While you can find plenty of boilerplate or AI-generated itineraries for Albania, I want to do something better by sharing advice based entirely on my own experiences. Far from just a theoretical way to connect the dots, I’ll tell you what it’s really like to follow these routes — and share plenty of personal travel tips along the way.
The following Albania itineraries combine cities, culture, beaches, and nature to give you a varied experience. They represent how I’ve travelled around Albania with just some minor tweaks for efficiency or to emphasize my favorite places.
Alright, let’s lay it all out…
Before we start
First, some tips about the travel logistics in Albania that are good to know before you plan your trip.
I mainly use Booking.com and Hostelworld for my accommodation bookings. If you’re in Albania in the high season, it’s highly worth pre-booking as the best places do get snapped up. Pre-booking is important especially for Theth if you’re going there during the summer hiking season, as it’s a small village with limited capacity. You might want to call dibs on your favorite place on the coast as well if you’re going to the popular Albanian Riviera in summer.
As for transportation, your online booking options are quite limited. Longer-distance coach trips (such as Shkoder to Tirana or trips to/from neighboring countries) you can usually find online, for instance on Bookaway. However, for shorter or more local routes, it’s often easiest to find transport in person.
Know that online timetables can be quite unreliable. The transport system is not so formalized in Albania and online booking systems often don’t yet exist, so asking around or booking your trip in the location is often the best way to go.
I have more travel tips for Albania! Be sure to also read my Albania travel guide that goes more broadly into what to expect, how to travel around, and important things to avoid.
2 Weeks in Albania north to south
Included in this route:
- Hiking, waterfalls & a river canyon boat trip in the Albanian Alps
- The modern buzzing capital of Tirana
- Both of the major UNESCO World Heritage historical towns
- Some quality beach time to cap it off
Packing tips for this route:
- Bring hiking boots, the Theth-Valbone trail is rocky.
- Pack layers – mornings in the Alps are chilly even in July
Why this route works:
This route is roughly how I travelled through Albania the first time. If you have at least about 2 weeks available, you can pack in many of the highlights and have an incredible trip.
I designed this route after realizing most Albania itineraries either focus purely on beaches OR purely on culture. This loop gives you both, plus some of the best nature experiences, without backtracking. The progression from mountains to history to coast also creates a natural rhythm — you’ll finish with relaxing beach days after more active sightseeing.
| Location | Activity | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Shkoder (±2 days) | Explore Shkoder’s old town, Rozafa Castle & more on this walking tour | – Çoçja Boutique Hotel, one of the town’s top-rated stays – For a stay right in the center, go for Hotel Ikona |
| Albanian Alps (±3 days) | Hike the famous Theth-Valbona trail & river canyon boat trip | -Accommodation is included in the tour package – If you’re doing it yourself, I recommend at Guesthouse Skender Selimaj |
| Tirana (±2 days) | – Book the Albanian Night Show (with dinner) for traditional music, dance, and folklore – Explore Tirana’s top sights on a guided walking tour | – Ebel Boutique Hotel or Vila Jasmine, both are central with a cozy, boutique feel – For an upscale stay, I recommend Rooftop Tirana Apartment |
| Berat (±1 days) | UNESCO town tour: explore the hilltop castle, Belshi lake & cobbled streets | Hotel Ansel, right in the heart of Berat’s historic district I stayed at Guesthouse Villa Arben Elezi, which has a beautiful balcony view of the old town |
| Gjirokaster (±3 days) | Explore this all about this UNESCO town on a FREE walking tour | The Stone Sky Hotel or for a luxury touch, KERCULLA Resort |
| Sarande (±3 days) | Relax on the beach and take day trips to nearby Ksamil and Butrint National Park | Erdeti Boutique Hotel or Hotel Nertili, both epic beachfront stays with sea‑view terraces |
Shkoder
To kick off your trip, you can make a seamless loop through Albania’s mountainous north. Including the city of Shkoder, it’s basically a 5 or 6-day mini itinerary in itself, with several key waypoints connecting perfectly.
I started in the north by crossing the border from Montenegro. The city of Shkoder is immediately inviting: while mostly modern, the centre features a pedestrian boulevard lined with restaurants, cafes, and ice cream parlors reminiscent of an Italian town.
Strikingly situated at the foothills of the Albanian Alps and on the edge of Lake Skadar, it’s a wonderful introduction to Albania.
It’s great fun to explore Shkoder and its surroundings by bicycle. This can be very relaxing on the country roads but a little more stressful in the city itself. Cycling through the chaotic traffic raised my blood pressure considerably!
However, back in the countryside with the sights of the lake, gentle rivers and cows grazing happily in the fields brought it back to a much more agreeable level. Alternatively, you can go on a walking tour of Shkoder to gain a greater appreciation of its history and culture.
The Rozafa Fortress ruins, once a Venetian and Ottoman stronghold, make for a great trip, especially at sunset. You’ll get amazing views of Shkoder, Lake Shkodër, and the surrounding rivers.
How to get there: I started my trip much further north in Split, Croatia, taking advantage of a cheap flight there. But to start closer to Shkoder you can fly into Podgorica or Tivat airport in Montenegro, from where it’s a relatively short bus ride. (Don’t worry about the border — crossings are usually very smooth.) You could also fly to Albania’s capital Tirana, but then your route will involve some backtracking.
Where to stay in Shkoder: If you’re a backpacker, don’t think twice and stay at Shkohdra Backpackers. Alma, the owner, runs Shkoder’s first-ever hostel with great sensibility, creating an incredibly welcoming space for travellers of all kinds. Her hostel is decorated with vintage furniture and colourful art with local craft beer on tap, while several adopted dogs add to the homely atmosphere.
For more comfort and privacy, I suggest Hotel Ikona which is very centrally located and has a spacious terrace facing a quiet courtyard.
Theth → Valbone
First of all, a tip of the hat to Albania for giving their biggest mountain range such a dramatic name. Going into the “Accursed Mountains”, I sure felt as though I was on some kind of fellowship-of-the-ring quest.
But it’s not just the fantasy-like name of Albania’s Alps that’s impressive; so are its many towering peaks. Some parts felt to me like a mini-Switzerland, albeit at a smaller scale. Several mountain rims on the way to Theth were spectacularly jagged, resembling the blades on a Stegosaurus’ back.
Key to experiencing it is the alpine village of Theth, the trailhead of the popular Theth-Valbona hike. You can easily take a minibus service from Shkoder to the village.
Dotted with wooden chalets and stone houses in a gorgeous valley, you can spend a day relaxing amid IMAX-sized mountain vistas.
First, consider a short hike to the nearby Grunas waterfall. The 30m cascade tumbles into a turquoise pool—worth the easy 45-minute walk from the village. A 3-4 hour hike away (or 20 minutes by taxi) is a natural pool known as the Blue Eye, which gets crowded but is very pretty (note: it’s different from one near Saranda with the same name).
Most backpackers come to Theth to hike to Valbonë, the village in the next valley. This can take between 7 to 9 hours, depending on your exact start- and endpoint. It’s a long but fulfilling hike that will reward you with some spectacular views. It can be done in either direction, though I quite liked starting in Theth (it leaves a scenic boat ride at the end during which you can nicely recover from the hike).
Be sure to bring plenty of energy as you will ascend rapidly during the first two hours or so. After this section, you’ll find several huts along the way where you can rest and get a drink or meal. If you take it easy, it might take more like 8 or 9 hours, though it can be done in 7. It makes for a wonderful day in nature with constantly epic views.
Since there is so much more to say about Theth, I have written an article with tips for Theth and the Accursed Mountains. Be sure to read this if you decide to add it to your Albania itinerary.
PS: Make sure to add the Albanian Alps Loop to your itinerary — a stunning circuit through Shkodër, Theth, Valbonë, and Komani Lake with scenic hikes, bumpy rides, and cozy homestays.
The views are epic the entire time and the loop is raw, remote, and very remarkable. You can see it all through this 3-day trip from Tirana – covering Komani Lake, Valbonë, and Theth, with boat rides, hikes, and guesthouse stays included.
How to get to Theth: I purchased a combination ticket from my hostel in Shkoder that included the minibus to Theth and the Komani Lake ferry. You can ask around if such a ticket is available. The website Komaniferry.com also appears to offer this type of booking.
Otherwise, take the public minibus from Skkoder, which leaves every day at 7 am and takes about 1,5-2 hours. (Ignore sources saying it takes 4 hours — this was before the road was improved.)
Where to stay in Theth: Since I was travelling on a budget I loved staying at the affordable Guesthouse Flodisa, which has both private rooms and a dorm. The staff, location, and the homemade breakfast were all excellent. If you’re looking for something a little more refined, I suggest the family-run Guesthouse Gjin Thana, a traditional stone house with an amazing outside seating area for breakfast or dinner, offering great views of the mountains.
Where to stay in Valbone: I loved my stay at Guesthouse Skender Selimaj.
Komani Lake
I normally prefer circular over point-to-point hikes so you don’t have to deal with finding onward travel. But in this case, you can simply take the river ferry from Valbone back to Shkoder, creating a perfect loop.
The spectacular Komani Lake is an artificial reservoir, but since it’s connected to the Drin river and narrowly swirls through the mountains, it might be better described as a river gorge.
Bounded by epic jagged cliffs and flowing through a remote and nearly roadless part of Albania, Komani knocked me over with its amazing scenery. I loved the gentle journey with views of stunning cliffs constantly unfolding before you.
Exhausted from the hike, I only had to lie down on the top deck resting my head on my backpack and beer in hand, and simply watch the show. The scenery reminded me distantly of the rocky cliffs in Palawan, Philippines, or the coast of Thailand (just know the waters here are icy cold!).
How to get there: If you just want to see Komani Lake, you can find tours that go directly from Skhodra. However, I took the 3-hour ferry from Fierza to Koman on my way down from Valbonë in the Accursed Mountains. These ferries carry a mix of tourists and locals, the latter using them due to a lack of direct roads through the region.
Tirana
It’s time for a dramatic scene change: from gentle alpine meadows with flocks of sheep, you’ll be dropped into a buzzing city with endless traffic. But… Tirana surprised me very positively.
While it’s almost entirely a modern city, you shouldn’t underestimate what this cosmopolitan capital has to offer. I believe it’s only a matter of time before Tirana catches the attention of TimeOut or the NY Times’ travel section.
Wonderfully reinvented, Tirana features colorful urban renewal projects and daringly creative architecture. In the trendy Blokku area you’ll find buzzing nightlife and diverse dining thanks to its many refined restaurants, cocktail bars, and specialty cafes.
Many elements of Tirana are being successfully reimagined, often with the help of EU or US funds. An unusual pyramid-shaped building dating back to the Hoxha dictatorship has been creatively converted into a cultural hub and startup incubator — and you can climb all the way to the top for some great views.
Concrete bunkers, also from the Hoxha era, have been repurposed as museums.
Tirana is the place to learn more about Albania’s communist past. Be sure to visit at least one of the two Cold War-era government bunkers turned into museums. The abandoned tunnels, rooms, and assembly halls make for a somewhat surreal environment, reminding me of fallout shelters as eerily depicted in post-apocalyptic video games—except, of course, it’s real.
Besides offering insight into Albania’s past as an isolated and paranoid police state, the two Bunk’art museums also host a few modern art installations as well. (They’re not art galleries though! The names are a bit misleading.)
Walking tours in Tirana offer further insight into Albania’s culture and history. My guide’s story about the indoctrination during the dictatorship years was particularly memorable. Shortly after the revolution, when Albanians could once again freely travel abroad, my guide took the chance to cross a border for the first time in his life and visit Greece.
Upon his return, he told stories of 4-lane highways and large shipping ports, but his father would simply not believe him. After all, these were things Albania did not have — and his father had been constantly told that Albania is “the greatest country on Earth”. This really illustrated how Albania truly had North Korea-like levels of indoctrination and isolation.
I love taking walking tours and getting such human-level insights that you wouldn’t otherwise get. You have two options for doing a walking tour in Tirana:
- Book a walking tour like this one online. It’s a prepaid tour and thanks to the ratings and reviews on GetYourGuide you’ll know what you’ll get.
- Book a ‘free’ (donation-based) tour on Guruwalk. You can choose what to pay based on how well a job you think your guide did.
Besides the Bunk’art museums and walking tours, I also recommend the impressively designed House of Leaves museum focused on the communist surveillance state. You can read my complete tips for Tirana here.
Apart from the inevitably gloomy dictatorship memorials, Tirana is actually a bright and colorful place with excellent food and lots of trendy nightlife.
By the end of the night, you’ll be joining the performers on stage and dancing in a circle. The show highlights a different side of Albania and it’s sure to put a huge grin on your face!
Don’t miss Tirana’s best experience — The Albanian Nights. This cultural evening showcases traditional Albanian music, dance, costumes, and folklore, steering you away from typical communist-era sights and activities.
You’ll be able to participate in performances, wear authentic costumes, and, if you like, pair it all with a seven-course traditional dinner. Book directly with Albanian Nights to support their mission of sharing Albanian culture.
How to get there: Getting in- and out of Tirana can be a bit of a slog due to stubborn traffic, but once you’re in the bubble of its centre almost everything is wonderfully walkable and pleasant to explore.
Many buses go from Skhodra to Tirana throughout the day, with the earliest departure at 5:27 am and last at 17:47 pm. You can find the bus station here. Various informal furgon minibuses also plow this route.
Where to stay in Tirana: Backpackers should look no further than Tirana Backpackers Hostel, the OG hostel featuring a leafy courtyard (I stayed here back in 2021). On my return visits I grabbed some of the many 30-40 EUR a night local-style apartments you can find in the center listed on Booking.com.
For something a little more upscale and epic, I draw your attention to Rooftop Tirana Apartment. You can find some specific guidance for which neighborhoods to stay in my guide to Tirana.
Berat & Gjirokaster
In this itinerary, we’ll have enough time to visit both of these two major historical cities in Albania. I suggest staying just one day in Berat, while Gjirokaster is worth staying longer, thanks to its inviting atmosphere and wider range of attractions.
Berat’s whitewashed walls and buildings with many windows seem stacked on the side of a mountain, making it incredibly scenic. I loved having a room with a balcony facing the old town and watching the sun go down.
The old town is filled with Ottoman-era architecture and has a large ancient fortress on top. It’s very charming, though I felt there was less to explore than in Gjirokastër, and the streets of the old town were somehow not as lively. I did enjoy seeing the main promenade in its modern section come alive at night, with many people socialising and wandering up and down the streets.
Luckily it’s easy to tackle Berat as a stopover from Tirana. And by going on a walking tour of Berat, you can gain a greater appreciation of this historic city. I highly recommend this, as you’ll get a lot more value out of your visit that way.
go on a walking tour of Berat
Gjirokaster in turn is one of my favorite places in Albania.
Known as the Stone City, this Medieval town sits on a scenic ridge and oozes charm. With delightful Ottoman-era architecture, an impressive castle and spectacular hilltop views, it’s a must-visit in Albania.
Thanks to its UNESCO World Heritage status, the old centre of Gjirokastër has been carefully renovated, with pedestrianised cobbled streets lined with cute restaurants and shopfronts that use only traditional wooden signage.
Several traditional stone houses are now small museums, showing how influential families once lived there. Atop the hill sits Gjirokastër Castle, which is claimed to be the Balkan’s second-largest.
The old town is not particularly big, having basically one street intersection as its focal point, but I found it very charming and worthwhile. Yes, there are plenty of sights to tick off, but the real pleasure is strolling cobbled streets and lingering over Albanian food in one of the many taverns.
What also contributed a lot to my positive impression of Gjirokaster is the 4×4 jeep tour I took from here into the nearby valleys, which was organized by Stone City Hostel. It was literally an off-the-beaten-track experience since we went along unpaved roads for much of the way.
It took us to hidden waterfalls, abandoned churches and distant roads, and a still mostly unexcavated Roman city. It’s amazing if you enjoy smaller-scale sights. While Gjirokaster itself has one or two days worth of sightseeing, adding an excursion like this makes it worth a longer stay.
How to get there: The trip from Tirana to Berat takes about 3 hours. Head to the southern station in Tirana. There are around 30 departures per day between 5:40 AM and 17:30 PM, so this is a pretty easy trip.
From Berat to Gjirokaster takes about 2,5 hours. There are only two bus departures at 8:00 AM and at 14:00 PM. There may be other furgon connections, so it’s worth double-checking through a local source such as your hotel.
As a side note, it may seem like Berat could connect well to Permet (mentioned in the next itinerary) but this road turns into a narrow dirt road somewhere past Osumi Canyon. Unless you have a 4WD vehicle, you’ll need to go through Gjirokaster.
Where to stay in Berat: I stayed at Hotel Rezidenca Desaret, which has a charming balcony view of the old town that is absolutely 100% gold. The homemade breakfast on the upper terrace seals the deal.
Where to stay in Gjirokaster: If you’re backpacking then be sure to stay in the fantastic Stone City Hostel. Its Dutch owners created one of the most homely hostels I’ve ever stayed—and I’ve experienced quite a few! I admire their vision to set up the first-ever hostel before Gjirokaster was truly on the tourist map; now, it’s full of life and the perfect traveller base here.
I stayed in town a while so I could create an in-depth guide, so I split my time between Stone City Hostel and Vrenjo Guesthouse just down the street. This local apartment offers good value and a cosy vines-clad courtyard where you can have your breakfast.
Sarande & Ksamil
After lots of exploration, it’s time for some relaxing beach days. For this I suggest Sarande, mainly because it connects well to Gjirokaster. It’s also a short ferry ride away from the Greek island of Corfu, from where you can easily fly out and wrap up your Albania trip.
My favorite beach city along the coast is actually Himara (covered in the next itinerary), but for convenience and shorter travel times, Sarande will definitely tick the box.
The city beach itself is OK, albeit fairly commercial — it’s covered in a sea of parasols and with somewhat tacky Pirates of the Caribbean-themed vessels offering tours of the bay. Luckily there are also many wilder beaches just a short taxi ride away — take Big Bay or Krorëza Beach. These are totally secluded and absolutely amazing.
You can even take a day trip to Ksamil, though it’s honestly an overhyped place that gets rather unconvincingly compared with the Maldives on social media. The waters may be crystal-clear, but just know that Ksamil is also very over-commercialised and expensive. You might still like it a lot, but I just want to set expectations.
I spent my time in Sarande taking it easy after a long trip, so I didn’t necessarily do that much apart from going to the beaches. On one of my days I did rent a scooter to explore the coast, which was great fun. You can either head south to Ksamil / Butrint, or head along the coast north up to Porto Palermo, and both are very scenic rides.
If you’re looking for a final cultural sight for your trip, you can head to Butrint National Archaeological Park, an area with various ancient ruins including a Roman theatre.
How to get there: There are around 8 bus connections between Gjirokaster and Sarande daily. They depart from the bus station located in the lower modern section of Gjirokaster.
Where to stay: I stayed at an apartment that is no longer listed online, but my pick now would be Hotel Andrea for an affordable stay, or Diamond Central Boutique Hotel for something a little more upscale.
Best exit for your trip: From Sarande, take the 20-minute ferry to Corfu, Greece where you’ll find abundant cheap flight connections. This can save €100-200 in flight costs compared to backtracking to Tirana.
9 Days Southern highlights loop
Included in this route:
- Optional visit to the buzzing capital (if flying into Tirana)
- The UNESCO World Heritage historical town of Gjirokaster (my favorite!)
- Hiking, rafting, hot springs & slow food in Permet
- Some quality beach time in Himara, the lowkey gem of the Albanian Riviera
Packing tips for this route:
- Water shoes are useful for Langarica canyon — bring hiking shoes if doing any other hikes.
Why this route works:
This compact circuit in the south will give you maximum variety with minimal transit times. My goal is to best fill a 9 day travel period (when you take a week off plus one weekend). I’ve chosen 3 locations: one historical, one nature-focused, and one for beaches.
I pieced together this itinerary after re-visiting Albania and realizing how these wonderful destinations can form a perfect loop. You won’t find this route elsewhere online or when asking AI — it’s what I recommend based on doing the research in person.
You have two possible starting points:
- Fly to Tirana, the capital, and spend a day here before truly kicking off your trip. Take a bus or minivan to Gjirokaster, taking about 4,5 hours.
- Fly to Vlora once the new airport is operational (expected in 2026), then take a bus or minivan to Gjirokaster, taking about 1,5 hours. This is my recommended option for a speedy start to your trip.
| Place | Activity | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Tirana or Vlore (optional start) | – | – |
| Gjirokaster (± 3 days) | Explore this all about this UNESCO town on a FREE walking tour | The Stone Sky Hotel or for a luxury luxury, KERCULLA Resort |
| Permet (± 2 days) | – Explore the Langarica Canyon on a guided river hike – Go rafting on the Vjosa River | Hotel Kaso Ervehe, a cozy family-run guesthouse or Honey-House Kastrioti |
| Himara (± 3 days) | Relax on quiet beaches & explore the Albanian Riviera | Geo & Art Boutique Hotel Himara with perfect sea views or Filoxenia – The Place of Experience |
Gjirokaster
I suggest beginning this trip in Gjirokaster because it’s such a charming place. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed city has numerous Ottoman-era stone houses, an impressive fortress, and pedestrian cobblestone streets lined with traditional tavern-style restaurants.
You can visit some of the ancient merchant houses, head into a bunker tunnel from the communist times, wander the hilltop fortress, or take a jeep tour into the surrounding countryside. I already covered Gjirokaster in the previous itinerary, and you can also read more tips for Gjirokaster here.
How to get to Gjirokaster: From Tirana there are tons of buses throughout the day, which is how I easily made it to Gjirokaster myself.
Starting from Vlora there is just one coach bus per day as far as my research shows. It may be easier to grab a furgon (minibus) from Vlora to Tepelene, and switch to Gjirokaster from there. Once Vlora’s airport is up and running, it seems likely that more bus connections will spring up.
Permet
Next, head to Permet, which is about 1 hour’s drive further east. It’s located at the heart of the new Vjosa Wild River National Park, now fully protecting one of Europe’s last truly wild rivers.
You won’t see this place mentioned online much yet, but it’s an emerging ecotourism destination that I highly recommend. The scenery around the Vjosa is incredible and will give you a great taste of rural and mountainous Albania.
In Permet, you can relax in thermal hot springs, hike around- and through Langarica canyon, and go rafting down the Vjosa, or simply swim in the river to cool off on a hot day. If rafting sounds adventurous, just know that the river is very calm so it’s actually quite relaxing most of the way.
Equally calm is the food scene in Permet, which has associated itself with the slow food movement, making it the perfect place to try traditional Albanian dishes. You can learn more about Permet in my detailed guide.
The best way to enjoy the Vjosa river is to paddle along it. The river is not too wild during the summer rafting season, so think of this experience more as chill river tubing or kayaking than some extreme sports activity. I thought it was an incredible way to enjoy nature!
The typical rafting tour takes about 3 hours including a short bus ride to the drop-off point. I did mine with Funky Guest House whose guide was super friendly and humorous.
If you book this rafting tour on GetYourGuide you will be rafting with Funky — it’s the exact tour I did and which I recommend.
Getting there: Permet is about an hour from Gjirokaster and there are at least four departures per day.
Where to stay: I warmly recommend staying at Honey-House Kastrioti, an adorable family-run guesthouse with homemade breakfast (with their own jams and honey) and lovely views of the river. In my Permet guide, I offer a few other suggestions if you prefer a different style of accommodation.
Himara
To top it off, it’s time for some lazy days on the coast! While Ksamil and Dhermi steal the show on social media, I think Himara is nicer in a down-to-earth way.
The city itself is a bit more lowkey, with restaurants and cafes having more affordable prices than in some of the more famous hotspots. Himara is in a very scenic location, backed by mountains, and with two major bays offering good beaches right within the city. In many places they’re filled with sun loungers and bars, but feel cosier and more inviting than the more stretched-out city beaches in Vlora.
The best thing about Himara is the many good beaches within relatively easy reach. They will require a taxi ride or a hike but will reward you with plenty of wild scenery and rocky cliffs. I really like Filikuri Beach and Gjipe Beach for wild natural beaches.
For a developed beach close to some hotels and restaurants, but much quieter than Himara itself, try Livadhi Beach.
If you end up there you must eat at The Jester`s Taverna. Not only is the food superb here, but the owner is the sort of person who loves making sure you’re having a great time. The herbs used for garnishing the dishes and for flavoring their amazing iced lemonade are harvested fresh from the garden.
Himara has a few cultural sights as well, including the Himara Castle. But most of all I just loved taking it easy and throwing a dart at a different beach each morning for a different day by the water. If you want to explore the coast, there are several scooter rentals in town.
Swim in the mild Mediterranean waters, enjoy great seafood, and enjoy some Greek vibes on the Albanian coast (there is actually a significant Greek minority population here).
How to get there: The Permet to Himara journey is about 2.5 hours. There are 2-3 furgons daily, departing around 8am and 2pm. Book through your guesthouse the day before or simply show up at the bus stop well before departure time.
Where to stay: Backpackers should definitely aim for Himara Hostel, a chill all-ages type of hostel (no parties) with an extensive garden area. It has both private rooms and dorms, and a communal kitchen where you can cook your own meals if you wish. Great vibes, in a quiet area, and just a 5-minute walk to the beach.
For a private stay with perfect sea views, consider either Geo & Art Boutique Hotel Himara or Himara 28 Hotel.
Getting back to Tirana/Vlora: There is a twice daily coach bus direct to Tirana, departing from an unmarked stop here, taking about 5-6 hours. I got my ride at 2.30 pm but sadly don’t have the full timetable, so I recommend asking locally. There are frequent furgon services to Vlora, which take about 90 minutes. In Vlora you can also connect to various transport options to Tirana throughout the day.
Wrapping up
And there you have it — two very different routes through Albania, letting you experience some of the best this Balkan country has to offer.
Of course, you can tweak these entirely to your liking. If you want more of a beach focus, stay longer in Himara or consider adding both Himara AND Saranda.
If you only have 7 days, you could skip Permet or reduce Gjirokaster to 2 nights for a snappier trip.
And if you have more than 2 weeks, consider spending two full days in Tirana and adding a day trip to Bovila Lake or Kruje.
To continue your trip planning, be sure to dive into the Albania section for more!
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