The best places to visit in Albania in 2026

Best for: A proper city break

The capital of Albania, and the only place that genuinely feels like a city, Tirana isn’t overwhelmed by its recent repressive history. Instead of hiding away the Communist-era interrogation centres and prisons, city authorities have transformed them into darkly fascinating museums, art galleries and memorials – and then surrounded them with an ever-changing cast of hipster bars and restaurants. At weekends, ride the cable car up Mount Dajti to join the locals for a spit-roast lamb lunch with a view down over the city.

Best for: The spectacular highlight of any Albania road trip

Connecting the gorgeous Dukat Valley with popular Himarë, the Llogara Pass is Albania (and Southeastern Europe) at its most jaw-dropping. Roads don’t come much more dramatic than this, as those lucky enough to traverse it find themselves winding through pine forests and along sheer cliffs before the breathtaking Ionian Sea comes into view. Panoramic spots don’t come much better, and the Llogara Pass is steeped in myths and legends to back up the unbeatable vistas. You can also find some of the region’s best paragliding, if you’ve got the nerve for such activities.

Best for: Old town vibes

Beautiful Berat is a town of two halves. Down on the riverbank, houses are clustered up tight against the side of a forested hill, their windows bouncing sunlight off the water. Take the steep climb up towards the summit of that hill, and you’ll arrive at Berat’s other – and much older – half. A restored medieval gateway leads into the Kalaja (Berat Castle), where wildflowers sprout from crumbling walls, and a clutch of centuries-old churches and mosques have been turned into museums.

Best for: Secluded beach vibes

The 40-minute cliffside walking trail to Albania’s Gjipe beach starts from beside the thick stone walls of the Saint Theodore Monastery. The religious start is appropriate: as soon as you set eyes on this small, white-pebble beach, set below cliffs at the mouth of a wooded gorge, you’ll think you’re in Mediterranean beach heaven. The atmosphere at Gjipe remains low-key, and development mercifully limited. There’s a seasonal beach café and, a short way up into the gorge, a basic camping area. Come in June or September, and you might have it all to yourself.

Best for: Shopping and strolling

The story of the small hill town of Gjirokastër, in southern Albania, stretches back at least 2,500 years – with some of the treasures from this great antiquity carefully laid out in the town’s small museum. Today, most come here to see the 600 or so stunning Ottoman-era manor houses that dot the town and surrounding hillside, some of which are open to visitors. The pretty-but-touristy centre of town (Gjirokastër is a favourite with bus tours on a day trip from Corfu) is all cobbled streets, arty cafes, and less arty souvenir shops.

Best for: Exploring on two wheels

The large town of Shkodër, which lazes on the side of a lake a short way back from the sea, doesn’t make it onto many Albanian itineraries. Yet, with its pastel-painted buildings and elegant squares, it has a distinctly Italian ambiance. Add to this an abundance of history and culture, and you have yourself a perfect city break. The city boasts some of Albania’s best museums (such as the Marubi National Photography Museum, which covers the history of photography in Albania, and the Site of Witness and Memory Museum, which outlines Albania’s recent Communist past), a large fortress complex, some excellent restaurants – and yes, the Italian influence extends to dinner – and long, sandy beaches just a short drive away. It is also famous for its abundance of cyclists, making it a great place to explore on two wheels.

Best for: Getting stuck into history

Arguably the most impressive historical site in Albania, Butrint is an ancient Greek city of sunflower-yellow stones and rocks. Some of the ruins here – the theatre, Forum and public baths in particular – are extraordinarily well preserved, but just as much pleasure is to be had poking about the lesser-known ruins. To add to the wonder of the site, the whole complex is beautifully situated under shady woodland and on the shores of a quiet coastal lagoon.

Best for: A beachy summer holiday

Albania’s quintessential beach spot. Though no longer a hidden gem, Ksamil – which sweeps around a series of low, wooded headlands and encompasses a number of still glistening bays, beaches, and small islets – is something special. Mass tourism, fuelled by visitors from neighbouring landlocked countries, has dramatically changed the Albanian coastline in recent years, but Ksamil retains the laidback magic that first attracted people to the Albanian Riviera. And, of course, the seafood is excellent.

Best for: Finding an actual hidden gem

Far from anywhere and little known to most foreign visitors to Albania, the ruins of the ancient Illyrian city of Apollonia are a sprawling 2,500-year-old complex of half-buried walls, mosaics, and pillars, spread across olive tree-dotted hills. The theatre and the administrative centre still retain great grandeur, and the treasure-stuffed museum is well worth a visit. Away from the main ruins, one of Apollonia’s biggest draws is its feeling of quiet solitude. Come for the history, stay for the tranquility.

Best for: City beaches and Roman history

Habitually overshadowed by more glamorous coastal locations to the south, Durrës might just be Albania’s most underrated destination. The country’s second-largest city and main port, the city marries a lengthy history with a vibrant, modern energy, best experienced in its lively cafe scene or by lounging on a city beach. The promenade serves up some of the best people-watching in the country, and there is plenty of curious 20th-century architecture to explore (King Zog’s royal villa is the highlight on that front).