Tirana, AlbaniaPhoto: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Albania
Albania, made simple: turquoise coves, Ottoman stone towns and wild mountain valleys
Albania packs a lot into a small country: a colourful, café loving capital, white Ottoman towns climbing hillsides, Ionian beaches as clear as any in the Mediterranean, Roman and Greek ruins, and some of the wildest mountains in Europe. It can feel unfamiliar, with buses that leave when full, cash habits and mountain roads to understand. This guide takes the guesswork out so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, safety advice and health, answered
- LandingTirana airport, SIM cards, lek and your first night, explained
- Your days in AlbaniaOld towns, beaches, mountains and food, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cash, cards, buses, tipping and typical budgets so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Albania should feel like a warm welcome, not a worry. We answer the questions about entry, money, transport, roads and safety before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Italy, Greece, London, New York or Detroit to see family, or bringing your children to the village for the first time? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your AlbaniaCity life, old towns, beaches or mountain hiking: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, the right season and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for restaurants, beaches, museums, hikes and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, the coast and the north at a realistic pace.
Everything your Albania trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, the Albanian Riviera and Shkodër with the Alps, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, beaches, castles, hikes, markets and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Tirana and stays in every region.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Albania trip
Tirana, the stone towns, the Riviera and the Alps
Most first trips start with two nights in Tirana, then head south to Berat, the town of a thousand windows, and on to Gjirokastër, the stone city. From there it is a short drive to Sarandë, Ksamil and the ruins of Butrint, then north along the Riviera through Himarë and over the Llogara Pass. With more time, swap the coast for the north: Shkodër, the Komani Lake ferry and the hike from Valbona to Theth. Ten days shows you the south well; two weeks lets you add the Alps.
- Berat's white Ottoman houses above the Osum river
- The castle and stone roofs of Gjirokastër
- Butrint's Greek and Roman ruins in a lagoon forest
- The Komani Lake ferry and the Valbona to Theth hike
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the old towns, the coast and the mountains fit together.
Albania destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Albania rewards a little preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, enough cash for buses, villages and beach bars, a realistic pace on winding mountain roads, and a season that suits your plans, since August on the coast is very busy and the Alps are only open in summer. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic travel times between towns
- The right season for beaches, hiking or city breaks
- Where to base yourself on the coast
Where to go in Albania
From the capital Tirana and the UNESCO stone towns of Berat and Gjirokastër to the beaches of the Riviera and the mountains above Shkodër.
Tirana County
Tirana
A colourful, café loving capital of bunker museums, lively nightlife and a cable car to the mountains.
Read the guidePhoto: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Berat County
Berat
A UNESCO town of white Ottoman houses stacked above a river, crowned by a castle where people still live.
Read the guidePhoto: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gjirokastër County
Gjirokastër
A UNESCO hill town of fortified stone houses, slate roofs and steep lanes below a mighty castle.
Read the guidePhoto: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vlorë County
Albanian Riviera
Pebble coves, clear Ionian water, hillside villages and the ancient ruins of Butrint.
Read the guidePhoto: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shkodër and Kukës counties
Shkodër and the Albanian Alps
A lakeside cycling city, a ferry through a mountain gorge and some of the wildest valleys in Europe.
Read the guidePhoto: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Albania safe to visit?
Albania is generally safe for visitors, with low levels of crime against tourists and a famously hospitable culture. The main risks are road safety, petty theft in busy places and mountain hazards. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
What is the capital of Albania?
Tirana, in the centre of the country, about twenty five minutes by road from Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza. It is the hub for buses to every region.
Do I need a visa for Albania?
Many passports, including those of the EU, the UK and the United States, currently get visa-free stays, but the length of stay and the rules vary by nationality. Check the Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs website before you book.
Is Albania in the EU or Schengen?
No. Albania is an EU candidate country but not a member, and it is not in the Schengen area, so days spent in Albania do not count towards Schengen limits.
What money is used in Albania?
The Albanian lek. Euros are often accepted on the coast and in tourist areas, but at a poor rate, so pay in lek where you can and carry cash for buses, villages and small guesthouses.
Can BlissPoint Travel book my trip?
We are a free travel guide, not a tour operator. Use our trip planner to shape your route, and our partner links to compare flights and stays.
Ready to find your Bliss in Albania?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.