Let’s start by being upfront. I’m a Brit whose heart lives in Albania, so expect a little bias. I like Greece too, though. I love the Greek people, I love the food and, like all Mediterranean countries, I love the vibe. I’m not as keen on the wine, but that’s about it!
My first experience of Greece as a young adult actually came from Albania. When I lived in Tepelenë in 1994, I made regular trips over the border at Kakavijë to Ioannina for such Western luxuries as ATMs, so I could withdraw cash. I developed a real soft spot for the place. Even then, I always enjoyed coming back across the border into Albania. The sounds and the language made me feel more at ease. Familiarity, I suppose. Most Greeks would be horrified at the idea, especially back then, when Albanians were pretty much persona non grata there.
More in common than you’d think
There’s a fair bit of overlap between the two. Greek influence is strong in southern Albania, especially near that border crossing. Orthodox churches are commonplace. Gjirokastër, the main town, has a strong Greek heritage. Its Greek name is Argyrokastro, and its population was historically Greek-speaking. Tepelenë, where I lived, was the birthplace of Ali Pasha, the Ottoman ruler who held court at Ioannina and governed much of what is now southern Albania and northern Greece. Lord Byron visited him there in 1809. And I’ve written elsewhere on this blog about the ferry crossing from Corfu to Sarandë .
Where Greece wins
To be fair to Greece, as a tourist destination it has plenty that Albania doesn’t have yet.
- Infrastructure. It’s well developed. Flights, ferries and roads work (comparatively!), and you rarely have to think about logistics.
- Cruises and island hopping. They’re spectacular, and nothing in Albania compares.
- All-inclusive hotels. There are plenty, and they work.
- Beauty. It’s pretty beautiful too!
Greece also gets far more visitors. Albania welcomed around 12.5 million foreign visitors in 2025, while Greece gets roughly three times that. Albania is growing fast, though, with around 930,000 UK visitors last year, up more than 20%.
So why would I still choose Albania?
Even with all that, if push came to shove I’d stay in Albania. Here’s why.
The culture. I love Albanian culture, and its central tenet is hospitality. It permeates everything. There’s an old saying that an Albanian’s house belongs to God and the guest. You feel it in the way you’re welcomed into someone’s home, fed more than you can eat and sent off with a bottle of something.
I prefer the lack of infrastructure. I like the edginess. If you want something smoother and more polished, go to Greece and you’ll have a fab time. If you want the authentic, slightly chaotic, manic and untrodden feel that I do, Albania wins every time. It’s honest to say it’s the trade-off. Journeys can take longer than the map suggests, and nothing is as polished.
No all-inclusive for me. I don’t want a hotel where I never have to leave the site. I want to get out, try the local food, accept the hospitality and talk to people. There are plenty of places in Greece where you can do that. They’re just getting harder to find. (If you do want all-inclusive in Albania, I’ve written about why we’d rather talk you out of it.)
The history. Greece has history too, of course. What gets me about Albania is the hotchpotch: occupied by all and sundry over the centuries, from the Illyrians and the Romans to the Ottomans and the Italians, then a communist era that’s still recent. It’s now learning to stand on its own two feet. Berat, Gjirokastër and Butrint are all UNESCO sites, and Bunk’Art shows the Cold War as nowhere else does. For me, that’s something truly special and unique.
Albania vs Greece at a glance
| Albania | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Lek | Euro |
| Visitors in 2025 | About 12.5 million | Roughly 35 million |
| Island hopping and cruises | Limited | Spectacular |
| All-inclusive hotels | Few, mostly around Durrës and Golem | Plenty |
| The feel | Authentic, edgy, less polished | Polished and established |
| Best for | Culture, history, food, off-the-beaten-track touring | Islands, beach resorts, sailing, easy family holidays |
Why not both?
You don’t have to choose. Corfu and the south of Albania are close, and the ferry from Corfu to Sarandë takes you in little time. A week could combine a Greek island with Butrint, the Albanian Riviera and Gjirokastër. We can arrange that for you.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Greece if you want an easy, polished beach or island holiday, sailing, or an all-inclusive that works.
- Choose Albania if you want culture, history, hospitality, mountains and food, and you’re happy to go with the flow.
Not sure? Tell us what you’re after and we’ll give you an honest answer, even if it’s Greece. Get in touch.
