Mirë se erdhët10 days: Albania highlights
Tirana, Kruja and Bovilla, the UNESCO towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, the Blue Eye, Sarandë, Ksamil and Butrint, then the coast road back over Llogara.
Day 1 · Arrive in Tirana
Settle in, then an evening walk around Skanderbeg Square and the Blloku district.
🚗 TIA → Tirana: 15 km, ~27 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Tirana
Day 2 · Tirana
Bunk'Art in the morning, then the Dajti Ekspres cable car up the mountain for the view.
🎟️ Dajti Ekspres cable car (Dajti Ekspres) · Bunk'Art museum (Bunk'Art)
📍 Guides, food and stays: Tirana
Day 3 · Kruja
Half-day trip to Kruja's castle and old bazaar, back in Tirana for dinner.
🚗 Tirana → Kruja: 38 km, ~47 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Krujë
Day 4 · Bovilla lake
The road is short but slow. Go early for the viewpoint hike above the lake.
🚗 Tirana → Bovilla: 30 km, ~1 h 16 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Bovilla Lake (Liqeni i Bovillës)
Day 5 · Berat
Drive south to Berat. Walk Mangalem and Gorica, and climb to the castle quarter in the late afternoon.
🚗 Tirana → Berat: 124 km, ~2 h 1 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Berat
Day 6 · Gjirokastër
The longest drive of the trip. Arrive for an evening in the stone old town and the castle.
🚗 Berat → Gjirokastër: 147 km, ~2 h 42 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Gjirokastër
Day 7 · Blue Eye to Sarandë
Stop at the Blue Eye spring on the way to the coast, and arrive in Sarandë for a seafront dinner.
🚗 Gjirokastër → Blue Eye: 36 km, ~1 h 12 min · Blue Eye → Sarandë: 22 km, ~45 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) · Sarandë & Butrint
Day 8 · Ksamil and Butrint
Beach morning in Ksamil, then the ancient site of Butrint in the late afternoon when it is cooler.
🚗 Sarandë → Ksamil: 14 km, ~26 min · Ksamil → Butrint: 4 km, ~6 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Ksamil · Sarandë & Butrint
Day 9 · Riviera to Himarë
Drive up the coast to Himarë, with beach stops along the way.
🚗 Sarandë → Himarë: 55 km, ~1 h 18 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Himarë · Albanian Riviera (Dhërmi, Himarë, Ksamil)
Day 10 · Over Llogara and back to Tirana
Climb the Llogara pass for the view, then the long drive north. If you fly out today, allow plenty of time for TIA.
🚗 Himarë → Llogara: 36 km, ~1 h 2 min · Llogara → Tirana: 192 km, ~3 h 2 min
📍 Guides, food and stays: Llogara Pass
🚌 Getting around by bus
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Drive times come from OSRM road routing and exclude stops, traffic and border queues. Opening times and ferry schedules change, so confirm with the operators before you go. Getting there: flights →