Albania. Beaches, castles and attractions worth visiting! Practical information!

Until recently, Albania was a great mystery of Europe. Today it opens slowly like a book full of forgotten stories. It is a land of contrasts, with unique attractions, wonderful landscapes, azure riviera and modernity that mixes easily with neglect. The amazing Albania can certainly surprise, it is an ideal place for explorers, still cheaper than other countries on the Adriatic and Mediterranean. For us, these are first and foremost beautiful memories and unusual views! See what Albania has to offer!

Experiences in Albania. Things to see. Map of Albania attractions!

Wonderful, azure riviera with diverse beaches, ancient souvenirs, fortresses on extremely scenic hills, but also bunkers at every turn. Many places can delight here, there are also neglected corners. Check out our guide to the top attractions in Albania and see what's worth seeing!

Borsh beach - discovery of the Albanian Riviera

Borsh Beach is one of the longest and most pristine beaches in Albania. It is rocky, but quite nice and intimate, and parking is free. Here the Ionian Sea connects with the Adriatic Sea. There are umbrellas with thatches. It is pleasant and hot despite the end of September, we also bathed in the sea. The water here is very clean (which is complained about in some parts of the riviera) and floods a small, bright litter over a length of as much as 7 kilometers. You can only find a longer beach in Durres, but here it is calmer, which we definitely prefer. We did not have it in our plans, but the idea came to us from a Pole we met by chance. We met a lot of Poles in Albania, much more than in Georgia.
Free access to the beach, free parking

Ksamil Beach - Pearl of Albania - it's worth visiting

Ksamil beach is actually the most beautiful, but this is not a discovery, because it is the most popular, often called the "pearl of Albania". It is also the most transformed by man and the most crowded, so if you are looking for nature and peace, this place is not for you. Anyway, it's wonderful here. The mountains and hills rise almost on the shore, which is why the Albanian Riviera is so spectacular. It transports you into the world of azure with magical peaks in the background. The beach itself is wonderfully prepared for tourists, hiding many decorations asking for photos. There was a queue at the famous hand for about an hour, which is why we only took photos from the side. We are not convinced by such mass attractions, and even the palm of our hand did not delight us as much as the head at the other end of the beach, where we were already alone. On the promenade you will find plenty of sun loungers, cane umbrellas, beach bars and restaurants overlooking the beautiful sea. The walk at sunset was truly magical, the touch of soft sand, which is rare in Albania, and the turquoise water of the Ionian Sea put us in a blissful mood.
Free access to the beach, paid parking in the city

See also Balos, the most beautiful beach in Crete and the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca!

Theth in the Cursed Mountains - one of the most isolated settlements in Europe!

Theth is an amazing mountain village, located in the heart of the Cursed Mountains, called the Albanian Alps or the North Albanian Mountains. Surrounded on all sides by rocky peaks, reaching up to 2,000 meters above sea level, it provides a stunning, wild landscape. Therefore, it reminds us of the Georgian Ushguli, but here more civilization and commerce. The iconic symbol of Theth is the church. It was founded in 1892, but had to be renovated after the fall of communism, during which the dictator Hoxha destroyed the temples of Albania. He believed that the only religion of the country was to be albanism. The Tower of Reconciliation (paid admission), a unique stone tower, rises a little further. In the past, it protected people from bloody family revenge. All disputes were settled here, in accordance with the canon, the codex introduced in the fifteenth century by Lekë Dukagjini. It was from him that the name of the currency in this country - medicines - came. It is also worth going trekking to stand in front of the Grunas waterfall, 25 meters high, after about 30 minutes. The route leads through a charming, stone settlement with several buildings, it looks modest but spectacular at the same time. Interestingly, it is possible to buy something to drink or eat here. Watch out for snakes along the way. We met several of them, including a very venomous rhinoceros viper. The entire route from the car park is 3.7 km, the path is quite straight.
Free entrance, free parking

Berat - City of a Thousand Windows from the UNESCO list

In my opinion, Berat on the UNESCO list is the most atmospheric and charming city we have visited in Albania. An excellent example of the coexistence of cultures and religions. It flourished during the reign of the Ottoman Empire and today it has preserved this unique, oriental atmosphere. The name City of a Thousand Windows comes from the fact that the facades of the buildings face in one direction, creating a unique wall decorated with windows, on the Osum River. It makes quite an impression when the buildings seem to be looking at all of us, and we got here before sunset and the faces of the facades were covered with beautiful, sunny blush. Wonderful! After dark, the city also looks spectacular, with its narrow, winding stone streets. The whole of Albania had an unusual night illumination, and Berat leads the way in this. Be sure to book your time for the Castle towering above the city. It comes mostly from the 13th century. It is not only a fortress, but a peculiar settlement, within the castle walls, still inhabited by ordinary residents. You will also find beautiful Orthodox churches with original frescoes. There is also a mosque and a museum. Here took place the greatest defeat of the most famous Albanian hero, Skanderbeg, who tried to retake Berat from the Ottomans. You can also take a break for a quick espresso, which in Albania almost always costs less than 4 and a half zlotys. The atmosphere of this place reminded us of Hum from Istria, I really liked the whole Berat and I highly recommend it to you!

Blue Eye - supposedly a must visit when traveling around Albania!

Did you know that Albania has two picturesque Blue Eye lakes? There is one in the Cursed Mountains, but it is more popular in the south of the country. Blue Eye is a must-visit place in Albania. That's what we heard. I was a little disappointed, and that's because the commercials were all over the place. Already in the paid parking lot, they offer you electric scooters and scooters that will make it easier to cover less than 2 kilometers on the comfortable asphalt leading to the lake shore. After less than 30 minutes of walking, we reached the famous spring. It's really nice here, but there are a lot of people and a lot of commercials around. But the color of the water is wonderful. Crystal clear water. It comes out suddenly. Water gushes from the depths of the earth with an average capacity of 6,000 litres per second. No one knows how deep it is. The divers reached a depth of 50 meters, and the bottom has still not been discovered. And this incredible color. The water temperature is always around 10°C, even in summer! The place is surrounded by the aura of legend, because Blue Eye was to arise from the tears of a great snake - a dragon defeated by a clever old man. This "eye" cries to this day and has become a symbol of the power of nature. It is possible to rent a kayak here and then return to the parking lot and we wanted to use this option, but the marina was no longer working.
Free admission, parking 300 medicines (approx. PLN 13, 2025)

Butrint - Ancient UNESCO City and National Park

Did the Troy fugitives found Albania's oldest city? This is what the legend says about the founding of Albania's oldest city in the 12th century BC. In fact, however, its beginnings are seen a little later. It is an ancient Butrint, a pearl of UNESCO from the 8th century BC. Originally, the Illyrians lived here, who were considered to be the ancestors of the Albanians, hence the Albanian language is so unique. Butrint is the largest archaeological site in Albania, discovered in the 1920s. It is an extraordinary mosaic of cultures and architectural styles, created over the centuries by various powers. The Greek temple of Asclepius or the Roman stone theater were built here. The Byzantines built a baptistery and a magnificent basilica here, and the Venetians surrounded the city with walls, using its ancient fragments and built a magnificent castle, which today houses a small museum with artifacts. We were intrigued by this extremely valuable ancient discovery. It all lies on a beautiful peninsula. It is a pity that Ziemowit from above could not show it to us in this place.
Admission to Butrint National Park: 1000 medicines (PLN 44, 2025), free parking

Gjirokastra - a stone city with the largest fortress in Albania

Gjirokastra is another UNESCO site in Albania. A medieval Ottoman city with the largest preserved fortress in the whole country. Its length is about 500 meters. You can buy admission to the Military Museum separately, but we have not decided. A walk along the extensive, austere walls of the fortress allows you to see military equipment, including the wreckage of the American Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star aircraft, which landed here in an emergency in 1957, during the Cold War. Albania was then a communist state ruled by the dictator Hoxha. Fortunately, the frightened pilot was released several days later, but the plane remained a war booty. The castles in Albania look similar. They are vast fortified cities surrounded by walls, built on scenic hills. From here, you can see why this place is called the city of stone. Distinctive architecture and these gray roofs everywhere. We walked these stone streets. Gjirokastra is slightly less atmospheric than Berat, but you will also find nice alleys here. It is most bustling in the old bazaar, famous for its beautiful Ottoman architecture. It is the heart of Gjirokastra, where you can find numerous craft shops, souvenir and handicraft stalls, as well as small restaurants and cafes.
Admission to the castle: 400 medicines (PLN 17.60, 2025), free parking

Kruja Castle in Albania - the main residence of the hero Skanderbeg 

Kruja Castle is one of the nicest castles we have seen in Albania and the main attraction of this town. The headquarters of Jerzy Kastriota, known as Skanderbeg. He lived in the fifteenth century and was also considered a Christian knight in Poland. Here, the Polish accent, King of Poland Władysław III Varneńczyk wrote letters to this Albanian hero. They were united by a common enemy, the Turks. The Varnaite died in the last crusade against the Ottomans, but the fate of Skanderbeg was different. He won independence for his compatriots in battles with the Turks. Hence, it is a sumptuous museum stylized as a medieval fortress. Kruja is treated as the first capital, and the hero's coat of arms, a two-headed black eagle, remained with the Albanians forever in their flag. Walking around the colorful bazaar that grew up under the walls of the fortress, you can easily buy its bust.
Free entrance, free parking

Ardenica Monastery - one of the few temples in Albania

I have already mentioned that during the communist era, Hoxha destroyed temples en masse. How did this Christian Gothic gem survive in Ardenica in the face of this sacred revolution? The monastery from the 13th century would probably also be gone, but it survived happily because the hero Skanderbeg married here. Hence, it is not only associated as a sacred object, but above all as a national one. This took place on 21 April 1451, when he married Donika Muzaka. In this way, Skanderbeg saved magnificent paintings and interesting sacred architecture, which is in vain to be found in other parts of Albania. The monastery was built on the orders of the Byzantine emperor Andronicus II Paleologus as a thanksgiving for the victory over the troops of Sicily during the siege of Berat. It was probably created on the former place of worship of the goddess Artemis, hence the name Ardenica.
Admission to the monastery: 100 medicines (PLN 4.40)

Saranda and the Castle of Medicine in Albania

Saranda is a popular city on the Albanian Riviera. Although we slept here, due to traffic jams, we only visited the Lekursi castle in Saranda. The magnificent coast was admired from here by Suleiman the Magnificent, who ordered the construction of a stronghold. Today, everyone can admire them for free, because in the castle walls there is an atmospheric restaurant overlooking the Greek island of Corfu, the Ionian Sea and Saranda.
Free entrance, free parking 

Gjipe Beach and Gjipe Canyon - lost gems

We know from experience that the most beautiful and wildest beaches are not accessible by car. This was the case with Gjipe Beach, which grew at the mouth of the ravine of the same name. We wanted to go to it through this canyon, but he beat us a little. It is a trail of about 3 km, but it is quite difficult and as a group (we visited Albania in 6 people) we were not prepared, the hunger after the whole day was very bad. So we came here from the other side, where there was already a paid parking lot and it was also necessary to walk a dozen or so minutes in the field. Gjipe beach was supposed to be intimate, but its popularity apparently increased, because there were quite a lot of people. This is proof of how fast the Albanian Riviera is developing. On the other hand, the views from the drone are fabulous. The cliffs surrounding the beach are more than 100 meters high. The water here sparkles with different shades of turquoise and blue. Apparently, caves have been created in the rocks here and there, which can be reached by boats. Maybe next time.
Free entrance, free canyon parking, paid beach parking

Llogara Pass in Llogara National Park

The picturesque Llogara Pass allows you to admire the jagged shores of the Albanian coast. The pass is located at an altitude of 1027 meters above sea level, in the Llogara National Park, in the Çika Mountains. It is reached by the fantastic SH8 asphalt road, extremely scenic, considered the most beautiful mountain road in Albania and one of the most beautiful in Europe. It reminds us of the Ma-10 road in Mallorca leading to Formentor. It is narrow, very winding, but well maintained, although there are signs that it is worth having chains in winter.
Free parking

Porto Palermo - a tiny triangular castle and Albania's military secret

The smallest castle we visited in Albania was in Porto Palermo . The Ziemowit drone showed us how unusual its shape is. It is connected with a romantic story. It was erected by Ali Pasha, a famous but controversial Ottoman ruler who lost his head to his Greek-Albanian wife. Kyra Vassiliki had the status of a special favorite, and their love echoed loudly. Apparently, he watched her from the walls of the fortress more than once while she was bathing in the sea. Some add that she did it naked. In Porto Palermo you will also see the most mysterious military facility in all of Albania. It is a former Soviet submarine base from the Cold War, when Albania cooperated with the Soviets. Hoxha ordered to drill a tunnel connecting two outlets more than 600 meters apart, in which ships were hiding. When the cooperation ended, the ships were as if in a black hole. Until then, they functioned, but later they ran out of resources, spare parts and began to be perceived as specters. Currently, the ships have been moved, but the submarine bunker is still unavailable.
Entrance to the castle: 300 medicines (PLN 13), free parking

Ali Pasha Aqueduct

The aforementioned Ali Pasha of Tepelena, who lived in the years 1741-1822, was an exceptional builder. He not only exhibited in Porto Palermo, but also an aqueduct that can be admired near Gjirokastra. It extends to a length of 80 meters and reaches a height of 7 meters. From a distance, it gets a little lost among the peaks, but it looks phenomenal up close.
Free entrance, free parking

Shkoder - Lake Shkoder and Rozafa Castle - a picturesque viewpoint

Shkodra invites with an extremely spectacularly located castle! Its origins are associated with Illyrian legends and Rozafa, whose name this stronghold bears. It is the only castle in Albania that bears the name of a woman, but she had to make a great sacrifice for it. When it was built, the castle collapsed every time and the three brothers decided to make a sacrifice in the form of the wife of the youngest of them. They bricked her up alive and apparently to this day one of the walls is always damp, wet from her tears.
This legend is quite ominous, but the hill was actually the political center of the Illyrian kingdom even before our era, and they were the first to put their fortifications here. However, the main builders of the fortifications were the Venetians, and the stronghold protected the local trade routes. This is the nicest fortress we have seen in Albania, thanks to the beautifully meandering 3 rivers Buna, Drin and Kir. They connect here, dropping a little further into the vast Skadar Lake. It is the largest in Albania and the entire Balkan Peninsula. It forms the border with Montenegro and is an important natural habitat, legally protected. You can find here, among others, curly pelicans.
Admission to the castle: 400 medicines (about PLN 17, 2025)

Durres - the nearest coastal city to Tirana Airport

We visited Durres first, because it is the closest coastal city to Tirana airport. Some people advise against visiting it, because it is not one of the most beautiful and cleanest. There's something in that. Durres is one of Albania's oldest and largest cities, a great port and a vibrant modern city. Among its attractions you will find an ancient amphitheater, a Venetian tower, kilometers-long beaches and pleasant promenades, where you will see a monument to rock stars with images of Tina Turner, John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger. Interestingly, the local amphitheatre is one of the largest and best preserved on the Balkan Peninsula. It dates back to the second century, and in the fourth century it was partially destroyed by an earthquake. It could accommodate 20,000 spectators. Then it was completely covered with sand until it was accidentally discovered in 1966. For 200 years, gladiators died on it to the delight of first Trajan, and later subsequent Roman emperors. In 2019, this city experienced another strong earthquake and then a crowd of Polish firefighters came here to help.

Bunkers in Albania

A curiosity. Albania's landscape is dotted with concrete domes that may slightly resemble large turtles. These are shelters, very typical of Albania. The whole country is covered with such objects. Because in the 1960s and 1970s, Dictator Hoxha had a kind of paranoia. He cut himself off from the whole world and Albania became completely isolated. Hoxha believed that only his country presented the true ideas of communism, and other countries such as the USSR or China betrayed them. He was convinced that he was in danger of attack from everywhere and built many such shelters from the best concrete. In his paranoid distrust, however, he did not forget about his compatriots for whom he built these bunkers. It is said that even several hundred thousand of them were created, that each family of four could have its own. The design of the bunkers was an engineering absurdity. Today, their destiny is very different. Most of them deteriorate, grow up in fields, along roads, near old strongholds. In some of them, galleries were created, in others, cafes. The specific charm of this country.

Interesting facts about Albania

• Albania breaks the tourism growth record, with more than 10 million tourists visiting in 2023, making it one of the fastest growing travel destinations in the world
• A unique cultural phenomenon (encountered to this day) has existed in Albania for centuries. It is "burrnesha", meaning "sworn virgins". Women who took the sacred oath of virginity for the rest of their lives and under traditional Kanun law gained the right to live and function as men
• Mother Teresa of Calcutta is of Albanian origin, as well as world music stars, including Rita Ora and Dua Lipa, although none of them were born in today's Albania
• During the communist era, a brutal campaign of atheism and mass destruction of temples of all religions was carried out under the rule of Enver Hoxha. "Albania's only religion was to become albanism." In 1967, Albania declared itself the first officially atheist state in the world. Within a few months, 2,169 places of worship of various faiths were destroyed or converted to secular purposes. Among them there was a valuable cathedral in Shkodër turned into a sports hall
• Every year, over 100 people died during the construction of bunkers
• Albanian belongs to the group of Indo-European languages, but it is unique because it does not belong to any larger subgroup
• The name of the Albanian currency "Lek" comes from the name of Lekë Dukagjini, a 15th-century Albanian prince and national hero, the author of the famous Kanun, the traditional customary law of Albania
• In the fifteenth century, the Polish king Władysław III Varneńczyk wrote letters to the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, who was valued in Poland as a "Christian knight". Skanderbeg supported the Varna crusade against the Ottomans
• There are stuffed animals hanging in different places, they are usually very damaged by time and it looks quite peculiar

Our tour plan for Albania

I have written out our tour plan, maybe it will be an inspiration for you. We flew overnight to Tirana, the capital of Albania, but we had no plans for this city, so we immediately drove to Durres. Our route:

Day 1 
Durres, Ardenica Monastery, drive to Berat and evening tour

Day 2 
Berat - the city of a thousand windows with a castle, SH8 Road and Llogara Pass in the Çika Mountains, Gjipe Canyon and Beach, access to Porto Palermo (Qeparo)

Day 3 
Porto Palermo with submarine bunker and fortress, Borsh beach, drive to Saranda, Lekursi Castle, Ksamil beaches at sunset, we recommend!

Day 4 
Butrint ancient city, Blue Eye, drive to Gjirokastra

Day 5 
Grijokastra with a castle, Ali Pasha aqueduct, drive to Shkodra (route 6 hours)

Day 6 
Theth - mountain village located in the heart of the Albanian Alps, Skadar Lake

Day 7 
Shkodra with Rozafa Castle, Kruja Castle, airport transfer

Albania - Practical information to know before your trip

Here are some important and valuable practical information that will definitely be useful to you before you go and will allow you to plan your stay in Albania better. We were surprised by this country, it is also worth going prepared. Below I elaborate on the topic:

• Be vigilant - it is worth keeping an eye on any transactions in Albania, it is easy to be scammed. This applies to various aspects, not only the issue of change, but also the indication of the price itself, especially when we pay in euro. We have been deliberately tricked several times, it is also worth being attentive during every money exchange
• In resorts and large cities, you can easily get along in English
• They mainly accept Euros for overnight stays
• In larger stores, you can pay with a card, but cash will be useful when paying for experiences or even in pubs. Often, you can only pay in cash at gas stations, so it is better to ask before refueling
• The tap water is not drinkable

How to get to Albania?

You can get to Albania by your own car, but it will be faster and more comfortable by plane. We flew to Tirana from Katowice, but from other Polish cities you can also fly here with Wizzair and Ryanair. Planning in advance, you can find a good price. In September, we paid PLN 180 per person for a return flight. This is a very good time for Albania, it was warm, sunny and we even bathed in the sea!

Accommodation in Albania

Here is a list of our accommodation in Albania, while we were looking for options for 6 people. Almost every day we slept somewhere else to explore as much as possible. Accommodation was at a high level, much cheaper than in Poland (about PLN 120 per double room), and usually offered terraces with a beautiful view. Only in Durres we had bad luck, but in general this city was the weakest tourist destination.

The first was the accommodation in Durres - Sea View Apartments. The place is generally nice, spacious, with a living room, kitchen and 2 rooms, but we were very disappointed because we found untidy rooms and apparently it happens sometimes. As compensation, we paid half the price for the night.
The second was the overnight stay in Berat - Marl's Home. A little off the beaten track, on the steep slope of the castle hill. We could leave the car in the garage, and the center could be reached on foot. There were 3 rooms, a shared bathroom and a kitchen in one of the rooms. In addition, there is a terrace with a beautiful view. The accommodation was cheap, but quite modest with traditional equipment, not modern.
The third was an overnight stay in Porto Palermo, more specifically Villa The Old Bakery in nearby Qeparo. It is a very nice place, with renovated and modern rooms, which also included a small living room with a kitchenette and private bathrooms. There were also small balconies.
The fourth was a night in Saranda - an apartment in the Beva Hotel. On the main road, it had 2 bedrooms (one was tiny), a shared bathroom and a small living room. The rooms were not stunning, the biggest advantage of the accommodation was the large terrace overlooking the sea.
The fifth was a night in Gjirokastra - Villa Banushi a little off the beaten track. We had a large apartment with three bedrooms, a spacious living room, a kitchen and two bathrooms. Traditional decor, even a bit antique, but the whole was comfortable and offered a terrace with a nice view.
The sixth was a night in Shkodër, the best and the only one for 2 nights. This is Shkodra Harmony Residences. It offered modern high-level apartments with comfortable beds and living rooms with kitchenettes and a nice terrace with a view. There was also an underground car park at your disposal.

Albanian cuisine - what and where to eat in Albania?

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

I think we were a little disappointed with Albanian cuisine, although there were some tasty moments. It is worth knowing that you do not have to give tips in restaurants, and the prices are similar to those in Poland. Here are some national Albanian dishes and favorite snacks:

- Tavë kosi – an iconic lamb and rice casserole, topped with a mixture of yogurt and eggs
- Fërgesë – vegetable stew of peppers, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese and eggs or meat and vegetable, baked and served with bread
- Qofte – grilled or fried minced meatballs, often served with fries or salad
- Jani me fasule – traditional soup based on white beans, often with smoked meat and olive oil
- Byrek (burek) – a thin filo cake with cheese, spinach or minced meat filling, a typical Albanian snack
- Flija – a specialty of mountain cuisine, layered pancakes baked on fire, often served with yogurt or sour cream
- Speca me gjize – peppers stuffed with soft white cheese (gjizë) and baked
- Tarator – a cooler based on yogurt, cucumbers, garlic and dill
- Pilaf (pilaf) – stewed rice with an admixture of meat or vegetables
- Baklava – a traditional, very sweet cake based on nuts and filo dough, topped with honey syrup

Locals often drink dhal, a slightly brackish drink based on yogurt and water, to eat. There are plenty of restaurants and eateries in Albania. There are especially many of them in Ksamil. We were there in the barbecue room, I went crazy and ordered calamari, but here we also tasted a traditional Tave scythe. The food in general was tasty, but tave mowers were a slight disappointment for all of us. It's like a porridge with a few pieces of meat. Quite bland. Or maybe we just got it wrong. In Sarande, we ate in front of our bed. And it was a fantastic place, although it was fast food, but the dishes looked sensational and tasted like that too. We ate skepasti here, two drinks combined with filling, often served with fries and lettuce. Most often, the basis of salads is lettuce, cucumber and tomato. In addition, you will find a lot of places with a breakfast offer, so our accommodation without breakfast was not a problem. We found a nice place for breakfast in Porto Palermo near the fortress, the food was simple but very tasty, perfect for other times of the day.

Money in Albania - currency, prices and tips before traveling to Albania

The currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek (all). In 2025, 100 LEK = PLN 4.40. Converting into zlotys is a bit more difficult. It is easiest to convert to euros, because it comes out more or less that one euro is 100 drugs, but it is only for such everyday needs to be converted in the head, because it is not necessarily profitable for us. Sometimes, when paying in euros, the exchange rate will be rounded to the detriment of the customer, or when paying in medicines, you will receive the rest in euros. In many places, you can't pay with a card, even if you see a card logo. This is especially the case at petrol stations, so it is worth asking beforehand. ATM withdrawals are payable everywhere. The commission is usually 500-700 ALL (5-7 euros). It is best to have the euro with you and exchange it in exchange offices. Prices in stores are not expensive, restaurants comparable to those in Poland, only fuel is more expensive.

Sample prices

• espresso coffee from 100 ALL (about PLN 4)
• 100 ALL bread (about PLN 4)
• cheese about 200 ALL (about PLN 9)
• water 1.5 liters 50 ALL (about PLN 2)
• fuel approx. 165 ALL (over PLN 7)

Car hire, refueling & roads in Albania

We rented a car in Albania to see as much as possible. This can be done at the airport, where there are a lot of offers. We rented from a recommended company, it is not a known company and we also do not know if it is completely worth recommending. The rental was quick and efficient, we paid 385 euros for the car for 7 days, i.e. 55 euros per day (about 230 PLN), but we had a 7-person version. We got a VW Touran. The car was in very poor condition, e.g. it had broken, inoperative belts in the back of the car. In addition, the next day we discovered that they did not lock the doors, at the front and at the back. We would have to leave the car open in the parking lots, and we had luggage inside. After contact, it turned out that the employees knew about it and decided that it was not a problem. However, we insisted on another car or repair. Finally, the employee brought us another car. This one was in better condition. We contacted the company via Whatsapp (+355 69 486 5654).

When it comes to refueling, gasoline in Albania is more expensive than in Poland. In September 2025, it cost 175 medicines, or about PLN 7.70 per liter. Before you ask for refueling, ask if you can pay with a card, because it is not a rule, but rather a rarity. Be careful, because once they asked us to pay more than the counter indicated. Especially when you pay in euros, be vigilant.

It is worth driving according to the regulations, because there are a lot of police with radars and checks on the roads. The roads are quite well-maintained, but the traffic is heavy. Roads in Albania are free, except for the A1 motorway north of Tirana towards Shkodra. Most of the car parks were free, only in Ksamil we parked on a paid car park and we recommend it because it's easy to get a ticket there.

Insurance, documents, drone

As everywhere abroad, when going to Albania, it is definitely worth buying insurance. Usually, for such trips up to 1 week, it costs about PLN 100 for 2 people (with a larger amount of insurance, there may be a little more, PLN 150-200). It is also worth insuring your luggage. The EHIC card does not work in Albania.
You will enter this country with an ID card, but we always take a passport. This often speeds up check-in at airports with automatic scanners. 
As for the drone, you can fly in Albania with Polish licenses and use the drone on similar principles as in Poland. Do not fly near airports or military facilities. You can only fly during the day and up to 120 meters high.