• ​It’s affordable – Accommodation, eating out, transportation: Albania gives more bang for your buck than most other European countries.
• Wonderful contrasts – From stunning beaches to rugged mountain landscapes, from ancient UNESCO sites to modern city life, Albania has it all.
• Friendly people – Despite decades of communism dictator rule, being somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, Albanians never lost their hospitality.

Destination E: Gjirokaster
An optional historic day trip from Sarandë. The UNESCO listed centre is a great example of Ottoman architecture.

Day 2: Exploring Tirana’s city centre
On the first day you can explore the city centre of Tirana by foot. Since the Skanderberg Square is the main orientation point it’s best to start from here.

On your way to the square grab a byrek (a popular flaked pastry in the Balkans with various salty fillings) and a yoghurt drink from a bakery. Once at the square, take your time to gaze at the clock tower, the mosque in front of it and the Skanderberg statue. After taking pictures, head south towards Park Rinia. Check out the fountains (loved by locals) and cross the road diagonally to the notorious Pyramid.

Day 3: Exploring Tirana’s surroundings and Durrës
In the morning you can go for a trip to nearby Mount Dajti. There is a cable cart that in less than 15 minutes will take you to the top to enjoy views over the city. Do check with your accommodation about the opening times. If closed or rainy you can instead go to the National History Museum.

Around 1PM it’s time to go to Durrës (half an hour travel time). Buses and minibuses (furgons) are very cheap and leave when full from the Karl Topia Square (at the west end of Durrësit street, at the Tirana Ring Center). You can also take a share car for a bit more money (still cheap) and takes less time to get full.

Try to spot a mountain in the distance with a huge protest-style inscription “NEVER”, a modification to the former communist dictator’s name Enver Hoxha. In the evening you can go to the promenade in the centre of town and sit down for a coffee for people-watching. ​

Day 7: Back to Tirana
In the evening you will have to arrive back in Tirana, so it’s best to leave Sarandë early in the morning. Prepare for a trip of at least 8 hours. In the evening take your last drink in Blloku. If you want to finish in style, go to the Sky Tower Rotating Bar. For late-night dancing check out nearby Pepper Lounge.

Day 8: Travel home
After a week packed with activities unfortunately you have to say goodbye to this wonderful country. Travel safe and don’t forget to bring some souvenirs!

• ​Tirana has no central bus station. Instead inter-city bus lines depart from strategically located spots around the city. Make sure you don’t go to the wrong one, as a newcomer it can be hard to understand this system.
• (Direct) flights to Tirana can be relatively expensive – if you’re really on a tight budget it’s worth investigating other ways in. There are cheap bus connections with Pristina and Skopje. With Wizz Air you can find one-way flights to Skopje sometimes at only €10. You will have to skip one day in the itinerary though.
• When in Albania, have a look to see if there are any football games taking place. For just a few euros it’s a fun activity and a local favourite. You can buy tickets at the ticket booth at the stadium prior to the match. Don’t worry about safety – Albanian football fans are very welcoming to foreigners.
• Never miss the following dishes cooked up the Albanian way: byrek (flaky pastry with salty filling), fërgesë (fried curd) with veal, qofte (meat), sufllaqe (fast-food), pasta (Italian food but Albanians do it better!) and many others!
• Albania is a great country for hitchhiking. Sometimes it’s even quicker to go by the thumb than to wait for the next bus.