The Albania Travel Guide

Tirana, Albania (museums, cafes)

• Bunk’Art, Tirana
• Skanderbeg Square, Tirana (Horse statue of national hero Skanderberg)
• Et’hem Bey Mosque, Tirana
• Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral, Tirana
• Mount Dajti, Tirana

 

Kruja, Tirana (35km from Tirana)

• Kruja castle

 

Durres, Albania

 

Gjirokastra, Albania (mountain town with Ottoman mansions)

• Historic Center – 13^th century Ottoman (UNESO)
• Gjirokastra Castle/Citadel, Gjirokastra
• Cold War Tunnel, Gjirokastra

 

Berat, Albania (Well preserved Ottoman whitewashed town on hillside)

• Historic Center – 13^th century Ottoman (UNESCO)
• Kalasa Citadel, Albania

 

Lake Koman ferry, Albania

 

Accursed Mountains (Dinaric Alps), Albania (19^th century mountain villages)

• Valbona, Accursed Mountains, Albania (stunning alpine mountains)
  • Valbona to Theth day hike, Accursed Mountains, Albania

• Theth National Park, Albania

 

Skhodra, Albania

• Rozafa Fortress, Shkodra

 

Bunec, Albania (quiet beach, Bunec Beach Hotel with rooms on the water, couple cafes and budget campsites too)

 

Lake Ohrid, Pogradec, Albania

 

Lake Skadar, Albania (largest lake on the Balkan peninsula, shared with Montenegro)

 

Saranda, Albania (unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera; recent building boom)

• Pulebardha beach, Saranda: pebbly but very nice beach surrounded by nature. Great swimming.
• Blue Eye Spring (Syri I Kalter), Saranda: Natural spring, great for swimming

 

Ksamil, Albania (3 small islands in a turquoise bay are an easy swim away. Always fewer people here than Saranda. Popular with locals in summer. one of the Med’s unspoiled corners, great beaches. Very close to Butrint)

 

Butrint ancient city, Albania (deep in forest, next to a lake sits the former Greek, then Roman city. Amphitheater. UNESCO)

 

Vlora, Abania (third largest city in Albania.

• Radhime Beach, Vlora
• Orikum Beach, Vlora

 

Himara, Albania

• Himara Beach: crowded beach in summer
• Livadhia Beach: long, wide beach, good swimming
• Potami Beach: Good alternative to main beach when busy

 

Borsh, Albania (7km of unbroken beach, mostly undeveloped for now – a few bars, cafes)

 

Narta, Albania

• Zvernec Island, Albania (18^th cen monestary in the middle of the forest, island is accessible by a long wooden foot bridge)

 

Palasa Beach, Albania (white sand, no hotel/resort development. Good camping, a few cafes and a nightclub.

 

Gijpe Beach, Albania (30 minute hike to hidden beach)

Dhermi, Albania

• Dhermi Beach: one of the country’s most famous. Long, great for exploring, coves and small bays
• Drymades Beach: excellent budget hotels on beach. Not crowded, even during the summer. One of the country’s most beautiful beaches