top tips for visiting albania
Albania should be on your top European destination list. It is affordable and stunning. There are so many incredible places to visit and explore. After traveling through Albania there are some must know top tips for visiting this amazing place!
Getting to Albania
Flying
If you are flying directly into Albania this is where you will start. Tirana International Airport (TIA) is the only major airport directly into Albania. If you are focusing on southern Albania flying into Corfu, Greece Corfu International Airport (CFU) and taking a ferry across to Saranda is easier and faster than flying into Tirana.
Ferry
You can get to Albania via ferry. As mentioned above there is a direct ferry from Corfu to Saranda which is about 1 hour. You can also get to Albania from Italy via ferry. Overnight ferries connect Italian ports like Bari and Brindisi to Durrës and Vlorë.
Car/Bus
You can get to Albania through bordering countries of Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Greece via car or bus. If you rent a car you have more flexibility but prepare for traffic especially around the border crossings.
My recommendation
If you feel comfortable driving in foreign countries this probably affords you the best flexibility in your schedule. My friends and I did not do this. If you are traveling both northern and southern Albania it makes sense to fly into Corfu and out of Tirana or vice versa to capitalize on travel time.
Tirana as a base
You can base your entire trip here if you want and take day trips. The downtown is very walkable with tons of bars, restaurants and amazing things to do. Walking around you can climb the Pyramid, see the Orthodox Church, Skanderbeg Square, Tirana Castle, which has restaurants and shops or check out some museums like Bunk’ art 2 or House of Leaves.
Tirana offers day tours all over the country as well as day tours to Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Be warned that some of these day tours are very long however so you will spend hours on buses. For the three days we spent we did three tours: North Macedonia Lake Ohrid, Koman Lake and Shala River and Bovilla Lakes. It will cut down on moving around as much. You can do a day tour to southern Albania as well but once again it is a long trip.
My recommendation
If short on time, use Tirana as a base and pick day tours that work best for you. If you have more time I would recommend spending some more time in southern Albania. If you are staying in Tirana consider staying around Skanderbeg Square – there is so much to see around that area and very walkable.
Visit the Albania Riveria- Ksamil versus Sarandë
Visiting the Albanian Riveria is an absolute must. So many beautiful beaches, bars, restaurants and things to do. You will have several options along the southern coast. The two most popular areas to stay are Sarandë or Ksmail. Sarandë is convenient to the ferry and easier for buses direct to Tirana. It is more built up and has some more options for dining and accommodation. Ksamil is just south of Sarandë but a little calmer. It is very walkable as well. Be prepared to pay for beach chairs. You can also do boat tours to the three islands. Boating, paddle boards, kayaking are also available. Ksamil is also closer to Butrint National Archaeological Park.
My recommendation
I would recommend Ksamil. We traveled to Sarandë from Corfu and also went to the Lëkurësi Castle in Sarandë which was great but I liked the vibe much more in Ksamil. I found it walkable and so many options for bars and restaurants. The water was stunning and more protected.
Day Tours
Unless you are renting a car yourself you will likely end up on a day tour, or two or more! Be prepared for long days of travel as most of the tourist destinations are a distance from each other. Some of the roads are very bumpy as well. You will really get a great sense of Albania on these tours.
My recommendation
If you are splitting time and staying in southern Albania consider doing tour of Gjirokastër and Blue Eye from the south to cut down on driving time compared to taking the tour from Tirana.
I highly recommend the Lake Koman and Shala River Tour and the Bovilla Lakes Tour from Tirana. Bovilla Lakes is a half day. Lake Koman and Shala River is an extremely long day but was a true highlight.
Bring snacks and water for the trips.
Money in Albania
I read so many blogs before going saying having cash in LEK was absolutely necessary. I found this not to be the case at all. EURO was accepted basically everywhere. In fact the ATMs had option to take out Euros. Also credit cards could be used almost everywhere as well. Pay attention to your hotel/accommodation bookings. We booked one that had to be paid in cash on arrival and didn’t realize that.
my recommendation
Definitely have some cash on hand but euros will suffice. Double check your bookings to ensure you don’t need to pay in cash.
visit nearby countries
Albania is surrounded by some pretty incredible countries including Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and via ferry Italy. If you have an extended time or even if you want to consider a day trip into these nearby countries it is very feasible. Corfu, Greece is 1 hour from Sarandë via ferry. Day trips to Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia can be taken from Tirana.
My recommendation
My friends and I took a day trip from Tirana to North Macedonia and it was incredible! I would highly recommend. We also traveled from Corfu to Sarandë which was very easy. If you have the extra day it is worth checking out a nearby country
General reminders
When traveling to Europe, never forget your international charger. As mentioned above, you should have cash. The local currency is Lek but Euro was widely accepted. Bring your ATM card if needed for cash but credit cards widely accepted. Don’t forget your sunglasses and sunscreen. It is quite warm and sunny. Drink lots of water but NOT the tap water. In general the tap water is not recommended. You can buy big water bottles at grocery stores. Traffic can be tough so be prepared from delays if you are driving or on day tours.
Plan your trip
If you haven’t made it to Albania yet, consider this your inspiration to go. There are so many places that you must visit on your trip. You will really be amazed at all this country has to offer.
