North of Sarandë, the coast road winds through a string of villages known as the Albanian Riviera, and it’s one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in the Mediterranean that most travelers still haven’t heard of. Himarë splits into a quiet old town on the hillside, with narrow stone streets and a small Byzantine-era …
Read more “The Albanian Riviera: Himarë & Dhërmi, Europe’s Quietly Undiscovered Coast”
This is where most backpackers end up spending the most unplanned extra days on their entire Albania trip. Sarandë is the gateway to the southern coast, a lively beach town with a busy waterfront promenade and ferries running across to Corfu. It’s touristy by Albanian standards, but still a fraction of the price and crowd …
For a different, more traditional read on Albania, Gjirokastër is the stop that delivers it. A UNESCO listed Ottoman town built almost entirely from stone, Gjirokastër is famous for its grey slate roofs, cobbled streets and imposing hilltop castle. It’s also the birthplace of dictator Enver Hoxha, adding an extra layer of historical weight to …
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If one town in Albania earns its reputation entirely on atmosphere, it’s Berat. What makes it special. Rows of white Ottoman houses climb the hillside on both sides of the Osum River, stacked window over window, topped by a hilltop castle that’s still lived in today. It’s small enough to see on foot in a …
Read more “Berat: Why Albania’s “City of a Thousand Windows” Deserves 2 Days”
Tirana doesn’t feel like a typical Balkan capital, colorful, a little chaotic, and full of energy. Here’s how to spend a day or two there. Skanderbeg Square & Et’hem Bey Mosque. This huge open plaza, named after Albania’s national hero, is the natural starting point for exploring the city. Right on its edge sits the …
Read more “What to Do in Tirana: Beyond the Guidebook Basics”