Albania Travel Guide: Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër

Albania is one of the Europe’s best-kept secrets, but it will not stay that way for long. In 2019, around five million people visited. By 2024, that number had grown to more than eleven million. With friendly locals, rich history, and beautiful landscapes, it is no surprise that tourism in Albania is booming.

👉 If you’re looking for an authentic, affordable, and welcoming destination, look no further than Albania!

🌟 Why Visit Albania?

• Legendary Hospitality: This was the absolute standout for me. Albanians are some of the friendliest, most genuinely welcoming people I’ve encountered anywhere. Locals readily go out of their way to help, and small restaurant owners love engaging with guests. (I was even treated to extra food samples and shots of raki more than once!).

• Rich History & UNESCO Sites: Explore ancient Illyrian roots, stunning Ottoman-era towns like Berat and Gjirokastër, and echoes of a complex 20th century.

• Stunning Natural Beauty: From rugged mountains to beautiful coastlines and pristine rivers.

• Unique Culture: A fascinating blend of Mediterranean, Balkan, and Ottoman influences.

• Incredible Value: Still very affordable for accommodation, food, and getting around.

• Authentic Adventure: Experience a country rapidly modernizing yet retaining a thrilling sense of discovery.

🕰 A Brief History of Albania

Albania's story is one of extraordinary resilience, evident in its cities and the spirit of its people. Here are some key chapters:

• Descended from the ancient Illyrians, Albania was conquered by Rome, later became part of the Byzantine Empire, and then spent centuries under Ottoman rule. It's time under Ottoman rule deeply shaped its culture and architecture.

• Following Albania’s declaration of independence in 1912, World War I and its aftermath left the young nation fighting to maintain its sovereignty. It lost territory to neighbors including Montenegro, Serbia (which annexed Kosovo at the time), and Greece.

• In World War II, Albania fell under fascist occupation from Italy, then by Nazi Germany.

• After the war, Enver Hoxha’s communist regime took power. It was arguably the most repressive and isolating regimes in Europe: people couldn’t travel freely, and the secret police maintained a climate of fear.

• Albania initially aligned closely with Stalin’s Soviet Union, but after Stalin’s death, Hoxha broke ties with Khrushchev’s USSR, denouncing it as no longer true to Communist ideals. Albania then allied with Mao’s China, but this too ended (in 1978), leaving the country almost completely isolated during the 1980s.

• After Hoxha’s death in 1985, very gradual reforms began under Ramiz Alia. The fall of communism across Eastern Europe inspired Albanians to demand change, and by 1991, the country transitioned to democracy. The shift brought huge challenges: after decades of isolation, basic concepts like banks, credit cards, and even Coca Cola seemed foreign. Corruption, poverty, and instability marked the early years of transition.

• Today, Albania is rapidly modernizing, working towards EU membership, and welcoming travelers with open arms — offering a warm, authentic experience unlike anywhere else in Europe.

🚌 How I Got Around Albania

I traveled Albania by bus, which is a great and affordable way to explore! Buses and minibuses connect major cities like Tirana, Berat, and Gjirokastër. The rides were comfortable, and locals were always ready to help me figure out where to go.

👉 Tip: Bus stations aren’t always well-marked. Ask locals or your hotel for directions!

🏙 Tirana: Albania’s Dynamic Capital

You’ll likely start or pass through Tirana. It’s a fast-growing, modernizing city that doesn't have the ancient architectural core of some European capitals but offers a vibrant look at contemporary Albania and its recent past.

• Essential Free Walking Tour: As usual, I recommend this highly! My guide shared powerful personal stories about growing up during the communist years and the transition to democracy, bringing Albania’s 20th-century history vividly to life while showing us key landmarks.

• Skanderbeg Square: The city's vast central plaza, surrounded by the National History Museum (with its iconic socialist-realist mosaic facade), the historic Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the Clock Tower.

• Namazgah Mosque (The Great Mosque of Tirana): Just a short walk from Skanderbeg Square, you'll see the impressive, newly constructed Namazgah Mosque. Often referred to as the "Blue Mosque" by locals due to its design inspiration, this massive and elegant structure is Turkey's largest gift to Albania and will be the biggest mosque in the Balkans upon its full completion. Its modern Ottoman style is a stunning sight.

• Bunk'Art 1 & 2: (Unique Tirana Experience) Don't miss these! Explore massive Cold War-era bunkers built by Enver Hoxha, now transformed into powerful museums. Bunk'Art 1 (on the city outskirts) focuses on the army and dictatorship; Bunk'Art 2 (downtown) details the chilling history of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the secret police (Sigurimi). Truly eye-opening for understanding Albania's isolated past.

• Pyramid of Tirana: An iconic, controversial structure, originally a museum for Hoxha, now being reimagined.

• Colorful Cityscape: Notice the brightly painted buildings – an effort to bring vibrancy back after the grey communist era.

• Escape to Nature: Day Trip to Bovilla Lake & Gamti Mountain: For a stunning break from the city buzz, I highly recommend taking a day trip to Bovilla Lake. The journey takes you into the Albanian countryside, culminating in a short but rewarding hike up Gamti Mountain for absolutely breathtaking panoramic views over the rugged landscape and the vibrant turquoise waters of the reservoir below. It's a fantastic way to see Albania's raw natural beauty, even with Tirana as your base. I did this as a tour, but you can rent a car and go by yourself as well.