ALBANIA

ALBANIA is a hidden gem in the Balkans, offering rugged mountains, crystal-clear beaches, and rich cultural heritage. From the Albanian Riviera’s turquoise waters to the ancient ruins of Butrint and the Ottoman charm of Gjirokastër, this diverse country surprises at every turn. Whether you’re hiking in the Accursed Mountains, wandering through lively Tirana, or relaxing on unspoiled beaches like Ksamil, Albania combines adventure, history, and Mediterranean beauty, without the crowds or the price tag.

Tirana

Pogradec

Vlore

Kruje

Theth

Tirana

Tirana - Find all our Tirana blog posts here

Set against a backdrop of rolling hills and colourful architecture, Tirana is a city full of energy, creativity, and surprises. Albania’s capital blends its Ottoman, Italian, and communist past with a vibrant, modern spirit. Wide boulevards lead to quirky cafés, buzzing markets, and bold street art that tells the story of a city constantly reinventing itself. From strolling through Skanderbeg Square to exploring the trendy Blloku district or relaxing in the Grand Park, Tirana offers a unique mix of history, culture, and warmth. Whether you're here for a weekend or using it as a base to explore the rest of Albania, Tirana will leave a lasting impression.

Why We Love It - Tirana is one of those places where you go there and won't necessarily go back too. We only spent day here as that is where we landed and hired a car from. In that afternoon & the following morning we managed to see everything we wanted to see. Tirana is just a city, to us it wasn't really anything special but it is worth a visit, even if it is short.

How To Get There - We flew from London Heathrow to Tirana with British Airways using our Avios points and companion voucher so our flight only cost us £3. Once we landed in Tirana we grabbed our bags and walked over the road to Green Motion who we had rented our car from. If you plan on spending a few weeks in Albania we would highly recommend hiring a car as it will make travelling around so much easier. Once you land and get your car, you are only about 40 minutes from the centre of Tirana.

Where To Stay - Accommodation in Albania is as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be, as we were trying to make the Balkans trip as cheap as possible we stayed in a very cheap B&B called Theranda Boutique Hotel which was actually very nice, came with breakfast and only cost us £44 for the night. It was in a great location, around 1KM walk from Tirana centre, so was actually perfect for us. We also had to make sure we could park the car here too, and although the property said there was parking, that was questionable as the roads were packed with cars that we couldn't park the car safely anywhere, so they had to shuffle cars around and let us park on the drive to the hotel. If you do hire a car be mindful of booking accommodation that offers free parking as it is very difficult and expensive to park otherwise.

How Long Do You Need - As above and really this is just our opinion you do not need long in Tirana especially if you have kids as really, there isn't much to do there and we found that kids are not allowed in any bars either, even if you are only going in for food so we found it difficult to find a place to eat that we all could enjoy. I would say really between 1-2 days is all you need in Tirana, there are far more beautiful places to explore in Albania.

What To Do - As we really only used Tirana as a base for the rest of the day / night we only explored a few places but for us that was really enough

Pyramid of Tirana - the Pyramid of Tirana stands as a testament to Albania's complex history and its dynamic present. Climb the 877 steps to the top (yep Jax counted) and see the panoramic views across the city. As this is free, it is certainly worth the walk up to the top
Bunk'Art2 - Tucked beneath the busy streets of central Tirana, Bunk’Art 2 is one of the city’s most fascinating—and chilling—historical sites. Originally built as a top-secret nuclear bunker for Albania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs during the communist era, this underground maze of concrete corridors and steel blast doors has now been transformed into a powerful museum. While Bunk’Art 1 focuses on Albania’s military history, Bunk’Art 2 zeroes in on the country’s political persecution and the secret police (Sigurimi). Through immersive exhibits, original rooms, and haunting audio-visual installations, visitors are taken on a journey through one of the darkest chapters in Albania’s recent history. You'll learn how citizens were monitored, interrogated, and imprisoned under Enver Hoxha’s regime. Bunk'Art2 is open daily from 9am - 8pm and costs around €5 per person. We got there around 7pm and it was relatively quiet so a great time to go.
Dajti Ekspres - take a scenic ride to Mount Dajti National Park on the longest cable car in the Balkans and just 20 minutes outside of Tirana city centre. The journey itself is an experience. The cable car ride takes around 15 minutes and offers stunning panoramic views over Tirana, lush forests, and the surrounding mountains. At the top, you’ll find a totally different vibe—peaceful, green, and refreshingly cool. At the top you can also grab something to eat, take part in outdoor activities, go hiking or let the kids play in the playground. There was also a donkey up there for donkey rides, which we would not recommend as that poor donkey looked very sad being up there.

Getting About - as we had hired a car it was easy for us to get about especially getting to Daji Ekspres but from doing my own research public transport around Tirana is generally ok. Must things about town is within walking distance so you won't have any issues getting about

Where To Eat - for some reason we found it a little tricky getting something to eat that wasn't just western food until we found a lovely place called OPA which is Greek Street food - we all enjoyed eating here. You can either eat in or grab a take away and there is something for everyone too. As I say above kids aren't allowed in bars in Tirana so being able to find a place to sit and eat with a good vibe was a little tricky. There are also lots of little bakeries around selling fresh bread, cakes and baklava we would recommend stopping by one and grabbing some delicious baklava.

Steps up the pyramid in Tirana City

If we’ve inspired you, how about treating us to an ice cream? Jax is an absolute ice cream lover, and we’d be so grateful. Plus, it would help us save a little for our next adventure—talk about a win-win! Thank you for being part of our journey!

Pogradec

Pogradec - Find all our Pogradec blog posts here

Set along the tranquil shores of Lake Ohrid and surrounded by rolling hills, Pogradec is one of Albania’s most peaceful and picturesque destinations. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, clear waters, and lakeside promenades, this charming town is perfect for travellers looking to slow down and soak in nature. From swimming and paddleboarding to exploring quaint cafés and fresh fish restaurants, life in Pogradec moves at an easy pace. Whether you’re visiting in summer for lake days or in spring to enjoy blooming wildflowers and mountain air, Pogradec offers a refreshing escape that feels worlds away from the city.

Why We Love It - Pogradec in a nutshell is simply stunning. I knew early on when planning this trip I wanted to stay somewhere along Lake Ohrid and when I saw Pogradec on the map, I knew it was there we had to stay. The lake is just so calming and beautiful and seeing the sun setting over the Macedonian mountains was a beautiful thing to watch.

How To Get There - As we had the car we found it relatively easy to get there. The drive was beautiful and took us through some interesting and cute towns. The drive from Tirana is around 72 miles (116km) and it takes around 2.5 - 3 hours to get there.

Where To Stay - We wanted to stay right on the lake. There are a few accommodation choices you can make but we decided based on location and price to stay at Hotel Victoria which was £61 for the night and included breakfast. The hotel was really lovely, you can see they were investing money as parts of it looked new, especially the restaurant area where we had breakfast. Our room was also very modern with brand new bathroom. Our balcony was also HUGE we were very lucky to get the room we did in all honesty. If you do stay here, make sure you pay a little extra and get the lake view as that is the reason you are going there.

How Long Do You Need - You really don't need much time here, just a day or 2. We spent the day (and night) here and for us it was enough. We wanted to see the lake, enjoy the beautiful mountains and watch the sun setting - it was just gorgeous.

What To Do - Really there isn't a huge amount to do there, we went for the incredibly scenic drive and to see the mountains of Macedonia. The lake is beautiful and crystal clear, as we went in April it was very cold but I imagine in the summer months it is really something else there with boat tours, walks along the promenade and a hike to the National Park.

Where To Eat - We drove to the local town of Korce - which is around 1 hour or so from Pogradec, a cute little town but not much going on there. We stopped for Kebabs and Crepes there.

Lake Ohrid Coming into Pogradec

Vlore - Find all our Vlore blog posts here

Fringed by the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea, Vlorë is a sun-drenched coastal city where history and beach life blend seamlessly. As one of Albania’s oldest cities, it’s steeped in cultural heritage, yet its palm-lined promenade and lively waterfront cafés give it a distinctly Mediterranean holiday feel. Whether you're strolling along the boulevard at sunset, hopping on a boat to the Karaburun Peninsula, or savouring fresh seafood with sea views, Vlorë invites you to unwind and soak up the best of Albania’s Riviera. From family-friendly beaches to nearby national parks, it’s a brilliant base for both relaxation and adventure.

Why We Love It - We actually didn't LOVE Vlore, it was good, but it felt very run down, there was a lot of construction happening so I think in 10 years or so Vlore will be very much an up and coming destination in Albania. Whilst we say didn't love it, we are glad we went as we had a good location, the hotel was lovely and the beach was sandy so Jax was happy.

How To Get There - We drove from Pogradec and stopped in Berat for the afternoon. The drive from Pogradec to Berat took around 3 hours and was a really beautiful drive with stunning scenery. Getting to see Mount Tomorr (one of Albania’s most iconic and sacred mountains) was fantastic, If you take this scenic drive make sure you stop and take some photos or even send your drone up. After spending the afternoon in Berat we carried on our journey to Vlore which was a further 1.5 hours away.

Where To Stay - We decided to stay out of the town a bit but still close enough that we could walk there We decided to stay at Sea & Sand Hotel as it was right on the beach, looked really lovely and included an incredible free breakfast. We were around 1KM away from the town and there was also a private parking garage for the hotel too which was exactly what we needed for the hire car. The hotel cost £114 for 2 nights stay.

How Long Do You Need - This really depends on what you want, we wanted to go to just relax, we didn't really want to do much apart from hang out with Jax on the beach and that is exactly what we did. Whilst there isn't much to do in Vlore if you want to just chill and regroup then 2-3 days would be perfect.

Where To Eat - We decided not to eat at the hotel as dinner was very expensive and a lot of fish on the menu so we headed into town and went to a pizza place called Pizzeria Trattoria Jonce and it was very very nice wood-fired pizza. They were very big, but fear not if you don't eat them all you can ask for a take away box - PRO TIP order the Truffle pizza it was divine.

We also had dinner at Mr. Gyros which is situated along the seafront so you have a lovely view across the bay - we decided to have the big mixed grill between us all, it was ok, but I would probably go with a Gyros if we ever go back.

If you fancy a little bit of pudding, we would highly recommend a place in Vlore town called Chocolatier as we had THE BEST Crepes there - they were very delicious.

Our Sand Art On Vlore Beach

Kruje - Find all our Kruje blog posts here

Perched on the slopes of Mount Krujë and overlooking sweeping views of the surrounding valley, Krujë is a town steeped in history and national pride. Best known as the hometown of Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg, it’s home to a beautifully restored castle and a fascinating museum that tells the story of Albania’s fight for independence. Wander through the cobbled streets of the Old Bazaar, where traditional crafts and handmade goods spill out from wooden shopfronts, and soak up the atmosphere of a place that feels like stepping back in time. Just a short drive from Tirana, Krujë offers a perfect mix of culture, scenery, and heritage.

Why We Love It - Kruje was like nothing else we had seen in Albania, it was very different from all the places we had travelled the week before, it is a very olde worlde with its cobbled stone streets and castle sat on the hill. We found a lovely place to stay with a view of the city and castle and that is what swayed us to stop there and we are so glad we did, we loved it.

How To Get There - The drive from Vlore to Kruje was actually very nice, new carriageways and took around 2.5 hours, very straightforward drive. It only got really busy as we it the town of Kruje, that is where most of our time was spent.

Where To Stay - We found a beautiful hotel named Hotel Deal. Located on the cobbled street where cars can not go, so you will need to find somewhere to park. The hotel said there was parking, but I am not sure there was as we ended up parking on the road before the road the hotel is on - only downside to this was that the next day we saw police issuing parking tickets, so we quickly moved our car to avoid a ticket, we are unsure if you had to pay for parking, it really wasn't clear so just be wary of that. The hotel itself was absolutely beautiful, the reception area and outside sitting area was all being refurbished and our room had also just been refurbished too and was really lovely. The view we had from the balcony is what made this hotel so special - sweeping views across the city with the castle to our left lit up at night. We paid £45 for 1 night here including breakfast.

How Long Do You Need - You really don't need long here, if you make good time on the day you arrive - the rest of that day and night is really all you need. We wanted to head back to the castle again the next morning before we left, but with the parking issue we didn't want to risk getting a ticket so we just left, but we didn't feel like we had missed anything by not being able to go back,

What To Do - Like a few other places, there isn't a huge amount to do here, however, we don't think that is necessarily a bad thing because you don't want to be so busy you have no time to enjoy anything you are doing. You really go to Kruje for the Old Bazaar and the Castle. Wander the cobbled streets, checking out the local crafts and walk to the castle and explore the history. You can also grab a bite to eat or a drink at one of the few restaurants inside the castle grounds. We grabbed a drink at Restaurant Bardhi which had stunning views across the valley. If you can afford to eat here, the food looked delicious.

Where To Eat - We ate 2 different places, with Jax being Jax he wanted a pizza and we wanted something more local. There are a few places to eat and to be honest they were all much the same so wherever you choose I am sure the choice will be great.

Wandering the Bazaar

Theth - Find all our Theth blog posts here

Hidden deep in the Albanian Alps, Theth is one of the country’s most breathtaking mountain villages. Known for its dramatic peaks, crystal-clear rivers, and traditional stone houses, Theth feels like stepping back in time. Theth National Park is a paradise for hikers, with highlights like the iconic Blue Eye of Theth, Grunas Waterfall, and the historic Lock-in Tower. Despite its remote location, the village is becoming more accessible each year, making it the perfect escape for families who love nature, adventure, and a slower pace of life.

Why We Love It - Theth was hands down our favourite place we went to in Albania and we would highly recommend taking the time out to go here. The drive there is certainly not for the faint hearted with the narrow sweeping winding roads, but the views more than make up for this with snow capped mountains, cascading water falls and crystal clear rivers.

How To Get There - There are a number of ways to get here. As we had the hire car (and still something we would encourage everyone to have) we drove from Kruje to Theth and it takes around 4 hours (probably slightly less if you don't stop). However, there is a shuttle bus you can grab from Shkoder to Theth and takes around 2 hours - if you don't have a hire car then this will be your best and cheapest option as a taxi can set you back around 80-90 euros. The drive there is breathtaking but actually quite nerve wracking so be prepared if you decide to do the drive yourself - not to put you off at all as it is fantastic but you do have to have your wits about you.

Where To Stay - We spent quite some time trying to find the "perfect" place to stay whilst trying to keep the budget down and we did exactly that. We found a beautiful log style guesthouse right along the Lumi I Thethit river - Guesthouse Marashi. The guesthouse offered incredible views of the snow capped mountains. The owners were just brilliant too, nothing was too much and the way they interacted with Jax was fantastic, a real family friendly place with such a warm cosy vibe. What I would say is, there isn't anywhere to eat locally here, or at least we didn't find anywhere but the Guesthouse offers dinner which we had and it was delicious. It was cooked by the owners mother so really local traditional food and there was plenty of it. We paid £25 for the 3 of us and we had around 3 courses each. I believe you could have added wine too but we chose not too. We stayed here for 1 night and it cost us £56 with breakfast.

How Long Do You Need - We only had 1 day here but I if we had more time I would probably stay for 2 nights so you can explore further afield. As we only had 1 day everything we did was very local to the Guesthouse.

What To Do - There is plenty to do here if you have the time to do it as there are lots of different hikes you can take. The hike that we did was to Waterfall Grunas which takes around 30 - 40 minutes each way. This hike is very easy, Jax found it very easy too and it is well worth it as the waterfall is beautiful and following the sweeping beautiful crystal clear river down was very calming. You can stop at various points too for different views of the river, we even found one place to stop with a little swing chair on a rock with the river flowing around it. We also explored locally and found the Kisha e Thethit - which is a beautiful local church in the valley, very picturesque.

If you are feeling brave you can also do a Zip Line down the valley too, however, when we went (April) it wasn't open, which was a shame as we really wanted to do it as well - but we managed to zip line in Montenegro instead on the same trip.

Where To Eat - As I say above as far as know or could see there wasn't much around in terms of restaurants. It would seem most people would eat at the guesthouse they are staying at. If you want snacks, you are best off bringing them with you as there are no shops locally either.

Kisha e Thethit