Tucked between the Ionian and Adriatic seas and sharing borders with Montenegro, Greece, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, Albania remains one of Europe’s most overlooked destinations. Yet anyone who dismisses this remarkable country bursting with dramatic landscapes, ancient heritage, cultural richness, and famously warm hospitality is missing out on something truly special.
Albania’s sheer variety is astonishing. Rugged mountain ranges, pristine sandy beaches, and glass‑clear lakes and rivers create a backdrop that feels almost unreal. Layered on top of this natural beauty is a tapestry of history shaped by Roman, Ottoman, and Illyrian influences, making it a dream for history enthusiasts and architecture lovers.
What makes Albania even more extraordinary is how authentic and accessible it remains. Despite offering experiences that rival Europe’s most celebrated hotspots, it is still largely uncommercialised and refreshingly affordable. It’s no wonder that this Balkan gem is quickly catching the attention of savvy travellers.
There’s never been a better moment to plan your Albanian adventure. Below, you’ll find a carefully curated guide to the country’s most captivating places, sights, and experiences. Read on to discover the “Land of the Eagles”, Europe’s last true hidden treasure
Tirana
A lively capital city, Tirana is a must for every stay in Albania, bursting with colourful buildings, the famous Skanderbeg Square, a lively cafe culture and the buzzing Blloku nightlife. Built on a varied cultural foundation where modern architectural influences combine with those of the Ottoman Empire, Italian Fascism, and Soviet Style communism, you will find all sorts of cultural delights, including Bunk’Art Museums (former nuclear bunkers), as well as the once dictators' museum (The Pyramid of Tirana), turned suburban relic. All of which swirl together to create a fascinating and varied cityscape.
“When I visited Tirana back in 2023 to undertake local guide training and to check on all the arrangements for our new (at that time) Albania Encompassed group tour, I was very much taken by Albania’s transparent approach to its recent past and how, especially in the House of Leaves museum, it was confronting head-on the uncomfortable realities of the surveillance activities undertaken by the Sigurimi, the Albanian equivalent of East Germany’s Stasi, during the communist era. It made me think of the excellent film The Lives of Others and the bravery it takes for a country to admit its mistakes in an attempt to learn from them and move forward. I’m sure many other countries could learn from Albania’s example in this regard.” - Marc, Product & Operations Director
Valbonë Valley
Located in the North of the country, the stunning Valbonë Valley is known for its alpine peaks, rivers with crystal clear waters, remote beauty, and warm and welcoming stone-built guest houses offering home stays. There are many popular hiking trails in this location, with the Valbonë–Theth trail, passing through one of the most rugged mountain corridors in Europe, known as the Accursed Mountains to the locals, due to their particularly difficult-to-navigate terrain.
Vermosh Valley
Situated in the far North, close to the border with Montenegro, Vermosh Valley is a pastoral dream full of wild flower meadows, alpine rivers, and open valleys. There you will find clean mountain air, as well as lots of grazing livestock, as the Vermosh Valley is famous for its Shepard culture. Ideal for anyone looking to get away from it all, Vermosh Valley is one of the Balkans' least visited regions, and is truly one of Albania’s hidden gems of untouched natural beauty.
Lake Koman
If you are looking for one of the most beautiful boat rides in the world, then the turquoise waters of Lake Koman are a must-see. This gateway to the north, linking Valbonë and central Albiana, offers fjord-like views with cliffs lining the side of the lake. Indeed, many people comment that Lake Koman has a truly Nordic feel, enhanced by the remote clifftop homes, and slow travel experience that truly helps you to unplug and unwind.
Butrint
Situated in the south, around 20KM from Saranda, Butrint is both an ancient city and a national archaeological park protected by UNESCO. People have lived in the Butrint area since prehistoric times, which makes it an excellent place for exploring a variety of ancient civilisations and making it a much-visited landmark for ancient architecture and history lovers alike.
There you will find amazing preserved ancient ruins from a wide range of different civilizations including the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, and even the Venetians. A must-see is this stunning ancient theatre, which, like all the ruins in this location, is surrounded by both lagoons and wetlands that are teeming with rich and sometimes rare wildlife.
Shkodër
With a burgeoning arts scene, alpine access, and great cycle routes, Shkodër is a city that has many attractive qualities. It's also packed with attractive and interesting locations as well, with one of its most famous being the stone ruins of Rozafa Castle. A hilltop castle that not only boasts a haunting and ghoulish legend about a woman who was walled in alive to protect the fortress from falling, but also the site of some of the most breathtaking panoramic views across Shkodër and the surrounding rivers and mountains.
Also known as the gateway to the Alps, Shkodër is not only Albania’s northern cultural centre, but is also one of the most cycle-friendly of all the Albanian cities. This makes it a wonderful place to hire a bike and explore all the artistic, historical, musical and culinary delights it holds.
Krujë
Next, out of the best places to visit in Albania, Krujë is one of the strongest contenders. This is because it's a historic mountain town famous for its popular Ottoman Bazaar, fascinating castle museum, and links to 15th-century Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. Much loved for his brilliant military mind that helped Albania to resist Ottoman occupation for 25 years!
Only a few miles from Tirana, Krujë makes an ideal day trip from Albania’s capital. Just be sure to leave enough time to visit the old Bazaar, where you can find all sorts of traditional handicrafts that you won't see anywhere else, as well as the stunning castle or fortress, which houses a fascinating museum and offers amazing views across the mountains.
Durrës
A major Albanian coastal city, Durres, is famous for its beautiful beaches, sumptuous seafood, and one of the biggest ancient Roman amphitheatres in the Balkans. Also an ancient port, Durrës offers ferry connections to Italy, and plenty of accessible beaches that are ideal for family days out. Oh, and while you might expect that amphitheatres would be out of town and surrounded by other ruins, it is in fact pretty central in location, and hidden for the most part by modern apartment blocks.
When it comes to cuisine in Durrës, seafood is at the top of the menu, with local delicacies such as risotto, oysters, and lobster for a start. The best thing about the plentiful and delicious seafood in Seafood Durrës (apart from the taste) is that it is incredibly reasonably priced too, so you can enjoy it without breaking the bank.
Vlorë
On the Albanian Riviera, and known not only as the city that overlooks the dual seas (the Adriatic and the Ionian), but also as the first place of Albanian independence, is Vlorë. The location where, in 1912, independence from the Ottoman Empire was first declared. This makes this beachside city a site of critical national importance, and once that becomes the symbolic centre of Albania every 28th of November (Albanian Independence Day). In addition to the Muzeu Kombëtar i Pavarësisë (National Museum of Independence), plenty of sandy beaches, as well as a lively culture that includes cafes and nightlife along the promenade.
It's also possible to get a boat to Sazan Island. A location that was once closed to civilians, as it was used as a military base. Although it's recently been bought by the Trumps as a potential site of a super-luxe new resort, it may be best to seize the opportunity to visit while you still can.
Thethi
While perhaps a little more popular and busy than its counterpart, Vusanje, it is certainly not hard to see why, as Thethi is the epitome of the Albanian alpine village. Situated at the heart of Thethi national park, This Charming Village also boasts one of Albania's most photographed landmarks, Thethi’s tiny stone catholic church, which is a popular subject for photos and reels on Instagram.
Thethi is also famous for its stunning waterfalls and canyons, one of which is truly unmissable. It's known as the Blue Eye of Thethi, and consists of a bright and glowing pool of water fed from a waterfall and natural spring. Something that makes the Eye a real favourite hiking spot with locals and visitors alike.
Lastly, if you are planning on staying in Thethi, then there are plenty of traditional-style, local guest houses to choose from. Indeed, Thethi is an excellent example of the world-famous Albanian hospitality in action, as they welcome guests from all over the world.
Llogora National Park
Situated on one of the Balkans' most dramatic sea-to-mountain drops, Llogora National Park offers varied wildlife, scenic drives, and paragliding opportunities for the Bold at heart. Located along an epic mountain, Llogora Pass with breathtaking coastal views, Llogora National Park is populated with pine forests, contributing to a cooler climate than many other areas in Albania. It is this cooler weather, combined with the many picnic areas and hiking trails, that make Llogora National Park an excellent location for those wanting to explore the outdoors. Of course, the wealth of wildlife, including deer and majestic birds of prey such as the Golden Eagle and Griffin Vulture, doesn’t hurt either. Llogora National Park is even a popular spot with paragliders, where they get to launch out over the captivating Ionian Sea.
Himarë
Rich in Greek heritage, Himarë is a coastal town on the Ionian Sea that offers a relaxed pace of life. Clear waters and the sandy beaches of Livadhi and Jala attract couples and families alike, for watersports including swimming and snorkelling.
Overlooked by the old ruined castle on the hilltop (the perfect place to get the best views of the Ionian panoramas), the town of Himarë is heavily influenced by Greek architecture, language and delicious food. You can expect culinary treats such as dolmades, moussaka, souvlaki, and even tzatziki side by side with the hearty Albanian fare that is served in local tavernas.
Gjirokastër
Unesco-listed Gjirokastër is also known as the stone city, because of its stone-made tower homes, cobbled streets, and its impressive fortress made entirely from stone. The old town in particular is known as an excellent example of preserved Ottoman stone architecture, with the fortress itself dominating the city skyline.
Also the birthplace of writer Ismail Kadare, famous for works such as The Siege, The Ghost Rider and The Palace of Dreams, this area boast excellent cuisine characterized by heart dishes such as Tavë Kosi (lamb in a yogurt and egg sauce), Byrek, cheese, spinach and even sometimes meat filled pastry and the iconic Fërgesë a oven baked dish that contains tomatoes, peppers, and cottage cheese.
“When I visited Albania on our group tour, Albania Encompassed, in 2024, one of the real highlights for me was in Gjirokastër. We were invited into a family home where they grow and make much of what they eat, and our hosts laid out a wonderful spread of homemade Albanian delicacies for us to try. We started with coffee, then moved on to honey cake and raki. I think it’s these moments of connection and personal touches that tend to stay with you, and they’re often much harder to come across when travelling independently.” - Louisa, Travel Expert
Berat
Known as the city of a thousand windows, Berat is characterised by distinct-looking Ottoman houses, decorated in white across its hilltops. Each house boasts large, evenly spaced windows designed to maximise natural light within its interior. It is these many windows that give the city its name.
Another of Albania’s 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Berat, has a castle that is still inhabited today (one of the few left in Europe), as well as a wealth of historic mosques and churches.
Beloved for its relaxed charm and river views, the old quarter in the city of a thousand windows is particularly well preserved, due to its Unesco protection, and the picturesque Osumi offers plenty of beautiful walks across charming bridges.
Saranda
Facing the Greek Island of Corfu, and also sometimes known as Sarandë, this major coastal hub on the Ionian Sea is close to the turquoise lagoons, and the pretty islands of Ksmil. Famous for its lively promenade that is popular for evening strolls, Saranda promises a sun-soaked lifestyle of long days and warm nights that is ideal for a summer break.
