Albania travel guide 

Tirana - The capital and largest city of Albania is famous for its diverse mix of architecture, rich cultural life and rapid development in recent decades.

Ksamil - In summer, the turquoise water and white beaches attract so many tourists that even sardines would feel cramped here. However, if you don’t mind sharing the sand with half the Balkans, you can enjoy the “European Maldives” here with islands in sight.

Durrës - The second largest city in Albania, the country's most important port and one of the oldest European cities with a history dating back to the 7th century BC. In addition to history, you can also enjoy long sandy beaches here.

The “hidden gem of the Balkans” spreads its wild mountains, turquoise seas and ancient cities in the southwest of the Balkan Peninsula, where it borders Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece. The Adriatic and Ionian coasts attract beach lovers, while the Albanian Alps and deep valleys delight adventurers and photographers.

Stroll through vibrant Tirana, discover UNESCO sites in Berat and Gjirokastra, or be enchanted by ancient Byzantine churches and medieval fortresses. At every turn, you will encounter traces of the past – from ancient ruins to thousands of communist-era bunkers to the living traditions of the local population. Albania has a population of just under 3 million, with over half a million in Tirana.

Here you will taste Mediterranean and Balkan-influenced cuisine, meet friendly people and experience an authentic atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else in Europe. The tourist infrastructure is developing rapidly, but the charm of Albania still lies in its authenticity and adventure off the main tourist routes. The locals still respect tourists and try to strike up a conversation.

The first inhabitants, the Illyrian tribes, lived here as early as the Bronze Age, and it is from them that today’s Albanians probably originate. Ancient Albania was also touched by Greek and Roman civilizations – the Greeks founded colonies here (for example, the famous Butrint), while the Romans built the Via Egnatia road, which connected the Adriatic Sea with the east of the empire. After the division of the Roman Empire, the area became part of the Byzantine Empire, but during the Middle Ages, powers such as Bulgaria, Serbia and the Republic of Venice fought over it. The first real Albanian state entity – the Principality of Arbeš – was established in the 12th century, followed by the Kingdom of Albania and other smaller principalities.
In the 15th century, Albania was ruled by the Turks for more than 400 years, which significantly influenced the religious, cultural and social face of the country – including the spread of Islam.

Albania’s independence was only declared on November 28, 1912 in the city of Vlorë, after a long period of uprising and national revival. The first decades of the new state were turbulent – ​​Albania went through occupations during the world wars, a short monarchy, and finally almost half a century of harsh communism under the leadership of Enver Hoxha, which completely isolated the country from the outside world. After the fall of the regime in 1991, Albania embarked on the path of democracy and opened up to the world.