Things To Do
Lezhë
Lezhë itself is a small town but worth a wander. There are castle ruins on the hillside that can be reached by foot (30 minutes) or by a quick taxi ride. Its exact age is unknown but it's been there since at least the early 1400s. It was held by various groups over the years from the Illyrians to the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. It’s got beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and coastline! If you have some spare time to explore the area further, Kune-Vain-Tale Reserve is about a 10-minute drive from Lezhë. This coastal wetland lagoon is a small state park with a roadside nature trail and good birdwatching opportunities.
Tiranë
Tirana, the capital, is great for one or two days! Highlights include a gondola up Dajti Mountain with a great view and a restaurant at the top, Skanderbeg Square, Piramida, Grand Park of Tirana which has a big lake with both a little passenger train/shuttle and a walking path around it (roughly one hour’s walk, give or take, at a leisurely pace), and some great coffee shops, restaurants, and nightlife. There are some fascinating museums about the 1944-1991 authoritarian regime, including ones housed in former bunkers (Bunkart 1 and 2) and the old central surveillance building (House of Leaves), though these come with a bit of a trigger warning as they're quite sobering. There is also a small but thoughtfully curated women's history museum called MiG Women’s Museum with a very lovely director, located just a few minutes’ walk from the House of Leaves. On the opposite side of the square, Pazari i Ri Market is an open-air market that sells local agricultural products and handicrafts.
Krujë
Krujë is a great half-day or day trip located right between Tirana and Lezhë! It has a beautiful hilltop old town with an atmospheric marketplace and mosque, two small ethnographic museums, and views of the valley and the Adriatic Sea.
Berat
Berat (about two hours south of Tirana) is one of Albania's most celebrated historic cities, known for its striking Ottoman architecture, castle ruins set into the hillside, and the dramatic backdrop of Mount Tomorr (a mountain with deep significance in local folklore).
Albanian Alps
The Albanian Alps (north) are stunning. The main valleys to aim for are Valbona, Theth, and Lepushe. Valbona is probably the most accessible of the three, though all do require a fair bit of driving to reach. The classic way to reach Valbona is partly by ferry: drive from Lezhë to Koman (about 3 hours), take a 2.5–3 hour ferry to Fierze, then a short drive to Valbona. It's a full day's journey but very beautiful. If you head north, you should definitely try fli: a delicious savoury multilayered crepe that's a local speciality. Also worth knowing: Shkodër is the main northern city (just past Lezhë) and has its own castle and a large lake bordering Montenegro. The Shala River (Lumi i Shalës) near Shkodër is meant to be very scenic and is on our list to visit ourselves this year! It's accessible by motorboat and kayak.
Albanian Riviera
The Albanian Riviera (south) is famous for its turquoise, crystal-clear Ionian Sea waters. Himarë, Dhërmi, Sarandë, and Ksamil are all classic beach towns, and there are regular boat trips available each day out to gorgeous secluded beaches only reachable by water. Late April/early May might be slightly on the cool side for swimming (compared to, say, July, when the temperature frequently exceeds 32C/90F), but some people definitely do still swim at this time of year. The beautiful views can be enjoyed either way! The drive south takes you through the city of Vlorë and either over a mountain pass or through a newly-constructed tunnel to the coast.
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is well worth a visit if you're heading south. It’s a beautiful city of cobblestone streets and Ottoman architecture, with a hilltop fortress that somehow contains the wreckage of a downed U.S. Air Force plane (the story of how it got there is disputed). It was the birthplace of both Albania's former dictator, Enver Hoxha, and the surrealist author Ismail Kadare. The former homes of both are now museums.
Neighbouring countries
Kosovo is also worth considering if you want to really extend your trip. The city of Prizren is lovely and only about 25–30 minutes from Kukes in northern Albania, so if you're already heading up that way, it's very doable. Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, and Greece are also all nearby countries that are accessible on a longer trip!
Transport: Buses/Coaches
Buses/coaches are available between many major cities in the Balkans and are a great budget option! Departure times vary by location but many destinations have multiple buses per day available. Tickets can be booked either online via various sites or in person in Tirana. While there are multiple bus stations in Tirana, the two main ones are Tirana East Gate Bus Terminal (TEG) and North/South Terminal (next to Hygeia Hospital). TEG is a Flixbus station.
Transport: Renting a car
This is a great option as long as you’re a fairly confident driver (see further details in the FAQ section of the website!) There are many different rental operators with kiosks outside of Tirana airport. You can compare prices and offers on sites such as Booking.com.
Transport: Hiring a car and driver
Another great option, and something that many visitors choose. There are multiple companies available offering a range of services, from day trips to multi-day ones, such as Albanian Trip Car Rentals or Choose Balkans.
Transport: Booking a fully guided tour
There are loads of tour operators available who offer trips all over the country, ranging from quick one-hour history tours of Tirana to day-long wine tasting or archaeological trips to multi-day mountain or beach excursions. Many local operators post their offerings on sites such as GetYourGuide and Viatour. A great option if you want to have someone available to answer questions, and the ease of having them coordinate logistics!