Top 10 Must-Visit Destinations in Albania

Albania packs an absurd amount of variety into a few hours' drive. UNESCO old towns, alpine valleys with traditional stone houses, beaches that look photoshopped, and a capital reinventing itself by the year. Here are the ten destinations that belong on every first-time itinerary — and why a rental car is the only sensible way to see them.

1. Tirana — the surprising capital

Forget what you've heard about grey post-communist cities. Tirana is loud, colourful, and one of the youngest capitals in Europe by average age. Spend a day on Skanderbeg Square, ride the cable car up Mount Dajti for sunset, then dive into the bars and restaurants of Blloku. Don't skip Bunk'Art 1 and Bunk'Art 2 — Cold War bunkers turned into stunning history museums.

2. Berat — the City of a Thousand Windows

UNESCO-listed and almost too pretty to be real. White Ottoman houses stacked up the hillside, a castle still inhabited, and the slow-flowing Osum river below. Berat works as a day trip from Tirana (2 h drive) but stays charming overnight when the day-trippers leave. Eat at Antipatrea, drink Albanian wine at Çobo Winery just outside town.

3. Gjirokastër — the Stone City

Albania's other UNESCO town, and the birthplace of dictator Enver Hoxha and Nobel-shortlisted writer Ismail Kadare. The roofs of Gjirokastër's old houses are made of grey stone slabs — there's nothing else like it in Europe. The 13th-century castle hosts a US Air Force jet captured during the Cold War. From here it's only 30 min to the Blue Eye spring.

4. Ksamil — the Albanian Maldives

Three small islands sit just off Ksamil's beaches in the southernmost tip of Albania. The water is so clear and the sand so white that travel writers have started calling it the "Albanian Maldives". Get there before 10 am in summer to find space, and rent a kayak or pedal-boat to reach the islands. Ksamil sits inside Butrint National Park, a Greek-Roman archaeological site that absolutely deserves half a day.

5. Saranda — gateway to the south

Saranda is the largest city of the Riviera and the natural base for exploring Ksamil, Butrint and Lekursi Castle. It's busier than the smaller villages but has the best transport links, supermarkets and ATMs of the southern coast. The waterfront promenade is beautiful at sunset; ferries run hourly to Corfu (Greece) in summer if you want a day trip across the border.

6. Dhërmi & Vuno — the Riviera at its best

Drive the SH8 from Vlorë over the Llogara Pass and your jaw will hit the floor at the descent into Dhërmi. Pebble beaches, family-run guesthouses, and turquoise water without the Ksamil crowds. Don't miss the hidden coves of Gjipe and Jale — both reachable from Dhërmi by car or boat.

7. Theth — the Albanian Alps

If you only do one mountain trip in Albania, make it Theth. A traditional stone village in a glacial valley surrounded by 2,500-metre peaks. The road from Shkodër to Theth was finally paved in 2022, but it's still steep — a small SUV is recommended. Hike the legendary Theth–Valbona Pass (8 h, well-marked) for one of the great Balkan day hikes.

8. Valbona — the other side of the Alps

Reached by ferry across Lake Koman (a 3-hour ride through canyons that travel writers compare to Norwegian fjords) plus a short drive at the end. Valbona is wilder and quieter than Theth — guesthouses serve fresh trout from the river, and you can hike or ride horses for days.

9. Krujë — Skanderbeg's stronghold

Only 45 minutes from Tirana, Krujë was the seat of national hero Skanderbeg, who held off the Ottomans for 25 years from this castle. The reconstructed citadel houses a fantastic museum, and the Old Bazaar below is the best place in Albania to buy traditional crafts, qilim rugs and antiques. An easy half-day from the capital.

10. Apollonia & Durrës — Greek and Roman ruins

Albania has Roman ruins on a Pompeii scale that no one talks about. Apollonia, near Fier, was a major Greek-Roman city of 60,000 people; the on-site museum is small but the site itself is huge and almost empty of tourists. Durrës has Albania's largest Roman amphitheatre right in the city centre.

Putting it together

The good news: all ten destinations fit comfortably into a 10–12 day road trip. The bad news: bus connections are slow and skip the most scenic stops. Renting a car is by far the smartest option — see why renting a car beats buses in Albania for the full breakdown.

Ready to plan? Check car availability for your dates or browse the full fleet. We pick up at Tirana airport, Saranda port and on request anywhere on the coast.