destinations
Shkodër: A Guide to Albania's Northern Capital
Rozafa Castle, the Marubi archive, carp from Southern Europe's largest lake, a city on bicycles, and the 7am buses to Theth and Koman. How to do Shkodër well.
All Articles
destinations
Gjirokastër: A Guide to Albania's Stone City
The castle is 400 lekë and closes at seven, the tower houses open by family, the bus drops you a 30-minute climb below the old town. Gjirokastër, explained.
destinations
Korçë: A Guide to Albania's Most Underrated City
A pedestrian boulevard, a restored bazaar, Albania's oldest brewery, frescoed churches half an hour away, cool evenings at 850 metres. How to do Korçë well.
destinations
Dhërmi and Himara: A Guide to the Riviera's Two Best Bases
The village is a steep half hour above the beach, the tunnel costs 250 lekë, the boat to Gjipe 15 euro. How Dhërmi and Himara work, and which to sleep in.
travel-tips
Albania's Summer Music Festivals: Kala, UNUM, Turtle Fest and Korça Beer Fest
Dates, ticket prices and transfer costs for Albania's festival season, from the imported beach festivals at Dhërmi to the beer festival locals actually go to.
destinations
Albania's Evening Promenades: Where Every City Walks Its Xhiro
Every Albanian city keeps one street for the evening xhiro. This is the map of them all: Vlora's Lungomare, Durrës's Vollga, Korça's boulevard, and where Tirana walks.
travel-tips
Renting a Car in Albania: What It Costs, What to Refuse, and Where Not to Drive
Economy cars run 15 to 40 euro a day, the deposit hold is where people get caught, and some roads are not worth the rental. Honest advice on driving Albania.
travel-tips
Is Albania Safe? What the Numbers Say, and Why the Real Risk Is the Road
Albania's murder rate is lower than France's. Its road death rate is four times Britain's. Here is an honest look at what is actually dangerous here, and what is not.
destinations
Hiking Near Tirana: 6 Day Hikes and How to Actually Get to Them
Six hikes within an hour of Tirana, from the Dajti ridge to the Black Cave at Pëllumbas, with honest notes on which you can reach by bus and which really need a car.
food-and-drink
The Raki Trail: A Road Trip Through Skrapar and Përmet
How to visit the home of Albania's best raki: Çorovoda and the Osumi canyon, Përmet's mulberry raki, the October festival, and how to bring a bottle home.
travel-tips
Albania for Solo Female Travellers: An Honest Guide
Not dangerous, not effortless. What solo women actually experience in Albania, where the attention gets tiring, which towns to skip, and the risk that genuinely matters.
destinations
Berat: A Guide to the City of a Thousand Windows
The castle is a living neighbourhood, not a ruin, and 300 lekë gets you in. What to see in Berat, when the light is right, and what to do in the hills around it.
destinations
The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër): What Changed, and How to Visit It Properly
Swimming is banned and enforced, entry is 50 lekë cash, and the car park is two kilometres from the spring. What the Blue Eye is actually like now, and when to go.
travel-tips
Day Trips from Tirana: Eight Escapes, and How to Do Them Without a Car
Krujë for 150 lekë, Durrës every twenty minutes, a cable car up a mountain, and a cave with a bear's skull in it. Eight day trips from Tirana with real transport details.
travel-tips
Where to Stay in Albania: A Region-by-Region Guide to Picking Your Base
Which Tirana neighbourhood, which Riviera town, when a bujtina beats a hotel, and why Sarandë and Himarë suit completely different trips. With real 2026 prices.
travel-tips
Driving in Albania: The Rules, the Roads, and the Habits Nobody Writes Down
Zero-tolerance alcohol, 40 km/h in town, radar on the Durrës road, and an unwritten code at roundabouts. What driving in Albania is actually like, from someone who does it.
travel-tips
The Albania Itinerary: 7, 10, and 14 Days, With Honest Driving Times
Three routes that actually work, built around real Albanian driving times rather than map estimates. Where to linger, what to cut, and the mistake almost everyone makes in week one.
travel-tips
How Much Does Albania Cost in 2026? A Realistic Budget, and Why It Is Less Cheap Than You Read
Real 2026 prices in lekë and euro: beds, meals, furgons, entry tickets, car hire. Plus the currency shift that quietly made Albania a third more expensive for euro visitors.
travel-tips
Staying Connected in Albania: SIM Cards, eSIMs, and the Roaming Bill Nobody Warns You About
Albania is not in EU roaming, and people find out the expensive way. What a local SIM costs in 2026, when an eSIM is the better answer, and where the signal actually dies.
travel-tips
Getting from Tirana Airport into Albania: Every Option, and What Each One Costs
The airport bus is 400 lekë and runs all night. The official taxi is 23 euro. Here is every way out of Rinas, what it really costs, and which one to pick.
destinations
The Valbona to Theth Hike: Everything You Need to Know
How to hike Albania's most famous trail, the Valbona to Theth crossing over the 1,800 m pass: route, direction, transport, costs, and when to go.
culture
The Burrnesha: Albania's Sworn Virgins and a Tradition Fading from Memory
The burrnesha were Albanian women who took an oath to live as men under the Kanun. Fewer than a dozen remain. Here is what the tradition was, and why.
destinations
Hiking in Albania: A Complete First-Timer's Guide
Albania has some of the wildest mountains and least crowded trails in Europe. A practical first-timer's guide to when to go, where to start, and what to actually expect.
culture
How Tirana Got Its Colors: The Mayor Who Painted a Communist City
In 2000, a painter became mayor of Tirana and started coloring the grey communist blocks. The story behind the city's most photographed walls, and the politics around them.
food-and-drink
Farm to Table in Albania: A Guide to the Country's Agroturizem Revolution
From Mrizi i Zanave to mountain tavernas above Korce, Albania has the Balkans' most exciting farm-to-table scene. Where to eat, sleep, and drink.
food-and-drink
Albanian Raki: How It's Made, and How Not to Drink It
I grew up on my grandfather's raki. What it's actually made of, why Skrapar bottles are the serious gift, and the etiquette nobody explains to visitors.
destinations
The Koman Lake Ferry: The Most Beautiful Boat Ride in the Balkans
A 2.5-hour ferry through Albania's flooded canyon connects Koman to Fierza, with sheer cliffs, turquoise water, and fjord-like scenery.
history
Butrint: 3,000 Years of History on Albania's Southern Tip
From Greek colony to Roman city to Byzantine bishopric, Butrint layers 3,000 years of Mediterranean history in one walkable UNESCO site.
food-and-drink
Gliko: The Albanian Art of Preserving Fruit in Syrup
Albanian gliko are whole-fruit preserves served on a spoon with cold water and coffee. Learn how they're made, where to taste them, and why they matter.
history
750,000 Bunkers? How Albania Became the World's Most Fortified Country
Albania planned 750,000 Cold War bunkers and actually built over 170,000. The story behind the world's most fortified country and what its bunkers became.
culture
Understanding Besa: The Albanian Code of Honor That Saved Lives
Besa is the Albanian code of honor that turned strangers into family and saved nearly 2,000 Jews in WWII. Here is what it means and why it still matters.
culture
Xhiro: The Albanian Evening Walk That Every Town Still Does
Every evening, Albanians fill their town's main boulevard for the xhiro, a slow, aimless walk that is equal parts social ritual, fashion show, and way of life.
food-and-drink
Tavë Kosi: The Story Behind Albania's National Dish (And Where to Eat the Best One)
Albania's beloved tavë kosi pairs tender baked lamb with a golden yogurt crust. Learn its Elbasan origins, how it's made, and where to find the best version.
travel-tips
How to Use Furgons in Albania: A First-Timer's Guide to Minibus Travel
Furgons are Albania's informal minibus network with no schedules or tickets. Here's how they work, what they cost, and how to ride them like a local.
culture
Welcome to Guide to Albania
An introduction to Guide to Albania, your companion for discovering the culture, food, history, and hidden corners of one of Europe's most surprising countries.
history
Albania's UNESCO World Heritage Sites: A Complete Visitor's Guide
Albania has four UNESCO World Heritage sites spanning 3,000 years of history. A practical guide to visiting Butrint, Berat, Gjirokastra, and the Ohrid region.
destinations
Ksamil Beach: Why Albania's Most Famous Shore Lives Up to the Hype
Ksamil's turquoise waters and tiny islands draw comparisons to the Caribbean. Here is what to expect, how to get there, and how to avoid the summer crowds.
destinations
10 Hiking Trails in Albania That Will Make You Forget the Beach
Albania's hiking trails pass through accursed mountains, hidden canyons, and alpine lakes. Ten routes from easy day walks to multi-day treks.
history
Albania Under Communism: What Happened, What Remains, and Why It Matters to Visitors
From Enver Hoxha's bunkers to Bunk'Art museums, Albania's communist past is everywhere. Understanding this era helps you see modern Albania more clearly.
food-and-drink
Albanian Cuisine: 15 Dishes You Need to Try (And Where to Find Them)
From mountain byrek to coastal octopus, Albanian cuisine blends Mediterranean and Balkan flavors. A guide to the dishes that define this country's table.
culture
Nightlife in Albania: From Tirana's Rooftop Bars to Riviera Beach Parties
Albania's nightlife ranges from jazz bars in Blloku to all-night beach clubs on the Riviera. An honest guide to going out, city by city.
destinations
The Highest Mountains in Albania: A Hiker's Guide to the Albanian Peaks
From Mount Korab at 2,764 meters to the sacred slopes of Tomorr, here is a practical guide to Albania's highest and most rewarding mountain peaks.
travel-tips
When to Visit Albania: A Month by Month Guide to Weather, Crowds, and Prices
Albania's best season depends on what you want to do. Here is what to expect each month, from shoulder season deals to peak summer beaches.
travel-tips
Getting Around the Albanian Coastline: Every Transport Option Explained
Rental cars, furgons, boats, and local guides. A practical comparison of every way to travel Albania's coast, with prices and honest pros and cons.
destinations
Southern Albania's Best Beaches: An Honest Guide from Palasa to Ksamil
From the wild cliffs of Palasa to the crowded sands of Saranda, a beach by beach guide to Albania's southern coastline with practical tips and honest opinions.