7-Day Albania Itinerary — Tirana, Berat, Riviera, Gjirokastër
The classic 7-day Albania itinerary — Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, Saranda, Ksamil, Albanian Riviera. Day-by-day plan with hotels, drive times and costs.
If you have a week in Albania, this is the route. It hits the country's 5 must-sees: Tirana's capital energy, Berat's Ottoman streets, Gjirokastër's stone city, Ksamil's Caribbean beaches and the dramatic Llogara Pass road.
It works in either direction, but we recommend Tirana → Berat → Gjirokastër → Riviera → back to Tirana.
Day 1 — Tirana
Morning: arrive at Tirana International Airport (TIA). Pick up rental car or take the airport bus.
Afternoon:
- Skanderbeg Square (the heart of Tirana)
- Et'hem Bey Mosque (iconic Ottoman painted interior)
- National History Museum
- The clock tower
Late afternoon: Bunk'Art 1 or Bunk'Art 2 — Cold War nuclear bunkers turned into Albania's most evocative museums.
Evening: dinner in Blloku district. Try Mullixhiu (modern Albanian) or Salt Restaurant.
Sleep: Tirana centre or Blloku. Hotel Theatre (€80), or any Airbnb in Blloku.
Day 2 — Tirana → Berat
Drive: 2h south.
Morning in Tirana:
- Coffee on Pazari i Ri (the new bazaar)
- Quick visit to Tirana's pyramid (renovated)
Drive south to Berat along the SH4. Stop in Apollonia ruins en route (1h detour worth it for archaeology fans).
Afternoon Berat:
- Berat Castle (still inhabited, 24h hours of life)
- Onufri Iconographic Museum inside the castle
- Walk down to Mangalemi quarter — the "city of a thousand windows"
Evening: dinner at Tradita Restaurant or Mangalemi Hotel restaurant.
Sleep: a stone Ottoman house in Mangalemi. Hotel Mangalemi (€60), Hotel Berat (€50).
Day 3 — Berat wine + Gjirokastër
Drive: 3h to Gjirokastër (with vineyard stop).
Morning Berat:
- Cobani Winery or Kantina Nurellari for tasting (€15–25, including some food)
- Stroll Gorica quarter (across the river from Mangalemi)
Afternoon drive to Gjirokastër via SH4 then SH75.
Late afternoon Gjirokastër:
- Walk up to Gjirokastër Castle (1km uphill from the bazaar)
- Visit the Cold War tunnel inside
- Wander the bazaar (artisan shops)
Evening: dinner at Taverna Kuka or Kujtimi (Skenduli house).
Sleep: stone Ottoman house. Stone City Hostel (€15–25 dorm/private), Hotel Kalemi (€60).
Day 4 — Gjirokastër → Saranda → Ksamil
Drive: 1h 30min.
Morning:
- Visit Skenduli or Zekate Ottoman house museums (10am–noon)
- Drive south through the Drino Valley
Detour: stop at Syri i Kaltër (Blue Eye) spring on the way — €2 entry, 15-min walk.
Afternoon: arrive Ksamil. Check into hotel. Spend the rest of the day on the beach.
Evening: dinner at Mussa or Lori's in Ksamil — fresh fish.
Sleep: Ksamil. Hotel Helios (€100+) or any of the boutique guesthouses.
Day 5 — Butrint + Saranda
Morning: drive 15 min to Butrint National Park (UNESCO). Allow 2.5h. Greek theatre, Roman baths, Venetian fortress, all walkable.
Afternoon: back to Ksamil for one more swim, or drive into Saranda for lunch on the promenade.
Late afternoon: drive (or taxi) up to Lëkurësi Castle for sunset over Saranda Bay. Eat dinner at the castle restaurant — book ahead.
Sleep: Saranda. Hotel Brilant Saranda (€80), or stay another night in Ksamil.
Day 6 — Albanian Riviera scenic drive
Drive: 2h to Himarë / Dhërmi.
This is the dramatic day. Drive north along the SH8.
Stops:
- Borsh beach — quick swim
- Porto Palermo Castle — Ali Pasha's 19th-century fortress on a tiny island
- Himarë — lunch
- Gjipe beach (optional 30-min hike from the road) — hidden cove
Late afternoon: arrive Dhërmi or stay in Himarë.
Evening: sunset and dinner. Havana Beach Bar in Dhërmi for the famous sunset.
Sleep: Dhërmi or Himarë.
Day 7 — Llogara Pass → Vlorë → Tirana
Drive: 4h to Tirana.
Morning: drive over Llogara Pass (1027m). Stop at the viewpoint for the dramatic photo. Continue to Vlorë.
Lunch in Vlorë along the Lungomare.
Afternoon: drive the SH4 north back to Tirana airport. Optional stop in Krujë (1h before Tirana) for the castle and bazaar — Skanderbeg's legendary stronghold.
Evening: fly home, or extend with a night in Tirana.
What it costs
| Style | 7-day total per person |
|---|---|
| Backpacker (hostels, furgons, beach taverna meals) | €350–500 |
| Mid-range (3-star hotels, sit-down meals, rental car shared) | €600–900 |
| Luxury (boutique stays, fine dining) | €1200+ |
Add €100–250 return flight from most European cities.
What you'll skip (and that's OK)
- Theth–Valbona hike — needs 3 extra days
- Shkodër + the north — 2 extra days
- Korçë + Pogradec (Lake Ohrid) — 2 extra days
- Apollonia in depth — 0.5 extra day
If you have 10 days, add Theth–Valbona. If 14 days, add the north and the Ohrid side.
Booking checklist
- Flight to Tirana (€80–250 from EU cities)
- Rental car at TIA airport (€25–45/day)
- Travel insurance (€1.50/day)
- Hotels in Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, Ksamil/Saranda, Dhërmi/Himarë
- Optional: Berat winery booking
- Optional: Lëkurësi Castle dinner booking
Compare hotels | Rent a car | Travel insurance
When to do this trip
- Best: late May, June, or September
- Avoid: late July to mid-August unless booked far ahead
- Off-season (Nov–March): doable but Riviera mostly closed
Plan it
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