I have been writing about Albania for years, mostly in notebooks and messages to friends who kept asking me the same question: “Where should I go?”
It always started with that. Where should I go, what should I eat, is it safe, is it cheap, is it worth it. And every time, I found myself writing longer and longer replies, because Albania is not a place you can sum up in a few lines. It is a country that surprises you around every corner, in every conversation, at every table.
Why This Guide Exists
Albania is changing fast. Every year, more travelers discover its coastline, its mountains, its cities. But most of what you find online barely scratches the surface. The same five beaches, the same three cities, the same tourist-friendly version of a country that has so much more to offer.
This guide is my attempt to go deeper. I want to write about the Albania I know, the one I grew up in and returned to, the one that most visitors never quite reach. The village restaurants where the owner decides what you are eating. The mountain trails where you will not see another person for hours. The afternoon coffee ritual that no one is in a hurry to finish.
What You Will Find Here
I write about five things:
Destinations. From the well-known (Berat, Saranda, Tirana) to the places that do not appear in most guides. I will tell you what to expect, how to get there, and what makes each place worth your time.
Food and drink. Albanian cuisine is one of the most underrated in the Mediterranean. I write about dishes, ingredients, regional specialties, and where to find the best versions of each.
Culture. The customs, the language, the way people live. Albania has a culture shaped by isolation, resilience, and an almost stubborn hospitality that you will not find anywhere else in Europe.
Travel tips. The practical side: getting around, what things cost, when to visit, what to pack. The things I wish someone had told me the first time I tried to explain Albania to a friend planning a trip.
History. From the Illyrians to the Ottoman centuries to the communist period and everything after. You cannot understand Albania without understanding where it has been.
A Personal Guide
This is not a travel agency or a review site. It is one person’s perspective, built from years of exploring every corner of this country. I have biases and favorites, and I will be honest about them. When something is not worth the hype, I will say so. When a place changed my understanding of what Albania could be, I will try to explain why.
I hope this guide becomes a useful companion, whether you are planning your first trip or your fifth. Albania rewards curiosity, and there is always more to discover.
Miresevini. Welcome.