My 7-Day Albania Road Trip
If you're looking for an affordable European summer destination with crystal-clear water, incredible seafood, beautiful beaches and charming historic towns, Albania should be at the top of your list.
I recently spent a week road-tripping through Albania with two friends and it quickly became one of my favourite trips I've ever done. From wandering the cobbled streets of Berat to swimming in hidden caves in Himarë and spending long lunches overlooking the turquoise waters of Ksamil, this itinerary has a little bit of everything.
This guide follows the exact route we took, including where we stayed, our favourite restaurants and the places I'd recommend if I went back tomorrow.
Why You'll Love This Itinerary
- A perfect mix of culture, beaches and food
- Plenty of time to relax (without feeling rushed)
- Incredible restaurants throughout the trip
- Easy to drive and perfect for a road trip
- Affordable compared to many European destinations
- Based on the exact route we personally loved
This itinerary is ideal if you're visiting Albania for the first time. It gives you enough time to experience some of the country's most beautiful coastal towns whilst also taking in its history and culture. I'd recommend hiring a car as it gives you so much more flexibility to stop at viewpoints, beaches and hidden gems along the way.
Itinerary Overview
Trip Length:
7 Days
Best Time to Visit:
May–September
Perfect For:
Food lovers • Couples • Friends • Beach holidays • Road trips
Day 1 – Fly into Tirana
Arrive into Tirana and collect your hire car, depending on your arrival time, spend the evening exploring the city or simply relax before starting your road trip the following morning.
Day 2 – Drive to Berat
Drive Time: Around 2 hours
Berat was one of the biggest surprises of our trip. Known as the "City of a Thousand Windows", it's packed with history, beautiful Ottoman architecture and some of the friendliest people we met including our friend Alex who we met in Tanzania a couple of years ago who just happened to be there!
Things To Do
- Explore Berat Castle
- Wander around Mangalem
- Walk across Gorica Bridge
- Enjoy drinks in the evening
- Visit the famous Wine Hole in the Wall (we loved this)
Where We Ate
Restaurant Temi Albanian Food
Without doubt our favourite meal of the entire trip. If you only book one restaurant in Albania, make it this one. Traditional Albanian food, incredible hospitality and a beautiful atmosphere.
Day 3 & 4 – Himarë
Drive via Vlorë & Llogara Pass
The drive itself is one of the highlights of the trip. Make sure you take the coastal road through Llogara Pass as the views over the Albanian Riviera are absolutely breathtaking. It was easily my favourite drive of the whole holiday.
If I could change one thing about our itinerary, I'd actually spend an extra day in Himarë. It was quieter, more authentic and much more relaxed than Sarandë.
Where To Stay
Stay close to Lui Potam Beach, we booked an Airbnb directly above the beach and restaurant with a balcony overlooking the sea and honestly couldn't have asked for a better location or morning view of the sea!
Things To Do
- Boat trip to the hidden cave (our absolute favourite activity)
- Snorkelling
- Relax on the beach
- Sunset drinks overlooking the sea
Restaurants We Loved
Lui Potam: Amazing seafood with one of the best sunset views of the trip.
Taverna Lefteri: The oldest tavern in Himarë serving authentic local food.
Day 5–7 – Sarandë
Sarandë makes a great base for exploring the southern Albanian coastline and some of the country's most famous beaches.
Day 5
Head to African Beach Club for lunch before spending the afternoon relaxing.
Day 6 – Ksamil Day Trip
One word… Go!
Ksamil completely lived up to the hype. Spend the day at Ohana Beach Bar, enjoy lunch overlooking the bay and make the most of the unbelievably clear turquoise water. This was one of the highlights of our entire trip.
Day 7
You have two great options:
- Visit the famous Blue Eye
- Or enjoy another relaxing beach club day (which is exactly what we did!)
Restaurants We Loved
Lunch
- African Beach Club
- Ohana Beach Bar (Ksamil)
Dinner
- Restaurant Haxhi
- Pizza Savos (the best Albanian pittas we had all week)
Sarandë
Ksamil
Drive Back to Tirana
On your drive back north, stop for lunch at: Olivia Tradicion
A fantastic authentic Albanian restaurant that's perfectly placed on the drive back towards Tirana Airport. It's the ideal final stop before your flight home.
My top travel tips:
Don't skip Berat. It offers a completely different side of Albania and was one of our favourite places on the trip.
Book Temi Albanian Food in advance. It was hands down the best meal we had all week.
Spend longer in Himarë if you can. If I were planning the trip again, I'd happily take a day away from Sarandë and add it here instead.
Visit Ksamil from Sarandë. It was one of the biggest highlights of the holiday.
Hire a car. Public transport is possible, but having a car makes exploring so much easier.
Carry cash. Many smaller restaurants, cafés and beach bars still prefer cash payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albania expensive?
No. Compared to many Mediterranean destinations, Albania offers fantastic value for money, particularly when it comes to accommodation, food and drinks.
Is it worth hiring a car?
Absolutely. We'd recommend it to anyone doing this itinerary as it gives you complete flexibility and makes travelling between destinations very easy.
How many days do you need?
Seven days is enough to see the highlights, although I'd happily extend this trip to 9–10 days by spending longer in Himarë or do the northern mountain regions which we didn't have chance to this time.
What was your favourite place?
Himarë it felt quieter, less touristy and had a much more relaxed atmosphere than Sarandë.
What was your favourite restaurant?
Temi Albanian Food in Berat. Stunning local food all made by one family, a must visit.
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