Albania holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your Albania holiday in Europe
Albania is the last undiscovered beach paradise in Europe: The Albanian Riviera offers turquoise waters and secluded bays that can compete with Greece – at a fraction of the price. Additionally, there are UNESCO World Heritage sites like Butrint and Berat, wild mountain landscapes, and a hospitality that is unmatched in Europe. Those who come now will experience Albania before the big tourist boom.
Capital
Tirana
Language
Albanian
Currency
Lek (ALL)
Time zone
UTC+1
Flight time from DE
approx. 2.5 hours
Entry requirements
Passport or ID card (visa-free for 90 days)
Top hotels & accommodations in Albania
Selected hotels and holiday accommodations in Albania — with images, reviews, and direct booking links with our partners.
Meliá Durres Albania
Rinas, Albanien
Hotel Butrinti & Spa
Saranda, Albanien
Hotel & Spa Palace
Durres, Albanien
The Plaza Tirana
Tirana, Albanien
Rogner Hotel Tirana
Tirana, Albanien
Santa Quaranta Premium Resort
Saranda, Albanien
Adriatik Hotel, BW Premier Collection
Durres, Albanien
Epidamn White Sensation
Kavajë, Albanien
Top 5 highlights in Albania
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Albanian Riviera
Dream beaches from Ksamil to Dhërmi – crystal clear water, secluded bays, and beach life for little money.
Butrint
UNESCO World Heritage: Ancient Greek and Roman ruins in a picturesque peninsula landscape near Saranda.
Berat
The 'City of a Thousand Windows' – UNESCO old town with Ottoman houses and castle district.
Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër)
Mysterious karst spring with intensely blue water – one of the most fascinating natural phenomena in Albania.
Tirana
Colorful, chaotic, and energetic capital with bunkers, street art, and the lively Blloku district.
Hotels in Albania
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Albania
Prepaid-SIM mit Datenvolumen für Albania. Einfach einlegen und sofort lossurfen – keine Roaming-Gebühren.
* Weiterleitung zu travSIM.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to visit Albania
Recommended travel time
May–September
Summer
25–35°C
Winter
5–12°C
How much does a holiday in Albania cost?
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
20–35€
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
35–70€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
70–150€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
5 travel tips for Albania
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Cash (Lek) is often needed – many smaller shops and restaurants do not accept cards
Furgons (minibuses) are cheap but without a fixed schedule – leave in the morning
Visit the Albanian Riviera in June or September – less crowded than July/August
Raki is offered as a welcome drink – declining it is considered impolite
Rental cars are only for experienced drivers – road conditions can be adventurous
Food & drink in Albania
These dishes you must try!
Discover Albania
6 regions, cities and highlights in Albania
Cities
Berat
Berat is Albania's most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site — the city of a thousand windows, where white Ottoman houses with their countless windows amphitheatrically climb the hillside. This unique architecture, where the rows of windows look down on the city like eyes, has earned Berat its famous nickname. The Kalaja Fortress on the hill above the city is one of the best-preserved castle fortifications in the Balkans — and unique because people still live within its walls. Small churches with Byzantine frescoes, the Onufri Museum featuring icons of the famous Albanian painter, and panoramic views make the ascent unforgettable. The old town is divided into Mangalem (at the foot of the castle) and Gorica (on the opposite riverbank), connected by an Ottoman stone bridge. Both districts impress with their Ottoman architecture and narrow, cobbled streets. The Ethnographic Museum in a typical Ottoman house provides insight into traditional Albanian life. From Tirana, you can reach Berat in about two hours — a perfect day trip or a stop on the way to southern Albania. Albania is one of the cheapest travel destinations in Europe, and Berat offers exceptional quality at surprisingly low prices.
Gjirokastra
Gjirokastra is Albania's stone city — a UNESCO World Heritage site where powerful stone houses dominate the steep hillside like small fortresses. The city is the birthplace of the writer Ismail Kadare and the dictator Enver Hoxha, and this duality between culture and history permeates the entire place. The massive fortress, one of the largest in the Balkans, overlooks the city and houses a weapons museum with captured military equipment as well as a crashed US spy plane. The view from here over the Drino valley and the surrounding mountains is breathtaking. The old town below is a labyrinth of steep cobblestone streets and typical Kulla houses with their slate roofs and tower-like bay windows. The Skenduli House and the Zekate House, two perfectly preserved Ottoman houses from the 18th century, provide insight into the lives of wealthy merchant families. The traditional bazaar, one of the best-preserved in Albania, offers handicrafts, wool carpets, and local specialties. Gjirokastra is only 30 km from the Greek border and can be reached from Tirana in about 3.5 hours.
Saranda
Saranda is located on the Albanian southern coast directly opposite the Greek island of Corfu and has developed in recent years from a sleepy fishing village to the most popular beach resort in Albania. The horseshoe-shaped bay with its palm-lined promenade offers a magnificent view of the Ionian Sea and the island of Corfu, just 15 kilometers away. In close proximity are the ancient ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the mystical karst spring Syri i Kaltër (Blue Eye). Saranda combines affordable beach holidays with cultural highlights and serves as a perfect starting point for exploring the southern Albanian Riviera.
Shkodra (Shkodër)
Shkodra, the cultural capital of Albania, is located on the shores of the lake of the same name — the largest lake in the Balkans — and serves as the gateway to some of Europe's most unspoiled landscapes. The city at the foot of the Albanian Alps combines millennia-old history with a vibrant café culture and serves as a starting point for the famous Koman Lake ferry and hikes in the Theth National Park. The Rozafa Fortress, perched on a hill above the city, offers one of the most extensive views in Albania: over Lake Shkodra to Montenegro, the Albanian Alps, and the confluence of the Buna and Drin rivers. The fortress, whose history dates back to the Illyrian period, is associated with a tragic legend — a young woman is said to have been bricked into the walls to secure the construction. The pedestrian zone around the Pedonale Boulevard is the lively center of the city. Here, cafés line up where one can enjoy a top-notch espresso for one euro while locals chat for hours and observe life. The Venetian-influenced architecture of the old town and the 18th-century Ebu-Bekr Mosque give the city center a special charm. Shkodra's greatest asset is its location as a gateway to the Albanian Alps. The Koman Lake ferry, a three-hour journey through a deep gorge with emerald green water and steep cliffs, is considered one of the most beautiful ferry routes in Europe — a "Norwegian fjord at Balkan prices." From Fierza at the other end, it continues to Valbona, and the hiking trail from Valbona over the Valbona Pass to Theth is Albania's most famous trek. Theth itself, a remote mountain village in a dramatic valley, is one of the last refuges of original Albania with its stone Kulla tower houses and the spectacular Grunas waterfall. Lake Shkodra, shared by Albania and Montenegro, is a paradise for birdwatchers. Pelicans, herons, and over 280 other bird species inhabit the wetlands around the lake, which becomes one of the most important resting places for migratory birds in Southeast Europe in spring and autumn.
Tirana
Tirana, Albania's colorful capital, is perhaps Europe's most surprising insider tip. The city, which has transformed rapidly since the end of the communist regime in 1991, impresses with brightly painted Soviet apartment blocks, a huge main square (Skanderbeg Square) that was completely redesigned in 2017, and an exploding café and bar scene. The BunkArt Museum in a gigantic atomic bunker from the Hoxha era tells the story of the dictatorship. The Blloku block — once reserved for the elite — is now the nightlife district with trendy bars and restaurants. The Pyramid of Tirana, once Hoxha's mausoleum, is being converted into a technology center. Tirana is rough, colorful, and full of energy — a city on the rise that may not be as affordable in five years.
Vlora
Vlora is the gateway to the legendary Albanian Riviera and is located exactly where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. The second-largest port city in Albania combines a long beach promenade with historical significance as the site of the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912. South of the city begins the spectacular coastal road over the Llogara Pass, leading through breathtaking mountain landscapes to hidden dream beaches like Dhermi and Gjipe. As an emerging travel destination, Vlora offers a Mediterranean climate, clean beaches, and authentic Albanian hospitality at prices that are significantly lower than those of established Mediterranean destinations.
Complete guide for Albania
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
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Plan a holiday in Albania
Albania is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, offering Beach, Budget, Insider Tip and much more. The best time to visit Albania is May–September, when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 20–35€ (Budget) to 70–150€ (Luxury), Albania is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Tirana, Albania can be excellently explored. The official language is Albanian, and the currency is Lek (ALL). From Germany, you can reach Albania in approx. 2.5 hours. Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Byrek, Tavë Kosi, Qofte, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: Albania has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your Albania holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if Albania is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
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