Albania was always one of those destinations on my list that kept appearing on my Instagram to go to before it gets too popular. This small Balkan country punches way above its weight when it comes to history, coastline, and food – and it still flies under the radar compared to its neighbours (i.e. Greece). If you’re looking for Europe’s next underrated gem, you’ve found it.
Here’s how I spent 5 days there: 1 night in Tirana, 1 in Berat, 1 in Himare, and 2 in Saranda – and exactly where to eat, sleep, and explore at each stop.
Table of Contents
- Where We Stayed
- Getting Around Albania
- Day 0: Arrival in Tirana
- Day 1: Tirana Sightseeing + Travel to Berat
- Day 2: Himare & the Albanian Riviera
- Day 3: Arriving in Saranda
- Day 4: Blue Eye, Butrint & Ksamil
- Final Thoughts
Where We Stayed
We used a mix of Airbnb/Hotel for our accommodation, which kept costs low and gave us local-feeling spots at each stop. Albania is extremely affordable, so don’t expect to pay much.
- Tirana: Airbnb
- Berat: Airbnb (This was Hotel Borklad, but we booked it via Airbnb)
- Himare: Airbnb
- Saranda: Aquamarine Apartments
Getting Around Albania
Going from the Tirana airport to Tirana downtown, we got a taxi outside and ended up hiring him to drive us from Tirana to Berat and Berat to Himare. It was was smooth and honestly not that expensive. From Himare to Saranda we took the public bus, which was very cheap, but fair warning, finding the bus in Himare was a whole adventure in itself. There’s no obvious stop, no posted schedule, and no app. We had to ask multiple people before figuring it out. Budget extra time and don’t stress if it takes a little while.
For our Saranda day trip, we rented a car for the day from Rental Car Nexhipi which we found by just walking town the evening before. Easy process and totally worth having your own wheels for the day.
Day 0: Arrival in Tirana
We flew in from Vienna (VIE → TIA), arriving at 7:35 PM. It was a late arrival so we didn’t have much time to do anything, but we still managed to have a proper first meal at Mrizi i Zanave Tirane; a restaurant focused on authentic Albanian cuisine. Great introduction to the food scene.
Day 1: Tirana Sightseeing + Travel to Berat
Tirana is more of a city than a destination, so one morning is honestly enough to tick the boxes. We walked to Skanderbeg Square, which is the beating heart of the capital, then strolled down to the Pyramid of Tirana; a bizarre communist-era relic that’s somehow now an icon in the middle of the city.
Coffee: Komiteti Bar
Right beside the Pyramid, Komiteti is the kind of coffee spot that stops you in your tracks. The interior is a museum of communist-era artefacts and the coffee is excellent. A must-stop if you’re in that area.
Lunch: Oda’s Garden
One of my favourite meals of the trip — an outdoor garden restaurant serving traditional Albanian food. It’s exactly what you want after a morning of walking: shaded, relaxed, and deeply local.
After lunch, our driver picked us up to head south to Berat. If you’re doing the same route, arranging a private driver for this leg is the most comfortable option and costs less than you’d think.
Berat Castle at Sunset — Don’t Miss This
We checked into Hotel Borklad in old town Berat and immediately walked up to Berat Castle. And I mean immediately, timing sunset here is everything. As the light turns golden it washes across the famous Ottoman-era houses stacked up the hillside. It’s one of those views that genuinely makes you stop talking and just stare. Plan your arrival in Berat so you can be up at the castle for golden hour.
Dinner: Eni Traditional Food Berat
After climbing back down, we crossed the Gorica Bridge and had dinner at Eni Traditional Food; a Berat-exclusive spot serving dishes you won’t find elsewhere on the trip. This is the place to get all the local specialties.
Day 2: Himare & the Albanian Riviera
After breakfast at the hotel, we headed west toward the Albanian Riviera. The drive to Himare is genuinely spectacular; mountain roads dropping down to reveal turquoise coastline below. Ask your driver to stop for photos. Seriously, just ask. You won’t regret it.
Himare itself is a laid-back coastal town. Our Airbnb wasn’t directly on the beach, but it was an easy walk down to Plazhi i Livadhit, where we spent the afternoon swimming and watching the sun set over the Adriatic. If you’ve only ever seen beaches in Croatia or Greece, this will surprise you; cleaner, quieter, and with almost no crowds.
Dinner: Taverna Lefteri
This is the oldest tavern in Himare and seafood is all you need to know. Himare is all about the fresh catch and Taverna Lefteri delivered. Calamari, local wine, good vibes; this is exactly why you come to the Albanian coast.
Day 3: Arriving in Saranda
We took the bus from Himare to Saranda in the morning. Finding the bus was a whole thing; no app, no clear signage, just asking locals until someone pointed us in the right direction. Very Albania. Once you’re on the bus though, the coastal road south is beautiful and the ride itself is part of the experience.
We checked into Aquamarine Apartments on Naim Frasheri Street, which put us right in the thick of things.
Lunch: Restaurante La Petite
We wandered around looking for lunch and landed here for the waterfront views. The food was mid, but the setting made up for it. Great for a first look at Saranda Bay over a meal.
Afternoon: Saranda Beach
After lunch we just walked the waterfront and ended up swimming around the Saranda beach area. The bay is beautiful and it’s a great way to orient yourself in town.
Dinner: Art Sushi
We were craving Asian food and landed on Art Sushi. It satisfied the craving completely. If you hit a point where you want something different, this is your spot.
After dinner we walked back down to the board walk area to explore the nightlife.
Dessert & Drinks
We grabbed gelato at Elinikon Bakery which was excellent and then settled in for some drinks at Jericho Cocktail Bar. The night ended with a surprise: fireworks over the bay. Not something we planned for, just a beautiful accident.
Day 4: Day Trip — Blue Eye, Butrint & Ksamil
This was the day we’d been most excited about. We rented a car the day before (easy to find rental places just by walking around the Saranda – we went with Rental Car Nexhipi) and hit three spots that cover everything great about the Saranda region.
Stop 1: Syri Kalter (Blue Eye)
The Blue Eye is a natural spring where ice-cold water wells up from an unknown depth, creating this mesmerizing bright blue pool in the middle of a forest. It genuinely doesn’t look real. Go early before the tour buses arrive, it’s better with fewer people around and the surrounding trail through the trees is lovely.
Stop 2: Butrint National Park
Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best archaeological sites in the Balkans. You’re walking through ruins spanning Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations – all layered on top of each other in a forested peninsula. It takes about 2 hours to walk through properly.
Stop 3: Ksamil Beach
We finished the day at Plazhi Ksamilit – a small beach with crystal clear water and views of the Greek islands in the distance. It’s the perfect finale to a day of ruins and nature.
Dinner: Ostro Beach Bar & Restaurant, Ksamil
We watched the sunset over dinner at Ostro right on the water in Ksamil before heading back to Saranda and returning the car. This was one of those meals where everything just lines up perfectly; good food, great view, perfect timing on the light. One of the best evenings of the whole trip.
Final Thoughts
Albania surprised me in the best way. It’s raw, affordable, and genuinely beautiful and it hasn’t been smoothed out into a tourist product yet. That’s both its charm and the reason to go now, before word fully gets out. I personally think once Sarande gets an airport, there will be a lot more tourists as Saranda will be the gateway to all the beach towns.
From the Ottoman old town of Berat to the turquoise bays of Ksamil, every stop delivered something different. The food is underrated, the people are warm, and the coastline gives Croatia and Greece serious competition at a fraction of the price.
We ended our Albanian adventure by hopping on the ferry from Saranda to Corfu (30–90 minutes depending on conditions) and continuing onto the Greek islands, which is honestly a perfect pairing if you’re doing a wider Balkans and Mediterranean trip.
We’ll definitely be back. Albania still has a lot more to give.
VINTURE WITH ME 
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