10 BEST Places to Visit in Albania (2024 Guide)

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The Best Places to Visit in Albania

Albania is home to incredible landscapes, some of the best food I’ve eaten in my life and welcoming, kind locals. It’s been off travellers radars for years, but it’s coming back in full force and I urge you to check it out before it gets toooo busy!

Here are my top picks for places to visit in Albania:

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1. Theth National Park

If you’re into hiking, you’ll no doubt have come across Theth in your Albania research. It is home to the most popular hike in the country – the Theth to Valbona trek. However, this is not the only draw card when it comes to Theth. This little town is worth a visit, even if you aren’t planning to chuck on your hiking boots.

Theth is home to an abundance of gorgeous, locally run guesthouses that offer up some of the best hospitality I’ve ever experienced. As there are very few shops, most of the guesthouses will serve you breakfast, lunch and dinner. This food is often delicious and super local – we even had homemade goat’s cheese and wine during our stay in Theth!

Theth is home to waterfalls, its well-known Blue Eye lagoon, an Instagram-famous (and extremely cute) church, one small shop and a few local restaurants. The surrounding landscape is STUNNING.

There are a few up-market accommodations if that is up your street, the Hotel Jezerca is one of the most popular fancy spots to stay. Or, you can go local-style and stay with a local family. We stayed at Flodisa Guesthouse and I can highly recommend it 🙂

2. Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster was one of the more surprising places we visited, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I thought it would be an over-touristy place (which it kinda was) but this UNESCO Heritage Site was so gorgeous!! There are colourful markets and restaurants that spill out onto the cobbled, old streets. It’s a perfect place to perch up, eat Berak and watch the world go by.

Once you’ve refuelled, you can head up to the Gjiokaster Castle. The castle is HUGE and absolutely incredible, it sits at 336 metres so it offers beautiful views across the town. The castle is about $3 USD to enter and it is worth every cent. The origins of the castle date all the way back to the 4th century BC, so there is A LOT to be discovered.

We stayed in Gjirokaster town in Dhami Apartment which was perfect, such a home away from home. But be prepared, it is a decent uphill walk to the old town – don’t let Google Maps deceive you, it looks close but it is steep!

3. Berat

Berat is another UNESCO Heritage Site that is worth checking out during your Albania travels. The town is known as the “city of a thousand windows” and you’ll soon see why – there are so many bloody windows!!

Not only is the town a gorgeous place to wander around, but you can also head to the back of the town and check out the castle at the top of the hill. Brimming with cobble streets, quaint shops and delicious, local restaurants – you can enjoy a beer and a bite to eat while marvelling at the incredible views from the top of the castle.

Although we just stopped in on our way to Vlora, you can stay in this gorgeous old town if you want to extend your stay here further. I’ve heard it’s pretty cool to explore once the sun goes down too. If you plan to stay overnight, I’d recommend staying at Boutique Hotel Muzaka.

4. Himare

Himare (or Himara, as the locals say) was my favourite place to stay in Albania by the sea. The town itself is a small, cute beach town filled with delicious restaurants, supermarkets and places to stay. The beaches along Himare are gorgeous – but the reason why I loved this area so much is because it’s a great place to base yourself to explore some of the more “hidden” beaches.

A couple of my favourite beaches to explore near Himara were Gjipe Beach and the Bay of Aquarium. Both of these beaches require a small trek to get to, but they are SO worth it.

Harvey and I explored the beaches in October, so we just missed the busy season which meant that these beaches were super quiet. However, I’ve heard they can get pretty rammed during high season (especially the Bay of Aquarium – as it’s super small!)

Himare itself is filled with gorgeous accommodations to choose from, I found Airbnb was great for finding cute apartments by the sea. We stayed at this gorgeous Airbnb and loved it.

5. Sarandë

Sarande (or Saranda, in local-speak) is one of the biggest cities along the coast of Albania. It’s actually one of the main ports for the ferries going to and from Corfu, Greece. If you feel like extending your trip a little, this is the place to do it! Just pop on the ferry for about 40 euros return. But I mean, why leave when it’s home to some of the best beaches in Albania?

This coastal city along the Albanian Riviera is nestled between the olive grove-covered hills and the gorgeous Ionian Sea – not a bad spot place, eh? Tourism has picked up hugely here; you’ll find a promenade along the front brimming with cafes, bars, beaches and more.

My favourite activities in Sarande were popping over to the Blue Eye/ Syri i Kalter (yep, there are two Blue Eyes in Albania!), which is a natural spring that is an INCREDIBLE deep blue colour. As well as, Lekursi Castle which is now an amazing restaurant atop a hill overlooking Sarande. Not only do you get panoramic views but you can enjoy a meal (or even just a drink) in a castle while marvelling at the scenes. If you’re backpacking in The Balkans then you need to check it out.

If you’re into your history, you can also check out Visit the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved ruins, including a Roman theatre, Venetian fortress and Byzantine basilica.

If you want to see the best of Sarande in one trip, check out this day tour of Sarande. You’ll get to visit the Blue Eye, the Lekursi Castle and even head over to Gjirokaster.

6. Shkoder

Before I visited Shkoder, all I knew of was that it was known as the gateway to the Albanian Alps, especially for us travellers. And yes, it gets you extremely close to some of Albania’s top natural landscapes but the town itself is actually super cool.

In the centre of town, you’ll find a few cobbled old streets, lit up by fairy lights at night and brimming with bars and restaurants. If you head there in a weekend, the bars pop off and you’ll be in for a bloody good night.

There are some pretty sick hostels here too! The Wanderers Hostel are the most popular – they organise every tour under the sun and will make your life a heck of a lot easier. There are also loads of beautiful Airbnbs in Shokder for very reasonable prices, especially compared to Western Europe.

7. Valbona Valley National Park, Valbona

Up in the north of Albania, just over from Theth, you’ll find the small mountain town of Valbona. Now, if you thought Theth was small, you just wait until you see Valbona. It is literally, a road with homes and guesthouses – no shops, no restaurants, no nothing. Honestly, it’s one of the cheapest places to travel to if you’re looking for Alpine vibes on a budget.

Booking the right guesthouse is important; you’ll need a place that looks after you in terms of food as well as just a bed (but don’t worry, most of the guesthouses offer this). We stayed at Lazer Çardaku Guesthouse and I would highly recommend it.

Valbona is home to incredible mountains, rivers and natural landscapes. To reach Valona you’ll be in for a big ol’ journey via shuttle and then ferry along the Komani River. The ferry is a few hours long and it is absolutely STUNNING – it’s been dubbed the Thailand of Albania. Most people undertaking the trip to Valbona do so to either hike from Valbona to Theth (that is we we visited) or another hike in the National Park.

If you’re not planning to hike, you could probably give Valbona a miss as it’s a decent stint to get there and other than the trails, there isn’t a lot else happening! But if you are hiking, it’s a pretty epic place to visit.

8. Ksamil

Ksamil is becoming an extremely popular place to visit in Albania for foreign and local travellers alike. It is a smaller beach town right at the bottom of the Albanian Riviera. One of the coolest parts of Ksamil what that you look out to Corfu, which is literally just across the sea! It feels like you could almost swim there.

The beaches in Ksamil are lined with beach clubs, restaurants and sun loungers. If you like to party, you’ll love Ksamil, you’ll find beats pumping and drinks flowing all day long. I personally preferred the beaches in Himare but I can see how Ksamil could be pretty loose if you went with the right crowd.

There are loads of restaurants along the main part of town too. So, although it’s a great spot for those who like to party, there were also plenty of families there too. But hey, if you’re looking for a cheap country for a vacay, then you can’t go wrong with this area of Albania.

9. Vlore

So, when I visited Vlore, I made the mistake of booking a place that was up the north end of the beach (near Plazhi i Vjeter). There was not a lot happening down here and sadly, it was lined with rubbish 🙁 However, on the last couple of days of our stay, we found the southern end (Pazhi i Ri) and we enjoyed our stay there much more.

It almost reminded me of a mini LA, with a large promenade, lined with palm trees looking over the tee. It is very man-made and rather touristy but it was pretty cool. It’s a great place to visit in Albania if you’re travelling with family.

There are loads of restaurants and shops along the front. Plus, if you keep driving around the bends, you’ll find smaller, cuter beaches like Radhime Beach or La Plaia.

Vlore also has an Old Town which is worth a visit, it’s actually more of an old street but it is colourful and full of coffee shops. We enjoyed a byrek and an espresso in town 🙂

If you want to stay in the “cooler” end of Vlore (well, the end I liked!), I can recommend checking out Ames Hotel and Spa.

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10. Tirana

Last but by no means least, Tirana is no doubt going to be on your places to visit in Albania list – even if it is just to fly in and out of! But Tirana is actually pretty bloody cool and worth checking out (beyond just the airport!)

From the nightlife, the food scene (incred!!!), Bunk’Art 2, the museums and more – I’m no city gal, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Tirana. There is a chaotic nature to the city that just seems to work, you’ll get to experience this at its peak if you go to the bus station.

The people in Albania are top-notch, you can feel the welcoming nature as soon as you arrive and even in the big city of Tirana – the locals are so incredibly kinda. Plus, these days there are plenty of great places to stay in Tirana too.

The image above is from our gorgeous Airbnb, SkyView Oasis, which was a 20-minute walk from the centre of town. I would definitely recommend it! There are also a number of great hostels in Tirana too if that is more your budget.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Before Heading to Albania

Though Albania is a pretty safe country to visit these days, it doesn’t mean shit can’t go wrong. It’s ALWAYS a good idea to travel with good travel insurance, juuuuuust in case.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Final Thoughts on Places to Visit in Albania

Albania has been one of my favourite countries I’ve ever visited. I had absolutely no idea what to expect but its chaotic beauty, its welcoming hospitality and its INSANE natural landscapes won my heart. The country is so diverse, each town and city offers something completely unique from the last.

Overall, my top picks for places I visited were: Theth for mountains, Shkoder for city vibes, Himare for beautiful beaches and Gjirokaster for history. If you can hit these four (at a minimum) during your travels, you’ll probably fall in love with this country like I have.

Whether you’re a hiker, foodie, beach bum or history buff – Albania doesn’t discriminate, it provides adventures for all kinds of travellers. So, pack those bags my friends and get your booty to Albania!

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