Answer to the question: Is Albania worth visiting? – Yes, it is definitely worth it. And why, what awaits tourists in the land of stolen Mercedes cars and Albanian mafia, read further in this article. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments. But I’m sure there won’t be any.
Should you go to Albania for a vacation?
If you are reading this article, you are already considering a trip to Albania. And the images of the country that you have had in your mind since childhood don’t paint the most colorful pictures of Albania.
- The endless “soviet” era and the last stronghold of socialism.
- Albanian mafia.
- The illegal organ trade in the mountains of Albania.
- The land of stolen Mercedes cars.
- The poorest country in Europe.
- I can throw in a couple more stereotypes just to make sure you really don’t want to come here.
But deep down, your heart tells you that things have changed, right? – Honestly, yes. Albania will have the impact of a bomb exploding. All the stereotypes you’ve heard about are definitely not about today’s Albania. Everything except one, but more on that below.
What advantages can a tourist expect from a vacation in Albania?
From now on, there will only be facts and links to in-depth articles and reports.
- Albania has 300+ sunny days per year. This figure is higher than that of Montenegro, Croatia, and Spain.
- The tourist season in the country lasts from April to the end of October. The number of tourists increases every year, but even today this number is far from reaching the levels of neighboring countries.
- Read about everything related to weather, water temperature, and the season in the article at the link.
- Albania has a huge number of untouched landmarks. You will be surprised to know that:
- Albania is washed by two seas: the Adriatic and the Ionian.
- 71% of the country’s territory is occupied by mountains: the Alps and the Balkans.
- There are real canyons here.
- Hot springs.
- Waterfalls.
- Mountain climbing.
- Rocky lakes.
- Incredibly beautiful roads with serpentines.
- Ancient and Roman architecture freely accessible: bridges, amphitheaters, forums.
- Castles and fortresses atop hills in every city.
- And of course, 700,000 abandoned bunkers from the time of Enver Hoxha scattered throughout the country.
- Read about all the landmarks of Albania in the most comprehensive list here.
These are not all the advantages yet
- Low crime rate and one of the safest countries in Europe.
- No migrants here.
- No one will bother you on the streets asking you to buy something. The service is minimalistic and not intrusive.
- No one will offer you drugs in the center of Tirana, as it happened in Madrid or Naples.
- You can freely walk in any part of the country at any time of the day.
- People are incredibly friendly and hospitable.
- Today, Albania ranks among the top safe countries in Europe.
Most importantly, for me:
In Albania, they don’t see you as a walking wallet. They simply welcome you everywhere and are ready to help you completely free of charge. They don’t overcharge you at markets. The prices are the same for you as for the locals. They always give you change. And in any eatery, they are sincerely glad that you chose their restaurant. And even if you don’t leave a tip, no one will look at you with disapproval. You are still the best guest.
Read about cafes and restaurants in Albania in a separate article.
- Albanian cuisine is a mix of Balkan, Mediterranean, Italian, and Greek cuisines.
- Large portions are served here.
- Food prices are lower than ours.
- No spicy food or other “exotic” dishes like in Asia.
- The main ingredients of all dishes are: meat, vegetables, and cheese.
- So, is it worth going to Albania for a vacation? If you still haven’t decided, here’s one more fact:
- It is a very small country in terms of area. The roads here are good, and the drivers are definitely better than ours.
- You can and should travel around Albania by car. It is at least cheap, and the distances between landmarks are not large at all.
- In almost any city in Albania, within an hour’s drive, you can find amazing places for tourists.
Is it worth going to Albania for a vacation: drawbacks
- You’ve already read the first drawback.
- Yes, public transportation in Albania is poorly developed.
- It’s almost impossible to reach the most stunning landmarks by bus.
- The second drawback is prices.
- There is a stereotype that everything in Albania is either free or very cheap. That’s not true.
- To put it correctly: everything in Albania is inexpensive, prices are comparable to ours, some things are cheaper, some are more expensive. But definitely not for free.
- A vacation in Albania will certainly be cheaper than in Montenegro or Croatia, but in the countries of Southeastern Europe, everything is much cheaper.
- Read in detail about prices in Albania for everything that interests tourists in the article at the link.
In reality, there is only one significant drawback in Albania. At least the one that catches your eye right from the first minutes.
- Trash.
- Bags, bottles, cigarette packs are everywhere. Along the roads, in cities, at landmarks.
- Yes, in the center of Tirana or in the south of Albania in Saranda, in Ksamil, everything is clean. Cleaners work here every day, and there are no issues. But in most cases, there is a lot of trash, much more than in our countries.
- However, after 3 or 4 days, you no longer notice the trash. You come to see the ancient Byzantine bridge, admire its beauty, and the trash no longer catches your attention.
Travel tips
I have helped organize vacation in Albania for dozens of families. I see their reviews and feedback. In order for your trip to be perfect and exceed all expectations, you need to meet two requirements:
- You cannot come to Albania on a tour package and spend the entire vacation in one hotel. The essence of the country, the essence of its landmarks, is that they are all different. Even the mountains in the north and south are strikingly different from each other.
It’s important to know:
If you look at the bigger picture, there is nothing to do in any location in the country for more than three days. Three days in Tirana are enough to fully explore the city and visit all its landmarks. Yes, if you love beach vacations and just want to lie on the beach and listen to the sound of the waves, you still need to do that at different resorts.
The two seas, the numerous cities and resorts in Albania allow you to create a trip where you spend 3-4 days at each resort and explore the entire Albanian coastline. Fortunately, the distances between them don’t take much time to travel.
- It is essential to travel around Albania by car. A car in this country elevates your mobility to the sky. And by bus, you won’t see even half of what you can see by car.
- It’s cheap, safe, and easy here. Read all about car rental and potential pitfalls in this article.
Important:
There is only one reason to refrain from renting a car in Albania – if you don’t have a driver’s license. Everything else is just excuses.
At the link, you can read a great article with ready-made itineraries for a self-guided road trip in Albania.
Conclusion
Is it worth going to Albania for a vacation? Absolutely, yes. 90% of travelers who come here combine different types of vacations. They allocate time to relax on the beaches of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. They spend around 4 days exploring the mountains, visiting canyons, waterfalls, and hot springs. Architecture and history enthusiasts spice up their itinerary with Byzantine bridges and ancient cities like Berat and Gjirokastër.
The main ingredient for a successful vacation in Albania is movement! Movement is life, and here you truly feel that it’s true!
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Albania
- Flights at the best prices with best discounts
- Car rental in Albania (cheaper – only by bus):
- DiscoverCars – a major international resource
- LocalRent – the leader in the Albanian car rental market. Very low deposits, even in cash.
- Hotels and apartments throughout the country:
- Tours, excursions and activities:
- GetYourGuide – more than 550 tours
- Viator – 920+ excursions and activities throughout the country
- Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
- Internet and Calls:
- Airalo eSIM in Albania from $4.5
- DRIMSIM – universal SIM card (or eSIM) in any country in the world.
- Taxi and airport transfer: Intui.Travel
I stumbled upon your website by chance, for some reason, during the pandemic, I became interested in Albania and came across many positive reviews. But after reading your article “Is it Worth Going to Albania for a Vacation?” and seeing the downsides, I realized that I’m not ready for the mountains of garbage and lack of transportation options (I don’t have a driver’s license and never have). It’s a pity. But your website is great, informative. Thank you!
Olga, thank you for your feedback and comments about the website. Trust me, there are more positives than negatives. Garbage, yes, it’s unavoidable, but as I mentioned, in Tirana and the southern part of the country, things are generally good. However, for active tourists without a driver’s license, it can be challenging. Nevertheless, you can easily travel along the entire coastline by bus and enjoy the beaches without any major issues.
Thanks for your useful tips. I planned a trip but it was such a disappointment. Albania is a beautiful country but the border agents in Tirana airport might deny your entry without giving a valid reason. They don’t speak English very well, or pretend not to, they might humiliate you, and force you to pay your return ticket to leave their country.
I’m not only talking about my own experience, as a non-EU citizen holding a German resident permit, but also of what happened to random German citizens of our flight. The border agents just made discriminations against anyone they didn’t like. They don’t welcome tourists.
Hello! We deeply regret that your trip to Albania was marred by this incident. We have no information regarding the reasons for your entry denial into the country. Unfortunately, border officers of any country can refuse entry to anyone without providing reasons, even if you meet all the requirements and have the necessary documents. This occurs very rarely. We suggest that you consider sending a request to the Albanian Consulate in Berlin, seeking an explanation for the entry denial. You can contact them at the following email address: konsullata.berlin@mfa.gov.al. Albania is a beautiful country, and we wish for everyone to have the opportunity to explore its wonders.