The only Albania itinerary you’ll ever need

Albania is an insanely beautiful country in the middle of the Balkan. Here you’ll find massive mountains, unbelievably beautiful nature and also crystal clear turquoise water. It’s often called “the hidden gem of Europe” — yes, well just that it is not so hidden anymore since the Instagram community discovered the treasures of Albania. But still, Albania is a country you need to visit at least once in your lifetime. We saw the craziest nature, the highest mountains and ate the best food we’ve ever had.

So, if you have less than two weeks in Albania, here’s the only itinerary you’ll ever need:

Day 1: Tirana

Land in Tirana and get to know the vibe of the city. Tirana is big, full of people and traffic, but all those things combined creates a very special vibe of a very special city. There are a lot of great restaurants you can test here that will serve you traditional Albanian food. If you want to spend more than just a day here, definitely go up to the Dajti mountain (there’s also a cable car or a bus going uphill) and enjoy the amazing view over Tirana.

Internet and local currency:

Also, this is the best place to buy a SIM card. We went to a Vodafone shop and paid about 20,00 € for about 20 GB. In Albania, you pay with Lek (One Lek is about 0,01 €) but they often accept Euros in Albania. But you should always have cash on you as it is not very common to pay with card here. Best is, to have the cash already on you when you’re flying to Albania because the ATMs here will ALWAYS charge you high fees for withdrawing money even if it’s normally free with your credit card. You can change money almost everywhere but don’t let people charge you extra for it — that is a scam! Everywhere we went, we could pay with Euros, exchange Euros or get the change in Lek without paying for it.

Day 2: Get a car and drive to Koman

For us, having a rental car was the easiest way to explore Albania. Yet, you should do your research (we didn’t) and check out the rental stations on Trustpilot or Google to not get scammed! We feel so stupid we didn’t do that before because we ended up paying double the price because they didn’t accept our VISA as a credit card for the security deposit. So, be smarter than we were!

We drove up north to Koman, near Shkodra. The drive here is stunning and will give you the best views! But, Albanias infrastructure isn’t the best, so you’re often left with dirt roads or even huge bumps in the middle of the street. Also, be careful because there are a lot of animals like donkeys, cows or goats walking on the roads.

We stayed in a cute little cabin at a campsite called Agora Farmhouse and we have to say, this was THE best stay in all of Albania! It is located right next to the Komani Lake in the middle of the beautiful Albanian nature. Also, the hosts were the most awesome people we’ve ever met, and they served the greatest food in all Albania.

You can rent yourself some Kayaks and explore the beautiful lake and the Djinn River or you can book a boat trip for the whole day with a guide.

Day 3: Shkodra

Shkodra is one of the biggest cities in Albania and it has a lot to offer! Wander through the streets and have a great Albanian meal before you start walking uphill to the Rozafa castle. Entry fee is 400 Lek per person and you can explore the huge castle and it’s area by yourself. From here, you’ll have the best view over Shkodra and it’s the best place to watch the sunset.

Supermarkets in Albania:

There are a few big supermarkets in Albania. But honestly, it’s really expensive! It’s cheaper to eat out at good local restaurants. Also, a lot of supermarkets don’t accept card payment and sometimes they just make prices up in their head for tourists.

So, better try to go to cheap and good restaurants, therefore you will pay between 15 and 20,00 € per person for dinner and drinks.

Day 4: Theth — the craziest road trip of your life!

This is a road trip you need to do once in your life! Take the scenic drive up to the Albanian alps and enjoy this amazing town. But be prepared for a lot of serpentine and small roads leading up to the mountains! This is why 75 km take almost two hours to drive. But honestly, the drive to Theth is the best thing about it, we could stop literally anywhere to enjoy the craziest views we’ve ever had and take some pictures. Once you arrive in Theth, you’re in a valley surrounded by mountains. In the middle of the town is an old church, giving you postcard-like views.

If you’re up for some hiking, this is the best place! Hike to some nearby waterfalls or the Blue Eye of Theth. If you have more time, we’d recommend you a boat ride on the Shala River from Theth. A lot of people told us that this was the most beautiful experience on their trip. If you’re badass you can also hike the trail from Theth to Valbona.

Day 5 – 6: Time to drive south!

The hotels in the south are really cheap, so wherever you go, you and your wallet will be fine. Stay in Saranda or Himare, as they are less touristy places and you can explore different beaches in the area.

We would recommend you to take a boat tour as we didn’t quite like the beaches because you always have to pay for the sunbeds instead of just using your own towel and they are (sadly like everywhere in Albania) a bit dirty.

But the ocean in Albania has one of the most beautiful waters we’ve ever seen: crystal clear and deeply turquoise!

Day 7: Ksamil

Yes – it’s definitely one of the more touristy places in Albania but definitely worth a visit! If you’re up for some beach clubs and party vibes, this is the place to be! If not, from Ksamil you can easily take the ferry to the greek island Kos! 😉

Day 8: The Blue Eye and Gjirokastra

Gjirokastra is a beautiful and cute little city in the south of Albania, you don’t want to miss! Small alleys, cobblestones and charming houses will remind you of towns in Italy or Greece. Only a 45 min drive from Gjirokastra lies the Blue Eye. It’s undoubtedly a natural wonder! In the middle of the mountains you’ll find the clearest, most turquoise water a river can have. Because of the current it is not allowed to swim in it, but you can take a small hike around it and discover the area.

But sadly, this place became really touristy, so better come here early!

Day 9: Bovilla Lake — the best for last!

Save the best for last and drive back to the North of Albania to Bovilla Lake. This is one of the places you’ll most certainly will tell your grandkids about because it was so unreal. It’s 45 min away from Tirana up in the mountains. But be careful as the road is an experience itself because it offers you the biggest bumps and holes that can absolutely destroy your rental car. But on the top the bluest lake we’ve ever seen awaits you with the popular “stairs to heaven”!

The stairs are built into the mountain and will lead you the easy way to the top of the mountain. But definitely not something for the faint-hearted! But when you arrive, the most stunning view awaits you!

The best way to end this amazing trip!

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