Top Things To Do and Places to Visit in Albania

Albania is nestled in the balkans facing the brilliant blue of the Mediterranean Sea. The best places to visit in Albania are the beaches on Albanian Riviera. The best things to do in Albania include partying, hiking, trekking, road trips, beach fun, and general merriment. There are historical places to see in Albania as well but that is not usually the main focus on Albania travel.

Albania has some of best beaches in Europe with incredible ocean views. The Riviera is an Albania must see. The beach parties and music festivals are a big reason for Albania travel. The southern coast has more popular beaches in Albania. The coast is not only has best things to see in Albania its also offer best things to do in Albania, which is mostly party the nights away. The Dhermi beach is known for amazing EDM festivals, beach parties, and other events. Some of the festivals last day & night without stopping. Most well-known among them is Kala festival attracting house, electro, and soul DJs and tourists from across the world for Albania trip. If you are here for the beach fun and the festivals you won’t need an Albania travel guide. But if you feel there are more best things to do in Albania other than sands & music; there are a few great places to see in Albania.

The liveliness is not just on the beaches. The cities nightlife & even day times are equally vibrant. Aside from Albania sightseeing, the very vibe of the cities has an easy going, fun loving feel to it. The people are extremely friendly and helpful. You will experience a very welcoming hospitality when you visit Albania. You may even get frequently invited for coffee, which does not mean people hitting on you. Coffee is not just a beverage in Albania, it is a necessity. You should try as many variety of coffee as you can on Albania trip. The wine, olive oil, tomatoes, and a few Mediterranean spices are also great items to check on Albania vacation. Other items to taste on Albania trip include Fergese, Tave Kosi, Byrek, Speca me Gjize, sarma, kukurech, chumlek, guvech, trilece, and boza. You should, of course, try the local drink Raki whether you are on Albania sightseeing or partying. You will find it at all the bars, clubs, pubs, wineshops etc.

If neither beaches nor history nor the city can relinquish your wanderlust for Albania sightseeing, you can head towards the Alps. There are many things to see in Albania hidden in the mountains. Tourists usually don’t frequent the northern side, as most visit Albania for the beaches. Many trails are unexplored gems. The beauty of the mountains is an Albania must see for those who enjoy trekking, hiking, mountaineering, cycling, and exploring nature & panoramic views in general. These spots you won’t catch on many Albania travel guide, hence their status as unexplored territories. You can even attend many pastoral, cultural, and traditional festivals in the mountain t mingle with local Albanian folks. There are several hiking trails in the various National Parks and forest reserves as well.

There are several things to see in Albania for admirers of art & aesthetic beauty. You will see a mixture of European & Ottoman architecture. The capital city of Tirana has several picturesque European you would see in Spain & Greece. There are also many art galleries you can include in Albania sightseeing. Bunk’Art & Bunk’Art 2 are among places to visit in Albania. These covert war bunkers are now art galleries. Besides the art galleries and the architecture there are UNESCO heritage sites as well among things to see in Albania. For historical structures and archeological sites you can include cities like Butrint, Berat, Apollonia, Korca, and Gijrokaster.

You will be able to do a lot of things in Albania, even when traveling on budget. That is another reason people are attracted to this Mediterranean country. It is cheap to explore & experience. You will find it about half as expensive as other Balkan & European countries. This is also a place where you can afford luxuries without spending luxuriously. So make the most of spa, treatments, clubs, lounges, and other leisurely things to do in Albania.

The Best Tourist Places to Visit in Albania

1. Tirana

Tirana is the national capital city of the country. It is also the place with perhaps the most places to visit in Albania. Tirana would usually be your first spot on Albania vacation. It has an incredible variety of attractions and activities to explore.

2. Berat

Berat city is one of the most popular places to visit in Albania. Besides historical tourist attractions, there are beautiful natural landscapes to explore around the city.

3. Durrës

Durres is a coastal city in Albania. Durres particularly is known for beautiful beaches. The city hosts several music festivals and events to enjoy. It is an amazing party destination to visit in Albania.

4. Gjirokastër

The city sits in southern Albania. One of the most well known attraction of the near the city is Gjere mountains. The old town of Gjirokaster city is among UNESCO world heritage sites.

5. Korçë

Korce city bears Ottoman roots and the same can be seen in old parts of the city and several architectural landmarks. You can also explore Fir of Drenove National Park & Prespa National Park which are near to the city.

6. Shkodër

This is yet another popular coastal city to visit in Albania. You can explore the foothills of the Albanian Alps in this county. The city has a rich history of civilizations like Illyrians, Romans and Byzantines. There are many historical sites to explore in Shkoder among things to do in Albania.

7. Vlorë

Vlorë city is a wonderful places to explore when you visit Albania. This coastal city looks quite serene and is a popular destination for leisure in Albania.

8. Përmet

Përmet is a quaint old town in Albania known for its picturesque buildings. The town sits along the slope of a mountain and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful hike trails to explore during an Albania vacation.

9. Pogradec

Pogradec sits facing the huge lake. The lake beaches here are the major attraction of the city. It is also frequented by visitors to Drilon National Park which is quite close to the city.

10. Himarë

Himarë is known for incredibly beautiful beaches. There are numerous coastal sites and activities to enjoy in Himare.

11. Sarandë

Yet another coastal city explored for beautiful beaches in Albania. The old neighborhood of Sarandë is also popular place for sightseeing owing to various historical buildings.

Best Time to Visit Albania

The best time to visit Albania is before summer & before winter. In terms of months, this would be April, May, June, September, and October. These are the best months to visit Albania weather wise. The summer months are when most of the festivals & beach parties take place, so if partying is the best thing to do in Albania that you can think of, then be ready to bear the summer heat as well. Summer months are usually most popular months for Albania vacation. People on Albania tours are interested in Mediterranean beach party experience and love to get tanned. The months of September and October are also very pleasant to Albania vacation. The best things to do during these months can also include hiking, adventure travel, road trips etc. As there are several outdoor places to see in Albania, you want to plan your Albania trip keeping the weather in mind.

Popular Festivals, Events & Things to do in Albania

1. Dita e Veres

• • Dates: March 14
  • Location: All across Albania
  • This festival dates back to pagan culture. It celebrates the earth goddess removing the curse of winter. Diana is the goddess for nature. It is said that she blesses the region by releasing spring & bringing an end to the winter season. This day sees a lot of revelry & merriment across the country. You will also find people collecting & displaying grass & soil as a sign of luck for Dita e Veres. If you are interested in understanding and exploring cultures than you wouldn’t want to miss this festival on your Albania travel.

2. Albania Independence Day

• • Dates: November 28
  • Location: All across Albania
  • This day celebrates the independence of Albania from the Ottoman rule in 1912. You will find small and big events being held across the country, most of them patriotic in nature, if your Albania tours coincides with the Albania Independence Day.

3. Korca Beer Festival

• • Dates: August 14 to 18
  • Location: Korce
  • If you love beer & enjoy festivals which have people bask in crazy drunken revelry, then Korca Beer Festival is an Albania must see for you. The festival is all about beer, both local & international. The fun part is the people, games, activities, music, and dance. You will definitely have a gala time if you include Korca Beer Festival on your list of things to see in Albania. This particular festival might even join the memories of best things to do in Albania.

4. Kala Festival

• • Dates: June 10 to 17
  • Location: Dhermi Beach
  • Kala is one of the most prominent reason to visit Albania. It is one of the most well-known festival of not only Albania, but also Europe. Kala is actually a music festival inviting some of the most popular DJs from around the world. The genre of music include pop, house, disco, electronic, soul, and funk. It is not just the music which makes this festival worth the visit on Albania travel. It is the beaches & the crazy party vibe of the festival which makes it among best things to do in Albania. The beach, ocean party, street food, activities, and games are all part of the Kala festival. Many tourist make the Albania trip just to attend this festival.

5. Tomato Festival

• • Dates: September 22
  • Location: Shëngjergj, Tirana
  • This festival is all about the glorious red fruit. Though there are many local grown products displayed including local vegetables, dishes, handicrafts and so on. The highlight is Tomatoes and what all you can do with them. It is a food festival of sorts with an incredible variety of dishes prepared from tomato. You can also see traditional dance & musical performances at the Tomato festival. Shëngjergj is a great place to visit in Albania to enjoy the taste of Albanian culture & tomatoes.

6. Olive Festival

• • Dates: November 3
  • Location: Brar, Tirana
  • Moving from tomatoes to Olives, this is yet another festival dedicated to local produce. Olive dishes, olive oil, olive salads, olive soups, and even olive deserts. You will be astonished at the sheer variety of things available at this festival made from olives. There are of course other Albania must see dishes & items available here, but Olives are the stars of the show. This is again a great itinerary to include in Albania tours for a unique gastronomical experience.

7. Ice Cream Festival

• • Dates: July 11 to 13
  • Location: Durres
  • Who would want to miss out on a festival dedicated to Ice cream on Albania trip? If your answer is “not me”. The include Durres among places to see in Albania in July. Ice Cream is a Duressi specialty, hence an entire festival spanning 3 days dedicated to it. You will get to try exhaustive variety & flavors of ice-cream during this festival. This is an opportunity to explore interesting flavors you may never get to taste anywhere else except on Albania tours.

8. South Outdoor Festival

• • Dates: April 30 to May 3
  • Location: Borsh
  • The South Outdoor Festival gets tourists at the beautiful countryside on Albania vacation. This festival celebrates all things local: local music, local food, local shoppings etc. There are cultural performances along with music, drama, and dance. You can’t say it is among Albania must see, but it is an interesting experience of cultural engagement. So if you are on Albania trip towards end of April, do check out the South Outdoor Festival.

9. Kruja Mountain Festival

• • Dates: August 3
  • Location: Kruje, Durres
  • Kruja Mountain festival takes place in honor of Sari Salltik tekke, a revered saint. The festival takes place near the shrine of Sari Salltik tekke and the cave. People believe that miracles happen at this cave. It is a very interesting cultural & religion festival among things to see in Albania. As the festival takes place on the Kruja Mountain, you will have to hike all the way to the top to be a part of this festival. But, once you get there you will feel that the hike was among best things to do in Albania for the view itself.

10. ION Festival

• • Dates: September 6 to 9
  • Location: Dhermi Beach
  • This beach party festival is similar to Kala, though not as popular among people who visit Albania. This festival goes on four days & nights of parties. The beautiful beach of Dhermi is the perfect backdrop for this non-stop extravaganza to let loose on Albania tours. The city & beach of Dhermi is also among places to see in Albania, so you can check off two items from Albania vacation itinerary list by attending ION Festival.

11. UNUM Festival

• • Dates: May 28 to June 1
  • Location: Shengjin
  • UNUM is a techno & house music festival which takes place in the woods & beaches of Shengjin. This festival is all about the good vibes. The festival takes place during a fairly pleasant time for Albania travel. The artist line-up includes popular DJs from various countries.

12. Vera n’ Shesh

• • Dates: September 7 & 8
  • Location: Shesh Village, Tirana
  • This one is for the admirers of wine. The village of Shesh has plenty of wineries and this festival celebrates all aspects concerning the local wines. If you are on Albania vacation during September and you enjoy good wine, then Vera n’ Shesh festival will please your palate. This festival is also a good cultural engagement when you visit Albania.

13. Explorations

• • Dates: June 20 to 25
  • Location: Dhermi
  • Yet another music festival taking places on the beaches of Dhermi. It would seem no matter when you visit Albania, there would be a music festival spreading joy on the beach of Dhermi. Anjunadeep Presents: Exploration is a 5 day long festival. You can expect all the usual traits of  beach music festival form Explorations: music, dance, activities, street food, alcohol, games and so on. You can attend any of the festivals on Albania tours happening on Dhermi beach, but you should attend at least one.

14. Gjirokaster Folk Festival

• • Dates: May 20
  • Location: Gjirokaster
  • This festival celebrates the traditional music and heritage of Albania. It encourages and promotes local Albania artists. Attending the Gjirokaster Folk festival can be included among cultural things to do in Albania. The festival also invites performances from other balkan countries as well.

15. National Festival of Urban Folk Songs

• • Dates: March
  • Location: All across Albania
  • This festival celebrates the traditional music & folk songs of Albania. Every town and village organizes this festival in their own way. The common theme or aspect being folk songs. You will see many local folk performers shine in different concerts of varying sizes across Albania. It is again an interesting festival to attend on Albania vacation to be part of the country’s culture.

16. Tirana International Film Festival

• • Dates: September 19 to 25
  • Location: Tirana
  • Tirana International Film Festival showcases various films from different makers & countries from across the world. It also showcases local creations in cinema to promote Albanian films & makers.

17. Fergesa Festival

• • Dates: July 29
  • Location: Tirana Castle, Tirana
  • This is a food festival which revolves around the traditional dish called Fergese. It gathers various professional chefs as well as locals presenting their own rendition of Fergese. It is an interesting experience to have on Albania travel.

18. Grape Harvest Festival

• • Dates: September 14
  • Location Topana Water Reservoir, Durres
  • This is another wine festival in Albania. It is also like a local food festival with a traditional fair kind of ambiance. Though the festival is focused on wine, there are lot many local & traditional items & experience you can scout at this festival.

Emergency Contacts for Albania Tourist

Road Police: 126
Police: 129
Ambulance: 127
Fire Brigade: 128
General Emergency: 112
Ocean Emergency: 125

Useful Mobile Apps for Albania

1. Albania Guide by Triposo

This app is your Albania travel guide. It has almost all tourism related information on places to see in Albania. You can find Albania sightseeing locations on the map, you find places for dining, and shopping. It is very useful on Albania travel. This app also gives you nightlife hotspots, events, and activities taking place, its great for hunting things to do in Albania.

2. Into Albania

This is another Albania travel guide app. It has a very sleek user interface. The information on culture, heritage, events, and festivals is also pretty good.

3. Explore Albania

Yet another app to serve as Albania travel guide, but without the sleek interface. You can download all 3 apps to see which one you like the best. This app also guides you to places to visit in Albania with transport guide, hotel guide, restaurant options etc. This too has section of adventurous activities and other things to do in Albania.

4. Welcome Albania

This is the fourth one of its kind and this too like Into Albania has a sleek user interface with an equally great details on information & photographs. You should actually download all these once to see which one suites your taste the best. Only you can choose which app should be your Albania travel guide.

5. Zomato

Zomato is primarily a food delivery app. But you can also use it to discover great restaurants, cafe, bars, lounges, and clubs to experience on Albania vacation.

6. SoTours

SoTours is an adventure navigation app for you to use as Albania travel guide when you hiking or mountaineering. You can use this app to stay or track & send alert for help while engaging in adventurous things to do in Albania.

7. Uber

Uber is great for getting around if you don’t already have a means of transport on Albania tours. You can book a cab & make payments online as well.

8. Waze

Waze is a navigation app with live traffic updates. You will be able to get around easily to places to see in Albania with this app. It is also useful when traveling in cab to ensure you aren’t being taken on unnecessary routes when you visit Albania.

9. MapsMe

This is another navigation app with the offline advantage. You can download the map of Albania & have it act as your Albania travel guide without an internet connection.

10. Tirana Public Transport

This app is not Albania travel guide, but it will help you get around using public transport in Tirana.

Safety Tips for Albania Travel

• Guns are quite common in Albania, there is a large estimate of firearms in the country. You should be very careful as to not cross anyone in any way when you visit Albania.
• This is especially true in bars & clubs. Keep away from any place you find shady even a little bit. Clubs, bars or lounges associated with prostitution or exotic dancing are hotspots for firearm violence. So stay away from such places on Albania travel. There are also good places for enjoying nightlife, partying, and other things to do in Albania. Just ensure the places to visit in Albania are not a collection of angry & armed people. You can consult your Albania travel guide or even your hotel for the same. They would be more than happy to guide you to safe & good spots.
• Another major threat in Albania is concerning the shared border with Kosovo. This entire region is a landmine hazard. If your Albania travel includes visit to these border areas, be very careful, obey all danger signs, and stick to designated path only. You should take a local or an Albania travel guide with you if you intend to visit Albania Kosovo border region.
• Albanian people are pretty rash drivers & the conditions of the roads outside urban areas is not great. So if you are not confident about your driving, do not rent a car. Even if you are confident in your driving, take things safe & slow.
• Albania vacation would be pretty safe, although petty crime does occur. You should watch out for minor scams and pickpocketing on Albania trip.
• If you are using public transport on Albania tours, you should keep your belongings close.
• If your itinerary of places to see in Albania includes border areas also, exercise vigilance & caution as violent crimes are reported in those areas, especially southern border towns & villages.
• Be very careful with your credit & debit cards. Credit card frauds are reported in Albania. Be careful when visiting ATMs or using card to pay at places. Only use your cards at credible establishments, otherwise use cash on your Albania trip.
• You might see people trying to overcharge you for food, transport, services, products, drinks, cab fares etc. Always check for rates of things & services online to get a reference & negotiate your way to a fair price when you visit Albania.
•  The public transport in Albania is alright, but not very reliable. So if you have to catch a flight, better get a cab.