Guide to Albania · Balkans · Mediterranean
Albania. Unfiltered.
Mountains, bunkers and the most transparent coast in the Mediterranean
The most complete guide to travelling Albania independently. Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastra, the Albanian Alps and the Ionian Riviera. Interactive maps & itineraries. Always the latest published version. One year of content updates included. No agencies, no pre-built itineraries.
Far Guides · By Alex Tomboix The guide
The Albania guide The country Europe forgot.
Albania is the last link of the Mediterranean where the coast is not yet domesticated.
This Albania guide explains why there are 170,000 bunkers scattered across the country, what happened between 1944 and 1991, how to read the Ottoman stone of Gjirokastra, and how to move along an Ionian Riviera that changes village every 15 km.
8
Full destinations
From Shkodra to the Riviera
3
Day-by-day itineraries
From 7 to 14 days
10
History chapters
From the Illyrians to today
34
Points on the map
Interactive, filterable
Destinations included
Eight destinations,
one whole country.
From the northern Alps to the Ionian Riviera. Each place with its own chapter.
01 · Capital
Tirana
The post-communist capital in reinvention
Read the chapter →
02
Durrës
Roman amphitheatre and Adriatic port
03
Krujë
Skanderbeg's bastion against the Ottomans
04
Shkodra
Gateway to the lake and the Albanian Alps
05
Theth & Valbona
The essential trek across the Alps
06
Berat
The city of a thousand Ottoman windows
07
Gjirokastra
The stone fortress of Enver Hoxha's hometown
08
Albanian Riviera
Dhërmi, Himarë, Sarandë and Ksamil
Sample
A fragment,
the SH8 Riviera.
Chapter · Riviera
The SH8, 120 km of unfiltered coast
The Albanian Riviera is not a postcard: it is a road you earn village by village.
From the Llogara pass to Ksamil, the SH8 crosses Vlorë, Dhërmi, Himarë, Porto Palermo and Sarandë. Each stop has its own logic — full beaches and empty ones sit 2 km apart.
The guide explains when to stay in Dhërmi and when to push on, which coastal bunkers are worth visiting, and why Ksamil is not the best of the Riviera even though it is the most photographed.
Traveler tip
Rent a car in Tirana or Sarandë. Coast buses are infrequent and skip the best coves. The short distances more than repay the freedom.
The method
A different kind of guide
Built for the real traveller, not the tourist
Interactive maps & itineraries
Explore points of interest by category and plan your route day by day.
Latest online, downloadable for your trip
Use the guide online and download its essential content, with images, for when you travel without a connection. Maps still need internet.
1 year of updates included
Prices, opening hours and recommendations updated for 1 year. You're not buying a static PDF.
Signed by a historian
Alex Tomboix brings together research, fieldwork and professional experience so you understand the place and know how to move through it.
Plans
Choose your plan
No surprise subscriptions. No fine print. One payment, permanent access.
Albania Guide
€14.99
one-time payment
What you unlock today
- ✓ Full Albania guide
- ✓ Indefinite access to your purchased edition
- ✓ Complete download without maps
- ✓ Interactive maps & itineraries
- ✓ 1-year updates
- ✓ ES + EN
Full access
€30
one-time purchase
- · All current guides
- · New destinations included
- · Permanent access, no subscriptions
- · Interactive maps & itineraries
- · Complete download without maps
- · One year of content updates
Secure payment with Stripe · Instant access
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Albania? +
No. Citizens of the EU, UK, US and many other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
Can I combine Albania with Montenegro, Greece or Kosovo? +
Yes. Shkodra is 1h from the Montenegrin border, Sarandë 30 min by ferry from Corfu, and Kukës connects to Kosovo. The guide explains how to combine Albania with its neighbours.
How many days do I need for Albania? +
Minimum one week for the essentials (Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastra, Riviera). 10-14 days if you add the northern Alps and the Theth-Valbona trek.
Is Albania safe? +
Yes. Albania is one of the safest countries in the Balkans. The guide covers practical specifics: road conditions, night driving, and areas to avoid.
Does the guide stay up to date? +
Yes. The online edition reflects the latest published version. Content updates are included for 1 year from the date of purchase.
How long do I have access? +
Access to your purchased edition is indefinite. Content updates are included for 1 year from the date of purchase.
Can I use it offline? +
Yes. From inside the guide, you can download a complete copy with its images for offline use. Interactive maps require a connection. When you are back online, you can update the downloaded copy if a new edition is available.
How do I access from a new device? +
No passwords needed. Go to /en/access, enter the email you used to purchase and we'll send you an instant access link. Works on any device.
Is there a Spanish version? +
Yes. The guide is available in both Spanish and English. You can switch languages at any time from the navigation menu.
Does it work on mobile? +
It's designed mobile-first. You can install it as an app (PWA) on iOS and Android without going through any app store.
What format is the guide? +
It's not a PDF. It's an interactive website, organised by destination and attraction — not by day. Read it in any order and jump directly to whatever interests you.
Ready for
Albania?
Join the travelers who have already discovered it with the guide
Instant access · Always the latest published version · 1 year of updates
One-time payment · Instant access