Local tips for Albania
The things I’d tell a friend before their first trip to Albania. Not the usual tourist advice.
These are the things I’d tell a friend before their first trip to Albania. Not the usual tourist advice.
Money and practical
Carry Albanian lek
The currency is ALL (lek). Cards work in plenty of places, but cash is still useful for smaller cafés, bakeries, taxis, beach businesses and local restaurants.
My tip
Keep some lek on you rather than constantly trying to pay in euros.
Don’t assume everything should be paid in euros
You’ll see prices quoted in euros in tourist areas, but lek is the actual currency.
If someone gives you a price in euros, ask for the price in lek if you’re unsure.
Get a SIM/eSIM
Don’t rely entirely on hotel Wi-Fi.
A local SIM/eSIM makes Google Maps, translation, taxis and restaurant searches much easier.
Learn a few Albanian words
You don’t need to speak Albanian, but locals appreciate the effort.
Albanian Meaning Përshëndetje Hello Faleminderit Thank you Mirëdita Good afternoon Mirëmëngjes Good morning Ju lutem Please / You’re welcome Sa kushton? How much does it cost? Shëndet Cheers Even just saying “Faleminderit” goes a long way.
English isn’t your only useful language
You’ll find English widely spoken in tourist areas, especially among younger people.
Italian can also be surprisingly useful, particularly with older generations and in coastal areas.
Ask the price before getting into a taxi
Especially when you’re unfamiliar with the area.
It’s a simple habit that avoids awkwardness later.
Bring good walking shoes
This sounds boring until you’re climbing the stone streets of Gjirokastër or Berat.
Some of Albania’s prettiest places involve stairs, hills and uneven stone.
Getting around
Driving is an experience 😂
If you’re renting a car, don’t expect European driving etiquette everywhere.
You’ll see:
- Cars stopping where they shouldn’t
- Random overtaking
- Pedestrians crossing unexpectedly
- Scooters appearing from nowhere
- People parking like they’ve given up
Stay calm and leave space.
The SH8 over the Llogara Pass. Leave space, and stop at the viewpoints. Parking can be harder than driving
Especially in Tirana, Durrës, Sarandë and other busy summer destinations.
If your hotel has parking, use it and walk.
Don’t assume buses work like Western Europe
Intercity buses and minibuses (furgons) can be less structured than you’re used to.
For important journeys, ask your accommodation or a local where exactly the bus leaves from and what time it actually goes.
Food and drink
Coffee is not something you rush
If an Albanian says “hajde për kafe”, they’re not necessarily inviting you for a five-minute coffee.
Sit down. Have your coffee. Talk. Watch people.
Coffee culture is part of everyday Albania.
A café in Berat’s old town. Sit down. Nobody is in a hurry. Try a local bakery for breakfast
Forget the expensive hotel breakfast at least once.
Walk into a furra buke, get a fresh byrek, yogurt or pastry and a coffee.
Cheap, filling and much more local.
Don’t only eat where tourists eat
If you’re in a historic centre or on the main promenade, walk one or two streets away before choosing a restaurant.
You’ll often find better prices and more traditional food.
Try local wine
Especially around Berat, Përmet and Korçë.
Don’t automatically order an imported bottle just because you recognise the name.
Ask:
“Çfarë vere shqiptare keni?”
“What Albanian wine do you have?”
Eat what the region is known for
Don’t order the same pizza and burger everywhere.
In the south: seafood and local dishes.
In Berat: traditional food + wine.
In the mountains: meat, dairy, mountain-style dishes.
Albanian food changes from region to region.
Timing and mindset
Don’t plan every minute
This is probably my biggest Albania tip.
Leave room for random stops.
You might find a beautiful viewpoint, a small restaurant, a village café or someone recommending somewhere you hadn’t planned to visit.
Albania is better when you don’t treat it like a checklist.
August is NOT the same Albania as June
If you’re visiting the coast in July/August:
Expect crowds.
Especially Ksamil, Sarandë, Dhërmi and the popular Riviera beaches.
If you want my preferred balance:
June or September.
Go early to popular beaches
If you want one of Albania’s famous beaches without fighting for space:
Get there early.
By late morning in peak season, the experience can be completely different.
Albania isn’t just beaches
This is a huge mistake first-time visitors make.
You have:
Tirana Berat Gjirokastër Theth Valbona Korçë Përmet Riviera
The country is tiny compared with many European destinations, but the landscapes change dramatically.
Browse tours and day trips across Albania on GetYourGuide.
Stay overnight in the historic towns
Don’t treat Berat or Gjirokastër as two-hour photo stops.
Stay overnight.
The atmosphere after the day-trippers leave is completely different.
Sunset is often the best time of day
Especially on the coast.
During the hottest part of the afternoon, slow down.
Then around sunset:
walk → coffee → dinner → drinks.
That’s when many Albanian cities really come alive.
Ksamil at sunset. Slow down in the afternoon, then come out for this. Don’t be surprised by Albanian hospitality
People can be extremely welcoming, especially outside the major tourist areas.
If a local recommends something, ask why.
You might get a better recommendation than anything you found online.
Don’t only visit the Instagram spots
Some of the best Albania experiences aren’t famous attractions.
A random village restaurant.
A mountain road.
A tiny bakery.
A coffee overlooking a town.
A beach you found because you took the wrong turn.
That’s the Albania I’d want you to remember.