Uncovering Albania: top things to see and do

Hiding out in a sunny corner of the Mediterranean Sea, Albania is an often overlooked Balkan beauty in southeastern Europe. It’s a land of rich heritage, bleached white beaches, and... bunkers. Closed off from the world until just 30 years ago, Albania is reintroducing itself as one of the Mediterranean’s most darling destinations. Curious to find out what this country has in store for travellers? Check out these top things to see and do in Albania.

Where to experience Albania's history

Albania has seen a lot of conquest in its past. Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have all made their mark, and remnants of these empires remain to this day. There are also constant reminders of the more recent communist regime in the form of abandoned brutalist bunkers dotted over the country.

Walk in the footsteps of the Ottomans in Gjirokastër

Nicknamed the City of Stone, Gjirokastër is a fairytale hillside town defined by its 600 Ottoman-era houses. Follow the cobbled roads and crooked streets to the town's hilltop castle for bird's-eye views of the slate-roofed settlement and beyond. At Zekate House, you can invite yourself in for a snoop around. The murals, intricate wooden ceilings, and stained-glass windows are virtually unchanged since 1811.

See it for yourself on: Albania Discovery

Stand onstage at Durrës Amphitheater

Once the site of gladiatorial battles, the Roman-era Durrës Amphitheater was the largest built in the Balkans. It was abandoned and largely forgotten about when a large earthquake decided to storm the stage in the 4th century. Over the years, it became more hidden as new empires covered up what they had conquered, and it was not rediscovered until the 1960s. It was excavated and renovated, so you can now walk in the steps of bygone performers and warriors in this living museum.

See it for yourself on: Balkans Uncovered: Zagreb to Pristina

Marvel at the fortress overlooking Berat

Known as the City of a Thousand Windows, Berat is one of Albania’s magical UNESCO-listed heritage sites. Wherever you walk, you’ll be watched by the whitewashed Ottoman houses that ascend from the valley. The best view of these charming buildings is from the town’s footbridge. Afterward, take the cobbled path to the castle ruins on the hilltop. As well as stunning valley views, you’ll also be treated to a tapestry of Ottoman, Roman, and Byzantine history.

See it for yourself on: Classic Balkan Adventure: Trebinje to Pristina

Where to go in the Albanian Riviera

The Albanian Riviera is a sunny strip of golden sand beaches and UNESCO sites that lure in festival-goers, bookworms, and history buffs. Here are our favourite spots.

Dhërmi

Dhërmi is Albania's festival funspot. In summer, electronic music lovers flock to Dhërmi's Mediterranean shores to soak up the sun and drink the beach bars dry. If you visit outside of July and September, the music is turned down, and you’ll get to fully appreciate the stunning beaches, seaside scenery, and bright blue waters.

Albanian Riviera festivals

Albania is fast becoming the place for a sunny beach party. The lineup for September's ION Festival gets stronger every year. It’s seven days of sun, sea, and electronic sounds just off the Dhërmi coast. Another big one is the Kala Festival. It's in the same place but earlier in the summer. It’s described as a "boutique experience where beach holiday meets music festival." Think massages, meditation, morning hikes, and slightly less loud music.

Porto Palermo

Porto Palermo is a quiet castle-topped cove in the Albanian Riviera. What it lacks in sound systems, it more than makes up for with beautiful bays and restaurants serving fresh seafood. Walk to Ali Pasha Castle to survey the pretty peninsula from above, or rent a kayak and paddle around the rocky shores below. If you’ve had a few days in the party spots of Dhërmi or Tirana, then peaceful Porto Palermo is just the tonic.

Himarë

Himarë is a small town with modest beaches and a more laid-back feel than its livelier coastal cousins. It’s perfect for a stress-free day on the sand. It’s also a good jumping-off point for boat trips to Grama Bay and Pirate’s Cave. The shaded waters in the cave are some of the clearest you’ll ever see, but they can be chilly in the morning.

See it for yourself on: Albania, Kosovo, & Macedonia Adventure

Vlorë

If you like your beaches with plenty of shade options, then how about a resort with a collection of Cold War bunkers? Albania is covered in thousands of these shady domes, and Vlorë still has a fair amount. They were built by former leader Enver Hoxha in the 1960s, not because his parasol kept flying away in the wind, but because he was incredibly paranoid of enemy invasion. Today, they lie mostly unused and overgrown.

See it for yourself on: Balkans Discovery: Montenegro to Kosovo

Butrint

A stunning area of natural and man-made beauties in southern Albania, Butrint is your one-stop shop for archaeological wonders and wow-factor walking trails. Wander the eucalyptus-lined ruins of ancient Greek, Roman, and Ottoman empires as you discover Albania’s storied past. You’ll find remnants of a palace, theater, gym-turned-church, Roman baths, and well-preserved temples. The park is also home to the endangered Hermann's tortoise.

Where to go in the Albanian Alps

The Albanian Alps, also known as the Accursed Mountains, are a wonderland for wilderness lovers. Beyond Albania, the mountain range spreads into Kosovo and Montenegro, and its rocky peaks are carved out invitingly for hikers. The emerald valleys, thick forests, and traditional stone villages are a portal away from modern life.

Take a dip in the Blue Eye

The most beautiful pool you will ever see lies in an Albanian alpine valley. It’s a remote waterfall in Theth National Park with crystal-clear blue waters, perfect for icing those legs after a long hike. There are different trail options, but give yourself a full day to truly appreciate one of Albania’s best natural beauty spots.

See it for yourself on: Hiking in Albania, Kosovo & Montenegro

Lose yourself in the legends of Rozafa Castle

Overlooking Shkodra Lake, this lofty Illyrian fortress is steeped in local legend. It's said to have gotten its name from a woman who was bricked into the walls as an offering to the gods. Her only request was two holes so that she could breastfeed her children. Today, the castle is mostly in ruins, but it's much-loved by local tortoises that have made themselves a home among the old ramparts.

See it for yourself on: Classic Balkans: Croatia to Albania

Go whitewater rafting on the Vjosa River

With looming canyons, winding waterways, and a backdrop of forested plains, Vjosa Wild River National Park is the perfect place to pick up a paddle and take on the rapids. If you’re lucky, you might see native otters in the shallows and Egyptian vultures circling above rocky outcrops.

Things to do in Tirana

One of the sunniest capitals in Europe, Tirana is slowly emerging from its moody communist phase. The grayscale monuments and tower blocks have been reinvented and decorated in bold colours to symbolize a new national awakening. Albania's capital city might still be a little rough around the edges, but that’s its charm. With an eye on the past, Tirana looks to the future.

Discover underground art at Bunk’Art

Once a huge Cold War bunker on the fringes of the capital, this bomb-proof dome is now a multi-floor exhibition space for contemporary art. Secretly designed for the communist elite in the 1970s, it now welcomes everyone to ponder the modern history of Albania from within its eerie art-lined walls.

See it for yourself on: Kosovo & Macedonia Adventure: Tirana to Pristina

Climb a controversial pyramid

Another remnant of the communist era, the crumbling Pyramid of Tirana has gone through a series of identity crises over the years. Once serving as a museum for the communist leader Enver Hoxha, it has now been transformed into a youth center for creative technology, which puts on free workshops and regular festivals. It also has a cafe. The best part is that you can climb to the top of the pyramid — not bad for a bit of brutalist upcycling.

See it for yourself on: Montenegro & Albania Adventure

Get turned around at a bar in the sky

Is it the cocktails, or is the city spinning? Giving you that tipsy feeling without the hangover, Sky Club is a rotating bar overlooking the capital. You’ll get every angle of the Albanian capital without leaving your seat. It’s the perfect spot for a drink after a day of exploring.

See it for yourself on: Classic Balkans: Bosnia & Herzegovina to Albania

Picnic in Parku i Madh

Tirana's Parku i Madh (Grand Park) is a green sanctuary loved by locals in Albania’s capital city. The lakeside walking paths are dotted with bars and coffee spots, and plenty of shaded nooks are perfect spots for a picnic. You can walk or cycle around the park, or jump on a train that takes you around the edges.

Understand Albania's past at the House of Leaves

The House of Leaves is a museum dedicated to the surveillance and interrogation that took place in communist Albania. The building started life as a maternity hospital in the 1930s, but it quickly became a center for grilling enemies of the regime. Some exhibits are graphic, so be prepared, but it is worth a visit.

See it for yourself on: Tirana to Corfu: Ancient Towns & the Albanian Riviera