Best of Albania: 15 Incredible Things You Can't Miss

1. Hike from Theth to Valbona in the Albanian Alps

"I cannot believe I am in Albania" is a sentence I found myself repeating many times when I was hiking along the popular Theth-Valbona hiking trail in the Albanian Alps.

Due to its stunning snowy peaks, beautiful valleys, and breathtaking canyons, the Albanian Alps are one of the highlights of visiting Albania. It is a hiking haven that will provide you with ample opportunities to go off the beaten path and escape into the wilderness in solitude.

It is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the country, and it is, hands down, my favorite thing to do in Albania. The hiking trails in the Albanian Alps offer you a chance to see the less tamed and untouched remote mountains that are becoming harder to find in Europe.

The hike itself takes about 7 hours in total, and it is not particularly difficult. However, due to the remoteness of the trail, you will have to travel many hours just to get to the trailhead and back. Therefore, in the end, you will need to spend 3-4 days hiking the Theth-to-Valbona trail, with 2 nights in Theth (to do other hikes) and one night in Valbona.

It is truly one of the most beautiful hikes I have experienced in the Balkans, and the mountains and attractions you will find here are unlike anything you will see in the country.

And so, if you are wondering whether hiking the Theth-to-Valbona trail for 3 days is going to be worth the effort, I believe these stunning photos of the Albanian Alps already have the answer for you.

Looking for a complete hiking guide to the Albanian Alps? Check out:A Complete Hiking Guide to the Albanian Alps

2. Hike to the Blue Eye in Theth

Located not too far from the mountainous village of Theth in Northern Albania, hiking to the Blue Eye, a stunning deep-blue-colored waterfall nestled among the valleys and canyons of the Albanian Alps, is one of the most popular side activities you can do while you stay in Theth for a night before tackling the big Theth-Valbona hike.

The water at the Blue Eye was a little cold when I was there, so I didn't swim. However, if the sun is out and it is not too cold outside, you can jump into its stunningly clear, deep-blue water and freshen up as a reward for hiking 3 hours to get there.

The hike starts right in Theth, and it continues along a relatively flat but long trail that takes about 5 hours for a round trip. The hike is not difficult at all; it just drags along for quite a while, so be sure to prepare some food and drinks for the hike.

If you are planning to hike the Albanian Alps and would like to do some other side trips while you are there, make sure to spend at least 2 nights in Theth. This way, you can enjoy more side trips like this one.

For the best place to stay in Theth, I highly recommend Shpella Guesthouse Theth. I spent almost 5 nights there, extended from 2 nights because of how great it was. You will meet some really incredible hikers here.

3. Spend A Night in the Mountains

Speaking of hiking, one of the highlights of hiking in the Albanian Alps is also the fact that you get to spend a night in the mountains at a local guesthouse where the friendliness of the Albanians shines the brightest.

I spent 5 nights in Shpella Guesthouse when I was in Theth, and every evening, all of us would gather around a dinner table and feast on the delicious homemade Albanian food prepared by the owner's grandmother.

The dinner often lasts many hours as people catch up with one another, converse about the hike they did that day, and make new friends and hiking companions, all the while enjoying the delicious and fresh homemade food. Life in the mountains doesn't get any better than that.

If you are planning to hike the Albanian Alps, make sure to spare at least 3 nights in Theth so that you will have time to explore all the hiking trails around the area at your own leisure and experience life in the mountains the way it was meant to be.

4. Explore the Albanian Riviera

The Albanian Riviera is a long coastal area in the southwestern region of Albania, located along the northeastern side of the Ionian Sea. It is one of the best places to visit if you are looking for a nice beach town to relax in, especially if you have just come back from a long hike in the Albanian Alps.

Due to the expansiveness of the Albanian Riviera, in order for you to get the best out of it, you are going to have to travel between several cities and towns (Himara, Ksamil, Saranda, etc.) and spend at least a few nights in each to truly see what the area has to offer.

Himara is a great place to start your journey. It is a small town located right at the center of the Albanian Riviera, and by staying here, you will be able to get access to some of the most beautiful beaches in the area without having to travel very far.

Ksamil is also a great place to visit if you are looking for things to do other than sunbathing at the beach. It is a big town with lots of restaurants and bars for you to indulge yourself in. It is a perfect change of pace from the slower lifestyle in Himara.

Last but not least, Saranda is the largest city in the region. If you can't decide where you want to stay in the Albanian Riviera, you can base yourself here and go on day trips around the coastline instead. You will find a lot more tours in Saranda than in Ksamil or Himara.

If you are looking for a nice and relaxing place full of beautiful beaches in Albania, then visiting the Albanian Riviera is a no-brainer. Be sure to spend at least 3-5 nights here and spread out your stays to other towns as well.

Looking for a complete travel guide to the Albanian Riviera? Check out:The Ultimate Backpacking Travel Guide to the Albanian Riviera

5. Watch the Sunset Over the Ionian Sea

One of the things I often do when I am in the Albanian Riviera is to find a nice restaurant by a cliff and go up there to watch the sunset over the Ionian Sea in the evening.

One of the best places to be if you are in Himara is The Sunset Restaurant Bar, a restaurant located on top of a cliff above Filikuri Beach, overlooking the coastline of Himara with a mountainous backdrop of the hills and mountains of Southern Albania.

The sunset over the Ionian Sea is quite a sight to behold. For some reason, the sky often turns extremely vivid and saturated orange and then purple and blue, creating a stunning gradient in the sky.

It is really hard to describe the experience I had there in words, and you will have to see it with your own eyes and experience it for yourself. So, if you are in the Albania Riviera, do not forget to stop by at the restaurant in the evening.

6. Visit the Ancient Greek/Roman Ruins of Butrint

Butrint is a stunning ancient Greek/Roman city in Southern Albania. It is home to some of the most stunning and well-preserved ruins in Albania that have stood the test of time for many centuries. It is a place you will not want to miss when you are in Albania.

Located near the Albanian Riviera's town of Ksamil, Butrint is home to ancient structures like The Great Basilica, which is said to date back to the 6th Century, a Baptisterium, one of the largest paleochristian buildings of its type here. You will also be able to learn more about the origin of this ancient city at an archaeological museum inside the park.

Butrint encompasses a quite large area, and it will take you around 2 - 3 hours to see them all, so be sure to spare some time for your visit. If you are as much a history buff as I am, you are going to love Butrint.

7. Dance Your Night Away With The Locals In Ksamil

After the sunset, the city of Ksamil turns from a quiet city into one of the liveliest places, full of activities and nightlife for one to enjoy. If you walk around at night, you will see many people dancing around in circles to local music, and you can join in and have fun as well if you wish.

I spent several nights in Ksamil, and I always found myself at Poda Beach Bar and Grill House. I watched the locals celebrate and dance away their nights, and if you are interested in doing the same or just want to witness an awesome Albanian tradition, do not forget to check out some of these restaurants and bars in Ksamil at night.

8. Learn About Albania's Struggle During The Communist Regime At Bunk'Art 2 in Tirana

In order to understand a country and where the people are coming from, we first have to learn about its dark past and how the country has come to be, and there is no better place to learn than the Bunk'Art 2, a nuclear bunker turned museum located in Tirana that highlights the cruel communist regime that plagued Albania for 45 years.

The museum will take you through the history of the rise and fall of communism in Albania. Its 24 rooms are divided into topics, from how Sigurimi (the secret service) bugged a room or a regular object like a bloom for surveillance, to the countless stories of political persecutions.

Apparently, the nuclear bunker itself was built in secret in the 1980s by the communist regime to prepare for a foreign invasion, and you can still see many rooms that retain their original purposes, like the apartment reserved for the Minister of Internal Affairs and even the decontamination room.

The entry fee is only 500 LEK per person, and I highly recommend you check out the museum while you are visiting the capital city of Albania to learn more about the country.

9. Go up Dajti Mountain at Sunset in Tirana

One of my favorite places in Tirana is the Dajti Mountain, a 1,613 m tall mountain where you can take a cable car up to the top and witness the beautiful sunset over the entire city of Tirana and beyond.

Dajti Mountain is also one of the most popular retreats for locals to escape the bustling city and find solitude in nature. The moment you step off the cable car, it almost feels like you are in a different world than when you were in Tirana city. You will find nothing but trees and mountains here, and it only takes 15 minutes to get here.

At the top of the mountain, you will also find a restaurant where you can indulge in the delicious Albanian cuisine while enjoying a stunning sunset and a sweeping 180° view of Tirana's skyline.

If you are in Tirana and looking for a nice viewpoint in the city, you won't find any view prettier than the one at the top of Dajti Mountain. So, be sure to spend at least an evening there before you leave Albania.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Tirana? Check out:10 Best Things to Do in Tirana, Albania

10. Try the Delicious and Fresh Albanian Cuisine

Who would have thought that Albanian cuisine would be one of the most delicious foods out there? I definitely didn't expect it to be this good, and after spending 2 weeks in Albania, I just can't get enough of their homemade qofte, stuffed eggplants, musaka, and my god, the rice pudding.

Oda Restaurant and Sofra Beratase Restaurant are some of the awesome restaurants you should try if you are in Tirana. If you are in Gjirokaster, go for the rice pudding at Odaja Restaurant; you will thank me for it.

If you do not know what to order, the most common food there is musaka, qofte, and grilled eggplants. And if you are feeling a little more adventurous, you can go with something more meaty like Kukurrec and Harrapash. When you are in Albania, do not forget to try some of their delicious local dishes before you leave.

11. Visit Gjirokaster Castle

Gjirokaster is a small town located in the southern part of Albania, and it is well-known for its steep hill that you have to climb to get to. In fact, many people call it the City of Thousand Steps.

And one of the most iconic and prominent landmarks that stands right at the top of this City of Thousand Steps is Gjirokaster Castle, a massive stone fortress, the second largest castle in all of the Balkans.

The castle offers an incredible view over the Old Town of Gjirokaster, as well as giving you a glimpse of the stunning landscapes surrounding Gjirokaster that are waiting for those who are willing to go off the beaten path and explore them.

The castle also has museums, a church, and a stunning stone clock tower within its confines, waiting for you to explore. So, be sure to spare at least a few hours here.

Gjirokaster Castle is one of the most well-preserved historical places in Albania, and it would be a shame if you traveled all the way here and did not get to see such stunning and formidable architecture.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Gjirokaster? Check out:8 Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster, Albania

12. Stay in a Hotel/Hostel Made Out of Stones in Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster is also known as the Stone City due to the fact that most of the old houses here were constructed using stones found abundantly in the region. One of the highlights of visiting Gjirokaster is staying in one of these stone houses.

If you want to spend a night in a house made entirely out of stones from wall to wall, one of the best places to stay in Gjirokaster is Stone City Hostel, a hostel (private rooms available) owned by Walter, a Dutchman who bought the stone house and turned it into an accommodation for travelers to stay.

He will explain the challenges of maintaining such a unique architecture, from how heavy the stone roof is to how the walls were constructed in a way that distributes the weight and keeps the stone roof intact.

Walter told me that the roof can sometimes weigh as much as a small airplane, which is still mind-blowing to me. If you are interested in the history of stone construction in Gjirokaster and want to learn more, be sure to stay at Stone City Hostel, go on a free walking tour that Walter often organizes for his guests, and dive deeper into what makes Gjirokaster so special.

13. Explore the Many Abandoned Bunkers Across Albania

Did you know that there are more than 170,000 nuclear bunkers all across Albania? It was the work of a very paranoid dictator, Enver Hoxha, the infamous dictator who ruled Albania during the Cold War.

During his reign, he was so afraid that a foreign power would invade Albania and topple his regime that he ordered his men to construct all these nuclear bunkers across the entire country, with one massive bunker right under the capital city of Tirana that has since been turned into a museum.

Nowadays, all the 170,000 bunkers across the country are left abandoned and in disrepair, and you should be able to spot many of them still intact as you travel across the country.

One of the fun things I often do in Albania is spot these abandoned bunkers as I travel from place to place. You will find many of them along the road, as well as some that are big enough for you to actually walk through.

One of these bunkers is in Gjirokaster, and if you are staying at the Stone City Hostel and go on a walking tour with them, Walter will guide you through an extensive network of abandoned tunnels that are hidden right under the city's nose.

Spotting and exploring these bunkers is one of the most unique things you can do in Albania. Heck, I think it is probably one of the most unique things you can do in the world, so be sure to keep an eye out for these bunkers when you are traveling in Albania.

14. Admire the Beauty of Berat, the City of Thousand Windows

Berat, or as it is known, the City of Thousand Windows, is a charming UNESCO town full of Ottoman-era traditional houses, massive fortress structures, and a ton of cool things for you to do.

Berat is located right in the middle of a valley with a river running through it, dividing the city into 2 quarters: the Mangalem Quarter and Gorica Quarter, each with its own little charm.

Berat also has 2 viewpoints atop each side of the valley, one at Berat Castle that towers over the city on the Mangalem Quarter side, and another at a viewpoint behind Berat Backpackers on the Gorica Quarter side.

Both of these viewpoints will give you a stunning view over the city, and you will know right away why Berat is known as the City of Thousand Windows. If you have a few more days in Albania, be sure to stop by Berat and check out the stunning city before you leave. Trust me, you won't regret it.

15. Experience Xhiro Hour at The Bulevardi Republika At Night in Berat

Last but not least, before you leave Albania, you have to experience the bizarre but super interesting phenomenon called "Xhiro", an Albanian tradition where, once the sun is down, the entire city would come together at a boulevard and walk up and down the street, socializing with each other.

One of the best places to experience this phenomenon is at the Bulevardi Republika in Berat. One minute, it is an empty street; the next, it is jam-packed with people hanging out, playing chess outdoors, and talking to each other while they stroll up and down without wanting to go anywhere.

I gotta say, I've never seen anything quite like it, and if you're in Albania, you'll really have to see it for yourself to understand just how bizarre and amazing Xhiro hour is.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Berat? Check out:Top 8 Things to Do in Berat, Albania

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Omio when traveling in Albania while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Tiqets is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Albania

Looking for more information for your trip to Albania? Here are a collection of articles about Albania that will help you with your trip planning.

• Want to plan a trip to the Balkans, but not sure where to go? Here is the 31 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Balkans.
• For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
• Albania, a country once isolated, has now opened up to travelers, allowing them to uncover the beauty that has been hidden for a century. Here is a travel guide to help you uncover it: 2 Weeks Itinerary for Albania.
• Tirana is an excellent place to start your journey in Albania. Here’s a complete guide on things to do in Tirana.
• Berat, the city with a thousand windows, and even more cool things to do. Here are the Top 8 Things to Do in Berat.
• Gjirokaster, the stone city of a thousand steps, is another excellent UNESCO heritage site waiting for you to explore. Here are: 8 Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster.
• Albanian Riviera is a place where you will find hidden beaches, a pristine coastline, and one of the best places to see the sunset in Albania. Here is a complete 5-day itinerary and travel guide on backpacking the Albanian Riviera.
• "Is this really Albania?" is a question you will ask yourself the moment you set foot into the Albanian Alps. Here is a complete hiking guide on the Theth-Valbona and the Albanian Alps.
• My words are not convincing you about traveling to Albania? How about you see it for yourself with my Albania travel video? Adoralbania, the Albanian Adventure Travel Video
• For all articles about Albania, visit Albania Travel Guide page.
• Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? Here is the 3 Months Itinerary for Europe.
• Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe can be extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
• Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
• Looking to travel the Balkans? Check out all my articles about the region on the The Balkans Travel Guide page.
• You can see all of my Eastern Europe-related articles on my Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
• You can also see all my Europe-related articles here: Europe Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.