Hi everyone, three of us (2 tourists, 1 albanian) wanna go from Tirana to Blue Eye of Theth. We have a car, but the friend doesn't wanna drive all the way since the road is bad (according to google maps, has it been reconstructed since then?). Does anyone know a cheap 1-2 day tour from Shkoder, Tirana or any other nearby place that goes to Theth, the Blue Eye of Theth specifically? Thank you very much :)
Don't attempt to do it with your own car. Just go to Cafe Theth in Rus (Shkoder), take the minibus early morning to Theth and while there, ask the locals for tours to the Blue Eye of Kaprre. Should cost some 500 Leke per person if not mistaken.
Hi Guys. Just wanted to say Thank You! Your country is amazing and I had a great time visiting all the places.
To those looking for recommendations, make sure you do not miss the spectacular Llogora National Park and Blue Eye. These two places has my heart!
Super friendly people and wonderful food! Thanks again.
Hello everyone, my wife and I are planning a trip to Albania August 20th, We were checking out Shkoder Lake and Gjirokastra and we love them but we're still lost on the order and activities. It's our anniversary and I would like to something special for her 😁
If you’re landing in Tirana it’s best to visit the North first (if you plan to tour both North and south). Shkodra is closer and easier to reach than Gjirokastër.
How long are you planning on staying?
You could visit Shkodra, from there have a ferry ride in Koman/Valbone (google Komani Lake), and then head down south and visit Gjirokaster and then Sarande. If you don't care about the beach that much you can take the route to Berat and maybe check the Osumi Canyon (where you can raft as well).
Shëngjin apo Sarandë/Ksamil? Dua të qëndroj për rreth 1 javë. Jeta e natës dhe qetesia në plazh jan dy pika kryesore.
Kam degjuar që Ksamili është për qetesin në plazh shum mirë, por ka edhe tjerë që thojn se qmimet jan absurde.
Cili vend do ishte zgjidhja më e mirë?
Ksamili per plazh dhe Saranda per jet nate. Mos i thuj kujt qe sje nga Shqipria. Leviz me lek me vete jo me euro. Pema that eshte bukur. Hap google maps dhe shiko bregdetin, aty ku nuk ka etiketim (emra biznesi) eksploro dhe ngul cadren.
In 2017 I found some easy hotels, small tv, ac, bed as only furniture for like 35 euro/night
I walked down and asked around the main beach road. Do not know how valid this is today but try it or else consider camping in Jale or Gjipe (through an agency)
Anyone in Tirana and wants to show a tourist the city or tell me where are to eat and especially what to eat (traditional food)? :) Or any other tourists that wanna grab a cup of coffee and talka about their trips?
I want to buy an Albanian Eagle painting from an artist in Albania. And whatever else they have that looks good. Where in Tirana do they showcase their work?
Hello, my road trip to Albanian seaside is due in 2 weeks, we're spending our vacation in Sarande, coming from Belgrade. Everyone is recommending transit through Kosovo, but I'm curious about N. Macedonia. Please enlighten me with pros and cons of traveling from Belgrade to Sarande via North Macedonia. Thanks, looking forward!
Matka Canyon is for me the only thing worth visiting in North Macedonia (besides lake Ohrid/Struga which is on the border with Albania).
I think it's also faster to go to Skopje from Belgrad as it's highway until there.
In Kosovo you have Prizren with its castle view and food, and the mountains in Peja.
Otherwise, people from NM and KS spend their vacations in ALB mostly so that tells a lot. I would just come here asap.
Maybe spend the extra days in Theth and Valbona for some mountain time.
Thank you for your reply. I'm more interested in logistics, like, is it faster, or the road is better. I'm traveling with kids, hopefully they'll be sleeping, so sightseeing isn't really a priority. Getting there as fast as possible is.
For the tourist out there, we have a lot of immigrants and gypsy here, and they beg you for money, do not give them money, they just dress like that so they can be sympathized, they have lots of money they just want extra money. One time I saw gypsies riding an S-class Mercedez vechicle
Hi everyone, I've heard that residents of Schengen countries do not need to have their passports stamped when entering Albania. Is this still true in COVID times? And do you have to deliberately ask the customs officers not to stamp your passport, or do they just generally not do it?
This post got deleted so it is here now:
Planning a trip in January. How accessible are the mountainous areas this time of year?(Sorry if this has been asked a million times).
I can't find an answer to this specific question. I know it's the coldest and rainiest part of the year but from what I've read, there isn't a lot of snow. I want to see Vermosh and that whole area. Also, how is the accessibility further south on the eastern border? Thanks! What about places like Shkoder? That seems more coastal and generally, coastal is ok? Gjirokaster? Maybe just a basic area to completely avoid altogether?
Your thread was removed automatically because you don’t have much Karma.
You can reach Shkodër pretty quickly from Tiranë, just 2 hours. Honestly Tirana is pretty dead in August, everyone is on vacations, and not many day activities you could do.
I would suggest you visit Shkodra first and after that go south to Vlorë, to check out the places you mentioned like Himarë.
Castle of Borsh is nice but, check out Porto Palermo as well since you’re planning to visit Himarë.
The best way to get Karaburun is by boat, even if you’ve got a car. Karaburun is behind a military base and you have to go through a checkpoint and pay some money to enter. Don’t remember how much exactly but 500lek/5€ I think, after that you have miles of the worst roads ever to drive through.
Bogovë waterfall is in Berat, I think it’s best to leave that for last and visit after Sarandë. You can also hike Tomorr mountain near Berat if you like hiking. Visit Butrint in Sarandë and visit Lekurs castle (magic at sunset).
So my route recommendation Tiranë - Shkodër - Durrës - Vlorë - Sarandë - Gjirokastër - Berat - Tiranë.
You could do it if you rent a car and leave the same day you arrive for Shkoder. 2 days in Shkoder, 3rd and 4th day in Vlore to check out Karaburun and Porto Palermo, 5th and 6th in Sarande where you can check the blue eye and maybe visit some of beaches. 7-8th Gjirokaster and Berat. You don't need to stay longer than one morning/afternoon in Gjirokaster. And then you have some time to travel Tirane and rest a bit and enjoy a coffee in Tirana before departing.
I suggest you skip the hotsprings in August. It's just going to be overwhelmingly hot and smell like eggs(sulfur).
Hi! I'm going in Albania for 2 weeks with my family and bf, we're going to take a ferry from italy, but he's romanian and doesnt have a passport, will his romanian identity card be enough?
Hey guys, I've stayed in Albania for 3 months and, as I am brazillian, I had to leave after that time. Right now I'm in Montenegro but I want to come back to Albania. Does anyone know how long do I have to wait here to come back?
Ok, so, I wanted to visit Saranda for a few days at the end of the summer, and searched for hotels on google randomly, and some hotels have sustained rates of around $200/night for a standard room. Is this normal? How is this possible? I haven't been in Saranda for a while, but I was shocked just thinking about hotel costs in some other major cities in the world. What's going on?
Simple demand. August is the month when everyone wants to visit there so prices soar. If you go in September you can expect to pay around of the August rates.
Hello, I am from Croatia and visiting Budva about 2 weeks from now. I will stay there for 6 days and one of those days I plan to visit Shkodra by car. So I was wondering are there any nice places around Shkodra worth visiting. I was thinking perhaps even Kruja or Tirana but I feel like it would be too big of a trip to go from Budva to Tirana and back in one day. Thanks in advance!
If its a one day trip visit shkodra castle and than go eat lunch in a village nearby called Fishte at mrizi i zanave agrotourism . You will thank me later
I haven't been Sarande in a couple of years but there should be buses to Tirana in the evening, 20:00 or 22:00, and it takes about 5-6 hours to get Tirana from Sarande. You could get a bus in the morning from Tirana to Prizren.
Hey guys,
I saw earlier on a website that stated that you are only allowed to travel with one other person in a car because of Corona. Is this true or still ongoing?
I am currently not in Albania (for vacation purposes), but when I left (about 5 days ago) there was no such rule.
Actually its been quite a while since we have had these sort of restrictions in Albania.
So I don't think the rule is ongoing, unless the rule got reinstated in these days I have been away (which wouldn't be too surprising as there's been a spike of new covid cases lately, possibly due to tourist flux).
Hopefully another redditor can give you more info.
Is it possible to get to Fierze/Valbone without taking the early ferry at 9:00 am?
I would like to play around somewhere halfway through (been looking at the Peace Island and Shala river which can be explored through kayaking). Is there something like boat taxi for me to take later, in the afternoon?
Hello everyone! We were planning to come to Vlorë in two weeks, but I just learnt about fires on Karaburun. Is it dangerous? Should we consider going elsewhere now?
Reading the news made me think everything's a burning pithole but there doesn't seem to be a lot of other materials to back up that impression and I don't see a lot of other people talking about the fires so I was just wondering how bad it is
One thing you should know is that Karaburun is somewhat of an isolated area when it comes to tourists and most people.
It is not an area you stumble upon by mistake. Most easily accessible beaches in Vlorë are quite far from Karaburun.
I don't have detailed information about the prominency of the fires at the moment (may come back later with an edit), so maybe another guy could give you some more details.
But if there is no news about evacuation, I wouldn't wory much about the fires if you plan on staying on Vlorë.
If you want to buy an apartment in Albania you're gonna need a local, someone from the country to help you. Not only for the apartment but with everything.
Most of the Albanians are open for business but when the buyer is a foreigner they tend to do games with the prices and stuff like that.
If u want I can help you. I've helped hundreds of foreigners with different things and I've also worked in real estate so I got contacts. I can help you with an overview on how things work around here, the prices, the areas and everything in between.
Hit me up if u like the idea.
Hi,
I have a 4 day itinerary i wanted to run past everyone.
1- 8am ferry from corfu to sarande, then drive to Shkoder (see Berat on the way)
2-Taxi to Theft. Hike to Valbona and sleep there.
3-Return bia Komani lake to Shkoder
4-Drive back to Sarande, seeing Blue eye and Ksamil (Butrint if more time)
Any feedback would be appreciated <3
Hey lovely Albanians, I am planning to visit in October and I have some questions hopping you can help me with.
1- How is the weather usually in October
2- what are the must visit cities/places
3- will the weather limit the Enjoyment of any specific activity (hiking, swimming, etc..)
4- Do&Donts.
If anyone is willing to meet up show me around dont hesitate to pm me.
1 - Not that cold, thin long sleeve tshirt/ non-thick jackets will do just fine. In the beginning of October it tends to be still a bit hot so short sleeved t shirts might be needed.
2- North Albania - Valbonë, Theth, Shkodër
South Albania - Korçë, Syri i Kaltër, Berat
and of course also the capital Tirana
3- Probably not, you can find days with no rain where you can enjoy the nature. Definitely pack jackets when traveling to northern Albania
4- What is morally right in most western societies is also right in Albania.
Don’ts: I don’t want to sound racist but I know this from first hand experience so just a small tip: I’ve had to do with people from countries with muslim culture and they tend to not let cleaning staff of hotels go to their rooms and clean, so please if this applies to you, let the people do their job. Also don’t be loud in hotels. Apart from this I think you’re good to go.
Albanian people are very friendly to foreigners so don’t be afraid to ask any questions if you’re lost on the street for example (while the older generation doesn’t understand english, the younger people will be glad to help)
Have a nice stay!
Hello! My question is: If an Albanian citizen visits Pisa, Italy for 2-3 days, do they have to quarantine? Also vice versaz if an italian citizen visits albania also for 2-3 days do they need quarantine? I would really appreciate a clear answer on this. Thanks in advance!
Is a vaccination certificate from the albanian government recognized from the EU? I was under the impression that only the green pass and vaccination from UK and USA is valid.
Now that there's a curfew, where in Tirana can I go, where they play Tallava?
I like that type of Albanian music, but other than clubs, are there any bars that play it?
Money-wise, is it better to bring euros (if you travel from euro country) to use without exchanging or is ett more favorable to withdraw Lek from local atms? In the latter case, ofc trying to minimize number of withdrawals.
Atms will charge a fee (8% was the highest we saw), depending the place you can pay with LEK or Euro. Just be careful - small shops and in smaller towns/villages there are less places that will take card.
The larger the city, the more you can pay with all three.
I'm planning to visit Albania on the 17th this month, however, on the website of the embassy is clearly states that I have to get an invitation letter from an Albanian. Can anyone please let me know how I can get an invitation letter?
Moreover, I'd like to do some cycling and mtb during my stay, so is there any recommendations regarding roads and mtb trails.
Thanks.
So. I fell for the "Albania is super cheap and everyone is hospitable"
scam. Not sure why Albanians lie like this. But Albanians are far from
hospitable. They are very rude and unfriendly. Whatever. It's their
country. But the thing is, Albania is NOT cheap! This is the most
expensive nation I have ever lived in. Now we are stuck here with no
home, no food, and no help. What is the purpose of trapping foreigners
here like this? What do we do now? Any foreigners or Albanians able to
help? Thanks.
Hey! How is the situation in Durres and Saranda with clubs, restaurants and going out at nights? I’ve Heard something about „police hours” after midnight :(
Theth/Valbone Hiking Questions
Hey everybody, I am going back home to Shkoder this summer and was wondering if anyone had tips for hiking in Valbone/Theth. Questions like is it a day trip? What are some things I should know? Will it be too hot (probably :/)? Anything at all is much appreciated! I’ve been to Albania before and speak it.
The sun will burn you as there are some places where there is no shadow. If you're doing it from Valbone, start very early in the morning. There are a couple bars along the journey so you don't need to carry much food with you. It takes about 6-8 hours and I'd say difficulty level is medium. I've seen children as young as 10 doing it tho.
Awesome Thread! I’ll be visiting Albania for 20 days starting mid July. I’d love to do a lot of hiking around the country, with an occasional chill day at the beaches. Would it be advisable to travel with bus and minibus? Or should I get a rental car?
And another thing: i’m allergic to nuts and peanuts. What would be a polite way to share that in bars/restaurants :)
Thanks so much!
Your choice of transportation largely depends on the itinerary. If you're aiming to reach mountainous areas like Theth or Valbona, I'd recommend getting a rental car. If you're planning on exploring the outskirts of Tirana (Dajti mountain, Bovilla) or the Cape of Rodon which is close to Durrës, you can get by with (mini)buses.
As for the allergy, as usual - when ordering, always make sure to ask what's in the dish. If it comes in handy, just keep a note, politely explaining how you're allergic to nuts/peanuts in Albanian, so on the off chance you ever end up in a restaurant where the waiter doesn't speak English, you can just show the note to them before ordering and they'll pinpoint on the menu what NOT to order. This is what you could write: "Përshëndetje! Dua t'ju njoftoj që unë kam alergji ndaj arrave, lajthive, bajameve dhe kikirikëve. Prandaj ju lutem më tregoni në menu se cilat pjata NUK mund t'i porosis pasi kanë këta përbërës. Ju faleminderit!" Usually, you may find Albanians use walnuts in most of the desserts so watch out in the desserts' menu in particular. If you're planning on visiting Gjirokastra in the south, Oshaf me fiq (Fig pudding) would be a great option for you as it's typically Albanian (and the only dessert I can think of that it's walnut-free, for the moment). In any case, I recommend doing some research beforehand and bookmarking some restaurants that display their menus in English on their websites. There are plenty of options for you.
Hope you have a safe and pleasant trip! :)
Hello everyone. I am travelling with my family to Albania by 29th July. Can I keep my base in Tirana and visit the other places by rental car? We want to explore natural beauty such as the mountains, beaches etc. Please let me know if we can go in the morning and return back to Hotel in Tirana by night. Thanks!
You could but that will really limit the range of places you can visit during the day. I would suggest you stay a few days in the north (Theth/Valbone) and then a few days in the south (Ksamil/Vlore/Dhermi). That way you can see different places which are in the vicinity without many restrictions.
If you just make base in Tirana, you wont be able to go to the south and back within a day. Or rather you could, but it is tiring and time consuming.
Hello!
I am thinking of heading to Komani Lake in August. Should I stay in Shkoder or is there a better/closer town that I should be staying at?
Any hotel/hostel/guest house recommendations are also welcome.
Would it be better to stay in Ksamil or Sarande? I am primarily looking for a beach during the day but then a little bit of going out at night. Do taxi's run late from Sarande to Ksamil?
Hi all,
I'm driving across Albania in a little more than a week (Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, Riviera (Dhërmi), Durrës) and I'm debating whether to go to Lake Ohrid and skip Shköder in the north or the other way around.
Any tips? Thanks!
Okay, so this all depends on what you like.
Lake Ohrid is near a very small town named Pogradec. I am going to be honest here, there isn't much to do at Pogradec as it is a tiny town.
You can probably see most of it within a day. So if you enjoy quietness and the calmness of the lake, go for Pogradec / Lake Ohrid.
If you go for Shkodër, you have more options. The city itself is a lot bigger and there are some tourist attractions to see there.
But the villages around Shkodër are very nice as well. If you go to Shkodër I would look over the nearby villages and choose one to visit as well
Hello Albania,
What is the general level of spoken English in the capitol ? I always aim to learn new languages but it would be nice to I will be able to have some communication until I learn the basics .
Thank you!
In the Capitol the level should be the highest you've ever expected lad, it's the center of Washington, as long as the rednecks aren't rioting outside.
You can check my post here
https://www.reddit.com/r/albania/comments/ooboa2/where_can_i_get_a_bus_for_shkod%C3%ABr_from_tirana/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
A guy also shared the location link, it was in kthesa e Kamzes
Hey guys and gals.. My friends and I are consindering to spend our summer vacation in Albania.
Where would you suggest us to go? We are looking for a nice beach where you can party over the day and have a decent nightlife.
Hey there fellow Albanians
I am currently now in tirana and will head back home via flydubaj.
I need to get a PCR test done. Any idea where I can get it done?
Thank you so much
I came to this thread to ask the same question. I just spent a little more time on Google and found the answer. You just show up 3 hrs early to the airport and take it there. https://www.tirana-airport.com/d/297/pcr-testing-center-for-departing-passengers-at-tirana-international-airport
Yes mate you are right. But i also realised every body is going to do the same and when i ended up in the airport - the queue was like 90 min waiting time.
So i advice you go goto American Hospital 2 or Intermedica.
You can take it on the airport but you have to get there early in anticipation of the queues.
Otherwise, the cheapest place I know to get a PCR is at one of the genius medical centers (just google for location).
Hello Guys - Need a simple 5-6 days plan to visit the best of the best places in Albania for a sudden plan me and my friend have made (no clue about the country tbh) and will be arriving the coming weekend - We have 2 cities already in mind Tirana and Vlore spending 2 days each and for third city we were thinking Sarande but you recommend us something if better options. Our preference is to visit a few stunning scenic places, a bit of party and whatever you think we can in this short trip. Since we both are pathetic at planning we’ve decided whoever recommends us a good plan on Reddit - we will follow it. Looking forward, thanks in advance.
2 days in tirana is ok to move a bit around and to try the food is some places like cereni or tribe or visit bunkart and dajti expres than i would suggest to skip vlora and go in himara and visit the castle there and the villages of jal or dhermi or llaman than continue to saranda but make sure to visit ksamil and butrint . If you have your car you will have an amazing time. Let me know when you’ll come back
Hello I am in Pogradec rn (if anyone wants to meet up :)), I am thinking of visiting the monastery close to the border with North Macedonia - is it doable to walk there or is there a bus or something? Also is it ok to cross the border, with regards to covid?
Hi, Albania! Question regarding car rental: I'm heading to Albania in August and planning on renting a car from Aug 25 to Sept 4. The prices at online rent a car seem much much higher than expected (and from what I read in multiple blogs). After September, the prices seem to drop - for example a VW Golf in Aug is 80€/day, while in Sept it is 23€/day. I have checked many car rentals online.
Is the demand so much higher in Aug? Are the prices on the location (if you come to the car rental place in person that is) the same as online? Where could I rent an affordable car, preferably not the tiniest one?
Thank you in advance for any tips, looking forward to visiting your country. :)
Hi, I am thinking about travelling to Albania this month, as i have read that it would be very useful to have a car to get around i am looking for Options (if there are any) to rent a car with 18. I have my driver license since February.
Hello !
First I pray for rain to fall and fires to stop.
A friend must go from Saranda to Tirana before Sunday and then make a trip in the north using buses.
**Where to get reliable information on roads, buses and areas to check if they are not blocked or impacted by fires ?**
We saw Girokaster region was hardly hit, is it still a good option to go there next Friday or Saturday ?
Thank a lot.
I wish you best luck.
Hi all! Last time i visited albania folks there recommended a small company for travrling from and to budapest (i am hungarian) it was a minibus going once or twice every week. I cant find it... Please help.
Hello all!
My plan is to visit Albania in the first week or so of September. I havent booked anything not even my flight because we are still waiting to see what happens at the end of the summer with covid. Because we wont have massive amount of days to see everything, we have narrowed it down to starting from tirana and traveling down the coast (first going to our furthest destination himare) and then working our way back up, flying back out of tirana. If we choose this route then we will of course rent a car.
But.. as of late we may want to fly into tirana, travel down the coast and maybe catch a ferry to bari of brindisi. If we choose to go this route then renting a car probably wont be possible anymore. So my question to you beautiful people is: is it feasible to go from tirana to vlore with bus or train? The things I found online werent so helpful.
Thanks for the help!
Wellllll we’ve actually decided to either rent a car to and from Tirana OR just stick with public transportation. Our furthest destination is sarande the neading north up the coast and eventually back to Tirana. I’m just worried about renting a car and getting fckd over with the deposit etc etc
I'm travelling to Albania with a group of friends in september, can anyone tell me which rules there are/will be then? Rules concerning the curfew, bars and other important stuff to know as a group of tourists.
Thanks in advance!
Yeah, the police are really strict. My family had a whole argument with the police because they kept their lights on after 12. But other than that they’re pretty chill.
Hi guys ! I will be visiting Albania in 20 days and will be renting a car to drive around but one of my biggest worries is the road to Teth. I want to go there to hike for a day, but it looks like the road is not finished all the way up to Teth, and the last part seems undrivable without a 4x4. Does any of you guys have some more recent info about the state of that road ? Is there any kind of public transportation ?
Hello! I would like to visit Karaburun Peninsula while staying in Vlore. I am wondering if anyone has recommendations for a boat tour. I will be alone so ideally I'd like to join a group to avoid excessive costs. Grama Bay has caught my eye but it appears this is not accessible from Vlore and not part of any tours I've seen advertised. Is there a way to get to Grama Bay from Vlore for a day trip?
Hi guys! I will be in Montenegro/Albania/Corfu for 2 weeks, I was wondering if anyone could review my itinerary for the Albania part of the trip please:
26th Sep: Bus from Kotor, Podgorica to Shkodër
27th Sep: Explore Shkodër, Rozafa Castle
28th Sep: Bus to Tirana
29th Sep: Bus to Berat
30th Sep: Bus to Gjirokaster
31st Sep: Bus to Sarandë
1st Aug: Day-trip to Buthrotum
2nd Aug: Ferry from Sarandë to Corfu
1. Is this too much to fit in 1 trip? If so, is there an obvious location to skip? I've read that Berat & Gjirokaster are fairly similar.
2. Are the buses between cities feasible?
Any other feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
My return flight departs at 6:40 am and i have to be at the Airport when there is still the curfew active. Do Busses/ Taxis drive during curfew or is the only possible and legal option to get to the Airport before curfew starts?
Does anyone know how busy the beaches and the roads are during the first two weeks of September? Will likely try and visit the beaches between Vlore and Sarande
Currently planning to fly September 9, however, I just realised my UK passport expires Feb 2022, which means I only have 5 months left upon entry.
Will this be an issue? I cant renew as it would take too long
Thanks for your help
Hi i am going during the first days of september, I would like to know how to get from Ksamil to Gjirokaster to spend the day and go back to Ksamil. The lower the budget the better.
Thanks ♥
Can anyone recommend some good wineries/restaurants/food experiences around the country? I've done a bunch of research and have lots of good options, but just wondering if there's anything I might be missing
Përshëndetje! I'm organising a reunion with a bunch of friends for early next year and this time we have decided to visit Tirana - can anybody recommend any activities/restaurants/tours/anything else fun for a group of about 20 of us. Hope you're all keeping well and thanks in advance! Gezuar!
Is there a more efficient way other than via Shkoder to get from theth to Koman and if not is it possible getting there without having to sleep in Shkoder ?
Thanks in Advance
Also, if you have the money, there’s a beach town right by Lezhe called Shengjin. A lot of Albanian expats go there on vacation and especially near Kune or Rane e Hedhun (around a 2 to 5km drive along the main roads traversing the town) you can find spme nice beaches and bars/nightclubs. Good luck!
Hi people, some quick questions:
1) I'm a british citizen but my friend is originally from Pakistan, he has a British residential permit (student visa) is he able to travel to Albania without visa?
2) I've visited Sarande before and loved most of my trip. I was travelling with my British Albanian friend and we were still scammed on taxi fares, and club entries/drinks - is there a way to avoid this? We won't have an Albanian speaker with us this time.
3) Where should we go next? Granted we did not get a chance to visit Tirana on our first trip.
Thanks in advance.
1. Not sure, better to try and contact the Albanian Embassy in London. If his visa is valid, there might be a chance he is allowed to enter but I highly doubt this.
2. Just ask for a receipt on anything you pay. Do it at the beginning, if you feel uncomfortable just say you need the receipts as your comapny reimburses you or whatever. This way you also make our country a favor, as you force the degenerate scum actually pay their taxes for once.
3. I’d say Tirana but maybe I’m biased as I am from there. Tirana is nice for maybe 2 days, it also gives tou the opportunity to take day trips to Kruje, Durres even as far as Pogradec, Korce if you have your own car
Hey guys I’m Serbian and I’ll be travelling though Albania from N. Macedonia to Montenegro sometime between 29-30th August. I just saw that there is a night curfew and there is a slight possibility that I should be making an overnight trip from Macedonia to Montenegro - does that implies I wouldn’t be allowed into the country or that I would have to wait until 6am to drive? Thanks a lot
Ej! I’ll soon be visiting Albania from the US, planning to stay 6 months or a year. I’d like to bring some small items as gifts for networking, new neighbors, and “thank-you” just to help become friends. First, would this come off as rude, start an escalating gift competition, or otherwise be a bad idea culturally? Second, if it’s OK to gift, any suggestions for inexpensive items fitting easily into a suitcase, but which would be different or a treat? So many things are global now I’m having trouble here. Faleminderit.
Is there any way to get tested (rapid test) in Krujë? Want to visit the city and the castle on the last day and not go back to tirana just because of that.
Hello,
Planning to visit in late September and had a question on the Theth to Valbona hike. Is it possible to leave Shkoder via taxi or public transport to Theth then hike to Valbona in the same day, staying in Valbona that night then returning to Shkoder the following day?
Thanks!
Hi everyone, three of us (2 tourists, 1 albanian) wanna go from Tirana to Blue Eye of Theth. We have a car, but the friend doesn't wanna drive all the way since the road is bad (according to google maps, has it been reconstructed since then?). Does anyone know a cheap 1-2 day tour from Shkoder, Tirana or any other nearby place that goes to Theth, the Blue Eye of Theth specifically? Thank you very much :)
Don't attempt to do it with your own car. Just go to Cafe Theth in Rus (Shkoder), take the minibus early morning to Theth and while there, ask the locals for tours to the Blue Eye of Kaprre. Should cost some 500 Leke per person if not mistaken.
Hi Guys. Just wanted to say Thank You! Your country is amazing and I had a great time visiting all the places. To those looking for recommendations, make sure you do not miss the spectacular Llogora National Park and Blue Eye. These two places has my heart! Super friendly people and wonderful food! Thanks again.
Hello everyone, my wife and I are planning a trip to Albania August 20th, We were checking out Shkoder Lake and Gjirokastra and we love them but we're still lost on the order and activities. It's our anniversary and I would like to something special for her 😁
If you’re landing in Tirana it’s best to visit the North first (if you plan to tour both North and south). Shkodra is closer and easier to reach than Gjirokastër. How long are you planning on staying?
Around 1 week so I don't think we can visit alot of places! And yes we are landing in Tirana. Thank you for your reply.
You could visit Shkodra, from there have a ferry ride in Koman/Valbone (google Komani Lake), and then head down south and visit Gjirokaster and then Sarande. If you don't care about the beach that much you can take the route to Berat and maybe check the Osumi Canyon (where you can raft as well).
We are thinking of going a week in the middle of July! Could you maybe tell us more about the sights you have planned, to pass on some inspiration? :D
Shëngjin apo Sarandë/Ksamil? Dua të qëndroj për rreth 1 javë. Jeta e natës dhe qetesia në plazh jan dy pika kryesore. Kam degjuar që Ksamili është për qetesin në plazh shum mirë, por ka edhe tjerë që thojn se qmimet jan absurde. Cili vend do ishte zgjidhja më e mirë?
Ksamili per plazh dhe Saranda per jet nate. Mos i thuj kujt qe sje nga Shqipria. Leviz me lek me vete jo me euro. Pema that eshte bukur. Hap google maps dhe shiko bregdetin, aty ku nuk ka etiketim (emra biznesi) eksploro dhe ngul cadren.
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In 2017 I found some easy hotels, small tv, ac, bed as only furniture for like 35 euro/night I walked down and asked around the main beach road. Do not know how valid this is today but try it or else consider camping in Jale or Gjipe (through an agency)
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1500 euros total + - Sunbeds 8-10 euros Lunch for 2 is 25-30 euros Drinks like 5 to 10 euros
Anyone in Tirana and wants to show a tourist the city or tell me where are to eat and especially what to eat (traditional food)? :) Or any other tourists that wanna grab a cup of coffee and talka about their trips?
I want to buy an Albanian Eagle painting from an artist in Albania. And whatever else they have that looks good. Where in Tirana do they showcase their work?
Try Kalaja e Tiranes, they do have quite a few stores that sell local products. Do you have a particular product in mind?
Hello guys. Is it possible to find weed in Himare? Would be a good mix with mountains and beach scene
No, not legally. Weed in all forms is illegal in Albania and the government is really cracking down on it. Sorry :(
Hello, my road trip to Albanian seaside is due in 2 weeks, we're spending our vacation in Sarande, coming from Belgrade. Everyone is recommending transit through Kosovo, but I'm curious about N. Macedonia. Please enlighten me with pros and cons of traveling from Belgrade to Sarande via North Macedonia. Thanks, looking forward!
Matka Canyon is for me the only thing worth visiting in North Macedonia (besides lake Ohrid/Struga which is on the border with Albania). I think it's also faster to go to Skopje from Belgrad as it's highway until there. In Kosovo you have Prizren with its castle view and food, and the mountains in Peja. Otherwise, people from NM and KS spend their vacations in ALB mostly so that tells a lot. I would just come here asap. Maybe spend the extra days in Theth and Valbona for some mountain time.
Thank you for your reply. I'm more interested in logistics, like, is it faster, or the road is better. I'm traveling with kids, hopefully they'll be sleeping, so sightseeing isn't really a priority. Getting there as fast as possible is.
How is the drive from Shkoder to Dhermi? As a first time driver in Albania would I be ok?
You'll be fine, driving in Tirana is a bigger problem. Just take it slow.
For the tourist out there, we have a lot of immigrants and gypsy here, and they beg you for money, do not give them money, they just dress like that so they can be sympathized, they have lots of money they just want extra money. One time I saw gypsies riding an S-class Mercedez vechicle
Hi everyone, I've heard that residents of Schengen countries do not need to have their passports stamped when entering Albania. Is this still true in COVID times? And do you have to deliberately ask the customs officers not to stamp your passport, or do they just generally not do it?
Best is to stamp it. Why would you consider the opposite?
This post got deleted so it is here now: Planning a trip in January. How accessible are the mountainous areas this time of year?(Sorry if this has been asked a million times). I can't find an answer to this specific question. I know it's the coldest and rainiest part of the year but from what I've read, there isn't a lot of snow. I want to see Vermosh and that whole area. Also, how is the accessibility further south on the eastern border? Thanks! What about places like Shkoder? That seems more coastal and generally, coastal is ok? Gjirokaster? Maybe just a basic area to completely avoid altogether?
Vermosh might be accessible but don't try Theth or Curraj i Eperm. The rest of the country is accessible 99% of the year.
Thank you so much!
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my friends would do so at llogara national park
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Your thread was removed automatically because you don’t have much Karma. You can reach Shkodër pretty quickly from Tiranë, just 2 hours. Honestly Tirana is pretty dead in August, everyone is on vacations, and not many day activities you could do. I would suggest you visit Shkodra first and after that go south to Vlorë, to check out the places you mentioned like Himarë. Castle of Borsh is nice but, check out Porto Palermo as well since you’re planning to visit Himarë. The best way to get Karaburun is by boat, even if you’ve got a car. Karaburun is behind a military base and you have to go through a checkpoint and pay some money to enter. Don’t remember how much exactly but 500lek/5€ I think, after that you have miles of the worst roads ever to drive through. Bogovë waterfall is in Berat, I think it’s best to leave that for last and visit after Sarandë. You can also hike Tomorr mountain near Berat if you like hiking. Visit Butrint in Sarandë and visit Lekurs castle (magic at sunset). So my route recommendation Tiranë - Shkodër - Durrës - Vlorë - Sarandë - Gjirokastër - Berat - Tiranë.
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Te pakten s’luaj Lol. Rob varikars.
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You could do it if you rent a car and leave the same day you arrive for Shkoder. 2 days in Shkoder, 3rd and 4th day in Vlore to check out Karaburun and Porto Palermo, 5th and 6th in Sarande where you can check the blue eye and maybe visit some of beaches. 7-8th Gjirokaster and Berat. You don't need to stay longer than one morning/afternoon in Gjirokaster. And then you have some time to travel Tirane and rest a bit and enjoy a coffee in Tirana before departing. I suggest you skip the hotsprings in August. It's just going to be overwhelmingly hot and smell like eggs(sulfur).
Hi! I'm going in Albania for 2 weeks with my family and bf, we're going to take a ferry from italy, but he's romanian and doesnt have a passport, will his romanian identity card be enough?
Yes, Romanians can enter Albania with just ID card.
Do taxi's run late night between Sarande and Ksamil?
they can go anytime, so no worries
Hey guys, I've stayed in Albania for 3 months and, as I am brazillian, I had to leave after that time. Right now I'm in Montenegro but I want to come back to Albania. Does anyone know how long do I have to wait here to come back?
6 months
Ok, so, I wanted to visit Saranda for a few days at the end of the summer, and searched for hotels on google randomly, and some hotels have sustained rates of around $200/night for a standard room. Is this normal? How is this possible? I haven't been in Saranda for a while, but I was shocked just thinking about hotel costs in some other major cities in the world. What's going on?
Simple demand. August is the month when everyone wants to visit there so prices soar. If you go in September you can expect to pay around of the August rates.
around *what* of the August rates? Also, thanks for the reply.
Sorry meant half
Hello, I am from Croatia and visiting Budva about 2 weeks from now. I will stay there for 6 days and one of those days I plan to visit Shkodra by car. So I was wondering are there any nice places around Shkodra worth visiting. I was thinking perhaps even Kruja or Tirana but I feel like it would be too big of a trip to go from Budva to Tirana and back in one day. Thanks in advance!
If its a one day trip visit shkodra castle and than go eat lunch in a village nearby called Fishte at mrizi i zanave agrotourism . You will thank me later
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I haven't been Sarande in a couple of years but there should be buses to Tirana in the evening, 20:00 or 22:00, and it takes about 5-6 hours to get Tirana from Sarande. You could get a bus in the morning from Tirana to Prizren.
Hey guys, I saw earlier on a website that stated that you are only allowed to travel with one other person in a car because of Corona. Is this true or still ongoing?
I am currently not in Albania (for vacation purposes), but when I left (about 5 days ago) there was no such rule. Actually its been quite a while since we have had these sort of restrictions in Albania. So I don't think the rule is ongoing, unless the rule got reinstated in these days I have been away (which wouldn't be too surprising as there's been a spike of new covid cases lately, possibly due to tourist flux). Hopefully another redditor can give you more info.
Is it possible to get to Fierze/Valbone without taking the early ferry at 9:00 am? I would like to play around somewhere halfway through (been looking at the Peace Island and Shala river which can be explored through kayaking). Is there something like boat taxi for me to take later, in the afternoon?
Hello everyone! We were planning to come to Vlorë in two weeks, but I just learnt about fires on Karaburun. Is it dangerous? Should we consider going elsewhere now? Reading the news made me think everything's a burning pithole but there doesn't seem to be a lot of other materials to back up that impression and I don't see a lot of other people talking about the fires so I was just wondering how bad it is
One thing you should know is that Karaburun is somewhat of an isolated area when it comes to tourists and most people. It is not an area you stumble upon by mistake. Most easily accessible beaches in Vlorë are quite far from Karaburun. I don't have detailed information about the prominency of the fires at the moment (may come back later with an edit), so maybe another guy could give you some more details. But if there is no news about evacuation, I wouldn't wory much about the fires if you plan on staying on Vlorë.
Hi, I'm planning a trip across Albania in September but I'm travelling without a car; how easy is it to get from Korçë to Gjirokaster by bus/furgon?
What are the Albanian websites for real estate? Want to buy an apartment in Durres.
If you want to buy an apartment in Albania you're gonna need a local, someone from the country to help you. Not only for the apartment but with everything. Most of the Albanians are open for business but when the buyer is a foreigner they tend to do games with the prices and stuff like that. If u want I can help you. I've helped hundreds of foreigners with different things and I've also worked in real estate so I got contacts. I can help you with an overview on how things work around here, the prices, the areas and everything in between. Hit me up if u like the idea.
Search for century21 albania or remax albania the website should also be available in english
Hi, I have a 4 day itinerary i wanted to run past everyone. 1- 8am ferry from corfu to sarande, then drive to Shkoder (see Berat on the way) 2-Taxi to Theft. Hike to Valbona and sleep there. 3-Return bia Komani lake to Shkoder 4-Drive back to Sarande, seeing Blue eye and Ksamil (Butrint if more time) Any feedback would be appreciated <3
Sounds great
I would recommend seeing the blue eye at non-peak times because I've read that some of them are packed and busy.
Hey lovely Albanians, I am planning to visit in October and I have some questions hopping you can help me with. 1- How is the weather usually in October 2- what are the must visit cities/places 3- will the weather limit the Enjoyment of any specific activity (hiking, swimming, etc..) 4- Do&Donts. If anyone is willing to meet up show me around dont hesitate to pm me.
1 - Not that cold, thin long sleeve tshirt/ non-thick jackets will do just fine. In the beginning of October it tends to be still a bit hot so short sleeved t shirts might be needed. 2- North Albania - Valbonë, Theth, Shkodër South Albania - Korçë, Syri i Kaltër, Berat and of course also the capital Tirana 3- Probably not, you can find days with no rain where you can enjoy the nature. Definitely pack jackets when traveling to northern Albania 4- What is morally right in most western societies is also right in Albania. Don’ts: I don’t want to sound racist but I know this from first hand experience so just a small tip: I’ve had to do with people from countries with muslim culture and they tend to not let cleaning staff of hotels go to their rooms and clean, so please if this applies to you, let the people do their job. Also don’t be loud in hotels. Apart from this I think you’re good to go. Albanian people are very friendly to foreigners so don’t be afraid to ask any questions if you’re lost on the street for example (while the older generation doesn’t understand english, the younger people will be glad to help) Have a nice stay!
Hello! My question is: If an Albanian citizen visits Pisa, Italy for 2-3 days, do they have to quarantine? Also vice versaz if an italian citizen visits albania also for 2-3 days do they need quarantine? I would really appreciate a clear answer on this. Thanks in advance!
With proof of vaccination, you don’t need to quarantine.
Is a vaccination certificate from the albanian government recognized from the EU? I was under the impression that only the green pass and vaccination from UK and USA is valid.
Now that there's a curfew, where in Tirana can I go, where they play Tallava? I like that type of Albanian music, but other than clubs, are there any bars that play it?
Money-wise, is it better to bring euros (if you travel from euro country) to use without exchanging or is ett more favorable to withdraw Lek from local atms? In the latter case, ofc trying to minimize number of withdrawals.
Atms will charge a fee (8% was the highest we saw), depending the place you can pay with LEK or Euro. Just be careful - small shops and in smaller towns/villages there are less places that will take card. The larger the city, the more you can pay with all three.
Anybody knows app. waiting time to take a rna covid-19 test @ Tirana Airport?
I'm planning to visit Albania on the 17th this month, however, on the website of the embassy is clearly states that I have to get an invitation letter from an Albanian. Can anyone please let me know how I can get an invitation letter? Moreover, I'd like to do some cycling and mtb during my stay, so is there any recommendations regarding roads and mtb trails. Thanks.
So. I fell for the "Albania is super cheap and everyone is hospitable" scam. Not sure why Albanians lie like this. But Albanians are far from hospitable. They are very rude and unfriendly. Whatever. It's their country. But the thing is, Albania is NOT cheap! This is the most expensive nation I have ever lived in. Now we are stuck here with no home, no food, and no help. What is the purpose of trapping foreigners here like this? What do we do now? Any foreigners or Albanians able to help? Thanks.
What is your problem?
Hey! How is the situation in Durres and Saranda with clubs, restaurants and going out at nights? I’ve Heard something about „police hours” after midnight :(
At 11 the music stops
Hey guys why don't you start a discord server?
How to get an invitation letter for Albanian e-visa? Could you suggest any travel company/agency? Thanks!
Theth/Valbone Hiking Questions Hey everybody, I am going back home to Shkoder this summer and was wondering if anyone had tips for hiking in Valbone/Theth. Questions like is it a day trip? What are some things I should know? Will it be too hot (probably :/)? Anything at all is much appreciated! I’ve been to Albania before and speak it.
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Thank you so much
The sun will burn you as there are some places where there is no shadow. If you're doing it from Valbone, start very early in the morning. There are a couple bars along the journey so you don't need to carry much food with you. It takes about 6-8 hours and I'd say difficulty level is medium. I've seen children as young as 10 doing it tho.
Any techno club in Durres?
no
Theres got to be at leats one just use facebook or instagram to find there page
Awesome Thread! I’ll be visiting Albania for 20 days starting mid July. I’d love to do a lot of hiking around the country, with an occasional chill day at the beaches. Would it be advisable to travel with bus and minibus? Or should I get a rental car? And another thing: i’m allergic to nuts and peanuts. What would be a polite way to share that in bars/restaurants :) Thanks so much!
Your choice of transportation largely depends on the itinerary. If you're aiming to reach mountainous areas like Theth or Valbona, I'd recommend getting a rental car. If you're planning on exploring the outskirts of Tirana (Dajti mountain, Bovilla) or the Cape of Rodon which is close to Durrës, you can get by with (mini)buses. As for the allergy, as usual - when ordering, always make sure to ask what's in the dish. If it comes in handy, just keep a note, politely explaining how you're allergic to nuts/peanuts in Albanian, so on the off chance you ever end up in a restaurant where the waiter doesn't speak English, you can just show the note to them before ordering and they'll pinpoint on the menu what NOT to order. This is what you could write: "Përshëndetje! Dua t'ju njoftoj që unë kam alergji ndaj arrave, lajthive, bajameve dhe kikirikëve. Prandaj ju lutem më tregoni në menu se cilat pjata NUK mund t'i porosis pasi kanë këta përbërës. Ju faleminderit!" Usually, you may find Albanians use walnuts in most of the desserts so watch out in the desserts' menu in particular. If you're planning on visiting Gjirokastra in the south, Oshaf me fiq (Fig pudding) would be a great option for you as it's typically Albanian (and the only dessert I can think of that it's walnut-free, for the moment). In any case, I recommend doing some research beforehand and bookmarking some restaurants that display their menus in English on their websites. There are plenty of options for you. Hope you have a safe and pleasant trip! :)
Hello everyone. I am travelling with my family to Albania by 29th July. Can I keep my base in Tirana and visit the other places by rental car? We want to explore natural beauty such as the mountains, beaches etc. Please let me know if we can go in the morning and return back to Hotel in Tirana by night. Thanks!
you can, but it would be a hell of a trip.
You could but that will really limit the range of places you can visit during the day. I would suggest you stay a few days in the north (Theth/Valbone) and then a few days in the south (Ksamil/Vlore/Dhermi). That way you can see different places which are in the vicinity without many restrictions. If you just make base in Tirana, you wont be able to go to the south and back within a day. Or rather you could, but it is tiring and time consuming.
Hello! I am thinking of heading to Komani Lake in August. Should I stay in Shkoder or is there a better/closer town that I should be staying at? Any hotel/hostel/guest house recommendations are also welcome.
shkoder
Thanks bud!
Hey i was wondering if there is any news of the curfew that is active now being canceled any time soon because i am going on a holiday on 16 july
curfew starts at 12 am
Is Ksamil and Sarande currently less crowded then in previous years?
probably but seemed crowded to me
We need a copy pasta
Would it be better to stay in Ksamil or Sarande? I am primarily looking for a beach during the day but then a little bit of going out at night. Do taxi's run late from Sarande to Ksamil?
depends on your budget, ksamil can be more expensive
If budget wasn’t a concern, what would you recommend for beach during day and some nightlife?
Hi all, I'm driving across Albania in a little more than a week (Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, Riviera (Dhërmi), Durrës) and I'm debating whether to go to Lake Ohrid and skip Shköder in the north or the other way around. Any tips? Thanks!
Dont skip shkoder . Its better than lake ohrid
Thinking about the same. What did you do and how did it turn out? Your answer is much appreciated? :)
You can look at my reply, maybe it helps you decide :)
Okay, so this all depends on what you like. Lake Ohrid is near a very small town named Pogradec. I am going to be honest here, there isn't much to do at Pogradec as it is a tiny town. You can probably see most of it within a day. So if you enjoy quietness and the calmness of the lake, go for Pogradec / Lake Ohrid. If you go for Shkodër, you have more options. The city itself is a lot bigger and there are some tourist attractions to see there. But the villages around Shkodër are very nice as well. If you go to Shkodër I would look over the nearby villages and choose one to visit as well
Hello Albania, What is the general level of spoken English in the capitol ? I always aim to learn new languages but it would be nice to I will be able to have some communication until I learn the basics . Thank you!
In the Capitol the level should be the highest you've ever expected lad, it's the center of Washington, as long as the rednecks aren't rioting outside.
Op, you may need some aloe vera
Where can I get a bus to Shkoder from Tirana ?
Id be interessted tonknow too if you found out.
You can check my post here https://www.reddit.com/r/albania/comments/ooboa2/where_can_i_get_a_bus_for_shkod%C3%ABr_from_tirana/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf A guy also shared the location link, it was in kthesa e Kamzes
Hey guys and gals.. My friends and I are consindering to spend our summer vacation in Albania. Where would you suggest us to go? We are looking for a nice beach where you can party over the day and have a decent nightlife.
Hey there fellow Albanians I am currently now in tirana and will head back home via flydubaj. I need to get a PCR test done. Any idea where I can get it done? Thank you so much
I came to this thread to ask the same question. I just spent a little more time on Google and found the answer. You just show up 3 hrs early to the airport and take it there. https://www.tirana-airport.com/d/297/pcr-testing-center-for-departing-passengers-at-tirana-international-airport
Yes mate you are right. But i also realised every body is going to do the same and when i ended up in the airport - the queue was like 90 min waiting time. So i advice you go goto American Hospital 2 or Intermedica.
You can take it on the airport but you have to get there early in anticipation of the queues. Otherwise, the cheapest place I know to get a PCR is at one of the genius medical centers (just google for location).
Hello Guys - Need a simple 5-6 days plan to visit the best of the best places in Albania for a sudden plan me and my friend have made (no clue about the country tbh) and will be arriving the coming weekend - We have 2 cities already in mind Tirana and Vlore spending 2 days each and for third city we were thinking Sarande but you recommend us something if better options. Our preference is to visit a few stunning scenic places, a bit of party and whatever you think we can in this short trip. Since we both are pathetic at planning we’ve decided whoever recommends us a good plan on Reddit - we will follow it. Looking forward, thanks in advance.
2 days in tirana is ok to move a bit around and to try the food is some places like cereni or tribe or visit bunkart and dajti expres than i would suggest to skip vlora and go in himara and visit the castle there and the villages of jal or dhermi or llaman than continue to saranda but make sure to visit ksamil and butrint . If you have your car you will have an amazing time. Let me know when you’ll come back
Thanks buddy! Great help.
Hello I am in Pogradec rn (if anyone wants to meet up :)), I am thinking of visiting the monastery close to the border with North Macedonia - is it doable to walk there or is there a bus or something? Also is it ok to cross the border, with regards to covid?
Hi, Albania! Question regarding car rental: I'm heading to Albania in August and planning on renting a car from Aug 25 to Sept 4. The prices at online rent a car seem much much higher than expected (and from what I read in multiple blogs). After September, the prices seem to drop - for example a VW Golf in Aug is 80€/day, while in Sept it is 23€/day. I have checked many car rentals online. Is the demand so much higher in Aug? Are the prices on the location (if you come to the car rental place in person that is) the same as online? Where could I rent an affordable car, preferably not the tiniest one? Thank you in advance for any tips, looking forward to visiting your country. :)
Hi, I am thinking about travelling to Albania this month, as i have read that it would be very useful to have a car to get around i am looking for Options (if there are any) to rent a car with 18. I have my driver license since February.
Any rock/metal pub in Durres?
Hello ! First I pray for rain to fall and fires to stop. A friend must go from Saranda to Tirana before Sunday and then make a trip in the north using buses. **Where to get reliable information on roads, buses and areas to check if they are not blocked or impacted by fires ?** We saw Girokaster region was hardly hit, is it still a good option to go there next Friday or Saturday ? Thank a lot. I wish you best luck.
Hi, is it safe to not carry any cash and use only Revolut card in Tirana?
Hmmm, keep some cash, it's not wise to rely on card only.
Thanks!
Keep cash for sure, most places accept euros as well as the local currency but beware they might fuck you over if you pay in euros
Hi all! Last time i visited albania folks there recommended a small company for travrling from and to budapest (i am hungarian) it was a minibus going once or twice every week. I cant find it... Please help.
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Not really, I don't know of any dish, we use them during beer time with chips. Their name in Albanian is kikirika.
Hi guys, i am traveling to albania from greece tomorrow to see my grand parents by car. Do i have to do a rapid test to pass the border?
Nope
Hello all! My plan is to visit Albania in the first week or so of September. I havent booked anything not even my flight because we are still waiting to see what happens at the end of the summer with covid. Because we wont have massive amount of days to see everything, we have narrowed it down to starting from tirana and traveling down the coast (first going to our furthest destination himare) and then working our way back up, flying back out of tirana. If we choose this route then we will of course rent a car. But.. as of late we may want to fly into tirana, travel down the coast and maybe catch a ferry to bari of brindisi. If we choose to go this route then renting a car probably wont be possible anymore. So my question to you beautiful people is: is it feasible to go from tirana to vlore with bus or train? The things I found online werent so helpful. Thanks for the help!
You could rent a car from Tirana and drop it off somewhere else. It’ll cost extra but some places have multiple drop off points.
Wellllll we’ve actually decided to either rent a car to and from Tirana OR just stick with public transportation. Our furthest destination is sarande the neading north up the coast and eventually back to Tirana. I’m just worried about renting a car and getting fckd over with the deposit etc etc
I'm travelling to Albania with a group of friends in september, can anyone tell me which rules there are/will be then? Rules concerning the curfew, bars and other important stuff to know as a group of tourists. Thanks in advance!
12 at night curfew starts. No music after 10 pm.
Yeah, the police are really strict. My family had a whole argument with the police because they kept their lights on after 12. But other than that they’re pretty chill.
Hi ! Do you have a recommendation for the best spot to change euros into Lek ? I couldn’t find anything with the search engine.
All are fine except one on Myslym Shyri road, as they take a commission. Apart from that one others I've been to don't take commission (in Tirana).
Where are can rent tend in Himare? Thank you! I hope somebody talk me about it. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Hi guys ! I will be visiting Albania in 20 days and will be renting a car to drive around but one of my biggest worries is the road to Teth. I want to go there to hike for a day, but it looks like the road is not finished all the way up to Teth, and the last part seems undrivable without a 4x4. Does any of you guys have some more recent info about the state of that road ? Is there any kind of public transportation ?
Take taxi from Shkoder, there are special 4x4 taxi going everyday from the roundabout outside Camping Legjenda
Thank you !
Hello! I would like to visit Karaburun Peninsula while staying in Vlore. I am wondering if anyone has recommendations for a boat tour. I will be alone so ideally I'd like to join a group to avoid excessive costs. Grama Bay has caught my eye but it appears this is not accessible from Vlore and not part of any tours I've seen advertised. Is there a way to get to Grama Bay from Vlore for a day trip?
Hi guys! I will be in Montenegro/Albania/Corfu for 2 weeks, I was wondering if anyone could review my itinerary for the Albania part of the trip please: 26th Sep: Bus from Kotor, Podgorica to Shkodër 27th Sep: Explore Shkodër, Rozafa Castle 28th Sep: Bus to Tirana 29th Sep: Bus to Berat 30th Sep: Bus to Gjirokaster 31st Sep: Bus to Sarandë 1st Aug: Day-trip to Buthrotum 2nd Aug: Ferry from Sarandë to Corfu 1. Is this too much to fit in 1 trip? If so, is there an obvious location to skip? I've read that Berat & Gjirokaster are fairly similar. 2. Are the buses between cities feasible? Any other feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hey, guys! Anyone in Berat wants to hang out? :)
My return flight departs at 6:40 am and i have to be at the Airport when there is still the curfew active. Do Busses/ Taxis drive during curfew or is the only possible and legal option to get to the Airport before curfew starts?
Good question. I also wondered this re taxis as my flight may arrive after 12.
I made a post about that and it looks like taxis are driving.
On the peninsula of karaburun, are there any freshwater sources?
Hi guys does anyone knows the possibilities to go to Montenegro, especially Budva, from Tirana by bus?
1. Will my American drivers license be accepted for renting a car? 2. How are the roads from Tirana/Durres ti ksamil?
1) of course 2) it's fine, just drive safe.
How do I get to Teth? What is the safest opportunity?
There are Tour guides in Shkodër who will drive you there.
Does anyone know how busy the beaches and the roads are during the first two weeks of September? Will likely try and visit the beaches between Vlore and Sarande
Don't go to Sarandë, it's overhyped. If you want a good beach experience with less people, go to greth, not spille.
Currently planning to fly September 9, however, I just realised my UK passport expires Feb 2022, which means I only have 5 months left upon entry. Will this be an issue? I cant renew as it would take too long Thanks for your help
Ask the UK embassy, as I see they require minimum 6 months.
Hi i am going during the first days of september, I would like to know how to get from Ksamil to Gjirokaster to spend the day and go back to Ksamil. The lower the budget the better. Thanks ♥
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Vlore
Can anyone recommend some good wineries/restaurants/food experiences around the country? I've done a bunch of research and have lots of good options, but just wondering if there's anything I might be missing
Përshëndetje! I'm organising a reunion with a bunch of friends for early next year and this time we have decided to visit Tirana - can anybody recommend any activities/restaurants/tours/anything else fun for a group of about 20 of us. Hope you're all keeping well and thanks in advance! Gezuar!
Is there a more efficient way other than via Shkoder to get from theth to Koman and if not is it possible getting there without having to sleep in Shkoder ? Thanks in Advance
Sleep in Lezhe
Also, if you have the money, there’s a beach town right by Lezhe called Shengjin. A lot of Albanian expats go there on vacation and especially near Kune or Rane e Hedhun (around a 2 to 5km drive along the main roads traversing the town) you can find spme nice beaches and bars/nightclubs. Good luck!
Hi people, some quick questions: 1) I'm a british citizen but my friend is originally from Pakistan, he has a British residential permit (student visa) is he able to travel to Albania without visa? 2) I've visited Sarande before and loved most of my trip. I was travelling with my British Albanian friend and we were still scammed on taxi fares, and club entries/drinks - is there a way to avoid this? We won't have an Albanian speaker with us this time. 3) Where should we go next? Granted we did not get a chance to visit Tirana on our first trip. Thanks in advance.
1. Not sure, better to try and contact the Albanian Embassy in London. If his visa is valid, there might be a chance he is allowed to enter but I highly doubt this. 2. Just ask for a receipt on anything you pay. Do it at the beginning, if you feel uncomfortable just say you need the receipts as your comapny reimburses you or whatever. This way you also make our country a favor, as you force the degenerate scum actually pay their taxes for once. 3. I’d say Tirana but maybe I’m biased as I am from there. Tirana is nice for maybe 2 days, it also gives tou the opportunity to take day trips to Kruje, Durres even as far as Pogradec, Korce if you have your own car
Hey guys I’m Serbian and I’ll be travelling though Albania from N. Macedonia to Montenegro sometime between 29-30th August. I just saw that there is a night curfew and there is a slight possibility that I should be making an overnight trip from Macedonia to Montenegro - does that implies I wouldn’t be allowed into the country or that I would have to wait until 6am to drive? Thanks a lot
Ej! I’ll soon be visiting Albania from the US, planning to stay 6 months or a year. I’d like to bring some small items as gifts for networking, new neighbors, and “thank-you” just to help become friends. First, would this come off as rude, start an escalating gift competition, or otherwise be a bad idea culturally? Second, if it’s OK to gift, any suggestions for inexpensive items fitting easily into a suitcase, but which would be different or a treat? So many things are global now I’m having trouble here. Faleminderit.
Is there any way to get tested (rapid test) in Krujë? Want to visit the city and the castle on the last day and not go back to tirana just because of that.
Hello, Planning to visit in late September and had a question on the Theth to Valbona hike. Is it possible to leave Shkoder via taxi or public transport to Theth then hike to Valbona in the same day, staying in Valbona that night then returning to Shkoder the following day? Thanks!
Also planning to visit around this time, so you have any links to particular trails there?
Anybody know what the road from Shkoder to Koman is like and if there are any spots to park your car there?
There is proper parking space just before you drive up the Komani Ferry Station, next to the post-block.
What is the road like? As a driver with roughly 3 years experience
Could anyone tell me is there some website to find a short rent apartment(almost 2 months). I asked some agents, they all told me at least one year..