Backpacking Albania Travel Guide (BUDGET TIPS • 2025)

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Albania is on the rise as an up-and-coming destination to add to your summer hit list. Nestled in between Croatia and Greece, it’s no surprise its beaches are deemed to be elite. Home to crystal clear waters, rocky hidden beaches, and endless stretches of sand – you’ll want to consider Albania for your next beach holiday.

But beaches are NOT the only assets that Albania has to offer… you’ve heard of the Swiss Alps but what about the Albanian Alps? The hiking in Albania is also top-notch, offering some of the best trails in the Balkans. The Valbona to Theth hike lures in many-a-trekker, but there are SO many more hiking tracks all over the country.

The natural landscapes are varied and beautiful – from beaches and mountains to canyons and lush green farmlands. The number of photo opp pit stops became rather ridiculous!!

Not only are places to stay gorgeous but so are the local people. Albanians are some of the kindest, most welcoming people I’ve met in my travels. The hospitality in the country is un-matched <3

The food in Albania has also become one of my favourite cuisines, it’s a beautiful mix of Greek and Turkish with its own spin. It’s all about sharing plates and trying lots of different dishes – which I’m ALL about.

Oh, and last but definitely not least… it’s CHEAP!! Well, compared to the rest of Europe, it comes at a much lower cost, especially if you visit during the shoulder seasons. Hence why it is such a great place for us backpackers to visit.

Albania is a country where you could do a decent chunk of travel in five days, but it would also be easy to fill a month with all its places to visit. We spent two weeks exploring Albania and I could’ve easily stretched it out another week or so.

5-Day Itinerary

If you have five days in Albania, I’d recommend starting in Tirana (which is where you’ll most likely fly into). Then depending on what you’re into – hiking or beaching – your five-day itinerary will look very different:

For hikers:

If you’re into mountains and lakes, you should definitely head up to do the Valbona to Theth hike. This would involve first going to Shkoder (you’ll want to stay the first night there and leave some of your luggage with your accommodation host), the next day you can head up to Valbona – you’ll get the ferry along the Komani Lake which is an incredible experience in itself.

Stay in a guesthouse in Valbona on the second night, the next day you’ll wake up and can do the hike. It’s a popular, moderately difficult track that takes around 5-6 hours. I’d then recommend staying in Theth for two nights. There is more to do in Theth – you can check out the Grunas Canyon, Waterfall, the famous Church and the Blue Eye.

On the last day, you’ll want to pass back through Shkoder to grab your stuff, either stay one night there – or just head straight back to Tirana to fly out.

For beach lovers:

If you’re heading to Albania for the beach, your five-day itinerary will look very different to the above. I’d recommend hiring a car if you’re heading along the coast. We used a company called SELECT and they were fabulous.

Anyway – I’d recommend driving from Tirana to Vlora (this one is a decent drive). I found all the beaches south of Vlora to be the best. On your drive to Vlora, you can make a pit stop in Berat (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – check out the city of a thousand windows and the castle. Stay a night in Vlora, I’d recommend staying along the southern end, it’s a lot nicer for tourists.

After Vlora, you can head down to Himara. Plan your route so you drive over the Ilorgara Pass as it boasts STUNNING mountain and beach views (Google will probably take you through the tunnel, you won’t get all the views if you take this route!)

Once you’re in Himara, I’d recommend staying a couple of nights here. Explore the hidden beaches nearby including Gjipe Beach and Aquarium Beach – both involve a short hike to get to but are gorg. Next, you’ll hit the road again down to Ksamil, where you’ll stay a night. I’d recommend stopping at the Lekuresi Castle in Sarande on the way down for a drink or bite to eat. Ksamil is packed with gorgeous beaches but has more of a “beach club” vibe to it.

On your last day, you can drive back to Tirana but make a couple of stops on the way back at the Blue Eye and Gjirokaster.

10-Day Itinerary

If you want to do a ten-day itinerary, I’d recommend combining the hiking and the beach itinerary above (that is what we did!) Then you get to experience it all.

The only other inclusions I would recommend are: If you’re into rafting, you could extend your trip at the end to visit Permet which is home to incredible Canyons and rafting.

Or, if you are a hiker heading along the Albanian Riviera – check out the Qorra Peak hike in the Illogara Pass. It is EPIC and a great activity to switch up chilling on the beach.

If you are not interested in hiking, your ten-day itinerary could be extended along the Albanian Riviera so that you also stay in Saranda (a bigger city along the coast), just after Himara or you could also choose to stop in some of the smaller beach towns such as Borsh or Dhermi along the way.

As you can imagine, with such a varied landscape, Albania has a huge range of things to do. You’ll find that it caters to loads of different travellers. Whether you’re a hiker, beach bum, adventure junkie, foodie or history buff – Albania pulls through on all fronts.

Backpacking Tirana

Tirana is most likely the place you’ll touch down in (unless you come through Corfu) and honestly, I think it is a super underrated spot. The airport is on the outskirts of the city, so it’s super easy to bypass it as you head to the mountains or the beaches. I’m not a huge city fan but I thought staying in Tirana was pretty cool.

If you head into the centre of the city, there are heaps of cool activities to check out – my fav things to do were checking out the incredible Bunk’Art (1 and 2), Mt Dajti National Park and EAT! The city is full of delicious places to eat and drink.

Backpacking Shkoder

Shkoder completely surprised me. I thought it would just be a stop-over spot on our way to the Albanian Alps but it was actually a super vibey little city. The centre of the city has a few cobbled streets that are lined with bars, cafes and restaurants. If you’re into nightlife, you’ll find tourists and locals alike spilling out onto the streets every weekend.

Backpacking Theth/ Valbona National Park

One of the most popular activities in Albania is the hike from Valbona to Theth. It was one of the main reasons we visited Albania and I can tell you, it was well worth the hype. From the moment we left Shkoder we were blessed with incredible views.

Valbona:

The trip from Shkoder to Valbona takes you on a big ol’ journey that includes a ferry across Komani Lake, which in itself is an insane experience. They say Komani Lake is like the Thailand of the Balkans… and it truly is.

There are many hikes in Valbona National Park but the most popular is the track over to the Theth. Valbona itself has nothing really there except for a few top-tier guest houses run by friendly locals. Be sure that you have all the cash you need before you get there and any snacks you need for the hike.

Theth:

Once you get to Theth, you’ll find it’s a bit more built up than Valbona. There is a small shop restaurant and even more guesthouses. The mountainous landscape around the town is INCREDIBLE.

Many people visit Theth without doing the hike as it’s much easier to get to (just a few hour’s drive from Shkoder). Theth National Park is home to the Blue Eye, Grunas Canyon, Waterfall and the famous Church of Theth – Kisha e Thethit.

Backpacking Himara

Himara was my favourite place along the Albanian Riveria. It is a gorgeous, relatively small beach town that is home to some of the best Airbnbs and restaurants around. But the reason why it was my favourite was its location about halfway down the coast. You could explore so much from here.

My favourite nearby spots were:

• Illorgara Pass (including the Qorra Peak Hike)
• Gjipe Beach
• Dhermi Beach
• Aquarium Beach

Backpacking Ksamil

Located right at the bottom of the Albanian Riviera, this little beach town pops off in summer. Locals and travellers alike flock to the beaches in Ksamil like moths to a flame. If you visit Ksamil in July or August, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a spot to lay your towel. The beaches are mostly packed with beach clubs and restaurants, so if you like to let a bit loose on your beach holiday, Ksamil could be the spot for you.

Backpacking Berat

Berat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a great place to visit during your Albanian travels. It’s a unique spot compared to the rest of the country that is brimming with history and culture. The famous “city of a thousand windows” is home to plenty of gorgeous accommodations and delicious restaurants. Plus, you get to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding, mountainous landscape from the castle at the top. Even if it’s just a day stop, it’s worth a visit.

Backpacking Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster is another UNESCO World Heritage site in Albania and honestly, I loved it!! It was one of the highlights of our trip. The Bazaar Markets and the Castle of Gjirokaster were unreal. 

Sure, they were SUPER touristy but we visited in October so the crowds were a lot smaller. We perched up in the middle of the market and ordered an espresso and Byrek before heading up to marvel at the castle and the insane views from the top. 

You could just stop in here for the day but we stayed a night and thoroughly enjoyed not having to rush our time.

Best Hotel in Gjirokaster Best Airbnb in Gjirokaster

Backpacking Vlora

Vlora is one of the bigger cities along the Albanian Riviera. The southern area of the city was my favourite, it had a huge promenade along the side with huge palm trees. It was giving me LA vibes. The street is lined with tourist-friendly restaurants and if you adventure along the coast a little bit you can find cute, small beaches to relax at during the day. 

Vlora also had a cute old town to explore, however, it’s not worth spending too much time on. It’s just one colourful street where you can enjoy a bite to eat. However, I found the rest of Vlora a bit chaotic… not exactly beach holiday vibes.

Getting Off the Beaten Path in Albania

The “beaten path” in Albania is fairly unbeaten compared to other places around Europe. Considering tourism has only picked up properly within the last 10-15 years, it’s not hard to find yourself off-the-beaten path having a more local experience.

Overall, I’d suggest sticking to the recommended spots to a certain extent for both safety reasons and ease. However, you can opt for the smaller, less travelled options. For example, rather than heading to the busy beach towns of Saranda, Durres or Vlore (which can be absolutely chaos in summer) – instead, you could visit places like Borsh, Dhermi or Himara. 

Permet and Korce are both less visited spots, inland toward the south. Less tourists venture here but it’s worth it if you want to avoid the crowds and see a more authentic side to the country. 

If you’re looking to hike, definitely do the Valbona to Theth but you can get really off the beaten track by opting for hikes like Qorra Peak or Grunas Canyon. These tracks were nearly empty when we visited in October. 

Travelling around Albania is mostly done via bus, taxi or rental car. This is an incredible way to experience the local towns. We had a rental car and were able to stop for coffee and food in towns that although we might not choose to stay, but loved to experience. 

Albania offered up some of the most varied activities I’ve ever experienced in a country… and I loved it! These are my top picks for things to do in Albania:

1. Go Hiking

Hiking in Albania was one of the top things we did. There are so many incredible hikes – from the Albanian Alps in the north to those along the Albanian Riviera. My favourite hikes were: Valbona to Theth, Grunas Canyon and Qorra Peak. 

We visited Albania in October and luckily,  we had amazing weather. From our experience, I can definitely recommend it as a good time to visit for hiking. The weather is cooler and the tracks are much quieter. However, we may have gotten lucky as the tracks often close in November.  

Just be sure to pack yourself a good pair of hiking boots. My fav pair for travelling with are the X Ultra 4 Low Hiking Shoes.

2. Check out the Bunkers

We hadn’t heard of the bunkers in Albania before we arrived and started to see them everywhere! There are nearly 750,000 bunkers across the country (that’s an average of 5.7 per square km!!) So, you’ll no doubt come across them in your travels. 

The most famous are in Tirana, Bunk’Art 1 and 2, which have been converted into beautifully designed museums telling the story of the country’s communist history. But you’ll also find them all over the country – many have been converted into accommodations, cafes, storehouses and shelters for animals. 

They were built during the 1960s-80s by the communist government, ruled by Enver Hoxha, to protect Albania from potential attacks but were never actually used…

3. Explore the Historical Castles

Albania is home to some pretty incredible castles that are definitely worth exploring on your travels. Here are my top picks for the best castles to visit in Albania:

• Gjirokaster Castle
• Berat Castle
• Kruja Castle, near Tirana
• Ali Pasha Castle, Butrint
• Rozafa Castle, Shkoder
• Lekuresi Castle, Saranda (now a restaurant!)

4. Explore Hidden Beaches

Some of my favourite beaches along the Albanian Riviera were those that were hidden. Well, not so hidden these days, but they require a bit of extra effort to get to. Gjipe Beach and Aquarium Beach were the best! 

You’ll want to take a decent pair of walking shoes for these ones and they both require a 20-30 minute hike to get to. Gjipe Beach has a few small restaurants on it, but you’ll want to pack your own food and water for Aquarium Beach (oh, and a snorkel… it’s not called Aquarium Beach for nothing!) 

5. Go on a Boat Trip Along the Albanian Riviera

Although you can explore most of the Albanian Riveria without a boat, there are some spots that are only accessible from the water (or a hectic ass hike… I’m talking 10-hour round trip hectic!) The boat trips in Albania are super popular and often, extremely well-organised. It’s not their first rodeo. 

My top pick for the best boat tour is from Vlora – you get to explore Sazan Island, snorkel inside Haxhi Ali Cave, and dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Karaburun Peninsula. Dreamy.

6. Go Rafting in Permet

I’d never heard of Permet before we got to Albania but we were recommended it by a local when we first arrived. So, it stuck on our map of places to visit! It’s a place that adventure junkies with LOVE. With the main attractions of the town being the Langarica Canyon, horseback riding, hiking and rafting in the Vjosa River – you’ll be sure to get your blood pumping here.

7. Visit Bovilla Lake and Gamti Mountain

Bovila Lake is one of the best natural attractions Albania has to offer, it is STUNNING. The lake is the bluest of blue and the short but epic hikes are great fun. However, it is a bit tricky to get to by yourself. It seems super close to Tirana…. I looked into doing the trip myself! But the roads are terrible, so bad that loads of car rental companies won’t allow you to drive your car there. 

So, the best way to visit is either by taxi or by tour. I can highly recommend this Bovilla Lake and Gamit Mountain hiking tour – they get you there safely (and comfortably… which is not always the case in Albania). Plus, the guides are great and help to make your trip 10/10.

Small Pack Problems? 😉

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

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Backpacking in Albania is great for us Broke Backpackers as it is MUCH more affordable than most other parts of Europe. This includes accommodation… most towns on the tourist trial in Albania will have backpacker accommodation available. The only places that might not are the smaller beach or mountain towns, in these cases the guesthouses will be your next best option.

One of the best hostels in Albania is The Wanderers Hostel in Shkoder – the hostel itself is the perfect base for meeting fellow travellers to continue your adventures with. But the hostel also organises transport and tours to make your travels around the country (well, the north) a heck of a lot easier.

Best Places to Stay in Albania

As mentioned already, Albania is a SUPER affordable place to travel – especially if, like me, you visit in the shoulder seasons – I’ll talk more about the best time to visit further down. It’s not Southeast Asia “cheap”, but compared to its neighbours (yep, I’m looking at you, Greece & Croatia) it won’t set you back nearly as much. 

There are a few parts of the country that are more expensive than others. Restaurant prices in Theth, Valbona and Himara were significantly higher than in other areas that we visited (however, they were still very affordable). 

Here is a breakdown of the costs involved with backpacking in Albania:

Money in Albania

Ok, Money in Albania is a little different to the rest of Europe. Firstly, CASH IS KING. Unless you’re visiting a boujee restaurant, hotel or supermarket – most places will only accept cash. So, be sure to carry enough around on you for what you may want to buy while you’re out. At least enough for a cheeky Byrek pastry or espresso! 

If you have to carry around more than a little, I’d recommend grabbing yourself a money belt. Although Albania is a safe place to travel, petty crime is still around. So, look after your cash by storing it safely. 

The next important thing to note is that the official currency in Albania is LEK. This is what you’ll get out of ATMs. However, you can take euros with you as they are also widely accepted in most shops. The conversion is very easy – 100 LEK is about 1 euro.

For all matters of finance and accounting on the road, The Broke Backpacker strongly recommends Wise – The Artist Formerly Known as Transferwise! Our favourite online platform for holding funds, transferring money, and even paying for goods, Wise is a 100% FREE platform with considerably lower fees than Paypal or traditional banks.

And yes, it’s even better than Western Union!

Top Tips for Visiting Albania on a Budget

To keep your spending to an absolute minimum whilst travelling in Albania, I recommend sticking to the basic rules of budget backpacking…

• Camp: With plenty of gorgeous natural places to camp, Albania is an excellent place to take a good camping tent. 
• Cook your own meals: Most places you’ll stay in Albania will have a kitchen that you can use. Plus, every town seemed to be brimming with local fruit, veg and meat shops that are extremely budget-friendly. I would walk out with a bag of fruit and veg for just a few euros!
• Keep it local: Where possible drink the local beer, eat the local delicacies, and for day trips, try to use local companies. They are often more affordable than big companies, plus supporting local is awesome 🙂
• Use public transport: The buses are a fantastic way to get around in Albania. Whether you’re going in between towns or just need to get around Tirana. We took a bus from the Tirana Bus Station to our accommodation in the city centre and it set us back 40 cents, instead of a 15 euro taxi.

Why Should You Travel to Albania with a Water Bottle?

Plastic washes up on even the most pristine beaches… So do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful.

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but you might as well be part of the solution and not the problem. When you travel to some of the world’s most remote places, you come to realise the full extent of the plastic problem. And I hope you become more inspired to continue being a responsible traveller.

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water from the supermarkets either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

Save $$$ • Save the Planet • Save Your Stomach!

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress rigorously from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

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You know those tiny pieces of plastic you used to use to connect yourself to the internet abroad? Sim Cards I think they were called? Well yeah, we’re ditching those as well.

These days, wherever you go in the world an eSIM is by far the best way to stay connected from the minute you land. You can download an eSim before you leave home and then activate it when you are still sitting on the plane waiting to disembark.

You skip all the hassle of trying to figure out different providers and navigating airport prices to make sure you’re not getting scammed.

Of all the many eSim providers out there, we suggest Jetpac. Jetpac works just like an app: you download it, pick your plan, and BOOM! You’re connected before the pilot says you can stand up.

Albania in its peak season (July/ August) can be classic Europe summer madness. The beaches get maxed out, the hiking tracks are packed and it is almost essential to book your accommodation and activities in advance. However, it is still an epic time to visit as the sun is (nearly) always out and the vibes are high.

I visited in October and although it was still absolutely amazing, most of the smaller beach towns were almost completely dead (Himara, Ksamil, Dhermi). There were remnants of a busy summer but most of the restaurants were closed and accommodation was limited.

However, October in the mountains was amazing. The Autumn colours made the already insane, mountainous landscape even cooler. But it may still be a bit hit or miss, they often close the hiking trials in November and the towns pretty much shut down over this time. 

My recommended time to visit is June or September, you’ll get all of the good stuff that Albania has to offer over summer… without the crowds!

What to Pack for Albania

Wondering what to pack for Albania? On every adventure, there are six things I never go travelling without:

Product

Description

Don’t Let Snorers Keep You Awake!

Don’t Let Snorers Keep You Awake!

Ear Plugs

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

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Keep your laundry organized and stink free

Keep your laundry organized and stink free

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

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Stay Dry With a Micro Towel

Stay Dry With a Micro Towel

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

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Make Some New Buddies…

Make Some New Buddies…

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

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Reduce Plastic – Bring a Water Bottle!

Reduce Plastic – Bring a Water Bottle!

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

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When I first told my parents I was going to Albania, the first words out of their mouths were the classic “Is that safe?!” During many of our parent’s lifetimes, Albania has not been a safe place to visit. It was under communist rule until the 90s and has since been through economic and civil unrest that meant it wasn’t safe for travellers until around 2005.

However, in the past 20 years, Albania has seen a huge amount of change. It’s now under democratic rule and its tourism industry is starting to boom! Albania is now up there with the safest place to visit in the Balkans.

The most unsafe I felt in Albania was on the roads. The Albanian roads are loose… to say the least. From passing on blind corners, herds of goats as on-coming traffic and potholes galore – we experienced some things on our time on the Albanian road. Oh, and lanes aren’t really a thing in big cities like Tirana. If you decide to hire a car I’d be very cautious when driving and only do so if you’re a confident driver.

Then there is just the usual petty crime like pickpocketing and theft – none of which I personally experienced but it’s always around no matter what country you’re travelling to. So, grab yourself a money belt and hide your flashy watches – as long as you don’t stand out, you should be fine 🙂

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in Albania

It’s no secret that Albania is known for its involvement in the drug scene (well, at least smuggling them into other countries). However, from my experience the drug scene in Albania is not huge… or maybe, I just wasn’t hanging out with the right people!

I’m sure if you wanted to get your hands on the stuff, you could find it but as usual, practice caution, it is illegal in Albania to have drugs in your possession.

In terms of nightlife, Albania pulls through from beach clubs in Ksamil, Durres and Saranda to epic bars and clubs in Tirana and Shkoder. If you head to Albania’s bigger hot spots, you’ll find locals and travellers alike letting loose.

Hostels are a great place to meet other travellers to head out with, but you’ll find that loads of these party spots are also filled with locals so it’s a cool way to experience a slice of local nightlife too.

Travel Insurance for Albania

Grab some good European travel insurance before hitting the road!

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.

To get yourself into Albania you’ve got two main options:

1. Fly into Tirana International Airport
2. Fly (or ferry) to Corfu, Greece and then catch the ferry to Sarande, Albania

The first option is ideal if you’re planning to hike as it’s located in Tirana, towards the north of the country. Whereas, ferrying from Corfu is great for those looking to hop around the beaches as it will drop you in Sarande which is smack bang in the centre of the Albanian Riviera.

Flights into Tirana can be SUPER cheap if you’re flying from certain places. We flew directly for 20 euros from Valencia and then flew directly to Bristol for 15 euros!! (Shout out to Ryanair)

Entry Requirements for Albania

Albania is NOT currently part of the Schengen area, so most of us travellers (US, EU, UK, NZ, AUS and more) get a free 90-day visa for Albania. If you’re travelling Europe and are looking for a way to extend your 90 days, pop to Albania – it doesn’t count in your 90 Schengen days!

However, be sure to look up your passport requirements before arrival.

Much of Europe is renowned for its fantastic rail transport to get you around, but not in Albania. Instead, you’ll either need to hire a car or use public transport (AKA the buses) to get you around.

Travelling By Public Transport in Albania

The buses in Albania are slightly chaotic but they work, pretty well in fact! If you arrive in Tirana, you can use the local bus network to get you in and around the city. As always, using public transport in a city is a great way to experience the day-to-day life of locals.

We used a bus at around 5 pm during a working day and we were lucky to find a seat! The bus was packed to the brim with locals on their daily commute.

There are also buses that run all over the country, and to pretty much any of the tourist spots throughout the country. Most of them run from the “Tirana Parking – South and North Bus Terminal”.

We hired a car to travel south of Tirana, however, we knew the roads were extremely rugged when you head up toward the Albanian Alps so opted for the buses during our Northern travels.

Car Rental in Albania

Car rental in Albania is only for the brave! The roads were pretty wild – especially when in the big cities like Tirana. However, you get used to them pretty quickly and figure out that you just need to drive extra cautiously. The locals can drive super fast, past on corners and not to mention the livestock that often road the roads.

A few of the roads in Albania are SUPER rugged and aren’t made for our rental cars (unless you opt for a 4WD). Specifically, the roads that I know of are the one to Komani Lake and the road to Bovilla Lake. There are most likely more, but I’d recommend booking a shuttle or taxi for these ones.

We used SELECT Car Rental in Albania and I can’t recommend them enough.

Onwards Travel from Albania

Albania is nestled between Montenegro, Greece, Kosovo and North Macedonia – which makes all of the above easy places to cross the border and explore next. We actually took our rental car from Albania to Montenegro for a couple of weeks after our Albania travels which I’d highly recommend!

However, you could also grab the ferry from Sarande and visit Corfu as your next point of call. There is an International Airport in Corfu, so you can fly out of there too.

The easiest option for most though will be to fly from Tirana to wherever you are heading next!

For many travellers, it is unlikely you would seek work in Albania. The minimum wage in Albania is 230 LEK per hour (€2.30 per hour) which is significantly lower than in Western European countries. Although, if you are interested in working in Albania, you can apply for a work evisa via the government website.

However, more and more digital nomads are basing themselves in Albania and there are sizeable communities spread throughout the country. You can thank Albania’s low cost of living combined with a relatively high standard of living for this.

The internet in Albania is super reliable and fast. You can get free wi-fi at most hostels, hotels, cafes, etc. In the cities, you’ll see that Albanian people are always connected and on their phones. You can get a SIM card for data pretty cheaply.

The Future of the SIM Card is HERE!

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

Jetpac eSIMs work just like an app: you download it, pick your plan, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and ditch the plastic.

Grab an eSIM!

Teaching English in Albania

Teaching English in Albania is a good way to extend your travels here! Most people sign-up for some sort of organised placement. In this case, most of their living expenses and teaching fees will be covered. These placements are predictably quite expensive.

It is possible to just start backpacking in Albania and then find a job on the ground. If you had a TEFL license before, your odds of landing a gig while abroad would be much higher. That being said, they aren’t always mandatory.

If you want to become accredited, use MyTEFL. Broke Backpacker readers get a 50% discount on TEFL courses with MyTEFL (using the code PACK50).

Volunteering in Albania

Volunteering abroad is an amazing way to experience a culture whilst giving something back. There are loads of different volunteer projects in Albania ranging from teaching to animal care to agriculture to pretty much everything!

Albania is an incredible destination, but the low-income wages mean backpacker volunteers are greatly appreciated. There is also an increasing number of technical jobs available, such as web design and SEO. You won’t need a special visa if you’re staying for less than 30 days, but you’ll need a 60-day visa if you’re staying for longer. 

If you want to find volunteering opportunities in Albania, then we recommend that you sign-up for Worldpackers –  a volunteer platform that connects local hosts directly with travelling volunteers.

As a Broke Backpacker reader, you’ll also get a special discount of $10 when you sign up. Just use the discount code BROKEBACKPACKER and your membership is discounted from $49 a year to only $39.

Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers are usually very well-managed and reputable. However, whenever you are volunteering, do stay vigilant especially when working with animals or children.

Worldpackers: connecting travellers with meaningful travel experiences.

I fell in love with the Albanian culture. Yes, the country is absolutely beautiful but it’s always the people that make a country. I found the mix of religions fascinating – although over 50% of the population is Muslim, you’ll also find a large minority community of Christians. We saw many instances of churches and mosques sitting next door to each other. 

The welcoming, kind nature of the locals was the cherry on top of our already incredible experience. In every restaurant, every guest house, every fruit and veg shop – the hospitality was top-tier. Plus, the food itself it’s unbeatable. 

I loved that most of the food in Albania is grown locally and sold at small markets. We ate fresh food at home and enjoyed delicious food at restaurants too. The sharing plate culture is the best, I loved trying a little of a lot!

Useful Travel Phrases for Albania

While many Albanians speak English in touristy areas, once you get off the beaten path, you’ll find few people speak English. Knowing Albanian travel phrases is one of the best pieces of advice I can give you to help you get around Albania. But it’ll also help you connect with the culture!

What to Eat in Albania

The food is seriously good in Albania, as is the coffee. You can expect to find a full-blown coffee machine in even the smallest shops. A good quality espresso can be sourced easier than water. 

The food culture in Albania is generous, to say the least, the portion sizes always surprised me and we were constantly over-ordering. You’ll notice that local people eat slowly, share food and enjoy one another’s company.

We found that breakfast was a simple affair for locals – mostly just a pastry and an espresso. You might see people eating bread, cheese or yoghurt but no Full English, I’ll tell you that much.

Albania uses fresh key ingredients that are the reason why the food is so delectable. This includes olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables, soft cheeses like feta and kashkaval, fresh bread (on every table!) and local meat and seafood.

These were my favourite foods in Albania that I highly recommend:

Not only can you try an array of delicious foods in Albania but you can also try locally produced wine including Vranec (a red wine) and Shesh i Bardhë (a white wine). Or, Raki, a traditional Albanian fruit brandy which is often made from grapes, apples or plums. But we warned Raki is POTENT!

A Brief History of Albania

‘During our trip to Albania, we got to know a few lovely local people. We made friends with one particular guy – shout out to Gerti – who we met while hiking in Theth, we ended up having dinner together and he told us all about Albania’s turbulent recent history, much of which had happened within his lifetime (he’s in his late 30’s).

Albania was under a strict dictatorship scheme between 1945 and 1991 (less than 40 years ago!!) It was led by a man named Enver Hoxha who operated the country under strict isolation policies making it one of the most repressive in Europe, with totalitarian regimes and economic hardship with many people living in poverty. 

In 1992, Albania elected its first democratic president marketing the end of over 40 years of communist rule. This was a great first step, but the country has experienced severe economic and social instability. 

Pyramid schemes (fraudulent investment schemes) led to widespread economic collapse in the mid-1990s which then led to a national crisis in 1997. The 1997 uprising saw protests, looting and armed uprisings. The country was close to descending into a civil war. 

With international intervention and support, Albania started to stabilise. Since the 2000s, Albania has seen gradual economic growth, they joined NATO in 2009 and they are in the process of joining the EU. 

Albania has only been deemed safe to travellers for the best part of 20 years – which is pretty damn recent. These days, Albania is known to be one of the safest places to visit in the Balkans. As with anywhere you travel, you should always take precautions but after years of HUGE challenges, Albania is ready to welcome us travellers, safely, into their borders.

You’ve got questions about backpacking in Albania and I’ve got answers! Before you head off, ask your questions and do your research to have a more enjoyable trip once you arrive.

Albania is a country rooted in history (some extremely recent) and culture. Although my predominant reason for visiting Albanian was originally to climb its epic mountains and dive into its dazzlingly blue sea, it was the people and the culture that you truly fall in love with. Although the Albanian people have it bloody tough, they welcome us tourists in with open arms and treat us like family. 

I had the most incredible time travelling in Albania and I would encourage every traveller to make their way there! The country’s tourism industry is starting to boom with new developments popping up all over the place.

I hope this guide has helped you to prepare for your trip or has inspired you to book your flights! If you have any more questions, comments, etc please let me a comment 🙂

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