Albania itinerary in 10 days: complete driving route

Ten days is the right amount of time to see Albania properly: the wild north, the capital, the two inland museum-cities and the Riviera. Not so long that you stretch yourself (the country is small, 350 km north to south), not so short that you’re stuck in Tirana and the coast. This is a tested itinerary, for the independent traveller with a rental car, balancing history, nature, beach and rest. Days are suggested: you can shorten by skipping the Theth-Valbona trek, or extend by adding Kosovo.

Day 1 — Arrival in Tirana

Flight to Tirana, TIA airport. Pick up rental car (recommended: international company with included international insurance, 30-45 €/day). Transfer to the centre, 30 min. Where to sleep: Blloku neighbourhood (the old nomenklatura ghetto, today the liveliest area) or near Skanderbeg Square. Light evening: walk around Blloku, dinner at Mullixhiu or Oda. First raki. Distance: 20 km.

Day 2 — Tirana in depth

Morning: Skanderbeg Square, National History Museum (2 h), Et’hem Bey Mosque, clock tower. Midday: lunch at Pazari i Ri (new market). Afternoon: Bunk’Art 2 + House of Leaves (see the post on communist memory). Evening: quiet dinner. Another night in Tirana.

Day 3 — Kruja and Shkodra

Early start to Kruja (40 min, 30 km): Skanderbeg’s castle, ethnographic museum, Ottoman bazaar. 3 hours. Lunch in Kruja or en route. Afternoon: drive to Shkodra (1.5 h, 90 km). Sunset arrival at the lake, dinner in Shirokë by the water. Where to sleep: central Shkodra. Distance: 150 km.

Day 4 — Shkodra + Koman ferry

Morning: Rozafa castle (2 h), back to centre, cathedral, Marubi Museum (Albanian photography, important). More intense alternative for trek lovers: Koman ferry to Fierzë as a prelude to Valbona-Theth. If going for the trek, you arrange logistics today. Otherwise: night in Shkodra. Distance: 20 km.

Day 5 — Trek or transit

Option A (trekking): Theth-Valbona trek (full day, 6-8 h, guide recommended, see specific post). Night at a guesthouse in Theth.

Option B (quieter): Shkodra → Tirana → Berat. 3.5 h total. Sleep in Berat. Distance: 230 km.

Day 6 — Berat

If you did the trek: return to Shkodra today and drive to Berat (4 h). Otherwise: full morning in Berat. Mangalem, Gorica, Kala (the three neighbourhoods), Onufri Museum in the Dormition church, views from the castle. Lunch at a traditional taverna (Antigoni, views over Mangalem). Afternoon: walk along the Osum river, sunset at the castle. Sleep in a traditional house in Mangalem.

Day 7 — Berat to Gjirokastra

Drive: Berat → Gjirokastra, 3 h, 180 km. Inland route (southern mountains). Arrive midday. Lunch. Afternoon: Gjirokastra castle (2-3 h with weapons museum and American spy plane), Zekate Ottoman house (only one in the country open to the public with original interior). Dinner at Taverna Kuka (kukurec, if you dare). Distance: 180 km.

Day 8 — Gjirokastra + Blue Eye + Sarandë

Light morning in Gjirokastra: Ottoman bazaar, Skenduli house if you didn’t see Zekate. Late-morning departure: Syri i Kaltër (Blue Eye), 40 min, 200 LEK entry, 30-45 min visit. Continue to Sarandë (1 h more). Free afternoon on the promenade. Dinner on a terrace overlooking the Ionian. Where to sleep: Sarandë or Ksamil (12 km south, nicer beaches). Distance: 90 km.

Day 9 — Butrint + Ksamil

Morning: Butrint, archaeological site (see specific post, 3 h). Lunch at Livia or in Ksamil. Afternoon: beach in Ksamil (the islands, crystal waters). Sunset at Lëkurësi castle, view over Sarandë and the coast. Night in Sarandë. Distance: 30 km.

Day 10 — Riviera and return

Drive along the Albanian Riviera back to Tirana: Himara, Dhërmi, Llogara (mountain pass with spectacular viewpoint), Vlora, motorway to Tirana. 5-6 h driving with stops. If flight leaves next day, sleep in Durrës (near the airport). If same day, tight plan: arrive at airport with 2 h margin. Distance: 340 km.

Variants and extensions

14 days: add Korçë (east) and Ohrid (North Macedonia) between Berat and Gjirokastra. 4 extra days.

7 days: drop Shkodra and the north, keep Tirana + Berat + Gjirokastra + Riviera. Intense but works.

With Kosovo: add 3 extra days (Prizren, Pristina) before day 1 or after day 10.

Logistical tips

• Book accommodation in July-August: especially Ksamil and Berat.
• Rental car: pick up and return in Tirana. Airport is the easiest location.
• Car insurance: confirm international coverage is included, especially if you plan to cross to Kosovo or Greece.
• Estimated total budget: 800-1,200 €/person, excluding flight, for this itinerary with mid-range hotels, restaurant meals, car shared between 2.

Far Guides’ complete Albania guide includes this itinerary with a detailed map, GPX for GPS, recommended accommodation at each stop and a public-transport variant.