Things to do in Albania

25 things to do in Albania

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Explore the ancient city of Butrint

  Wander through the UNESCO-listed ruins of a Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian city set on a forested peninsula overlooking the Vivari Channel.

  Butrint National Park

• Wander the Ottoman stone city of Gjirokastër

  Stroll the cobbled streets of this UNESCO World Heritage town, visiting the imposing hilltop castle and traditional Ottoman-era houses with distinctive stone roofs.

  Gjirokastër

• Admire the Blue Eye natural spring

  Gaze into the mesmerising turquoise depths of a deep karst pool whose water emerges from an unknown underground cave in a protected nature reserve.

  Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), near Sarandë

• Sunbathe on Ksamil's white-sand beaches

  Relax on pristine white sands and swim in crystal-clear Ionian waters, with views of uninhabited islands just offshore that you can reach by pedal boat.

  Ksamil

• Hike through the Valbona Valley

  Trek among the dramatic peaks of the Accursed Mountains, passing alpine meadows, waterfalls and traditional stone guesthouses in one of Albania's most pristine national parks.

  Valbona Valley National Park

• Discover Theth's isolated mountain village

  Cross the Valbona Pass to reach this remote settlement, where you can visit the old lock-in tower, see the Theth waterfall and experience traditional highland hospitality.

  Theth National Park

• Drive the panoramic Llogara Pass

  Wind up a serpentine mountain road to over 1,000 metres, pausing at viewpoints to take in the Albanian Riviera's coastline stretching far below.

  Llogara National Park

• Raft through the Osumi Canyon

  Paddle through towering 100-metre-high rock walls and hidden waterfalls in a narrow gorge carved by the Osum River, accessible only by raft or inflatable kayak.

  Osumi Canyon, near Çorovodë

• Visit Berat, the city of a thousand windows

  Climb the cobbled path to Berat Castle and gaze down on the white Ottoman houses piled up the hill, then explore the Onufri Museum's 16th-century icons.

  Berat

• Kayak the pristine waters of Lake Shkodër

  Paddle across the largest lake in Southern Europe, gliding past floating water-lily fields and bird-rich wetlands, with the rugged peaks of the Albanian Alps as a backdrop.

  Lake Shkodër, near Shiroka

• Step inside the communist bunker Bunk'Art 1

  Descend into a vast underground nuclear shelter built for Enver Hoxha, now a museum filled with chilling artefacts that tell the story of Albania's isolation under communism.

  Tirana

• Dine at Mrizi i Zanave farm-to-table restaurant

  Savour slow food at this pioneering agritourism farm, where ingredients are grown and transformed on-site into a multi-course feast of northern Albanian traditions with a modern twist.

  Fishtë, Lezhë

• Soak in the natural Benja thermal baths

  Bathe in sulphurous hot springs cascading over ancient stone pools beneath the graceful Katiu Ottoman Bridge, a healing spot used since Roman times.

  Benjë, near Përmet

• Wander Krujë's old bazaar and castle

  Navigate the restored Ottoman market street lined with craft stalls, then head up to the fortress where Skanderbeg repelled the Ottoman army and visit his national museum.

  Krujë

• See the Dalmatian pelicans at Karavasta Lagoon

  Observe one of Europe's largest breeding colonies of these giant birds from a wooden birdwatching tower in a Ramsar-listed coastal wetland between sand dunes and pine forests.

  Divjakë-Karavasta National Park

• Experience Tirana's Blloku nightlife

  After dark, join locals in the former restricted party district that is now packed with colourful bars, cocktail lounges and open-air clubs buzzing late into the night.

  Blloku, Tirana

• Take the Koman Lake ferry through mountain scenery

  Cruise a narrow reservoir dramatically wedged between sheer cliffs, often compared to a Norwegian fjord, linking the Drin Valley with the remote northern highlands.

  Koman Lake

• Watch sunset from Lekuresi Castle in Sarandë

  Climb to the hilltop fortress for a commanding panorama where the Ionian Sea meets the Greek border, especially magical when the sun sinks behind Corfu.

  Sarandë

• Taste traditional raki at Komiteti Kafe in Gjirokastër

  Sample a flight of artisanal fruit brandies infused with everything from walnut to mulberry at a cosy Ottoman-era café filled with vintage communist relics.

  Gjirokastër

• Hike to the Blue Eye of Theth

  Follow a forested trail to a thundering waterfall that plunges into an impossibly blue pool, a hidden natural wonder deep within the Theth Valley.

  Theth National Park

• Wander through the ruins of Apollonia

  Walk among the columns of a once-great Greek city founded in the 6th century BC, with a well-preserved bouleuterion, theatre and the Byzantine monastery of Saint Mary.

  Apollonia Archaeological Park, Fier

• Ride the Dajti Ekspres cable car above Tirana

  Soar up the eastern side of the capital in a 15-minute gondola ride to Mount Dajti, where walking trails, panoramic terraces and a revolving restaurant await.

  Mount Dajti, Tirana

• Relax at Drilon National Park and Lake Ohrid

  Stroll through willow-shaded springs and ornate bridges at this tiny oasis on the shore of ancient Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO-listed site shared with North Macedonia.

  Pogradec

• Discover the hidden Gjipe Beach

  Accessible only by footpath or boat, this narrow white-pebble beach sits at the end of a dramatic canyon where sheer cliffs plunge into the Ionian Sea.

  Gjipe Canyon, between Dhërmi and Vuno

• Walk the corridors of Bunk'Art 2 in central Tirana

  Enter the secret tunnels of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ underground bunker, now a museum detailing the brutal Sigurimi secret police and resistance to the regime.

  Tirana