Use a travel guide to Albina to fall into the Country. Albania is a country in eastern Europe that is often overlooked. It has beaches, a unique history, lots of sunshine, and a scene with few tourists. Albania is both mountainous and coastal, and both hikers and sun worshipers love it. At first glance, it seems like Greek, Italian, and Turkish cultures have left their marks on the country over the years. But if you dig a little deeper, the ancient Illyrian land and language will show you how strong, resilient, and full of life they were.
About 60% of Albanians are Muslims, which makes the country the second most Muslim country in Europe after Kosovo. It is also a great example of religious tolerance, with beautiful mosques and cathedrals built next to each other in the cities and towns of this Balkan country. It was a stronghold of the Islamic Ottoman Empire for more than 500 years. Even though dictator Enver Hoxha tried very hard to destroy it in the 20th century, it still has some of the most beautiful architecture from that time. When you go, you’ll find people who are very friendly and open, and prices that are some of the lowest on the continent.
Travel restrictions and entry requirements for Albania
As of May 1, 2022, there are no longer any rules about travel related to COVID-19. To get into Albania, travelers no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test.
When it’s best to go to Albania
Albania is one of the sunniest places in Europe, with the sunniest hours between April and October. It has a warm climate, similar to that of neighboring Greece. Spring and fall are the best times to go hiking in the mountains because the trails are less busy. Summer, on the other hand, can work if you don’t mind more people on the trails and don’t mind the heat. Summer is the best time to visit the beaches of the Riviera, but temperatures can get very high, so spring or fall is also better if you want to see the cities and Ottoman towns.
Top regions
Tirana
Before 1912, Tirana was a quiet town in the middle of the country. The thoughtful town planning of the 20th century gave us wide, leafy streets with lots of shade from the soaring summer heat. The heart of the city is the grand Skanderbeg Square, which is now just for pedestrians. Here you may see the stunning Et’hem Bej Mosque, erected in the 18th century, as well as the communist-era Opera House and National History Museum. Around the corner is the Pazari I Ri market, which has food stands and restaurants, but you’ll want to eat in Blloku. This busy part of town used to be where communist politicians lived, but now it’s a lively hub of cafes, bars, restaurants, and clubs.
The Albania Alps and Shkoder
Shkoder founded by Illyrian tribes in the 4th century BC. Since then, it has seen a lot. If you’re coming from northern Europe by bus or car, it’s the first place you’ll see in Albania. It’s a small, quiet city with a lot of character, so don’t just pass through on your way to the mountains. You can rent a bike and ride out to the lake, look for hidden flea markets, and find the Marubi National Museum of Photography to be very moving. When you’re ready to move on, minivans take you every morning up to Theth National Park, where you can try shorter local hikes or take the popular day-long trail to Valbonne. The next day, vans will take you back down to Shkoder.
Gjirokaster
Unesco protects the winding, cobblestoned streets of Gjirokaster because the elegant Ottoman architecture has been kept in such good shape. The old town is set back from the coast and up in the hills. It has beautiful architecture and was once one of the biggest centers of Sufism (a mystical school of Islam based on meditation) outside of Turkey. Only a small number of religious sites made it through Enver Hoxha’s purge, but churches and mosques still live here side by side, as they have for hundreds of years. Gjirokaster Castle is definitely one of the best in the country, where there are more than 150. It has a white stone that shines and big walls that look like a fortress.
The French Riviera
The 120-kilometer stretch of coast from Vlore to Sarande is called the “Albanian Riviera.” It has beautiful villages on hilltops and a majestic pale blue color where the Ionian Sea laps the pebble beaches. There is a popular place for festivals, and Himare is a popular place for backpackers. For a high-end experience, you can go to Ksamil, which is a group of beautiful small islands. There is one highway that runs along the coast, and a few buses go in each direction every day. Take this road to see the less-visited beaches along the way. You can rent a car or moped, or if you’re feeling brave, you can hitchhike as the young Albanians do. Even in the middle of summer, the clear, cold waters of the Riviera are a surprise. This is because the water flows from springs in the mountains and under the sea bed.
Places that don’t get enough attention
Berat and Osumi Canyon
The mosaics in St. Mary’s are a must-see. There are also beautiful mosques here. Berat is a great example of how Albania treats people of different faiths. Take a day trip from here to Osumit Canyon, where you can wade through the river past the rock faces and scoop up mud from the riverbed to use as a face mask.
Butrint Archeological Park
Ruins from Greek, Roman, and Byzantine times can be found in this once-major city on the edge of the Riviera. Butrint has the best ruins in Albania and the West Balkans as a whole, but people often skip it to get to the beach. It’s a huge area with buildings all over the lagoon, like Pompeii in the middle of a bayou. There are Roman baths, a Greek amphitheater, and Venetian towers, among other things. Plan to spend the whole day there and wear shoes that are very comfortable. The famous Ottoman leader Ali Pasha built a fortress here to keep an eye on Napoleon, who had taken nearby Corfu. This is also worth the hike.
Korçë
Korc is where Albania’s crisp local lager is made. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains and nature, but it doesn’t get as many tourists as other parts of the country. Hiking is the most popular thing to do here, but the city is also full of great buildings and places of interest. The “Gjon Mili” Photography Museum shows how people lived in the 20th century, and the Medieval Museum is one of the best in the country. Most people go to the big, orthodox Resurrection of Christ Cathedral, but the tiny Iliaz Bej Mirahori Mosque, which is one of the oldest in the country, is also a must-see.
What’s best to do in Albania?
- Take a beautiful hike
Everyone’s list of things to do includes hiking from Theth to Valbons through the Albanian Alps, also known as the Accursed Mountains. There aren’t many easy hikes with such beautiful views, and this one is one of them. Anyone who can walk 16 km in six to nine hours can do it as long as they have the right shoes. This trip usually takes at least three days and two nights, as minivans go from Shkoder to either Theth or Valbons in the morning and back in the afternoon. In the middle, there is a full day of hiking.
- Use pools and rivers to swim.
Take a cold dip in one of Albania’s many strange and beautiful natural places. The top three are the Blue Eye, a turquoise pool of cold mountain spring water (usually between 10 and 13° Celsius) on the way to Gjirokaster; the Osumi Canyon near Berat, where you can raft or water hike along the River Osum; or the River Shal, which flows inside the Albanian Alps and is great for those who are brave enough to get there (the road from Shkoder isn’t great).
- Look for things at flea markets.
These are in every town and city, but they aren’t always marked on mapping apps. If you ask a local where the closest one is, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest vintage-loving dreams.
Image credit for Travel Triangle
How to get around
Renting a car or moped in Albania isn’t too expensive, but if you’d rather take the bus, you’ll have to get used to a network that seems a little strange but works well and goes to most parts of the country. Check the times and schedules of long-distance buses on the local site Gjirafa. The service may leave a little early or late, so you need to be flexible. You pay the driver, so make sure you have about the right amount of money.
Getting there
Wizz Air has regular direct flights from London to Tirana. This is the cheapest and fastest way to get there. But there are also a number of ways to get there without a flight, depending on how much time you have. The fastest way to get there without flying would be to take trains from Paris, Milan, and Rome to Bari, Italy, and then take the daily ferry to Durres, which is on the northern coast of Albania. Or, if you’d rather take a Balkan bus than a ferry, take the train to Belgrade (via Zagreb) and then a bus to Shkoder.
Money-saving tip
Albania is a lot cheaper than most other European countries, but if you’re really on a tight budget, you can bring your own tent and stay at one of the many great campsites that are spread all over the country.
How is the weather today?
Albania is blessed with about 300 sunny days a year, so spring and fall are great times to visit. During July and August, when the temperatures reach the 40s, it’s best to stay near the coast.
Where is the time zone?
GMT+1.
How much money do I need?
Albanian Lek.