Albania is not usually the first country people think of when planning their next holiday. However, having spent two weeks exploring the country I highly recommend a visit. A small country in the Balkans, Albania offers so much including nature, history, and sunshine to start with.
Not to mention, there is soaring mountains, miles of pristine coastline, and very friendly locals. Albania is very affordable, and still feels a little undiscovered, and off the beaten path following years of communist rule and closed borders.
To encourage more visitors to this amazing country I have written this Albania Travel Guide for first time travellers to Albania.
Important facts to know about albania before your trip
Best way to travel to Albania
Lets begin the Albania travel guide with the best way to arrive here. I found flights to Albania to be quite expensive from the UK, and the only direct flights are to the capital Tirana.
As I wanted to visit the south of the country I decided to fly to Corfu Greece, and then take a ferry to Saranda, Albania. Additionally, the cost of the ferry is only €20, and it takes a mere 30 minutes.
This route allows a few days to explore some of Corfu’s attractions if you wish, and flights are usually reasonably priced. Check out Skyscanner for the best flight deals.
Best time of year to visit Albania
I visited Albania in August; I normally avoid travelling in peak summer but made an exception this trip (2021) as I thought Covid would make places a little less busy …how wrong I was!
The weather was a solid high of 32 – 35c every day, and night-time temperatures never dipped below 25c. This was a little too hot for me.
Add to this that most beaches were often very busy, therefore it was hard to find a space on some of the beaches.
Following my experience, I wouldn’t recommend travelling during peak summer. I would recommend May-June and Sept-Oct as the best times to visit. The crowds will be less, and the weather will still be warm.
Is Albania safe to travel?
Everyone asks themselves if Albania is safe. The country has a bad reputation from its not-too-distant history, and maybe from Hollywood movies. Following my visit, I can say wholeheartedly that Albania is very safe.
I would go as far as saying it’s safer than the UK and many other places in Europe. For example, the people in hotels and restaurants are very friendly and go out of their way to make sure you are ok and happy with everything.
Another example, I left my car parked in some very quiet deserted places sometimes and I never had any problems.
Cost of travelling in Albania
An important part of the Albania Travel guide must be the cost of travelling here. Albania is a backpacker’s dream; very affordable compared to Western Europe. I was travelling solo on this trip and wanted to meet people, so I decided to stay in hostels.
The average price of a night in a hostel was about £10 (including breakfast), and I stayed in some really good places. Read below to find out more. A beer will usually cost between 200 LEK and 300 LEK (about £1.50 – £2.00).
Eating out will usually cost less than 1,000 LEK (about £7) and often much less. The only time I had a more expensive meal was when I went for fresh fish, which was huge, and cost 1,200 LEK, still not bad for what you get.
Travelling around Albania: Public Transport vs Car
If you plan to visit a few different places in Albania, and I recommend you do, it’s best to hire a car to get around. I was able to hire a car for €30 per day and this gives the flexibility of going to some of the more distant beaches.
An alternative option is buses, there are public buses running between towns and they are cheap. However, speaking to others who used them, they can be quite uncomfortable.
Often there is no air-con and they get very busy. Likewise, there isn’t often a reliable timetable, so you must wait until the bus is full before it departs.
Driving in Albania - What to watch out for
As I previously mentioned, I recommend hiring a car in Albania (check out the red fiesta), however, I had heard some horror stories about the road conditions and bad driving within Albania before my trip.
In my experience the roads were usually tarmac, and in very good condition, so I’m not sure where these rumours come from.
Read about my Albania Road Trip and experiences and learn about the best places to visit in Albania
I would however recommend you keep a careful eye out for other drivers. My top observations of driving in Albania are as follows:
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Albanian drivers stop literally anywhere without any notice. Double parking and even triple parking is not uncommon. Stopping in the middle of the street to talk to friends without regard for traffic is also common.
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There is a lot of slow drivers. No one ever appears to be in a hurry to get anywhere, but thankfully, on a lot of the main roads there is opportunities to overtake safely.
- Despite the concerns noted above, I rarely heard anyone using their horn, people just seem to accept these practises and carry on with their journey.
Money in Albania - Cash or card?
The currency in Albania is the Lek, Euros are also widely accepted in most places. Be aware it is still very much a cash society, most places don’t accept debit or credit cards, not even hotels.
It isn’t possible to buy Lek outside of Albania, so there are a few alternative options I suggest. Firstly, Starling bank (in the UK) allows foreign exchange withdrawals from overseas ATM’s with no fees. On top of that, they use the spot rate for conversion, so it’s a very good deal.
I’m sure there is other banks that offer similar benefits, so check your bank before you leave home. As expected, some ATMs in Albania will charge you for using their machines. I learnt that Credins Bank doesn’t charge at all, and most towns and cities have a Credins Bank that you can use.
Secondly, if your bank charges you for foreign exchange withdrawals, bring Euros with you and either spend them or convert to LEK once you arrive. I found that the exchange rates on offer in Albania were very competitive with very little commission so you will get a good rate.
Beaches in Albania - The best in Europe
Most beaches, in fact, nearly all beaches in Albania are stone or pebbled, rather than sandy. The only exception I found was some private beaches near Ksamil (pronounced ‘Samil’).
I usually prefer sandy beaches, but after enjoying the lack of sand everywhere at the end of the day, I quite enjoyed these pebbled beaches. All the beaches I visited have crystal clear blue waters, and are a warm temperature, very pleasant to swim in (I went in August, so peak summer).
Albanian tradition of Xhiro - evening strolls
One of Albania’s popular and interesting traditions is known as ‘Xhiro’. In the early evening, as the sun is setting and the temperature starts to drop a little, the main high streets become packed with people.
This tradition of an evening walk, with friends or family takes place all across Albania. As a result, young teenagers, families, and older generations walk up and down the street, meeting friends and catching up with each other.
I love to walk around (hence the name – Walkabout Wes!), so I love this tradition.
Albania Travel Guide: Best places to Visit in Albania
I spent two weeks travelling the in the south of the country and have written a 2-week road trip itinerary to accompany the Albania Travel Guide detailing the following cities in more detail. Check out epic views all along this route.
Saranda - Gateway to the Albanian Riviera
Saranda is in the heart of the Albanian Riviera and makes the perfect starting point for the best places to visit in Albania. Nearby are some of the best beaches in Europe, The Blue Eye and Butrint National Park.
Vlorë - Where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas collide
Vlorë is the 3rd largest city in Albania and sits on a bay where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. In addition, it is also where Albania first declared independence in 1912 and is the gateway to a mysterious military island.
Berat - City of a thousand windows
Berat is a UNESCO world heritage site full of culture and is a unique and picturesque place to visit on this itinerary. The city is nicknamed the city of a thousand windows, visit to find out why.
Përmet - The city of Roses
Përmet is a small town in the picturesque Vjosa valley in southeast Albania. Known as the City of Roses, it is supposedly the cleanest and greenest city in Albania. The area it also famous for its natural thermal springs.
Gjirokaster - Stone City
Gjirokaster is a charming UNESCO world heritage city famous for its stone slated buildings and its fortress overlooking the city. This is a unique and intriguing city to visit and the birthplace of the late communist leader Enver Hoxha.
This is the end of Albania Travel Guide, I hope you have found it interesting and more importantly useful and inspiring to make your next trip Albania.