Albania travel guides
Town-by-town guides written by someone who lives here, plus the basics every first-timer asks about.
Destination guides
Planning guides
Start here if you don't know where to begin.
Albania in 7 days
Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, Ksamil, the Riviera and back, day by day.
First time in Albania
Money, SIM cards, driving, food, safety and what to actually see.
Albania road trip
A ten-stop loop from Tirana to the Riviera and back, with my driving rules.
The Albanian Riviera
Dhërmi, Himarë, Borsh, Qeparo, Gjipe and Palasë, plus when to come and where the nightlife is.
Coming soon
Guides we are writing now. Until then, the tours page covers the best trips to each.
- Berat — the UNESCO “town of a thousand windows” and the Çobo wine country around it.
- Gjirokastër — stone-roofed Ottoman houses under a huge castle; pairs with the Blue Eye.
- Himarë — the quieter middle Riviera: Livadhi, Gjipe and Jale beaches.
- Shkodër — lakeside city in the north and the jumping-off point for the Alps.
- Theth — the mountain village at the start of the Theth–Valbona hike.
- Durrës — Roman amphitheatre and the closest beach to Tirana.
First time in Albania?
[Replace with your own advice.] The questions we get asked most, answered briefly.
- Money. The currency is the lek (ALL). Euros are widely accepted on the coast but you will get a poor rate; withdraw lek from a bank ATM and carry cash — many small places do not take cards.
- SIM cards. Local prepaid SIMs from Vodafone or One are cheap and sold at the airport and in every town. EU roaming does not cover Albania.
- Driving. Roads are far better than their reputation. Drive defensively, expect livestock in the mountains, and never leave valuables visible in the car.
- Safety. Albania is generally very safe for visitors. Normal city precautions apply in Tirana; the coast is relaxed.
- Language. English is common with anyone under 40, Italian and Greek with older people. “Faleminderit” (thank you) and “Gëzuar” (cheers) go a long way.
- Getting around. See our transfers guide for airport journeys, and the individual town pages for local buses and boats.