Kilometer-long beaches of turquoise waters, entire charming little towns of Ottoman houses/ Landscapes of a truly enormous nature/ Practically a communism appearance wherever one goes/ And even an incredibly fantastic hiking trail possibly in the entire world. You sure do not expect it, but there you have it and much more in Albania, the great unknown of Europe. Well, let me tell you that it is love at first sight, of course. Well if I have sold this to you then come with me on a virtual tour of some of the best sites to visit in Albania. Go for it!
However, do you know that Albania for several decades was one of the most sealed countries all over the globe? The dictatorship transformed it into a rather closed country; one could hardly gather any information about it, and most people did not travel there. It has gradually extended the admission to the tourists, and at the present, it is one of the most beautiful, astonishing, and exotic places in Europe. They won’t be able to tend to all of the crowds just yet, so it is still in that golden stage, if you will.
Thus, I invite you read this very extensive and detailed guide on things to do in Albania. It is also important to know that these places are not chosen randomly, but they are placed following the order that follows my route. Thus you can observe the stops I made and the order in which I visited them.
What to See in Albania: Encyclopaedia
1. Tirana
The Pyramid of Tirana: Probably one of the most famous, though not very traditional symbols of Albania’s communism.
Mount Dajt: Located at a distance of 20 minutes cable car ride with the birds eye view of Tirana and nearby places.
Skanderbeg Square: The main square of the city that was named after the figure, considered to be the national hero.
National Museum of Fine Arts, Presidential Palace, Bunk’Art 2, St. Paul’s Cathedral: Important historic and historical places important in the narration of the diverse history of the capital.
Recommendations
Free Tour: A free walking tour is a good way to start and get acquainted with the city as well as to explore some of the less known facts about the local history. Such tours are organized usually starting from Skanderbeg Square and encompass the main sights.
Accommodation: It is strategically located but of relatively low budget that comes with a splendid offer of all the features that a traveler would need for a great holiday.
Transport: Hiring a car is very useful while traveling in Albania because it might be difficult to arrange one by your own. Don’t be fooled by some of the roads they are contentious especially of you are in the rural areas and therefore should be driven carefully. Search online for car hire with the Rentalcars comparator.
2. Berat
Highlights
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Its also well-recognized as one of the cities with thousand of windows, because of the special architecture.
Gorica Bridge: Eighteen-century Ottoman bridge which spans the two parts of the city.
Mangalem: The Muslim quarter of the city with typical ottoman houses and the old narrow streets made of cobble-stone.
Citadel of Berat: Situated at the peak of the city it has majestic views of the city and gives the feel of the old-era.
Recommendations
Free Tour: Cleaning and proper hygiene may be lacking since this is a self-sufficient city and the optimal way to explore it is through a two-hour guided tour where one can discover more of the city’s history and its importance to the region.
Accommodation: Hotel Rezidenca Desaret is a wonderful hotel which has hospitable staff, clean and well equipped rooms and its location is good as well.
3. Gjirokastra
Highlights
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A nicely laid city with excellent cobbled pathways dotted with Ottoman houses and the historical aspect.
Gjirokastra Castle: It provides a beautiful view of the city as well as the rest of the environment.
Old Bazaar and Ethnographic Museum: Sites that only allow the visitors to glance at how the traditional Albanian used to live.
Recommendations
Surrounding Attractions: For a more profound discovery of the area’s natural and historical importance visit the nearby Blue Eye National Monument, Tepelena, Ali Pasha Aqueduct, Benja Baths, Hotova Fir National Park and the striking Antigone Archaeological Park.
4. The Bënja Thermal Baths
Highlights
Kadiut Bridge: One can also see a beautiful Ottoman bridge that also forms part of the scenic beauty.
Thermal Baths: It is rejuvenated by the allegedly curative sulfur springs and warm water of natural sources.
Langarica Canyon: More fun activities such as hiking in marvelous terrains and appreciating the nature.
Recommendations
Footwear: Make sure that you have appropriate footwear for the hike either on rocks and or mud if you will be venturing into the canyon.
5. The Blue Eye
Highlights
Natural Spring: More than 50 meters deep, with crystal, intense blue color of the waters and an environment that can hardly be compared to any other on the planet.
Scenic Environment: From the outside it is set within beautiful scenery with lots of trees and greenery making it ideal for nature enthusiasts as well as photographers.
Recommendations
Visit Early: There will be a lot of people seen around, therefore, one must ensure they get there earlier to avoid being bothered by the congestion seen around the place.
Parking: Therefore, there is free parking space for the cars at the entrance and a 10 minute walk to the spring.
6. The Ruins of Butrint
Highlights
UNESCO World Heritage Site: It has the ruins of the Roman, Greek, Venetian, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods of history thus reflecting the multicultural Albian history.
Key Sites: The archaeological remains comprises of; the Venetian Tower, Temple of Asclepius, Roman Baths, Roman theater, Venetian Castle, Great Basilica, Baptistery, Trikonchos Palace and Lion’s Gate.
Recommendations
Timing: It is better to take the early walk so that there will be no much congestion with other people while visiting the structures.
Duration: It is recommended to have at least 3 hours for the visit in order to grasp even some parts of the main history of this phenomenon and enjoy the architectural masterpieces.
7. The Beaches of Ksamil
Highlights
Turquoise Waters and Golden Sands: Perfect for sunbathing and for leisure moments.
Alternative Beaches: Those, who prefer calm beaches, can go to Gjiri i Hartës, Pulëbardha, Shpella e Pëllumbave, Arameras and Edon-Bina.
Recommendations
Avoid High Season: It is recommended to go there in April or May because it is somewhat off-season for tourists and less crowded.
Environmental Awareness: As for litter, do not litter and when one has an opportunity, try to help communities that are trying to clean up the beaches.
8. Himare
Highlights
Quieter Beaches: Smaller and not as popular as Ksamil and therefore not as filled with tourists and much cleaner.
Surrounding Beaches: Livadi beach is a recommended sunbathing location, Jale for some sports and fun, Celestina Cove for snorkelling and swimming, and Gjipe for exploring, and the Filikuri Cove for a combination of everything.
Recommendations
Accommodation: Anxhelos Hotel provides you with the comfort of the beach with excellent facilities, and a perfect sunny location.
9. Durres
Highlights
Historical Sites: Visit Roman Amphitheater, the buildings referred to as the Venetian Towers and Town Hall Square and discover the past of the city.
Beaches: Miles of sandy beaches vary from sandy coves with clear waters such as Lalez, Rodoni, Spille and General beach.
Recommendations
Urban Beach: It is advisable to visit the other beaches since the one mentioned above experiences a lot of visitors.
10. Kruja
Highlights
Kruja Castle: Can provide striking prosaic visualization and the feeling of the location’s historical framework.
Ottoman Bazaar and Murad Bey Mosque: Reflecting the past, these places offer a view on the more ‘local’ types of traditional Albanian setting.
Skanderbeg Museum: Committed to honour the national hero of Albania the museum reflects the struggle for the country’s independence.
Recommendations
Visit the Terrace: On the museum terrace there are wonderful scenic views of the city and the views of the entire surrounding territory.
While getting around Albania is relatively easy if you are a bit adventurous and knowledgeable about the country, you will be able to enjoy the country comfortably by using the following means of transport.
Car Rental
To get around, car rental is rather crucial in Albania. However, the status and development of the country’s facilities for using public transport for reaching out to the rural and small towns is still rather low. The roads are somewhat twisty; some of the roads out in the countryside can be quite bad, so be cautious when driving. In this regard, the Rentalcars comparator is a reliable source to consult when looking for an appropriate car or to compare the rates.
Organized Excursions
If you do not wish to drive, it is recommended to take organised tours from Tirana. These take you to various points of interest and you are returned at the end of the day so, you do not have to concern yourself with directions and traffic. Some popular options include:
Berat is one of the most picturesque cities in Albania and it would be fair to say that a visit to Tirana is incomplete without a visit to this city comprising of a rich and historic meaning of the Albanian language.
Guided one day trip to the historic town of Krujë from Tirana
Tirana to Lake Bovilla
Bool, Coles, & Coles, (2013) explored ways of getting to Albania and laid down the following guidelines on how to get there:
By Plane
Many airlines are adding the Albania destinations as the tourist activity rises in the country. As of now, there are direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia specifically with Wizzair airline. In any case, quite a number of people go by bus or by car from neighboring countries for instance Greece, Italy for there is a ferry that connects Bari with Durrës or even Croatia. To do this use the Skyscanner comparator.
LU-NA Bus: Starts from the arrivals terminal and gets you to the Tirana Opera House. It is only 400 leks, opened 24/7 and has departures every thirty minutes.
Private Transfer: A private car may be useful if you have lots of bags or if you arrive at night time.
Internet Access in Albania
Obviously, while you are outside the European Union, you do not have data or call coverage. This can be quite a nuisance particularly for purposes like use of social applications like the WhatsApp, Google maps among others as well as browsing. The remedy, therefore, is to purchase an SIM at any shop in the area or order an eSIM then activate it when in the country. Holafly eSIM cards are ideal to use since they here allow easy activation and usage of the eSIM cards. That is why, for the Interrailero readers, it is possible to get a 5 % discount for eSIMs.
