{"id":24889,"date":"2025-02-20T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures?p=24889&preview=true&preview_id=24889"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:11:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T11:11:57","slug":"why-albania-is-the-best-travel-destination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/why-albania-is-the-best-travel-destination\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s why you should travel to Albania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article was originally published in February 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already travelled to Greece or not keen on the crowds in Italy? It\u2019s time to look next door to Albania.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albania has long flown under the radar \u2013 but things are changing. This gorgeous corner of the Balkans is packed with untouched beaches, mountains, ancient citadels and some of the warmest hospitality in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s why Albania<\/a> should be your next adventure \u2013 and what to expect when you get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Albania Adventure<\/a><\/div>
9 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Western Balkans Uncovered<\/a><\/div>
12 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Essential Southern Balkans<\/a><\/div>
9 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Legendary hospitality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the first things you\u2019ll notice in Albania is that you’ll be made to feel right at home. That\u2019s largely because hospitality is one of the four pillars of the Kanun \u2013 a centuries-old code of honour that originated in northern Albania in the Middle Ages and continues to shape daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s even a proverb in the Kanun that says: \u2018Before the house belongs to the owner, it first belongs to God and the guest.\u2019 Travellers are often treated like family \u2013 whether it\u2019s being invited in for coffee or offered seemingly endless shots of raki. In Albania, you’re never far from a friendly face to point you in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more: An expedition through the hearts and homes of Albania<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A layered culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like byrek, the national pie, Albanian culture is rich and layered. Its roots trace back to the ancient Illyrians, but you can also see the influences of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans in everything from architecture to cuisine and music. Folk traditions are also strong, especially Albanian iso-polyphonic singing \u2013 a complex vocal technique featured on UNESCO\u2019s intangible cultural heritage list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albanians also have some wonderful cultural quirks. You might notice that people nod for \u2018no\u2019 and shake their head for \u2018yes\u2019, making for some amusing attempts to break through the language barrier! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public minibuses (furgons), the main means of transport, don\u2019t have timetables \u2013 they tend to leave when full. And in the evenings, some towns grind to a halt for xhiro, a daily ritual where locals take to the streets for fresh air and a chat. Keep an eye out for scarecrows attached to houses too \u2013 they’re not leftover Halloween decorations, but an age-old superstition to ward off envy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delicious food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All that walking and reverse-nodding will no doubt leave you hungry, but thankfully you\u2019re in the right part of the world for a feast. Albanian cuisine is a blend of Balkan heartiness, Turkish spice and Greek freshness. Sharing meze (small dishes) is a big part of the culture, usually involving hours spent at the table, savouring food slowly with a glass of raki \u2013 a strong fruit brandy and Albania\u2019s national drink. Be warned: raki magically appears on the table whether you ordered it or not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If strong spirits aren’t your thing, Albania also produces an impressive array of wines, especially from regions like Berat and Kor\u00e7a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t miss local favourites like tav\u00eb kosi (baked lamb with egg and yogurt), byrek (savoury pastries) and f\u00ebges\u00eb (slow-cooked tomatoes, peppers and cottage cheese). Seafood is fresh and abundant along the coast, and with Italy just across the Adriatic, good pizza is easy to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And always leave room for dessert. Expect honey-drenched baklava, revani (sponge cake soaked in syrup) and sheqerpare (butter cookies).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want nature, Albania delivers. It\u2019s rich in biodiversity, with thousands of plant species spread across the country’s 15 national parks. In the north, you\u2019ve got the Albanian Alps, aka the Accursed Mountains, which offer some of the best hiking trails in the Balkans. And just wait until you see the electric blue water of the Shala River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over in the east, Lake Ohrid \u2013 straddling Albania and North Macedonia<\/a> \u2013 is said to be one of the oldest lakes in the world, with plenty of opportunities for swimming and watersports, while Karavasta Lagoon along the coast is a prime spot for birding with over 230 species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the southwestern coast lies the Albanian Riviera, where you\u2019ll find turquoise water and soft-sand beaches that aren\u2019t half as swamped as Greece or Croatia. There’s also some great diving here, with underwater caves, reefs and even Roman-era shipwrecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don’t be surprised if you end up sharing the road with a flock of sheep and a shepherd or two \u2013 even on the outskirts of Tirana. Herding sheep and goats is still a strong tradition throughout the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tirana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Albanian capital is splashed with colour, green spaces and a mighty personality. Start by exploring its Cold War bunkers \u2013 eerie remnants of Enver Hoxha\u2019s communist dictatorship. It\u2019s thought there are as many as 750,000 of them! The largest, Bunk\u2019Art, has become a contemporary art space, while others have been turned into nightclubs, museums, cafes and even homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the centre of town, you\u2019ll find the Pyramid of Tirana \u2013 built in 1988 by Hoxha\u2019s daughter as a monument to him and now a cultural hub. Other highlights include the Ottoman-era Et’hem Bey Mosque and the New Bazaar where you\u2019ll find everything from spices to handicrafts. Or just sit down with a cold Tirana beer in one of the city\u2019s many cosy pubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kruja<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just north of Tirana, at the foot of Mt Kruja, lies the medieval town of Kruja \u2013 a former capital and the birthplace of Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg, who is celebrated for leading a successful resistance against the Ottomans in the 15th century. Explore the walls of the old fortress, chat to vendors selling rugs, homewares and antiques in one of the country\u2019s oldest bazaars, and check out the Ethnographic Museum housed in an Ottoman-era residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Berat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Known as the \u2018town of a thousand windows\u2019, UNESCO-listed Berat is full of well-preserved Ottoman-era houses that line the cobbled streets. The 13th-century Berat Castle overlooks the city and could easily pass as a filming location for Game of Thrones<\/em>. Along the Osumi River, you can go rafting or take a scenic stroll through the surrounding canyons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shkoder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The laidback lakeside city of Shkoder in the north is often dubbed Albania’s cultural heart. It’s a gateway to the Alps and close to the Montenegro border. As one of Europe’s oldest cities, you\u2019ll notice many architectural styles as you wander the Old Town. A visit to the 14th-century Rozafa Castle is a must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Handy travel info<\/h2>\n\n\n\n