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Albania holidays: heritage hotspot meets beach haven

Albania, often described as Europe's hidden gem, offers travelers a fascinating blend of stunning landscapes, rich history, and authentic cultural experiences. This Balkan nation boasts a spectacular Adriatic and Ionian coastline with pristine beaches, rugged mountain ranges, ancient archaeological sites, and well-preserved Ottoman-era towns.

Despite remaining relatively undiscovered compared to its Mediterranean neighbors, Albania rewards visitors with UNESCO World Heritage sites, breathtaking natural beauty, and warm hospitality at remarkably affordable prices. The country's turbulent past has created a unique cultural mosaic where ancient traditions coexist with modern aspirations. From the vibrant capital of Tirana to the Albanian Riviera's turquoise waters and the Albanian Alps' dramatic peaks, this emerging destination provides authentic travel experiences for adventurous explorers seeking something beyond mainstream European tourism.

Our tops Trips top Albania

1. 9-night Self-Drive Albania Discovery with Beach Stops

9-night Self-Drive Albania Discovery with Beach Stops

This comprehensive 9-night self-drive tour perfectly balances cultural exploration with relaxing beach time along Albania's stunning coastline. Beginning in Tirana, travelers collect their rental car and embark on an adventure through the country's diverse landscapes and heritage sites.

The itinerary takes visitors to Lake Ohrid, one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before continuing to picturesque villages like Tushemisht and the culturally significant town of Korce, known for its historical connection to France. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the magnificent Langarica Canyon with its thermal waters of Bënja and the Ottoman bridge, while history buffs can explore Gjirokaster, the UNESCO-listed "stone city" with its impressive fortress and traditional neighborhoods.

The journey includes three nights of relaxation in Qeparo, considered the most beautiful village in the Albanian Riviera, where visitors can enjoy pristine beaches, visit Ali Pasha fortress, and try various water sports. Wildlife viewing at Divjakë-Karavasta National Park offers opportunities to spot over 200 bird species, including the endangered Dalmatian pelican. Accommodations throughout the tour include a mix of comfortable 3* and 4* hotels with breakfast included, and travelers can enhance their experience with optional activities such as horseback riding, rafting, paragliding, diving, or authentic culinary experiences with local families.

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2. 7-night Discover Albania Tour

7-night Discover Albania Tour

The 7-night Discover Albania Tour provides a comprehensive introduction to this fascinating Balkan nation with the convenience of professional guided tours throughout. Travelers begin their journey in the UNESCO town of Berat, known as "The Town of a Thousand Windows" due to its distinctive Ottoman architecture featuring large windows that adorn the houses of the old town.

From there, the tour visits the archaeological park of Apollonia, founded in 588 BC, which prospered during Roman times and played a significant role in Caesar's civil war with Pompey. Along the Albanian Riviera, guests follow historic paths once traversed by Julius Caesar through Llogara National Park, enjoying breathtaking coastal views from dramatic mountains that rise almost directly from the azure Ionian Sea. The UNESCO site of Butrint reveals an exceptionally well-preserved archaeological area surrounded by Mediterranean maquis and a lake connected to the Ionian Sea.

Another highlight is Gjirokaster, the UNESCO-listed "City of Stone," featuring hundreds of Ottoman-style tower houses with distinctive stone roofs and wooden balconies, dominated by its vast 13th-century castle. The journey continues to Durres, Albania's main port and second-largest city, showcasing ancient city walls, a Roman amphitheater, and Byzantine forum. After exploring the vibrant capital Tirana, the tour concludes in northern Albania with visits to the culturally significant city of Shkodra and the historic town of Kruja, famous for its restored castle, citadel, and connection to national hero Skanderbeg. Throughout the tour, guests enjoy comfortable accommodations in carefully selected 4* hotels, with daily breakfast included.

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3. Albania and Meteora Self-Drive Tour

Albania and Meteora Self-Drive Tour

The Albania and Meteora Self-Drive Tour offers an exceptional opportunity to explore two countries at your own pace, combining Albania's diverse attractions with a visit to Greece's spectacular Meteora monasteries. This 7-night adventure begins as travelers collect their rental car at Tirana airport and drive to Durrës, where they can explore cobbled streets, the Italian-style Rruga Tregëtare, and enjoy sunset views from Currila Beach.

The journey continues to Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring well-preserved Ottoman architecture where churches, mosques, and ancient walls tell the story of different religious communities coexisting through history. As the route meanders south along the coast through Vlorë to Sarandë, guests travel through Llogara National Park with a chance to break at the stunning Gjipe beach. After a free day exploring the beaches around Sarandë, the tour heads to Ioannina in Greece with an optional detour to the UNESCO-listed city of Gjirokastër, nicknamed the "City of Stone."

A highlight awaits at Meteora, one of Greece's most visited religious sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Eastern Orthodox monasteries perch dramatically atop immense natural sandstone rock formations dating back over 700 years. Before returning to Tirana, travelers visit Korçe (nicknamed "Little Paris"), Lake Ohrid, and the popular resort town of Pogradec, offering lakeside beaches and idyllic country walks. Throughout the journey, guests stay in hand-picked 4* hotels, enjoying the freedom to discover hidden treasures at their own rhythm while experiencing the rich history, authentic villages, and natural beauty of this relatively undiscovered region of Europe.

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Top Five Things to See and Do in Albania

Snuggled in beside sun-soaked Greece, it is no surprise that Albania offers a great range of beaches and beach-side holiday destinations.

Whether you are travelling on a shoestring, or looking for some leisurely luxury, Albania has the perfect hotel for you. And as you travel and explore, here are some of the top features that are uniquely Albanian and that should be included on any visit to the country.

1. Berat Medieval Sites

Albania and Meteora Self-Drive Tour
One of the oldest and most continuously occupied cities in Albania, Berat is home to a wealth of historic sites and buildings – as well as being called the 'City of a Thousand Windows' for the unique display seen best from the water, of the modern buildings, covered with a plethora of bright and airy windows.

But the ancient buildings to be found in the city's Medieval Centre are – almost literally – from another world. There are exhibits from the ages to be seen, and then, just a short walk (and climb) away is the castle, which is well worth spending an hour or two exploring. Get a sense of Albania's rich, but often overlooked, past as you marvel at wonders from the last two millennia in this vibrant and tenacious city.

2. Lake Skadar

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Sometimes called Lake Scutari, but not to be confused with the location where Florence Nightingale imposed her new ways of nursing and hygiene on soldiers who were delighted to find that a war wound was no long almost certain death, this location has a kinder and more natural history, having been formed millennia ago and become a source of nourishment and life for animal and plant life of many species and genera.

Today, the lake is famed for boating, sunbathing, cycling and generally enjoying life that moves at a slower, old-fashioned and almost courtly pace. It is the perfect place to visit if you long for friendlier and slower-paced times when nature was allowed to take its course.

3. Walk to a Remote Beach

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Albania is bursting with beautiful beaches, and in peak season the beaches that are closest to the cities are sure to fill up quickly with visitors and locals alike trying to nab a good spot from which to swim, play and explore.

However, there are also many undeveloped areas, and if you are prepared to walk a while, you can find completely unspoiled and untouched beaches that are entirely unoccupied, which you can claim as your very own for the duration of your stay.

4. Gijrokaster Old Town

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This wonderful old town is a great example of ancient Islamic architecture and ingenuity, and it offers wonderful views, being is so close to Corfu that you can clearly see the island, and it is separated from the Grecian paradise only by the same crystal clear, clean Aegean Sea that you would pay a fortune to access from the other side. Add to this, the fact that Gijrokaster is much cheaper than tourist-priced Corfu, and the Albanian city's attractions seem to grow even more tempting!

Add to this, the allure of a castle, perched on top of the mountain, a plane downed in WWII that visitors are free to explore, and proximity to the Blue Eye, a natural spring that bubbles to the surface bringing with it some of the clearest water and forming the source of the nearby river. Divers have descended to at least 50 metres, but the actual depth of the spring is unknown, continuing much deeper, it seems.

5. First School Museum

The National Museum of Education is housed in the building that was, on the 7th March 1887, opened as the first Albanian school which was planned as a way to preserve Albanian language and culture. With some hiccups along the way, the school fulfilled this purpose until 1967, when it was transformed into more dignified cultural status as a museum.

A wealth of fascinating artefacts, texts and books are displayed in the museum today, and the building itself, dating back to around 1840, is interesting in its own right. A quirky museum, but one that inspires thoughtfulness and shows a different way to introduce the history and culture of the country.

When is the Best Time to go on Holiday to Albania?

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Between April and September are the best times to make the most of the Albanian summer, with the fringe months arguably better from a crowding point of view, although the weather may be a little cooler than you would like.

Getting To and Around Albania

You can fly directly into Albania's Tirana Airport, but many visitors choose to fly into Corfu or Italy and travel across the Aegean from there, usually by ferry. You can drive across Europe to Albania, and enjoy the convenience of having your own car with you to come and go as you like.

Getting about the country is best done by car, but there are bus and train services that will get you handily around the country. You can also hire a bike and cycle around the country, or parts of it anyway! Some of the terrain is a bit steep for casual cyclists, so do check out the surroundings before you commit to hours in the saddle!

Enjoy your Albania Holidays

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Albania is very family friendly, being a safe country that works at a more leisurely, child-friendly pace, with many accommodations made for children's needs. Pets must come in through the international airport, and must have a valid and fully up-to-date pet passport.

When in doubt always check with your local embassy or online to make sure that you pet will be fully compliant. Albania is also great for solo travellers and students, being a reasonably priced summer destination, and it is also highly suitable for romantic getaways such as couple's weekends or honeymoons.

There is so much to see and do in Albania that you should allow a minimum of five days to enjoy the country: but preferably give yourselves a fortnight to make the most everything it has to offer.

The Opinion of the Voyage Prive Expert on Albania Holidays

Albania is something of a dark horse when it comes to tourism. Not many people know exactly where the country is, and finding out that it is awash with beach resorts, crystal clear blue seas and soft sandy beaches can come as a great surprise. At present, the country is still relatively cheap, while actively working on boosting its tourist sector, which means that choosing Albania can net you a great luxury holiday with all the mod cons, for much less than you might expect to pay.

Book a luxury Albanian holiday today and discover the unknown

Largely untouched by Western tourism for the whole of the 20th century, Albania, located in the Balkans on the Adriatic Sea, is a seriously hidden gem. Those in the know have been visiting for years, attracted by its UNESCO world heritage sites and natural wonders. With its own mountain range, many traditional villages, a growing number of beach resorts and a small but charming capital, there’s plenty going in this European jewel of a nation.

Despite being a tourist newcomer, the country has a growing number of five-star hotels and boutique resorts. From the capital Tirana to the Albanian Riviera, we’ve hand-picked the very best of these hotels in Albania and furthermore, our signed-up members get exclusive deals of up to 70% on Albania holidays.

Tirana, the beating heart of Albania

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The country’s capital is home to a third of its population and is the best place to head to for a history lesson, or to experience local culture and entertainment. Once a drab grey city, the communist-era buildings have now been brightly painted whilst the welcome from locals is always incredible. Café culture abounds in Tirana, although the local plum brandy is also worth a try. Head to Skanderbeg Square, a green space celebrating a national hero and also home to the beautiful Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the excellent National History Museum.

The great outdoors: activity holidays in Albania

Albania has two major natural wonders going for it. Firstly, the Albanian Alps which straddle the country’s middle and are fast becoming a hot spot for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The place to head to is arguably Volbana, a national park which is home to some of the most isolated villages in Europe. The best way to reach the area is via a Lake Ferry which allows visitors to take in some truly incredible sites.

The coastline, the country’s second greatest wonder, stretches from Montenegro in the north, to Greece in the south, incorporating both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The upscale Albanian Riviera is located close to Greece on the Ionian Coast. Home to numerous luxury hotels, the best of which we offer exclusive deals for, this is where you’ll bathe in glorious turquoise waters and sunbathe on golden sandy beaches. Even in the busiest areas, you’ll be able to find secluded bays and hidden coves. For nightlife head to the unofficial capital Saranda.

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