The Beauty of Albania | Uncovering The Hidden Gems

Albania is a country on the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, within the Mediterranean Sea. Nowadays, most travellers, including us, are uncovering more of the Albanian beauty, from pristine beaches of the Albanian Riviera to the stunning peaks of the Albanian Alps and the best-hidden gems.

We walked with a smile on our faces to the Albanian border of Qafë Thanë. There, we had our passports and vaccine certificates checked and crossed the border in less than two minutes on foot.

After having a snack and a sip of water, we decided to hitchhike to the colourful capital city of Tirana. Not even with our thumbs up and the famous carton with Tirana written on it, the godfather look-a-like Hani, a professor of Geography in Albania, stopped by, offering to drop us some 10km away to a better hitchhiking spot.

He dropped us at Prrenjas, and a few seconds later, a family at the gas station came to explain where we could find the bus terminal. While we were telling them we were hitchhiking, a lovely gentleman, Gentjan, stopped while on his way to Tirana International Airport to give us our last ride for the day. Although we had a language barrier with him during this ride, it was super fun getting to know each other while speaking in different languages.

By simply hitchhiking in Albania, we immediately noticed that Albanians are kind-hearted and helpful.

Not To Miss in Tirana

The Main Square 

You’ll find many parks filled with flowers, benches and fountains ideal for taking photos. An exciting part of this square is the stoned pavement as a shallow pyramid, with the highest point at 1.80 meters in the middle. This pedestrian area is the biggest in the Balkans.

The Memorial Tomb of Kapllan Pasha 

This is a Muslim Türbe of Albania, located in the centre of Tirana, which was constructed in the early 19th century with carved stones and an octagonal shape. Kapllan Pasha was buried here in the 19th century, but his remains were later displaced and reburied in Istanbul.

The Friendship Monument 

This monument was donated to the Albanian citizens by the state of Kuwait, which has been investing in Albania since 1993. It is an ideal place to relax in this environment, especially during the hot summer days.

After exploring Tirana, our following destinations were Ksamil and Sarandë. We took a bus which had to take us to the main station to start our long trip to get there.

Unfortunately, while on our way, the bus driver had an accident and hit a cyclist. There was chaos on the bus as almost all of us fell on each other. Luckily, no one was hurt, but we had to get off the bus and run to the main station as we were running late.

We met this cool Italian guy at the main station who was also on his way to Sarandë, where we spent the whole trip exchanging travel stories.

TIP: When visiting Albania, always check the bus timetable as it varies depending on which month you visit. 

Ksamil 

Ksamil is a hidden gem! Why are we saying this when there are so many famous beaches like Ksamil Beach? You can easily avoid the busy beaches and go to the little islands which we found uninhabited.

We stayed six days at a local in Ksamil, where he offered us to stay in a room in his hotel for free!

Since we wanted to explore Ksamil and its surroundings thoroughly, we rented a scooter from Pegasus Travel & Tours, which is situated in Sarandë.

If you rent a scooter in Albania, ask for a helmet, as helmets in Albania aren’t a must! We’re in doubt if anyone was wearing a helmet apart from us in Sarandë and Ksamil.

Do you remember our coincidental meet-up with the Danish guys in Lithuania?

While we were having a dip in the Ionian Sea in Ksamil, surprisingly, we happened to see them again! None of us four could believe we were swimming in the same spot at the same time! This is so-called the art of backpacking.

We were over the moon to meet Mark and Lukas so unexpectedly!

Top attractions in Ksamil 

The Blue Eye 

Every traveller must visit this magical place! The Blue Eye is a water spring and untouched wonder occurring around the village of Muzinë. You’ll be mesmerized by the emerald and highly light blue water. This place is heaven on earth.

You can swim at the Blue Eye, but be prepared for freezing water! Most people, including me, don’t manage to keep their feet for a minute in this water, but if you do like Norbert, definitely you’ll feel so refreshed after. Later, you can enjoy a nice hike along the spring and the river to admire the underwater world.

Getting to the Blue Eye

Ideally, you go by car or a scooter. Just follow the signs, cross the bridge, park in a parking spot and walk the footpath which leads you to the Blue Eye.

Views you’ll see on the way to the Blue Eye

Butrint National Park

Butrint National Park is a particular place, so no ifs, ands or buts; JUST GO! It’s a must-see on any trip to Albania. We had never heard of this place until we went there unexpectedly while driving back to return the scooter in Sarandë.

You’ll be amazed to see the crumbling ruins in the forest surrounded by light blue, clear waters. You have to go to experience the feeling just by being there!

Shkodër 

Shkodër is one of the most important cities in Albania and is also known to be the centre of Albanian Catholicism, culture and harmony between different religions. 

Suppose we had to catch the first bus from Ksamil to Shkodër as we had quite a long trip, but unfortunately, I woke up feeling sick, so we had to change plans. 

A few hours later, when I felt better, we started our way to Shkodër. It was quite a long ride, but we were welcomed with one of the most beautiful sunsets.

We stayed at BÄRLIN Guesthouse for three days since we extended our stay with an extra night as soon as we arrived. Unfortunately, this guesthouse is now permanently closed.

Top Attraction in Shkodër 

Rozafa Castle 

From BÄRLIN Guesthouse, we walked approx 45 minutes to Rozafa Castle. Along the way, we met with different locals and got more of the feeling of Albanian culture. 

The castle is on a hill, so it’s quite a hike up to the entrance, but it’s all worth it, especially when you see the views from above. Getting into Rozafa Castle, there’s an entrance fee of 400 Lek (€3.32) per person. You’ll be blown away by how huge this castle is. It takes up the entire hilltop.

Before heading back, you can stop outside the castle, facing the Buna River and the Drin River and spend some time appreciating the silence and nature.

Where to Stay in Albania 

If you’re planning to visit Albania, deciding where to stay is one of the decisions you have to make. Tirana alone is a city of nearly one million people, with so many neighbourhoods waiting for you to explore.

Like every other country, you can choose from hotels to apartments, hostels and many accommodations.

To help you a little, we’re directing you straight to the best accommodations to stay in Albania. Just search for your dates and choose your favourites. 

So many beautiful memories were created in Albania that now it’s on our top-visited countries list. Have you ever been to Albania? Is it also on your top-visited countries list? Let us know your thoughts.

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