Things to Do in Albania: 12 Experiences You Can’t Miss

Albania is Europe’s best-kept secret, and that is not hyperbole. This small Balkan country packs UNESCO-listed Ottoman towns, a turquoise Riviera that rivals Greece at a quarter of the price, Roman ruins, communist-era bunkers turned into art installations, and a food culture that draws from both Mediterranean and Balkan traditions. The infrastructure is rough, the driving is adventurous, and the hospitality is overwhelming — Albanians will invite you for coffee and raki before you have finished asking directions. It is changing fast as word gets out, so go now while the beaches are still empty and the guesthouses are still 15 euros a night.

1. Explore the UNESCO Town of Berat

The City of a Thousand Windows is Albania’s most photogenic town — white Ottoman houses stacked up a hillside above the Osum River with the Kalaja castle district still inhabited after 2,400 years. The Onufri Museum inside the castle holds rare 16th-century religious icons. Wander the Mangalem and Gorica quarters for the classic window views. Free to walk the town; castle entry is 200 ALL. Stay overnight to see the houses illuminated at dusk.

2. Swim at Ksamil and the Albanian Riviera

The Albanian Riviera between Saranda and Vlora has crystal-clear Ionian water, pebble and sand beaches, and almost no development compared to neighbouring Greece. Ksamil’s three tiny islands are reachable by swimming or paddleboard. Mirror Beach near Saranda and Gjipe Beach (accessed by a hike down a canyon) are stunning. Sun loungers at Ksamil cost 500-1,000 ALL. Beach restaurants serve grilled fish and Greek-style salads for 600-1,000 ALL.

3. Visit the Blue Eye Spring

Syri i Kalter is a mesmerising natural spring where water of an impossible electric blue surges up from a depth of over 50 metres. The pool is surrounded by ancient oaks and the water is a freezing 10 degrees Celsius year-round. Entry is 50 ALL. It is 20 minutes from Saranda by car. Swimming is technically prohibited but locals wade in. Go early morning before tour buses arrive — by 10 AM it gets crowded.

4. Explore the Stone City of Gjirokaster

This UNESCO-listed fortress town in southern Albania has an enormous hilltop citadel, cobblestone streets, and distinctive grey stone tower houses that earned it the nickname Stone City. The Ethnographic Museum is in Enver Hoxha’s childhood home. The bazaar has copper and woodwork artisans. Castle entry is 400 ALL. The views from the castle walls across the Drino Valley to the mountains are spectacular. A local guide adds depth for about 3,000 ALL.

5. Bar-Hop Through Tirana’s Blloku District

Once the exclusive residential compound for Albania’s communist elite (ordinary citizens were shot for entering), Blloku is now Tirana’s hippest neighbourhood with cocktail bars, restaurants, and the colourful buildings that Mayor Edi Rama painted to transform the city. Radio Bar, Hemingway, and Nouvelle Vague are standout spots. Cocktails cost 400-700 ALL. The Bunk’Art museums — one in a communist-era bunker — are essential for understanding Albania’s strange history.

6. Hike the Theth Valley

The Albanian Alps in the north hide one of Europe’s most spectacular hiking valleys. The trail from Theth to Valbona over the 1,759-metre Valbona Pass is a full-day hike through alpine meadows, beech forests, and dramatic peaks. Guesthouses in Theth charge 2,000-3,000 ALL including dinner and breakfast. The Blue Eye of Theth (different from the southern one) and Grunas Waterfall are shorter walks. The ferry across Lake Koman to reach the trailhead is itself a highlight.

7. Visit the Ancient Ruins of Butrint

This UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site near Saranda spans 2,500 years — Greek theatre, Roman baths, a Byzantine basilica, and a Venetian tower all in one compact, forested peninsula surrounded by a lagoon. It is one of the Mediterranean’s most underrated ancient sites. Entry is 1,000 ALL. The setting among old-growth trees with water on three sides is as impressive as the ruins themselves.

8. Take the Lake Koman Ferry

The ferry through the flooded canyon of the Drin River is one of Europe’s most dramatic boat journeys. Sheer rock faces rise hundreds of metres from turquoise water as the small ferry winds through the gorge. Tickets cost 700-1,500 ALL one way. The journey takes two to three hours and connects Koman with Fierza, from where you can continue to Valbona. Book the early morning departure for the best light.

9. Explore the Ancient City of Apollonia

Founded by Greek colonists in 588 BC, Apollonia near Fier was once one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire — young Octavian (future Augustus) was studying here when he learned of Julius Caesar’s assassination. The remains include a restored facade, an odeon, and the monastery museum. Entry is 700 ALL. Far fewer visitors than Butrint, giving it a contemplative atmosphere.

10. Eat Fresh Fish in Saranda

The seaside town of Saranda faces the Greek island of Corfu and has a waterfront promenade lined with fish restaurants where the catch arrives daily from local boats. Grilled branzino, octopus salad, and seafood risotto with a sea view cost 800-1,500 ALL per person. Haxhi restaurant and Mare Nostrum are local favourites. Combine with a sunset walk along the Lungomare promenade. Albanian wine — try Kantina Cobo or Nurellari — is excellent and almost unknown outside the country.

11. Discover Tirana’s Bunk’Art Museums

Two former communist bunkers have been transformed into powerful museums. Bunk’Art 1, inside a massive Cold War bunker with over 100 rooms near Mount Dajti, covers Albania’s history from WWII through communism. Bunk’Art 2, in a smaller bunker in the city centre, focuses on the secret police (Sigurimi). Entry is 500 ALL each. The contrast between the brutal concrete bunker architecture and the thoughtful exhibits is deeply affecting.

12. Ride the Dajti Ekspres Cable Car

The longest cable car in the Balkans ascends 800 metres from the outskirts of Tirana to the top of Mount Dajti in 15 minutes, with panoramic views over the city, the coastal plain, and the mountain ranges beyond. A return ticket costs 1,000 ALL. The Dajti Tower at the summit has a revolving restaurant. The mountain trails beyond the summit station offer easy hiking through beech forests. Go on a clear day for views to the Adriatic.

Practical Tips for Albania

Check our full Albania travel guide for detailed tips on transport, safety, money, and the best time to visit. For food recommendations beyond this list, see our Albania food guide.

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