The Perfect Albania Road Trip Itinerary: 2 Weeks in Albania

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With its diverse landscape, Albania is perfect for an exciting road trip. But which itinerary should you follow? I present you with the best route for your holiday.

Albania is the perfect place to spend a great beach holiday and relax. But you can also go on an adventurous road trip across the country. Or you can plan both: a road trip and a few relaxing days on the coast.

Follow me along the coolest itinerary for your ttrip through Albania. I’ll tell you which places you should definitely plan to visit and where you can get a little rest in between. The route will take you to the most beautiful cities and beaches, to small natural wonders and magnificent landscapes.

What you should definitely watch out for: Many roads are not yet well developed – so watch out for potholes! You should always keep your eyes on the road signs and on the road surface. Some road markings are missing.

The driving style of the locals is sometimes rough. Cars often drive without lights even in the dark. People honk their horns a lot, but they also show a lot of consideration. It’s all a matter of getting used to – but a little caution is advised.

Table of Contents

Start of the trip: flight to Tirana

The starting point of your road trip will be Albania’s capital, Tirana – unless you want to travel with your own car. A trip through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro would definitely be a unique adventure in itself, but it would take a few days more. So if you only have one or two weeks’ holiday, it makes sense to book a flight to Tirana – because you will still be covering quite a few kilometres on your road trip through Albania.

Consider whether you want to spend a few days in exciting Tirana at the start or get straight into your rental car and save the capital for the end of the trip.

My tip: set off first – to one of the country’s most beautiful smaller cities: Shkoder.

Get to know Albania: Shkoder

Shkoder is located in the very north of the country and is a wonderful city to get to know Albania. You can settle in there and go on a first relaxed exploration tour. Shkoder is the fifth largest city in Albania and pleasantly manageable, but still has a lot to offer.

Stroll through the pedestrian zone, visit the Rozafa Fortress and take a first trip into Albania’s history at the Marubi Photography Museum.

You can also take a trip from Shkoder to Lake Shkodra, also known as Lake Skadar. It is located on the border between Albania and Montenegro and, along with Lake Garda, is considered the largest lake in southern Europe.

The highlights of the lake are on the Montenegrin side, but you can also get a first impression of the dreamlike lake landscape on the Albanian side. You should plan to spend at least two days in Shkoder.

Attractions in Albania: 7 – Must-See Places

If you are already in northern Albania, you can plan a detour to see the fjord-like landscape of Lake Koman on a ferry ride. Or you can drive even further and explore the Albanian Alps.

However, the distance should not be underestimated: a trip to the lake and the mountains will add many hours of driving time. It’s worth it, but it can be exhausting during your holiday.

So, it’s better to save this very time-consuming detour, including a hike through the Alps, for another holiday and set off south.

Stopover: Kruje – The city of Skanderbeg

On the way south, a stopover in the city of Skanderbeg – Kruje – is recommended. Stay here for a night, stroll through the lively city centre, take a breather or take a trip to the beautiful mountains near Kruje.

If you hike a little up into the hills, you will be treated to great views of the mountains and the wide valley in which Kruje and Tirana lie in.

During a stopover in Kruje, you can take a stroll through the small old bazaar and visit the Skanderbeg Museum. Particularly beautiful: part of the old castle is still preserved there.

Good to know: Kruja is also built on a hillside, so the access roads and lanes can be very steep. If you arrive by car, it is recommended to drive relatively far up to the bazaar and park the car in one of the first private car parks. Even though I consider myself a safe driver, I wouldn’t have wanted to drive the last stretch up to the fortress over the slippery and partly narrow cobblestone road without the possibility of turning around!

Next stop on your itinerary: Berat, the city of a thousand windows

You should definitely plan a visit to Berat, because you will never forget this city. The ‘city of a thousand windows’, as it is called because of its unique architecture, is one of the absolute highlights of any road trip through Albania.

Berat is not very big, but still take enough time to visit the old town quarter of Mangalem with its many white houses and countless windows, as well as the castle town of Kalaja above Berat. Berat is not only a highlight because of its sights, but also because of its fantastic location on the river Osum.

You have a particularly great view of this landscape from the castle. Take a day or two to explore Berat and then continue south.

Exciting architecture, enchanting location on the Osum River: Berat, the ‘city of a thousand windows’, is an absolute highlight of any trip to Albania.

On the way to Gjirokaster: Osum Canyon

The Osum Gorge is one of the country’s most fascinating natural wonders and is known as the Grand Canyon of Albania. So be sure to plan a stop here on your way south to Gjirokaster, maybe even a longer one, because: depending on your mood and the water level, you can go canoeing or hiking in the Osum Gorge.

Maybe this will be a welcome change for you after the first city tours on your road trip itinerary. In any case, the Osum Gorge will give you insights into one of the country’s most impressive landscapes – before you reach Gjirokaster, the next historic dream city.

Impressive detour into nature: on the drive south, you will come to the Osum Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Albania.

Gjirokaster and the Blue Eye Albania

The old town of Gjirokaster is also a must-see on your road trip. A stroll through the ‘city of stones’ will instantly transport you back in time. Similar to Berat, many of the houses here date back to the Ottoman Empire. You can also delve deeper into Albanian culture in Gjirokaster – visit old family palaces, marvel at local crafts and visit the Ethnographic Museum.

On the way to Gjirokaster or on your onward journey, you should definitely plan a stop at the Syri i Kaltër spring, the ‘blue eye’ of Albania.

From Gjirokaster or on the way there, you can also visit the Vjosa Valley, one of the last wild rivers in Europe. Cruising along the rushing Vjosa for a while adds to the road trip feeling and feels magical.

Journey to old Albania: a stroll through Gjirokaster will instantly transport you back in time. The city should not be missing from your road trip through Albania.

Ksamil and Butrint National Park

After so much culture and sightseeing, you might need a break. So, off to the coast! Drive a little further south from the district of Gjirokaster and visit the coastal town of Ksamil.

You should plan to spend two days here so you can relax on the beach and also take a trip to Butrint National Park. Visit the ancient site of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There you will find an ancient theatre, villas and temples. But the Butrint National Park is just as exciting because of its landscape with its many lakes and wetlands and the many animal species that live there.

Take a deep breath and enjoy: Himare

Ksamil is beautiful, but the journey continues. Nevertheless, you can still treat yourself to some relaxation on the beach during the rest of the trip. We suggest continuing from Ksamil to Himare and staying there for a few days or in one of the smaller nearby towns – Dhërmi, Borsh, Qeparo.

On the way to Himara, you can plan a coffee stop in the port city of Sarande and take a stroll through the city centre. Once you arrive in Himara, treat yourself to as many days of rest as your schedule allows and explore the beautiful beaches near the small town, such as Gjipe Beach or Borsh Beach.

Towards the end of your road trip, you can treat yourself to a few days of relaxation in Himara and explore the beaches around the small town.

Hotel Tip: Geo & Art Boutique Hotel is a beautiful small, family-run hotel in the centre of Himare, right next to South West Beach. The standard rooms are small and basic, but the large, beautiful balcony was definitely worth it! We had a superior room with a sea view and I can only recommend taking it as it made our stay perfect. The views are breathtaking and so are the sunsets! ☑ Check availability and prices here.

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Continue Reading: These are the 10 most beautiful beaches in Himare

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Llogara National Park

After your relaxing break on the beach, the next highlight of your tour awaits: Llogara National Park near Vlora. Here, too, it is a lot of fun to cruise through this stunning landscape by car. Once you arrive in the park, however, you should leave your rental car behind and go on a short or long hike through nature.

Llogara National Park is one of Albania’s natural wonders and is certainly worth a visit if you didn’t have time to see the Albanian Alps. After your tour of the national park, it makes sense to stay in Vlora for a night and end the evening with a stroll and a meal at a restaurant on the seafront.

This is where you get that real road trip feeling again: even the drive to Llogara National Park is fun. It’s even more beautiful to hike there.

Back to Tirana

You road trip itinerary is coming to an end and from Vlore it’s back to Tirana. Here you can choose between two routes: either you drive through the interior or along the coast back to the capital.

If you opt for the coast, you can make a short stop in the port city of Durrës. Depending on how long you were in Tirana at the beginning of your trip, you should plan on spending another one to three days here, because: Tirana doesn’t get boring that quickly.

In the Albanian capital, you can make exciting discoveries, eat delicious food, go shopping and enjoy the nightlife. The city’s highlights include the central Skanderbeg Square, the Bunkart Museum, the nightlife district of Blloku and the large artificial lake on the outskirts of the city.

Apart from these attractions, you can simply stroll through Tirana at random and discover many exciting corners – markets, graffiti, cafés. Tirana is the perfect place to end your road trip and round off your impression of Albania.