Driving in Albania: What You Really Need to Know

If you're planning a trip to Albania and wondering whether to hire a car—our answer is a big yes. But with a few caveats.

We recently drove around the country and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our trip. Albania is incredibly beautiful, with wild mountains, hidden beaches, charming little villages, and dramatic landscapes that are best explored on four wheels. Public transport is improving, but if you want to go off the beaten path and travel on your own schedule, a hire car is the way to go.

Let’s start with the good news: fuel is cheap. Compared to most of Europe, filling up your tank in Albania is surprisingly affordable, which makes road-tripping here feel even more worth it. We drove quite a bit and were shocked at how far we could get without feeling the sting at the petrol station.

We hired our car through Green Motion and chose an automatic car — something we’d highly recommend if you’re not used to driving in more unpredictable road conditions. Albania’s roads are very mixed. Some highways are smooth and modern, while others can be narrow, unpaved, or riddled with potholes. Throw in a few unexpected detours, some fairly creative driving from the locals, and the occasional donkey crossing, and having an automatic just makes life that little bit easier. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Our Hyundai We Hired For 10 Days

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Albanian driving.

We don’t want to put anyone off—but we do want to be honest. Driving in Albania is… adventurous. Road rules exist, but they’re not always followed. Indicators are more of a suggestion, overtaking can happen at any time (including on blind corners), and speed limits are more of a guideline than a rule. City driving can be hectic, and roundabouts seem to operate on instinct rather than logic.

Because of this, we took out the highest level of insurance available, and we’re so glad we did. While we didn’t have any accidents as such - we did hit a rock in Montenegro and got a puncture, but that is a different story, the peace of mind alone made it worth the extra cost. Between unpredictable drivers, random road closures, and tight parking spaces, you’ll want to know you’re covered.

That being said, once you get used to the rhythm of it, driving in Albania isn’t scary—it’s just different. And if you’ve ever driven in places like Morocco, Southeast Asia, or Southern France, you’ll probably adjust quite quickly.

Here are our top tips if you’re considering driving in Albania:

• ✅ Book an automatic if possible – it’ll save you stress when navigating hairpin bends or city chaos.

• ✅ Get full insurance cover – seriously, don’t skip this. It’s worth every penny.

• ✅ Be alert at all times – expect the unexpected, especially in rural areas or towns.

• ✅ Use offline maps – signal can be patchy in remote areas, so download your routes in advance.

• ✅ Watch for road signs – sometimes they’re in Albanian only, and sometimes… they just don’t exist.

  
  

All in all, driving in Albania gave us freedom we wouldn’t have had otherwise. We discovered tiny mountain villages, stopped at roadside stalls for fresh fruit, and pulled over constantly just to admire the view.

It might not be the smoothest ride—but it’s absolutely worth it.

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