee at Café Butterfly, an excellent spot for watching the sunset.
- Read next: Best Attractions and Beaches in Himare
Day 10: Sarande, Ksamil, and Butrint
After enjoying the beaches of Himare, it’s time to head to the southernmost part of Albania, the area around Sarande and Ksamil.
This is where all the famous beach clubs of Albania are located. So this is the spot to chill at a beach bar if that’s your vibe.
The beaches here are more developed, with resorts behind Sarande’s beaches, and beach clubs on the whole coast of Ksamil town.
Butrint
But beaches are not the only thing to visit here. Ksamil is home to Butrint National Archaeological Park, Albania’s largest archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It takes about 2 hours to visit Butrint, so you can easily fit it into the same day with some beach time and another attraction.
The Blue Eye of Albania
Another famous site of Southern Albania is the Blue Eye, a water spring with a captivating color, about a 40-minute drive outside of Sarande.
Sightseeing there is quick, as there’s not much to do, and the entrance fee is minimal, so if you have some extra time, it’s worth a short visit.
Otherwise, it’s really nothing to write home about, and after visiting the Blue Eye, we don’t really understand the hype about it. We much more enjoyed the Blue Eye in Theth.
⏰ Optimizing your time
You can easily visit Ksamil, Butrint, and Blue Eye in one day, as well as end up for sunset at Lukresi Castle, a popular sunset spot on a hill above Sarande.
That’s why, if you want more beach time, add another day in Sarande and Ksamil. Otherwise, one full day is enough to see the area’s highlights.
Leaving the Albanian Riviera
It’s time to leave the Albanian Riviera and explore a whole other part of Southern Albania that’s absolutely worth visiting, the historic towns of Gjirokaster and Berat.
Day 11: Gjirokaster
From Sarande, Gjirokaster is only an hour’s drive away.
Top tip: Since Blue Eye is only a 30-minute detour on the way to Gjirokaster, if you don’t manage to visit it the previous day, you can do so on the way.
Gjirokaster’s main attraction is the Castle of Gjirokastra, right above the town, which is quite well preserved. Down in the streets, a leisurely stroll takes you around historic houses, Mosques, and through tunnels.
A short hike outside of Gjirokaster gets you to the Ali Pasha Bridge, a stunning stone bridge connecting two sides of a deep canyon.
Depending on what you enjoy more, you can stay overnight in Gjirokaster, but if you want to make the most of your time in Albania over these two weeks, you can easily visit it in just half a day.
For us, a day trip to Gjirokaster worked out better, as it’s easy to visit in the morning and still make it to Berat by evening. That’s the ideal outcome of this day!
Our recommended
Gjirokaster hotel
Day 12: Berat
Our favorite place in Albania was Berat, not only for its historic, picturesque old town and castle, but also for the fun activities we did in the area.
Berat is best visited in two full days. Spend the first full day exploring the city of Berat, and the second day visiting Osumi Canyon and Bogove Waterfall.
Old Town Berat
In Berat, the main attractions are the Berat Castle and the Old Town below it, as well as the Gorica neighborhood on the other side of the river.
The castle isn’t the most preserved one, but there’s enough there to get a glimpse into what it looked like before. We took a leisurely 1 hour to walk around it, and finished off with the Berat Viewing Platform, from which you can see the river and the Gorica neighborhood.
It’s easy to see most of Berat in just a half-day, so you can easily combine it with other things. For example, you can visit the Old Town in the morning, and then go to Osumi Canyon in the afternoon.
Sweet tip: Try some delicious Tri Leche dessert at one of the bakeries/dessert shops. We stopped at Dimali, a bit outside the tourist area, daily, as it was on the way to our hotel. It was SO GOOD.
Where we stayed
We picked a really good guesthouse in Berat, located on a hill opposite the castle. We had incredible views of the landscape around Berat and the Castle itself right from our terrace.
Because of the views, comfy room, and super kind hosts, this was a true highlight of our trip and the best hotel we stayed at in Albania (it’s a tough choice between this one and Riverside Komani).
Day 13: Osumi Canyon and Bogova Waterfall
From Berat, a must-visit is the 26km long Osumi Canyon, and the river Osum, which flows through it, that also passes by Berat itself.
The special thing about the canyon is that in the spring and early summer, waterfalls flow down the sides of the canyon. We saw just one or two, as most dried out before our October visit.
The most fun way to see the canyon is on a river tubing tour, where you float down the river through the canyon. It was such a fun experience that we highly recommend, as being right inside the canyon was so cool. Read our River Tubing Review to learn all about it!
When the water level is higher, you can also go river rafting instead of tubing. But our guide shared that tubing is actually a favorite of most people, just like in Pai (Thailand).
On the way to Osumi Canyon, there’s also Bogove, a beautiful small waterfall to which you do a short hike. The best thing was seeing countless goats in the area.
Day 14: Kanioni i Holtes (Holta Canyon) and back to Tirana
It’s the final day of your two weeks in Albania, and if you’re exploring by car, there’s one more spot you need to visit on the way back to Tirana: Kanioni i Holtes.
Visiting Holta Canyon was one of our favorite experiences in Albania. It’s a narrow canyon with a river running through it, where you sometimes have to walk through water up to your chest.
It’s a fun little experience to add to your last day.
It doesn’t take long to reach the end of the canyon, at least the part through which you can go without swimming.
It takes about 1.5 hours to drive to Holta Canyon from Berat. Make sure to set your navigation to the Restaurant, as you might end up in the wrong location otherwise.
On the way, you also pass by this blue, cool-looking lake (Liqeni i Banjës).
Finishing the trip
After Berat, you can get back to Tirana in just under 2 hours, or if you visit Holta Canyon, the total drive is about 3.5 hours. We dropped off our rental car right at the airport.
If you’re taking the bus, you’ll arrive at Tirana’s South & North Terminal, where you can catch an affordable shuttle to the airport.
Transport Tips
To optimize your two weeks in Albania as best as possible, we have gathered some practical transport tips below to help you travel between places more easily, quickly, and comfortably.
Driving times:
- Tirana to Shkoder: 2 hours – 100 km
- Shkoder to Theth: 2 hours – 75 km
- Shkoder to Vlore: 3 hours – 230 km
- Vlore to Himare: 1.5 hours – 65 km
- Himare to Sarande: 1 hour – 50 km
- Sarande to Ksamil: 30 minutes – 15 km
- Sarande to Gjirokaster: 1 hour – 52 km
- Gjirokaster to Berat: 2.5 hours – 180 km
- Berat to Tirana: 2 hours – 100 km
Arrival in Albania
The most common way to get to Albania is through the Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, also known as Rinas International Airport.
On arrival, it’s easy to navigate around the Tirana airport, as it’s not particularly big. If you’re renting a car in Albania, you can pick up your car just steps away from the main exit.
After Albania’s rapid rise in international tourism, Tirana’s airport is now connected to the city center 24/7 by an hourly official shuttle costing just 400 Albanian Lek (about 4 EUR) and taking just 30 minutes.
From the Airport, the shuttle gets you right in the heart of Tirana, with the final stop behind the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. There, you are within walking distance of most central hotels.
You can also book a private transfer for 30-50 EUR, depending on the vehicle type (car/minivan).
Starting from elsewhere? You can adjust this itinerary a bit and start in Shkoder instead of Tirana, which doesn’t change much. There’s a 10 EUR shuttle bus from Tirana Airport right to Shkoder at 11:15, 12:45, 17:30, 20:10.
That was actually our original plan, but since our flight arrived just a few minutes before the last bus to Shkoder (which we would miss), we decided to visit Tirana first. After doing so, we believe that visiting Tirana first is the better option.
North Albania Transport
Traveling in North Albania sounds complicated at first, and it did for us as well. But it’s actually pretty straightforward, and there’s one leading company that handles all the transfer options you might need.
You can book your transport for the whole north of Albania on komanilakeferry.com. However, keep in mind that you can book bus/van transfers only with them if you intend to take a ferry ride on Komani Lake.
If you don’t intend to visit Komani Lake or Valbona, you can book your transport with other companies for Tirana to Shkoder, Shkoder to Theth, and Shkoder to the south.
You can also book a private transfer to Shkoder from your Tirana hotel or right from Tirana’s Airport.
South Albania Transport
Getting to the South of Albania is best by car, but if you don’t plan to drive, the buses are frequent and affordable.
- From Shkoder, you first need to get to Tirana’s South and North Terminal, before catching another bus to Vlore or Himare on the Albanian Riviera.
- A bus from Tirana to Vlore takes about 3 hours and costs 7 EUR, while to Himare, it’s 15 EUR for a 4-hour ride.
- From Himare, you can reach Sarande in 1.5 hours for about 10 EUR.
- Between Sarande and Gjirokaster, it’s just a 1-hour drive, with the bus costing 5 EUR.
- The bus from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 10 EUR for the 3-hour ride.
Our favorite hotels in Albania
- Tirana: Sunflower Rooms (where we stayed) – super centrally located, clean, and well-equipped.
- Kruje: Guni Garden Villa, fantastic view from our room and balcony, and the whole house was perfectly equipped for a comfortable stay.
- Koman and Shala River: Riverside Komani, a fantastic spot with comfy rooms and easy access to the Shala River.
- Valbona Valley: Hotel Valbor for luxury and Jezerca Guesthouse for a budget stay
- Theth: Guesthouse Dritan Tethorja (budget), and Mikpritja Villas for a private cabin
- Shkoder: The Rooftop Hostel, a simple hostel right in the center of Shkoder, with a great view from the rooftop.
- Himare: Marika’s Apartments, fantastic views from the balcony, well-equipped room (with a kitchen).
- Ksamil: Hotel NEBO, 100m from the beach, delicious food at the onsite restaurant.
- Gjirokaster: The Stone Sky, well-located, with fantastic views of the area.
- Berat: Guesthouse Xhuljon, located on a hill opposite the castle, with incredible views, comfy rooms, and kind hosts.
Best time to visit Albania
The absolute best time to visit Albania to experience the country at its prettiest and most fun is during the summer months.
Visiting Albania in June, July, and August, which are also the busiest months, means you’ll have great weather, long summer days to explore, and above all, warm temperatures for swimming not only at the seaside, but also in rivers and lakes.
Off-season travel to Albania (spring or fall) means less crowded locations, but less time in the day, as the days are much shorter than in the summer. This affected our trip to Albania, so we had to extend it by a few more days than we originally planned to see everything we wanted.
Winter in Albania can be a good time to visit, but mainly for the cities and towns. Mountain areas can be somewhat inaccessible, and the seaside areas will be empty, with restaurants and other establishments closed. We saw this already in October, as the season doesn’t last as long as in other Mediterranean countries (yet), like Croatia.
We were unlucky with the weather during our October visit to Albania when snow covered the peaks in the first days of the month. That made the hike extremely unsafe, so we had to change our itinerary.
Instead of hiking from Valbona to Theth, we visited Komani Lake & Shala River, then went back to Shkoder, and Theth separately, and had to skip Valbona Valley.
Even though we only hiked from Theth up to Valbona Pass, without visiting Valbona itself, we believe we got to see the hike’s highlights (judging by other people’s experiences). So we don’t feel too bad.
Budget: How much does a two-week Albania trip cost?
For most travelers, 1000 EUR is enough for a comfortable two-week trip to Albania.
Traveling for two weeks in Albania costs between 800 and 1000 EUR for budget travelers and 1500 EUR and up for a more comfortable adventure, depending on the type of hotels you stay at, and the transportation you use (private vs. shared).
The most significant expense is accommodation, which accounts for 50 percent of the trip cost, followed by transportation at about 20 percent, and the rest is food, drinks, and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. Two weeks is perfectly enough time to see Albania’s highlights in each region (north, central, south), from mountains, rivers, and lakes, to historic towns and stunning beaches.
You can visit both the north and south highlights of Albania in two weeks without any issues, especially if you follow our itinerary.
In two weeks in Albania, you should be able to visit: Tirana (2 nights), North Albania (5 nights) – Shala River, Koman Lake, Valbona, Theth, Shkoder, Albanian Riviera (3-4 nights) – Himare, Sarande, Ksamil, Gjirokaster (0-1 nights), and Berat (2-3 nights).
Is Albania safe and worth seeing?
Surprisingly, Albania wasn’t high on our bucket list of places to visit, even though it’s located in the Balkans, the same region as our countries (Croatia & Slovenia).
Actually, Albania wasn’t on our radar at all until the international tourist boom. We saw so many posts on social media about it, and after visiting, we can say it’s definitely worth a visit, and it did not disappoint.
Although we weren’t questioning it, we know safety is one of the main concerns for most planning a trip to Albania. After spending a wonderful few weeks there, we can confirm that it’s without a doubt a very safe destination to explore.
Have a fun time exploring Albania! On a well-planned itinerary like ours, you can see a lot of cool stuff and do many fun activities in a short time.
Continue your Albania trip planning
- ⭐ What Not To Miss in Berat (best places and experiences)
- 🌞 Best Attractions and Beaches in Himare
- 🌊 Osumi Canyon River Tubing (one of the best things we did in Albania!)
- 🌄 Bovilla Lake (stunning lake viewpoint)
- 💃 Albanian Night (fantastic show with traditional dancing and singing)
- 🛌 Riverside Komani (fantastic riverside hotel for visiting the Shala River)
Must-read - 🌆 Best Tirana Attractions
- 🌄 North Albania in One Week (rivers, lakes, hikes, swimming spots)
