Albania has been attracting a lot of attention lately as Europe’s ultimate budget destination. Tourism is growing, new direct flight routes are popping up, and travel blogs and social media are full of dreamy photos of its gorgeous coastline and incredible mountains. But is Albania really worth visiting? 

I had Albania on my bucket list for a while, but with no direct flights from Dublin, I never quite got around to booking a trip. This year, though, I was heading to Hungary for the Formula 1 Grand Prix and noticed there were direct flights from Budapest to Tirana. It felt like the perfect chance to finally explore Albania. I booked my flights and planned a 2.5 week adventure around the country. Now that I am back, I can confidently say, yes, Albania is absolutely worth it.

Albania completely blew me away with its stunning landscapes, affordability, and rich culture. That said, it is not without its challenges, so it is important to know what you are getting into before booking your flights. Traveling here is not for everyone. I have put together a detailed list of the top pros and cons of visiting Albania so you can decide if it is the right destination for your next trip.

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One of the main appeals of Albania is how affordable it is compared to the rest of Europe. Accommodation, food, and transport are all very affordable. 

During my trip, I split my stays between hotels and vacation rentals, averaging around €50 per night for two people. (I used booking.com for all my accommodation). For backpackers, you can find hostels for as little as €10–20 per night depending on the time of year and city. 

Coastal towns like Himarë and Sarandë are a bit pricier, while smaller towns like Berat or Krujë offer even cheaper options and a more local vibe.

What surprised me most was how inexpensive dining out was compared to buying groceries. To save on cost while travelling, I will often cook a few meals at home, but in Albania it was actually cheaper to eat out. Meals at restaurants typically cost €5–15 per person. One night we decided to splurge on a multi-course tasting menu of traditional Albanian dishes and the total came out to just €25 for each person. 

Public transportation is also very affordable, with intercity buses costing just a few euros for journeys of several hours. Whether you are a backpacker or someone who enjoys a bit more comfort, Albania lets your money stretch much further than most other European destinations.

One of my favourite aspects of Albania was the diverse landscapes. There are mountains in the north, farmland and vineyards in the central part, and gorgeous beaches in the south.

Whether you are into hiking and spending time in nature, the rugged Accursed Mountains (also known as the Albanian Alps) will absolutely take your breath away with their stunning views. If you are after something more relaxing, the beaches in the south of Albania are amazing and just as beautiful as those in Greece or Croatia. You will also come across hot springs, canyons, waterfalls, forests, and gorges. There is endless natural beauty everywhere you go.

Albania’s history is long, complex, and visible everywhere.  What fascinated me most was how Albania’s history is still so present in everyday life. In Tirana, for example, communist-era bunkers and monuments stand beside sleek new buildings and the city is filled with bold street art reflecting on the city’s communist past

Each town has its own character shaped by centuries of cultural influences, from Byzantines to Ottomans to Romans to Venetians. You can feel the layers of history in the architecture, the food, and local traditions. 

Across the country, you will find museums that dive into Albania’s communist history as well as Ottoman heritage, offering a deeper look at how these eras shaped Albania culture we know today. For travelers who love to mix history with culture, Albania is a true hidden gem.

I knew nothing about Albanian food before I visited but it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. The cuisine is a blend of Mediterranean and Balkan influences but with their own twist. We had lots of mouthwatering grilled meats, amazingly seasoned vegetables, and delicious filled phyllo dough pastries. 

Some of my favourite dishes we tried were byrek, which is cheese and spinach or meat filled phyllo dough pastry. Qofte which are seasoned meatballs. Stuffed aubergines (eggplant) which has a mixture of vegetables or ground meat and rice roasted inside. I think I had stuffed aubergines almost every day of our trip. Another favourite was Moussaka which is layers of potatoes and minced meat with a creamy topping. 

We also ate our weight in souvlaki, which is the Albanian version of a gyro. It is rotisserie style chicken or pork served in a soft, flat bread with vegetables, french fries, and tzatziki. Absolutely delicious.

I noticed that most meals are accompanied by homemade bread and local olive oil, which was divine. I am not a huge coffee drinker, but expect strong Turkish-style coffee or espresso. 

I love trying new foods and I loved how each region had its own twist on the traditional Albanian foods. Albanian is not known for its cuisine, but it should because everything we ate was incredible.

One of my favourite parts of travelling is exploring new cities and admiring the architecture. I loved that each city in Albania had its own distinct architecture style that reflected the historical influences. 

In Berat and Gjirokastër, rows of traditional Ottoman houses with whitewashed walls and stone roofs line the hillside. You can also spot remnants of Byzantine architecture in Berat’s old town and in the coastal city of Durrës. In Tirana the architecture is completely different. It is modern, creative, and bold. The town of Sarandë feels much more Mediterranean, with bright white buildings with terracotta roofs. Each city felt unique, with its own vibe.

When I was planning my trip, I had colleagues mention that I needed to visit the Albanian Riviera. Honestly, I had never heard that term before but apparently it refers to the southern coast of Albania. They were right. If you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday with turquoise water then the Albanian Riviera is the perfect spot. There are several seaside towns that you can stay in such as Sarandë, Himarë, Dhermi, and Borsh that all have great beaches. 

If you are after more of a lively, party vibe, Sarandë or Ksamil are great choices. The two towns are a short bus ride from each other and have some of the most popular beach spots in the country. Both have private beach clubs, live music, and beach parties throughout the summer.

I visited in August, which is peak tourist season, and was surprised by how easy it was to find a spot on the public beach. Albania is much less crowded than Greece or Italy, which makes it feel like a bit of a hidden gem in some ways.

For a quieter, more chill vibe, head to smaller towns like Himarë or Borsh. You will find a slower pace, friendly locals, and beautiful beaches that feel untouched. And if you have a car, there are tons of hidden coves and secluded spots all along the coastline just waiting to be discovered.

While Albania is becoming more popular, it still feels refreshingly undiscovered compared to nearby spots like Greece or Croatia. Even in August, when most of Europe’s beaches and cities are overflowing with tourists, I still found quiet corners where it felt like I had the place all to myself. 

The lack of mass tourism means locals are genuinely happy to see visitors, and prices have not skyrocketed like they have in more famous destinations. Plus, it is a lot less crowded than most of Europe in summer, which makes it so much nicer to wander around without feeling like you are constantly fighting through a crowd. 

Smaller towns like Berat, Përmet, and Krujë have this relaxed, authentic vibe that makes you feel like you have stumbled upon a hidden gem. Yes, the roads can be a bit rough, bus schedules are not always predictable, and English is not spoken everywhere, but honestly, all of these are part of Albania’s charm.

Before visiting Albania, I heard people talk about how welcoming and hospitable the locals are, and it turned out to be completely true. Even with the language barrier, everyone we met was kind, patient, and eager to help. More than once, locals went out of their way to give us directions, recommend a great place to eat, or just make sure we felt at home. 

Their friendliness made traveling here feel easy and relaxed, even though it was our first time visiting the country. I was traveling with my sister, and we both felt safe and comfortable everywhere we went, which made the whole experience even better. Honestly, I would feel completely confident coming back to Albania and travelling solo. 

One of the great things about Albania is its mild Mediterranean climate, which makes it a fantastic place to visit any time of year. 

Summers are long, hot, and dry, with temperatures ranging from about 19 to 35°C, perfect for beach days, swimming, and hiking in the Albanian Alps. When we were in southern Albania, a few days hit 38°C, which felt very hot for me, especially coming from Dublin where it rarely gets above 27. However, we spent the day at the beach and swimming in the Ionian Sea which felt so refreshing. 

Winters are relatively mild, usually between 0 and 11°C. Although it is a different story up in the mountains, where you can expect lots of snow all winter. One of our taxi drivers even showed us a video of snow piled six feet high!

Spring and fall are pleasantly warm, staying around 10 to 25°C, and ideal for hiking or sightseeing without the summer crowds.

Albania averages about 128 rainy days a year, with October being the wettest month and July the driest. When we visited in August, we barely saw a raincloud the entire trip. Just full days of sunshine.

Albania’s location makes it super easy to combine with other Balkan countries, which is perfect if you want to see a bit more of the region in one trip. From Sarandë, you can catch a ferry to the Greek island of Corfu in under an hour. Up north, Montenegro is only a few hours away by bus or car, and to the east, both Kosovo and North Macedonia are easy to reach. 

Albania is an ideal base for exploring the wider Balkan region even if you do not drive, there are several budget airlines out of Tirana. If you have extra time to explore, Albania is easy to add to your Balkan itinerary.

When it comes to safety, Albania feels surprisingly relaxed and welcoming. It is generally very safe for travelers, including solo adventurers and women traveling alone. During my trip, I felt completely comfortable walking around cities, taking public transport, and even exploring smaller towns and rural areas. 

Crime rates are low, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Of course, it is always smart to take the usual precautions like keeping an eye on your belongings in busy spots, avoid poorly lit streets at night, and use trusted taxis in the cities.

What really stood out to me, though, was the warmth of the people. Locals were always quick to help if I looked lost or needed directions, and not in a pushy or scammy way. As a female traveler, I actually felt safer in Albania than in some Western European countries, which made exploring more enjoyable.

I want to caveat this list of cons to point out that every country has its challenges, and Albania is no exception. None of this is meant to put you off from visiting. I think it is good to know what to expect so that you can be informed and prepared when planning your trip.

Getting around Albania can be a bit of an adventure. Public transport is quite limited. There are no trains, trams or subways. Only local city buses in the bigger cities like Tirana or Durrës and minibuses (called furgons) that go from city to city. 

Furgons are affordable but not the most reliable. The schedules are loose, and buses usually leave only once they are full. Sometimes that means leaving earlier than planned or much later. We found that catching morning departures worked best. We would show up at the “bus station” (which often looked more like a random parking lot) around 8 a.m., and we would usually be on the road by 9am. 

If you are on a tight schedule, I would not recommend relying on the buses. In addition to having no set departure time, there is also no specific arrival time. The route is flexible, as the futons make several stops along the way, to pick up passengers, drop off packages, or deliver who-knows-what. This makes travel times very unpredictable. On the bright side, if your destination is a small town along the route, just ask the bus driver and he will probably be able to drop you off near your destination. 

Additionally, finding the bus stations can be a bit tricky. They are rarely marked as bus stations and sometimes not listed on Google Maps. When in doubt, just ask a local. People are incredibly helpful and will point you in the right direction.

If you are short on time, taxis are another option. Be aware that there are no rideshare apps, and prices of taxis vary. Always agree on a fare before getting into a taxi. 

Outside the major cities, infrastructure can be hit or miss. Roads are often old, bumpy, and uneven, with frequent potholes and limited street lighting. This makes driving quite the adventure. Sidewalks can be patchy or nonexistent, and many buildings look half-finished. Public toilets are basic at best and sometimes hard to find.

In and around Tirana, there is also a lot of ongoing construction as the city modernizes, so expect some noise and lots of detours. It all adds to Albania’s charm, but it is definitely something to be aware of.

Wifi and mobile data have improved a lot in recent years, but internet access can still be unreliable, especially in rural areas or mountain villages. I would highly recommend downloading offline maps before travelling. 

In cities, Wi-Fi is easy to find in hotels, cafés, and restaurants, although the speed ranges from excellent to painfully slow. I used the internet regularly and, while it was not perfect, it was manageable. However, if you are a digital nomad or need steady connectivity for work, this could be a challenge. I used Airalo, an eSIM for your phone that connects you to a mobile network, for the entirety of my trip and it worked really well even in rural areas where the wifi failed.

While Albania is generally budget-friendly, prices in popular beach towns like Sarandë and Ksamil have risen in recent years. Restaurants, beach chair rentals, and hotels in these hotspots can sometimes rival prices in Greece or Italy. It is not outrageous, but it can be surprising if you are expecting everything to be cheap. Of all the places we visited in Albania, Sarandë was definitely the priciest. We also popped over to Corfu during our trip, and while Sarandë was a bit cheaper, the difference honestly was not that big.

Once you move away from the main tourist areas, though, prices drop significantly. For example, I stayed in an Airbnb about a 15-minute walk uphill from the beach in Sarandë, and it cost about half the price of places right on the water.

English is not widely spoken outside the main tourist areas. In Tirana and Sarandë, you will usually find people who speak some English, but elsewhere communication can be tricky. Most of our Airbnb hosts did not speak English. We relied heavily on Google Translate and lots of gestures.

That said, Albanians are resourceful and vert kind. People often go out of their way to help, even if it means calling a friend who speaks English or using translation apps. You would be amazed how much you can communicate without speaking the same language. Still, if you are someone who prefers easy communication, this might take some getting used to. But, if you enjoy a bit of improvisation, it can actually make the trip more memorable.

If you are used to paying by card, Albania takes some adjusting. Cash is king here. We paid nearly everything in cash, from hotels and restaurants to small shops and grocery stores. Even when places accepted cards, the machines often did not work due to poor reception.

It is also worth noting that you cannot exchange Albanian lek (local currency) outside the country, so plan to withdraw or exchange money once you arrive. The good news is that local currency exchanges do not take commissions, so you get the full rate. If someone does try to charge a fee, it is not a legitimate currency exchange. I decided to withdraw cash in Ireland and exchanged my euros in Albania, which worked perfectly.

Note that ATMs are easy to find in larger cities but can be scarce in smaller towns, so plan ahead. Luckily, everyday costs are low, so you will not need to carry too much cash.

Driving in Albania is not for the faint of heart. During my 2.5-week trip, I rented a car via Expedia for the first week and relied on public transportation for the rest. Before deciding to drive, I did extensive research on driving and renting a car in Albania and to be honest, most blogs made it seem like driving in Albania was a breeze. Having driven all over the world, I can confidently say it was the most challenging driving experience I have ever had. I would not recommend renting a car here unless you are a very experienced driver. Unfortunately, driving is often the only way to explore a lot of Albania, especially on your own schedule, which is why I still chose to rent for part of the trip. 

On the roads, anything can happen. Traffic rules are often ignored, and cars park wherever there is space, which is sometimes on sidewalks, or even in the middle of the road. Two-lane roads can suddenly feel like four lanes because people drive on the shoulders, and in rural areas you might share narrow roads with livestock and big trucks driving fast. There are often sharp turns and steep inclines with no guardrails. 

In Tirana, drivers are especially fast and unpredictable, and ongoing construction and detours make the situation even more hectic. Road conditions throughout the country vary dramatically. Some highways are smooth and modern, while others are full of potholes. Night driving can be particularly tricky due to poor lighting and unmarked obstacles. 

That said, it is worth knowing why Albanian roads feel so chaotic. For decades under communist rule, private car ownership was extremely rare, and formal driver education was limited. Even after the 1990s, when car ownership became more common, driving licenses were not always strictly enforced. As a result the driving culture developed more by necessity than by formal rules which leads to people driving unpredictably and creatively.

Despite the chaos, driving does give you freedom to see places that are otherwise difficult to reach, so it can be worth it if you are prepared and careful. For anyone considering renting a car, patience, alertness, and experience are key.

Unfortunately, Albania is not the most accessible destination for travelers with mobility challenges. Many towns have cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks, and lots of stairs. Public transport and buildings often lack ramps or elevators, and accessible hotel rooms are inconsistent. Even some major tourist attractions are not wheelchair friendly.

After spending two and a half weeks exploring, I can confidently say that Albania is one of the most fascinating countries I have visited in Europe. It offers incredible natural beauty, warm hospitality, rich culture, and amazing value for money.

That said, Albania does come with its challenges with limited public transport, patchy infrastructure, language barriers, and chaotic driving can all test your patience at times.

Budget travelers, backpackers, history lovers, and adventure seekers will absolutely fall in love with Albania. It is a great destination for couples or small groups looking for an affordable mix of culture, nature, and relaxation. On the other hand, it might not be ideal for travelers who need full accessibility, expect a polished holiday and infrastructure similar to western Europe, or prefer strict schedules.

If you visit with a sense of adventure, curiosity, and a willingness to be flexible, Albania will surprise you. It is the kind of place that challenges you in small ways but gives back so much more in return. For the right kind of traveler, Albania is definitely worth visiting, especially before it starts getting too popular.

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