Over the last few years, Albania has emerged as the unexplored, new, go-to destination for British travellers. It started as a few, no doubt in their eyes, pioneering tik-tokkers discovered Ksmail with its beautiful islands and decided to post lots – the area quickly became known as ‘the Maldives of Europe’. The rest, as they say, is history.
Or is it…?
At Experience Albania, none of this was new to us. We’ve been creating magical holidays to (in our opinion) the greatest destination on earth since 2013. Our founders (we are British by the way) first arrived there in 1993 and have seen this stunning nation, full of wonderful people, emerge blinking into the sunlight after decades of communist oppression to become the most searched European Destination from the UK in Google.
Take a journey through our site, and you will see it is way more than beaches. Prepare to experience a land of contrast with stunning mountains, ancient history, amazing culture, superb food and wine, incredible hospitality, delightful towns… and did we mention the beaches?
Our private tours or tailored packages will be expertly curated just for you and help you experience the most of Albania. It’s way more than beaches!
Here at Experience Albania, our love for Tirana goes back over 20 years. We saw it in the early 90s when old Czech buses drove around Skenderbeg Square, unopposed except for the donkey pulling carts and the locals who didn’t really care for cars. We lived there in the early noughties when it was becoming more cosmopolitan. Cars were aplenty now, infrastructure was developing, Blloku was emerging, hotels were appearing, the mayor was colourful and it was bustling… although they still didn’t really know what to do with the pyramid!
Now in the mid-2020s, Tirana’s transformation is complete yet evolving at the same time. Still very much a walking city, there are great sights that tell you all about their Communist past, the cable car up Dajti Mountain gives amazing views over the city, Blloku is vibrant and awash with bars and restaurants, Toptani Castle offers great restaurants, places like Pazar i Ri are brilliant for real Albanian sights, sounds and smells and Skenderbeg Square is a great focal point. Our guests staying in Tirana also often have a day’s excursion to nearby Bovilla Lake, Kruje and Durres. Tirana is fab but don’t just take our word for it! There’s more about it here or get a free, personal video consultation to start planning your Albanian adventure
We LOVE Berat! It has become one of our most popular destinations over the last couple of years. It’s emerged from being a nice place to stop for a night to somewhere that we highlight as a ‘must do’ and allow 2 or 3 nights there.
As well as being a UNESCO World Heritage site (called the ‘City of a Thousand Windows’) full of history and culture, Berat has become the food and wine capital of Albania. Numerous wineries in the area make for a great opportunity to really explore the burgeoning Albanian wine scene and the remarkable local cuisine with a plethora of local restaurants to try it in have really made Berat a gastronomic delight.
Berat is also a fab activity destination – Rafting in the Osumi Canyon, Swimming in Bogova Waterfall, hiking up nearby mountains or even Quad-Biking. There is so much to do here you really don’t want to miss it!
Our first Albanian home back in 1993 and again in the very early noughties for a couple of years (before we ended up in Tirana), Vlore has a special place in our hearts – from days of working in orphanages just after Communism and contending with cows on the beach to enjoying sun kissed Summer days on beaches no-one had heard of (until a famous American decided to try and buy some of it!).
The Vlore of today is very different. It is fun, vibrant and, importantly, well developed with the superb Lungomare the main attraction to many but don’t let it distract completely from the well re-done Old Town, main Boulevard and the developing Plazh i Vjeter (Old Beach). Frolic on the beautiful sea in the bay on one of the many boat tours Check out Narta Lagoon and Zvernec Monastery, Kanine Castle or just use Vlore’s position as gateway to the Riviera and explore further South from here.
Vlore is a bit of a Crown Jewel really!
Birthplace of one of Albania’s most famous writers, Ismail Kadare and it most infamous leader, Enver Hoxha, Gjirokaster has long been one of our favourite Albanian stopping points. Back in 1994, our founder, Mark, lived in the nearby, smaller town of Tepelene. Consequently, frequent trips to Gjirokaster were made as it was the nearest ‘big’ town and the local store had started selling Greek Jam – unobtainable in Tepelene in the early days!!
Much has changed. Yes, the castle still sits proudly atop the town. The shot down US aircraft still occupying pride of place is a constant reminder of a time when Albanian priorities were different. The cold war tunnel underneath also serves of a similar reminder. Girokaster is a hilly town, be prepared for lots of up and downs. Make it easier by stopping for coffee at one of the many cafés that adorn the centre. Gjirokaster is an architect’s delight, the old Kulla style houses are everywhere and many of them have been tastefully turned into hotels giving a really authentic Albanian experience.
It’s stunning – simple as that! You can see that from all the stuff on Social Media. To be honest, most of it doesn’t do it justice. Places like Dhermi, Himare, Qeparo and Borsh are worth stops – not just for their beaches but to explore the villages that bear their names. The incredible, blue, Ionian Sea kisses the shores all the way down. Check out Plazhi Pasqyra (Mirror Beach) and you’ll see where it gets its name from!
There’s a beautiful pattern on the Riviera: the Ionian Sea gives way to wide expanses of beach which then, in turn, give way to hills and mountains. Wherever you look on the Riviera, there’s a stunning backdrop.
Butrint is one of those places that genuinely takes your breath away – and we don’t use that phrase lightly. A UNESCO World Heritage Site tucked into a beautiful lakeside setting near Sarandë, Butrint has been continuously occupied since at least the 7th century BC. Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian – layer upon layer of history in one extraordinary place. The amphitheatre, the baptistery, the city walls – all remarkably well preserved. If you have any interest in history at all, give Butrint a full morning. Do it before heading to Ksamil for the afternoon. It deserves it. Plus, unlike many great historical sites, it’s still relatively uncrowded – another very Albanian advantage.
We’ll be honest. Sarandë itself divides opinion. It’s busy, it’s developed, and in peak summer it can feel a long way from the unspoilt Albania you came looking for. All that said, it doesn’t really matter, because Sarandë is really about what’s around it rather than what’s in it.
Butrint is on the doorstep, Ksamil and its beautiful little islands are just down the road and Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltёr) isn’t far. Sarandë’s own seafront promenade is genuinely pleasant for an evening stroll and dinner with views across to Corfu.
A couple of nights here. Enough to see everything properly without outstaying the welcome. Use it as a base, see the surrounding area, and then head north along the Riviera where the real magic begins.
For a long time relatively undiscovered alongside the better known Gjirokaster, Permet is quickly gaining a great reputation for the important things in life – food, wine and watersports! The traditional food here is well worth checking out – including their wonderful jams and preserves – and there’s some decent vineyards in the region too.
The Vjosa River (Albania’s first river National Park) runs wildly though the valley and offers rafting, tubing or just sunbathing! There’s hiking, horse riding and other outdoors activities to keep you busy. Don’t forget to take a relaxing dip in the Benja Thermal Baths whilst here too!
Korçë doesn’t get the attention it deserves – which is probably why we like it so much. It’s known as Little Paris – easy to see why really! Tucked away in the southeast near the North Macedonian border, it’s a city with a genuine cultural identity all of its own. The National Museum of Medieval Art is one of the finest in Albania. The Orthodox Cathedral is stunning. The old bazaar quarter has real atmosphere. And the surrounding landscape – Prespa Lakes, the nearby villages – is quietly beautiful. Korçë also has a lively café culture and is famous for its beer festival. It’s a different side of Albania entirely, and all the better for it.
If Albania has a spiritual home, Krujë might just be it. This is where Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu – the national hero – held out against the Ottoman Empire for decades and became the stuff of legend. The castle and museum that bear his name sit dramatically on the hillside and are genuinely worth the visit. The Ethnographic Museum is one of the best in the country and the Old Bazaar below – where craftspeople still work as they have for centuries – is a wonderful place to lose an hour or two. It’s also fun to watch the planes landing at Tirana airport directly below you – they look tiny from far up! Krujë is only 45 minutes from Tirana and makes for a brilliant day excursion, often combined with nearby Durrës. Don’t miss it.
One of Albania’s oldest and, quite possibly, most underrated cities. It serves as a great gateway to the stunning Albanian Alps but is well worth the time in its own right! Check out Rozafa Castle, take a bicycle trip to the the beautiful Shiroka village on the shores of Lake Shkoder (the largest in the Balkans BTW!) and the beautiful city centre shows off its combined Austro-Hungarian, Italian and Ottoman heritage. Watch the world go by at one of the numerous cafes and restaurants along the wonderful Pedonale (walking street). Want beach? Head out to Velipoje.
Come for the Alps – stay for more!!
If you want to understand why Albania is increasingly being called one of Europe’s greatest undiscovered adventure destinations, come to the Albanian Alps. The Valbonë Valley and Theth are two of the most breathtaking places we’ve ever been – and we’ve been to a few. The famous Valbonë-to-Theth hike is one of the great Balkan walking routes, but you don’t have to be a serious hiker to enjoy this region. The scenery alone – soaring peaks, crystal rivers, traditional stone guesthouses – is worth the journey. Add in the Komani Lake ferry, one of the most spectacular boat rides in Europe, and the Albanian Alps become a genuinely unmissable part of any Albania itinerary. Wild, unspoilt, and extraordinary.
Many people drive past Durrës on their way from Tirana to somewhere else. We’d encourage you to slow down and take a night here! This is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe – founded by Greek colonists in the 7th century BC – and the layers of history are still very much visible. The Roman Amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Balkans, sits almost incongruously in the middle of a modern residential neighbourhood – close your eyes and ears from the traffic noise and imagine what went on here centuries ago! The Venetian Tower and city walls add further depth, and the Archaeological Museum is outstanding. There’s a decent seafront promenade too for a relaxed lunch and dinner. Durrës rewards the curious.