7 days in Albania
The Albanian Riviera and the historic towns inland still cost a fraction of the rest of the Mediterranean.
A free day-by-day plan you can copy, edit or make your own.
Day 1: Tirana
Base yourself around Tirana today — everything below is within easy reach.
Morning
Bunk'Art
Cold War bunkers in Tirana converted into museums about Albania's communist period.
Afternoon
Pyramid of Tirana
A 1988 landmark built as a museum to Enver Hoxha and reopened in 2023 as a public cultural and technology centre.
Dinner
Restaurant Kripë Dhe Piper (salt and pepper)
Mediterranean, Steakhouse dining in Tiranë.
Day 2: Himarë
Base yourself around Himarë today — everything below is within easy reach.
Morning
Porto Palermo Castle
A triangular fortress on a small peninsula in a sheltered bay south of Himarë.
Lunch stop
Old Qeparo
A stone hillside village above the coast between Himarë and Borsh, partly abandoned.
Afternoon
Gjipe Beach
A pebble beach at the mouth of a canyon between Dhërmi and Vuno, reached on foot or by boat.
Dinner
Veranda Restaurant
Local dining in Qeparo Fushë.
Day 3: Durrës
Base yourself around Durrës today — everything below is within easy reach.
Morning
Durrës Amphitheatre
A Roman amphitheatre from the 2nd century AD in the centre of Durrës, one of the largest in the Balkans.
Afternoon
Durrës Beach
A long sandy beach running south from the city towards Golem and Qerret, with shallow water.
Dinner
Kapelet Restaurant
Local dining in Shkozë.
Day 4: Sarandë
Base yourself around Sarandë today — everything below is within easy reach.
Morning
The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër)
A deep karst spring between Sarandë and Gjirokastër, where cold water rises through a dark blue pool.
Afternoon
Butrint National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site south of Sarandë, with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian remains.
Dinner
Sheqer Pikant
Local dining in Saranda.
Day 5: Korçë
Base yourself around Korçë today — everything below is within easy reach.
Morning
Korçë Old Bazaar
The restored 19th-century bazaar quarter in the centre of Korçë, with cobbled lanes and cafés.
Lunch stop
Voskopojë
A mountain village west of Korçë with surviving 18th-century Orthodox churches and frescoes.
Afternoon
Berat Castle & Onufri Museum
A hilltop fortress still inhabited today, holding Byzantine churches and the Onufri icon museum.
Dinner
Vila Eden
Bar dining in Korçë.
Day 6: Ksamil
Base yourself around Ksamil today — everything below is within easy reach.
Morning
Ksamil Islands
Four small islets just off the beaches of Ksamil, inside Butrint National Park.
Afternoon
Pasqyra (Mirror) Beach
A small pebble and sand cove between Sarandë and Ksamil, below the coastal road.
Dinner
Rrapa's Grill
Local dining in Ksamil.
Day 7: Berat
Base yourself around Berat today — everything below is within easy reach.
Morning
Mangalem & Gorica Quarters
The two UNESCO-listed Ottoman quarters of Berat, facing each other across the Osum river.
Afternoon
Osum Canyon
A river canyon south-east of Berat with walls up to about 80 m, used for rafting in spring.
Dinner
Amalia Homemade Food
Local dining in Berat.
Good to know
- Book dinner before you arrive — the good tables go first in season.
- Lunch is quieter (and cheaper) than dinner at most places on this list.
- Start beaches and hikes before 10:00 to dodge the heat and the crowds.
Make it yours
Pick your dates, your pace and the things you actually like — we'll rebuild this plan around them and give you a link to share.
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