Albania. A land of bunkers, eagles and mercedes. A perfect blend of modern and traditional. The country in which we ended up completely unplanned exceeded all our expectations.
The trip to Albania was not in the near future. The goal was to visit Asian countries first, where we were interrupted by the covid situation. Going to Montenegro, we decided to continue to Albania quite by accident.
Currency, internet and corona test
The currency used is Albanian lek. At all places we were, we could pay in euros, but then they usually return the rest of the money in lek.
The SIM card can only be purchased at the branches of mobile operators. We chose the Vodafone package of 20 days usage and 20GB of internet for about €15.
A negative test was not required to cross the border.
Masks were mandatory indoors, but almost no one adhered to it. Eg. in shopping malls people walked most normally without masks. In shops, cafes and restaurants the same thing.
How we traveled
We set off from Podgorica. Our first stop after crossing the border was Rozafa Fortress in Shkodra. We organized the trip in such a way that we were located all the time in Tirana because it offers a lot more content and we did day trips to smaller places we wanted to see – Durres, Vlore and Berat.
Roads and fuel in Albania
Before the trip, we heard various stories about bad roads in Albania. We were pleasantly surprised by crossing the border. The roads are the same as in Croatia. There is no toll collection. The only complaint is the crowds around Tirana. The price of fuel is also the same as in Croatia. There are bad drivers who run into roundabouts, so the advice is to be a little wary in road traffic.
Where we were accommodated
We planned the trip so that we would visit Durres, Vlore and Berat for the first few days. The ideal accommodation to avoid the city crowds was Hotel Deluxe which was located a few km outside the center, and yet close to the roads leading to other cities. For payments in the hotel, the prices are a few euros cheaper than for online reservations, and a night in a standard room is €25 with the possibility of paying extra for a buffet breakfast €3 per person. The staff is helpful and friendly. Free parking is right in front of the hotel. The location is great if you plan to do excursions as the road leading to the surrounding places is only a few minutes drive from the hotel. At the end of the trip we left sightseeing in Tirana and moved to an apartment in the city center where the night was also €25. In the city parking lot, 1 day of parking costs approximately €7. It is also possible to find free parking in the streets of the city center.
What we saw
Shkodra
Crossing the border, our first stop was the Rozafa Fortress, the largest tourist attraction in the city of Shkodra, which offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surroundings of that city. We paid approximately € 3.5 per person per ticket.
Durres
The drive from Tirana is about an hour. We experienced Durres as a smaller tourist place full of restaurants and hotel accommodation. The sights we saw were the Great Mosque, the remains of a Roman amphitheater and a fortress.
Near the center by the sea stretches a promenade with many restaurants, while in the other part is a long beach for swimmers with a bunch of hotel accommodation and restaurants by the sea. The beach did not impress us too much because it is sandy with mud which looks a bit dirty. If you are traveling to Albania with the intention of beaching we would recommend Vlore.
Vlore
A small town also an hour drive from Tirana. Entering Vlore, we were really thrilled. A huge clean sandy beach followed by palm trees. When you walk along the promenade along the beach or the coast you feel like you are in some French seaside town and not in Albania.
Berat
Berat is located in the mainland of Albania south of Tirana, an hour drive. It is also called the Albanian city-museum and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We got information from locals that a lot of people from European countries [Germany, Switzerland, …] come to see Berat.
Tirana
In Tirana, we walked along Skenderbeg Square and toured the old part of the city. We toured the Tanners stone bridge, an Ottoman-era legacy from the 18th century. Walking towards Mother Teresa Square next to the Air Albania Stadium we came across a park with bunkers.
Restaurants where we ate
Durres – Plaza restaurant
At the entrance to Durres, next to the roundabout, there is this “fancy” restaurant that Albanians consider very expensive (we state this to convey the meaning of the word “expensive” in Albania). The food is really tasty, and you can eat for €10-15 per person.
Vlore – restaurant of traditional food Novus
We sat down at this restaurant for lunch. We got a recommendation from the local Albanians. For little money you can eat really well. Since we wanted to try several different Albanian dishes and at that time our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, we ordered 4 different dishes. With salad, dessert and juices, the total bill was around €20.
Berat – restaurant of traditional food Antipatrea
Delighted with Albanian traditional food, we had lunch at this restaurant. We continue to try Albanian cuisine. We also paid around €20 for several different dishes. The staff was extremely friendly. On leaving the restaurant, we got recipes from the cook.
Tirana – restaurant of traditional food Oda
On the recommendation of the locals in Tirana, we had lunch at this restaurant hidden in one of the alleys near the Tirana market. The food is really delicious and the price is as in all other restaurants with traditional cuisine.
Tirana – fast food restaurant Capitol Meat & Chicken
If you are looking for some quick meal near Skanderbeg Square in this restaurant you will find delicious fast food with a wide range. For example, kebab tortillas are €1,5.
Long story short
| Travel period | May 2021 |
| Corona test | Not needed |
| Currency | Albanian lek |
| Average price per night | 30 € for two persons |
| Average price of a meal in a restaurant | 10 € per person |
| Fuel price | Same as in Croatia |
| Toll collection | None |
We hope you found this guide useful in creating your next trip. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by e-mail ks.lostintheworld@gmail.com or via social media, and we will do our best to answer you in as much detail as possible.
