Albania Itineraries: 3, 5, 7 and 10 Days

Albania Itineraries: Routes for 3, 5, 7 and 10 Days

Albania is small on the map, but the roads are slower than the distances suggest. Mountain passes, village roads and summer traffic mean a trip works best when you pick a few bases and move between them, instead of covering the whole country at speed. The plans below start in Tirana, where most visitors land, and use realistic driving times.

Last checked: November 2026

All plans can be done by rental car, with private drivers or by combining buses and minibuses (called furgons). A car gives you the most freedom on the coast and in the south.

Before You Plan

Season: April to June and September to October suit most routes. July and August are hot and busy on the coast, and the mountain hike between Theth and Valbona is realistic only from about June to September. See our best time to visit Albania guide.
Entry rules: they depend on your passport. Read the Albania visa guide before you book anything that cannot be refunded.
Driving: Albania drives on the right. Roads on main routes have improved, but village and mountain roads can be rough, and livestock sometimes wander onto them. Avoid long drives after dark, especially on winding coastal roads. Check with your rental company whether you need an International Driving Permit.
Parking and theft: do not leave bags or valuables visible in a parked car.

3 Days: Tirana and Easy Day Trips

This plan suits a long weekend and needs no overnight transfers.

Day 1, Tirana: start at Skanderbeg Square and the Et’hem Bey Mosque, then walk to Blloku for lunch and cafés. Spend the afternoon at Bunk’Art 2 or the National History Museum.
Day 2, Dajti and Krujë: ride the Dajti cable car in the morning, which takes about 15 minutes, then visit Bunk’Art 1 if you want a longer look at the communist past. In the afternoon, drive or take a minibus to Krujë, about 30 km north, for the castle, the Skanderbeg Museum and the old bazaar.
Day 3, Berat: Berat is roughly two hours from Tirana by road. Leave early, walk the old quarters and the citadel, then return in the evening. If you can add a night, Berat is better as an overnight.

5 Days: Tirana, Berat and Gjirokastër

Day 1: Tirana, as above.
Day 2: drive to Berat, stopping at Apollonia on the way if you have time. Plan about two hours for the ruins. Spend the afternoon and evening in Berat.
Day 3: see the Berat citadel and the Onufri Museum in the morning, then drive on to Gjirokastër, a journey of roughly three hours.
Day 4: explore Gjirokastër’s castle and old bazaar, then continue towards Sarandë, about an hour away, for the sea and the evening promenade.
Day 5: if you have time before flying, add a morning at Butrint, then head back to Tirana. This is a long travel day, so avoid an early flight.

7 Days: The Classic South

Days 1 and 2: Tirana, with a day trip to Krujë or the Dajti cable car.
Day 3: drive to Berat via Apollonia, and stay in the old town.
Day 4: drive to Gjirokastër and spend the afternoon in the old town.
Days 5 and 6: base yourself in Sarandë or Ksamil. Visit Butrint in the morning, the Blue Eye spring and the beaches, and take a boat trip if the weather suits. Ksamil is very crowded in July and August, so go early in the day.
Day 7: return to Tirana. You can go via Himarë and the Llogara Pass for views of the coast, though that route is longer. Himarë to Tirana is roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by car.

10 Days: Two Ways to Do It

Option A: South and the Riviera. Follow the 7-day route, then add more time on the coast.

Days 1 and 2: Tirana and Krujë.
Day 3: Berat, via Apollonia.
Day 4: Gjirokastër.
Days 5 to 7: Sarandë and Ksamil, with Butrint, the Blue Eye and a beach day.
Days 8 and 9: Himarë, with Dhërmi or the quiet beaches such as Llamani and Borsh. Take the coast road slowly, because it is winding.
Day 10: return to Tirana over the Llogara Pass.

Option B: Mountains and south (June to September). This version adds the Albanian Alps, and it only works when the passes are open.

Day 1: Tirana.
Day 2: Krujë, then on to Shkodër. See Rozafa Castle and walk by the lake.
Days 3 to 5: Theth and Valbona. Guesthouses often help arrange a minibus to Theth, and many travelers reach Valbona by the Lake Koman ferry, so book summer ferries ahead. The Theth to Valbona hike takes about 6 to 8 hours. Carry cash, because ATMs and card payments are limited in the villages.
Day 6: return to Shkodër and then Tirana.
Days 7 to 9: Berat, Gjirokastër and Sarandë or Himarë.
Day 10: return to Tirana.

Getting Around Without a Car

Buses and furgons connect Tirana with most larger towns, including Berat, Gjirokastër, Sarandë and Shkodër, but timetables are informal and change by season. Ask your hotel or guesthouse to confirm where and when vehicles leave. Some of the best places, such as the Riviera beaches and the mountain villages, are much harder to reach without a car, so plan transfers before you book accommodation. The getting around Albania guide has travel times, ferry routes and driving rules.

Tips for Planning Your Route

Group places by region instead of crossing the country several times.
Count on slower driving than the map suggests, and leave a buffer on the day you fly out.
Book coastal rooms early for July and August, and mountain guesthouses before the summer fills up.
Many tourism businesses outside the cities close from November, so winter trips work best as city breaks.
Carry some lek for villages and small cafés.

FAQs

How many days do you need in Albania?

Three days cover Tirana and a day trip. Five to seven days add Berat, Gjirokastër and the southern coast. Ten days allow either the Riviera or the Albanian Alps in summer. Plan extra time, because mountain and coastal roads are slower than the distances suggest.

Can you see Albania without a car?

Yes, for the main cities. Buses and furgons connect Tirana with Berat, Gjirokastër, Sarandë and Shkodër, though timetables are informal and change by season. The Riviera beaches and mountain villages are much harder to reach without a car or an arranged transfer, so plan those before you book.

What is the best route for a first trip to Albania?

Most first-time visitors follow Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër and Sarandë, with a morning at Butrint. It links the main heritage sites and the south coast in about a week, and it avoids crossing the country more than once.

Is the Theth to Valbona hike part of the shorter itineraries?

No. The crossing takes about 6 to 8 hours and works only from roughly June to September, so it sits in the 10-day mountain option. Shorter plans stay on lower ground and use the south instead.

Back to the full Albania travel guide. Choose stops in our best places guide, check where to stay, compare flights to Albania, read the visa guide, see the best time to visit and use the getting around Albania guide.