Albanië Itinerary in 10 days: An amazing country
Itinerary 21 daysItinerary 16 days
Albania, located in Southeastern Europe on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, is a country steeped in rich history and stunning landscapes. With its stunning coastline, pristine beaches, and majestic mountains, it is a diverse landscape that appeals to everyone. Albania is known for its mix of cultures, reflected in the architecture, cuisine, and traditions. From historical cities like the capital Tirana to the ancient ruins of Butrint and the enchanting Albanian Alps, the country offers a range of experiences. The hospitable people add to the charm of the country, where traditions are still alive and visitors are welcomed with open arms. While the country has had a turbulent past, it is now blossoming as a tourist destination that attracts culture seekers, nature lovers, and beachgoers alike, offering a unique and unforgettable experience for every traveler.
Transportation during your trip in Albania
During your trip through Albania we recommend that you book a rental car. We have been to the east of the country and into the mountains and needed a a 4×4. Are you not planning to go into the mountains, you can hire any car you like. The public transport is up and coming in Albania. From Tirana here are a lot of bus routes to the bigger cities and villages. The smaller villages are harder to reach, so you might need a taxi if you’re planning to go there.
Although traveling by train is getting more popular in Europe, Albania is not yet prepared for this kind of travel. There a just a few steam-trains and not a lot of tracks. Mini-buses and taxis are a good alternative. They are pretty cheap and reliable. We used Speedtaxi, for which you can download an app or use Whatsapp in the bigger cities. You can find the phone numbers on their website.
How many days do you need for this itinerary
For this itinerary we recommend that you take 10 days. This way you can experience all the aspects of this amazing versatile country. If you have more time, you can check out our 16 days or 21 days itineraries. Or you can adjust the route yourself by taking a more or less in Berat, Tirana or on the coast.
Day 1: Berat, city of a thousand windows
Upon arrival in Tirana, you should pick up your rental car immediately. After picking up the car, we recommend continuing directly to Berat. There is plenty of time for Tirana at the end of the trip, but if you want to visit the capital already, you can check out the article here.
After your arrival, you will drive to the beautiful Berat within two hours. There you can enjoy the city of 1,000 windows. The city has been given this nickname because of the view of the beautiful Mangala district, which is built high up. Upon arrival, you can walk along the beautiful boulevard and have a bite to eat and a drink to relax after another beautiful day. If you are in Berat before 5 pm, you can immediately join a free tour. This tour takes you through the Gorica district, the medieval square, and the castle. You can read more about this in our article about Berat.
Hotel recommendation: Ana Rest House Hostel Berat. This affordable hostel is located in the traditional and charming Gorica district, across the Osum River. The hostel is housed in an 18th-century house that has been transformed into a cozy hostel with a garden, barbecue, terrace, and common room.
Tip: If you can’t make the tour, check the website to see what time the morning tour departs.
Day 2: Berat and surroundings
Today you start the day with an exploration of the city with a nice walk through the Mangala district. Here you will find all kinds of small alleys, cafes and shops at home. Strolling through this neighborhood is a wonderful hour of walking in the village. Then you get in the car to Bogove waterfalls. You park the car fifteen minutes from the waterfalls and then walk along an unpaved road to the waterfall. Be sure to bring your swimwear, because you can take a dip in the cold water.
After enjoying yourself for a while, take the car for half an hour to the Osumi gorge. Check out our article about Berat for more information! In the evening you return and can eat at Restaurant Kapllani. This traditional restaurant is located on the Osum in the Gorica district and is highly recommended.
Hotel recommendation: Guest House Iljesa. This elegant 19th century house within the castle walls is a special overnight stay. The hotel is located in the heart of the old town and has panoramic views over the valley.
Tip: On the road from Berat to Gjirokäster, near Dhermi, lies the Gjipe Canyon. This is a canyon where you can relax on a beach and take a dip in the sea. Here you can also walk the Gjipe Trail, a hike of a few kilometers along the canyon, or the short version from the parking lot.
Day 3: Gjirokäster, the pearl of the south
Today you will drive to one of the highlights of Albania. The beautiful Gjirokastër. Once you arrive after a drive of over an hour, you can start sightseeing at the Old Bazaar. This famous crossroads, where you can shop or grab a bite to eat, looks stunning and is always lively.
Next, it’s time for a tour of Enver Hoxha’s private bunker, the Cold War bunker. These tickets cannot be booked online, you will have to go to the box office at the latest 15 minutes in advance. The tours are available every half hour, so you can just walk there. It is located to the right of the entrance to the town hall. In the bunkers, everything is left as it was found. There are old newspapers lying around, the desks are still there, and you can even look into the old water reservoir. Make sure you bring a jacket, as it is always 16 degrees Celsius in the bunker.
Afterwards, take a stroll through the city, enjoy a beautiful terrace and have dinner in the evening at Restaurant Kashah, where the service is great and the food is even better. You can try different bars in the evening and enjoy the atmosphere in this beautiful city.
Hotel recommendation: Hotel Domino. This super centrally located hotel offers excellent rooms, a delicious breakfast at the bakery next door, and you are within a few seconds of the Old Bazaar, the highlight of Gjirokastër.
Day 4: Gjirokastër, the second day
Start your day at 9:00 AM in the castle. Make sure you’re here when it opens, because later in the day it fills up with group tours and excursions from out of town. The castle is very large and you can find a lot of information in the materials themselves, but you can also book a three-hour guided tour, which also takes you to the Zerate house. This house is the oldest Ottoman house in Gjirokastër.
The last part of the day you will go hiking. You will visit the Ali-Pasha bridge. This bridge was once part of a 212 kilometer long aqueduct complex, built at the beginning of the 19th century. Most of it has been demolished, but this picture of the architecture is still there. You can get there via the center, if you walk through the Dunavat district. You can get on and under the bridge, so be sure to do both. After you’ve reached the bottom, you can walk back on the other side of the old river. Here you get a completely different picture of the beautiful surroundings. In the evening you can eat in the Dunavat district, at the beautiful Kardashi restaurant, where there is live music and fantastic Albanian food. You can read more about Gjirokastër in our separate article.
Hotel recommendation: Hotel Kastro. This hotel offers excellent facilities and is ideally located close to the Old Bazaar. The beautiful rooms with excellent bathrooms and nice showers offer you the comfort you want after a wonderful day of walking through Gjirokastër.
Day 5: Ksamil, white sand beaches and clear blue water
Today you will head to Ksamil, where you can enjoy the most beautiful nature. Spend the morning in Butrint National Park Albania. Here you can enjoy the most important archaeological park in Albania. The ancient city was built in the Iron Age and developed until the Middle Ages. Among other things, there is a Roman theater, a basilica and two castles. It is located in a wooded area on the edge of Lake Butrint and the Vivari Canal. You can read more about it in our upcoming article about Butrint.
The rest of the day is about relaxation and enjoyment. Walk along the beaches, rent a sunbed and enjoy the sun. We recommend Black Pearl, as you can enjoy a drink above the water and enjoy the sunset and the clear blue water. Then have a cocktail at Vamos cocktail bar (happy hour from 5 pm to 9 pm) and catch the last rays of sun. Then you can have a delicious dinner at one of the many restaurants.
Hotel recommendation: Ksamil Central Park Hotel. The beautiful, luxurious room in this centrally located hotel is located in a quiet area and offers an excellent breakfast. A perfect base to enjoy the beach all day and relax in the evening.
Tip: If you want to rent a sunbed, you can bring your own food and drinks, as this is not a requirement at most bars.
Day 6: Dhërmi, the beach holiday for locals
Start your day early by going to the Blue Eye nearby. A very touristy place, so you will have to be there in time. You take a half-hour walk that takes you to the natural spring where the clear blue water comes out of the ground and provides the surroundings with water. Have a nice drink at the restaurant and then get in the car towards Dhërmi. Make sure you book a room in time, as this place is known by the local population as a holiday resort. The spacious boulevard provides you with all sorts of drinks and beautiful restaurants. Hidden behind the rocks lies the beautiful Rosè by Havana, where you can enjoy the sunset with a book and a cocktail by the water.
Hotel recommendation: Hotel Villa Petro Dhermi. Within a few minutes you’ll reach the beach and walk along the beautiful boulevards. In this amazing home-feel hotel you have everything you need to feel at home, away from home.
Day 7: Dhërmi
Start your day quietly and have breakfast along the boulevard. Then you can get in the car and drive towards the mountains of the Llogara National Park for a nice trek. A path where cars can also drive leads you to the top of Maja e Thanasit. At the top you have a beautiful view over the Ionian Sea. Or you can opt for the slightly longer trek to the Maja e Qorrës. A steep climb at the end gives you a beautiful view of the Llogara National Park. Both hikes can be started from the Restaurant Appollonia, Llogora. You can read about this in our future article about Llogara National Park.
On the way back to Dhërmi you drive past Himare. There is a hidden beach behind beachbar Amar, where you can relax between the rocks by the water. In the evening you can have a delicious meal in Dhërmi at the Royal Blue, the busiest restaurant on the boulevard, with very tasty food. Make sure you are on time, because there is often a long queue in the evening. End your evening on the beach at one of the beach bars, where the fires are burning and free beach chairs are waiting for you.
Hotel recommendation: Hotel Villa Petro Dhermi. Within a few minutes you’ll reach the beach and walk along the beautiful boulevards. In this amazing home-feel hotel you have everything you need to feel at home, away from home.
Tip: If you want to see more along the coast and enjoy the Ionian Sea, you can always drive past Vlöre or Sarande.
Day 8: Vlorë, culture and relaxation
From Dhërmi, you continue north along the beautiful coast of Albania. In the morning you start above Vlorë, where you will visit the St. Mary Monastery. This monastery is located on an island that can only be reached by a wooden footbridge. It is a special experience to walk across the Zvërnec Bridge (photo). Afterwards, you will drive to the other side of the bay to hike to Dalan Beach. Along the coast you will also see all sorts of decorated bunkers that you can enter, don’t forget to bring your flashlight, because it is very dark inside!
Afterwards, you will drive to Ferma Vlora for a delicious lunch. This restaurant is located outside the village of Vlorë, but is definitely worth it if you love good food. From here you can also drive to the Kanina Castle. This is a ruin of a castle that was built by the Illyrians and has had many different inhabitants. Afterwards you can visit the Museum of Independence and then walk around the beautiful Old Town. End your day with a delicious dinner and a drink along the boulevard.
Hotel recommendation: B&B Visar. This bed and breakfast offers excellent views of the beach, has a beautiful interior and offers great service. This beautiful accommodation has hosts who are happy to think along with you to make your stay perfect.
Day 9: Tirana and Durres, all about the capital
From Vlöre you can drive to Durrës within two hours. Visit the coast for a nice morning walk along the beautiful beach and the beautiful harbour. After this you can have lunch at one of the many lunch spots in the port. Then you will visit the second oldest amphitheater in the Balkans. It’s called the Emperor Hadrian’s Amphitheater, which seats more than 15,000 people. There is more to experience here and you can read that in a future article about Durres.
Tirana
Once you’ve checked into your hotel around 3 p.m., you can head to Bunk’art 2. This is a beautiful museum in a bunker of the former leader Hoxha. Here you will be told the story about the communist times. Then it is time to gather at Skanderbeg Square for the free tour, which starts around 6:30 PM. You will get a tour of the Pyramid, the castle, St. Paul’s Cathedral and much more. This means you have already seen a large part of Tirana. In the evening we recommend eating at Spaghetti Western, where there is a beautiful American atmosphere and you can eat indoors and outdoors. From there you can go to many cocktail bars to end your evening well.
Hotel recommendation: Vanilla Sky Boutique Hostel. Located a short distance from the popular Blloku area, this affordable hostel offers a communal kitchen, shared lounge and free WiFi.
Tip: If there is no parking at your hotel, there are several parking garages inside and outside the center.
Day 10: Tirana, the beautiful capital
Today you have time to look inside one of the museums you saw on the tour. For example, the National Historical Museum of the House of Leaves. Or maybe you want to sit on a terrace at Murat Toptani, Tirana’s pedestrian street. Or climb the pyramid, which is being turned into a beautiful pedagogical square. You can of course also look in the beautiful churches or walk over the Tanner’s Bridge or visit the Pazari i Ri, a beautiful marketplace. There is plenty to do before you board the plane, you can read all about it in this article about Tirana.
Hotel recommendation: ART Hotel Tirana. Located 750 meters from Skanderbeg Square, this budget-friendly hotel offers a lounge, terrace, bar, free Wi-Fi and breakfast. The rooms are artistically and comfortably furnished.
You have read about a tour of Albania in 10 days and you have probably been able to experience culture in Berat, Gjirokäster and Tirana. You were also able to enjoy the water in Ksamil, Vlorë and Dhërmi. We hope you have read this itinerary with a smile and that you are looking forward to your own adventure in Albania. Don’t forget to look at our 16 days or 21 days route and our individual articles about Berat or Tirana, for example.
