35 Unique Things to Do in Albania I’ve Actually Experienced 2026

I have been in love with Albania since 2017!  It’s a destination that challenges your perceptions and stereotypes and allows you to relax in absolute paradise. 

There are so many things to do in Albania that I could make a list of thousands of things but for now, you will have to settle for 35 of them!

Many adventures in Albania happen spontaneously, as visitors arrive and fall in love with the scenery, the culture, the people and the hidden gems.

There are so many ways to discover Albania, with plenty of well-known and more obscure Albania experiences available.

Some come to find the weird things to do in Tirana, Albania’s capital. Others are just looking for the cool things to do in Albania, or to enjoy some hiking as part of their Albania bucket list.

Whatever your preference, it’s all part of the Albania experience!

If you do want my comprehensive list of things to do, you’ll have to get my map 😉

I highly urge you to take a trip to Albania at least once in your lifetime to experience all that Albania has to offer. 

If you’re asking yourself ‘What is there to do in Albania’, then here’s your big list of what to do in Albania!

1. Visit the other beaches in Ksamil

Ksamil is the most popular beach destination in all of Albania. 

It’s located in the south of Albania, only a 20-30-minute drive from the seaside city of Saranda.

Tourists flocks here in the month between July and August but I urge you to take a trip in the spring or autumn. 

It’s a lot more beautiful in those times and it’s good to support the businesses in the low season.

Ksamil is popular for a good reason though. It’s extremely beautiful and mirrors paradise. There is more to Ksamil than the main beaches. 

Just north of Ksamil are two beaches which you should stop off at Mirror Beach (pictured above) and Pulebardhe beach. Both are incredible!

Visiting them is one of the best things to do in south Albania.

2. See the blue eye

Also located not far from Saranda is one of the best things in Albania: a natural phenomenon that leaves scientists to this day baffled.

Blue Eye is a natural spring that is over 50 meters deep, except they have no idea how far down it goes and where the spring starts. 

Divers have checked out the blue eye and could only go down 50 meters before having to go back up again. 

This is a protected site so you shouldn’t go in the water, although a lot of people do.

Visiting Blue Eye is a must do in Albania.

However, I urge you to listen to the rules so we can protect natural landmarks like this one!

3. Eat seafood in Sarandë

Don’t worry, foodies, there are plenty of Albania activities involving food, like dining in Sarandë!

Being a seaside city means there should be good seafood, right? Hell yeah! 

In fact, before moving to Saranda I never ate seafood but now I can say I have tried every seafood there is. 

I highly recommend Fishland which is right next to the fishing docks. The restaurants on this side of the city get the seafood first hence it being so damn good.

You can also go to the docks at sunset and buy seafood from the fisherman there. It’s fresh and delicious.

Restaurants in the city that also have great seafood are Haxhi, Taverna Kapitani, Demi, Paradise and Fish Filipi.

One of my favourite things to do in the south of Albania is to take one of the boat tours from the city, to the more secluded beaches of Krorez and Kakome.

👉 I recommend this tour here.

You can also hike to the beaches which have to be one of the best things I’ve ever done in Saranda! 

5. Visit Shkoder – The cultural capital of Albania

Located right in the north of Albania is the city of Shkoder.

It’s known for being one of the oldest cities. The hiking nearby is some of the best in the world! 

The lake nearby is the largest lake in southern Europe. If you love nature and then I highly recommend basing yourself here. Exploring Shkoder is one of the best things to do in north Albania!

🛌🏼 Click to check out the best accommodation in Shkoder here

6. Try raki

With all the stuff to do in Albania, you’ll need to take a break and grab a drink, and you haven’t really experienced the Albanian culture until you try a glass of raki.

It’s the local moonshine that nearly every family in Albania makes themselves. Beware: it’s strong. It can sometimes reach up to 60%! 

You can get a small glass of Albanian raki in a café for the price of an expresso (50lek, 37 euro cents) and make sure you never shot it.

Although the taste is very overwhelming, you will probably want to traditionally it is sipped.

When in a café, if you order another raki, the waiter will always bring it in the new glass but pour the raki into the glass you were using previously.

This is because they believe that if you drink the raki out of a new glass then it means you will have a new relationship (meaning breaking up with your current).

7. Eat a meat grill plate

Along with a raki make sure you order a meat plate. Albanian food is simple but delicious. Everything is fresh and not filled with those icky perspectives. This also means that the meat is top-notch! 

My favourite restaurant in Saranda is Laberia. 

The chef is the master of a meat plate. I also recommend his pork pancetta, it’s delicious.

8. Experience Albanian nightlife

My first experience of an Albanian nightclub was not what I expected, I didn’t really have any idea what to expect actually. If you compare it to nightlife in the UK or USA, then it’s totally tame. 

The locals usually just stand around drinking at tables rather than dancing erratically and questionable (like me). This means when you go, expect to be stared at.

From personal experience, you get used to it and learn not to give a damn. Despite the more relaxed night-out attitude, the bars are still some of the most cool places in Albania!

9. Hitchhike at least once

Despite Albania having all these stereotypes, it’s a safe country – safer than most other European countries in fact.

Hitchhiking is one of the most popular ways to get around. You will see locals do it as well.

The best thing? You usually don’t have to wait for more than 10 minutes to get a ride somewhere.

Albanians are extremely friendly, and they love to talk to tourists, even if they cannot speak English you somehow manage to communicate. 

I used to hitchhike to the clubs in Saranda in 2017, always a lot of fun!

🧳 MUST-HAVE: Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have travel insurance. My #1 recommendation is SafetyWing! Me and thousands of other travellers use it to stay safe on the road. Click here to check it out.

10. Wine tasting in Berat

Believe it or not, Albania has some great wine. It’s one of the hidden gems of Albania. There are 3 wineries in the town of Berat which you must check out.

At Cabo, you can order a tasting platter of wine and you also get some cheeses all for a very reasonable price.

11. Visit the UNESCO town of Berat

Berat is also called the town of one thousand windows. The Ottoman-style houses in the old town are spectacular. Berat is a small place but a very quaint one at that.

There are great restaurants and lots of things to see in Berat. For fewer tourists and very pleasant weather, consider visiting here if you’re looking for things to do in Albania in April.

Where to Stay in Berat

📌 If you are looking for a traditional homestay, I highly recommend staying at Guest House Panorama. The view is incredible as well as the service and the breakfast in the morning!

📌 If you’re a backpacker, make sure you go stay at Hanna’s Hostel. It’s the best hostel in Berat!

12. Visit the UNESCO town of Gjirokastër

Gjirokastër is a beautiful little place and a UNESCO site. Visiting this town is one of the best things to do in Albania in summer. It’s one of the hidden gems Albania has to offer!

You could spend at least a couple of hours walking around the castle exploring the tunnels (one of the best Albania secret places!), seeing the weapons and getting the best views of the city.

If you can make sure you stop over at least a few nights in Gjirokastër. I love the old town, cobbled streets and the friendly people. 

Where to stay in Gjirokastër

📌 If you’re looking for a great accommodation option, I recommend Boutique Hotel Musée or Hotel Bebej Tradicional – both are traditional houses that are highly recommended if you want to have a traditional Albanian experience.

📌 If you are wanting more of a hotel vibe, then take a look at Kerculla Resort. This is one of the best accommodation options in Gjirokastër, equipped with a view over the city and an outdoor pool!

📌 I can recommend staying at Stone City Hostel if you’re looking for a good backpackers. The hostel is beautiful! 

13. Visit Butrint National Park

This UNESCO site shouldn’t be missed on your travels to Albania. Butrint is an archaeological site dating back to the prehistoric ages.

The site was home to a Greek colony, a Roman city and a bishopric. It’s well worth a look and is surprisingly in good condition. 

Whilst you’re in the capital and wondering the best things to do in Tirana, make sure you visit both Bunk Arts.

Bunk Art 1 is located just outside of the city and gives you an insight into what communism was like for the Albanians.

Not only that but you get to look inside Enver Hoxha’s luxury bunker. Obviously, it was never used, but still interesting nevertheless!

Bunk Art 2 was home to the bunkers made for internal affairs. Exploring it is one of the most unusual things to do in Tirana.

Both are super interesting and give you a real look into the dark times of communism. These are by far the best museums to visit in Albania.

15. Take part in an Xhiro

Every night in most locations you may notice around sunset time a lot of people walking the main boulevards and streets, this is called Xhiro.

It’s the best time of day to catch up with your friends and neighbours

Many towns shut off the roads for the pedestrians too. It’s an Albanian tradition!

16. Drive the coastal route from Saranda to Vlore

This coastal drive is highly recommended by me! You will be blown away by the scenery and trust me, you will want to stop a least one million times to take pictures.

This drive has got to be in the top 3 I have ever experienced. 

Just be careful, as driving in Albania is super hectic. Read my guide on the Albania Riviera to see where I recommend stopping on the way!

17. Visit the waterfalls in Bugove

Not far from Berat is one of the most beautiful waterfall trips you shouldn’t miss out on. Click for tour companies that do daily trips to the waterfall and other interesting sites along the way.

It’s a great way to see the Albanian countryside and see something unique.

18. See Saranda from above at the castle

Okay, the castle isn’t that impressive but trust me, the view is. For me, it’s the most impressive view of Saranda.

You also get a panoramic view all the way to Ksamil and then towards the mountains too – it’s one of the best things to see in Albania! 

Prepare your camera because you will get some epic shots. There’s a restaurant at the top so you can enjoy the view with some food or raki.

If you’re wondering what to see in Albania, a Saranda sunset should be on your list!

19. Eat pizza until you can’t anymore!

This is definitely one of the most fun activities in Albania, because Albanians are amazing at making pizza!

I’ve had some of the best pizza in my life here. A lot of Albanians have worked in Italy and brought back the skills to make the perfect pizza.

20. Take a hike in the mountains

Wondering what to do in north Albania? I recommend enjoying a hike through the beautiful Albanian outdoors!

Albania has some extremely beautiful hikes, especially in the north. One of the most popular and beautiful hikes is from Theth to Valbona.

The best way is to base yourself in the northern city of Shkoder and plan your adventure from there. Just make sure you have some good hiking shoes!

There are a lot of fabulous hikes & Tirana day trips you have to check out if you’re only checking out the capital during your holiday. So many hidden gems in Albania!

21. Spend a few hours exploring Gjirokastër castle

Gjirokastër Castle was one of my favourites in Albania. You are simply given free rein to the castle. You can climb on the tanks, go through the underground tunnels and climb just about anything you see. 

I would highly recommend coming here late afternoon and watching the sunset over the city and mountains. You get the most amazing panoramic view of the city.

22. Paragliding from the Llogara National Park

If paragliding through the sky is on your bucket list, Albania has got you covered, because one of the most exciting activities in Albania is paragliding in the Llogara national park.

It’s not the first thing to do in Albania that people think of, but it sure is fun!

The national park itself is beautiful and the drive will blow you away. So if you’re wondering what to do in Albania in summer, take it one step further and see it from the sky!

23. Learn some of the language!

So, what language do they speak in Albania? Well, the Albanian language is called Shqip and it’s one of the only languages in the world that has no relation to any other language!

From an English speaker, trying to learn Albanian is a challenge.

Many words have no translation at all. In fact, when I have asked people to translate something they say it’s just a feeling and cannot be translated. I guess I will never know what they said!

I really love the language and regularly refer it to a ‘badass’ language.

24. Spend the night on a beach

Some of Albania’s hidden gems are the many beautiful hidden beaches along the Albanian Riviera, which I highly recommend you take advantage of and camp out for a night!

Beaches are perfect hidden places in Albania for camping; it’s a popular thing to do in the summer as the nights are not so cold.

It can get to over 40 degrees in Albania in the summer, so beach camping is sometimes essential to escape the heat of your home!

One of the best camping spots is Gjipe beach.

25. Visit the raki bar in Tirana

Komiteti is my favourite bar in Tirana mainly because they serve an abundance of different flavoured raki! From blueberry to honey, there are lots to try.

Drinking here is one of the most unique things to do in Tirana!

If you don’t like the taste of a regular Albanian raki then you might prefer some of the ones here that have been flavoured to taste sweet or savoury.

If you’re not a raki drinker, you should still come to hang here as it’s a unique bar filled with ancient knick-knacks!

26. Drink Korca in Korca

Korca (the beer) is produced in Korca so it only seems fair to try it while you’re there right?! You can drink beer for a pittance here.

Not only that but Korca is a nice little place to explore. There is also some good hiking nearby.

Where to stay in Korca

📌 Two accommodation options that I highly recommend staying at are Hani i Pazarit Boutique Hotel and Vila Eden Boutique Hotel.

27. Look at the open-air museum in Tirana

It’s not exactly one of the hidden spots in Tirana, nor is it the most impressive open-air museum, but I think it is worth a look!

In the small park, there are remains of the Berlin wall, a bunker and remains for a labour camp that was used during communism. 

If you want some more information about what to do in Tirana – including some of the actual secret places in Tirana.

28. Look in a bunker

It might seem like one of the more crazy things to do in Albania, but bunker tourism should not be overlooked!

During communism, there were over 600,000 bunkers built here, and for no reason at all. They were never used.

Albania was a peaceful country. Most have been destroyed or are crumbling but some have been turned into hotels and even tattoo parlours! (But don’t ask me about tattoo prices in Albania!)

During your travels you will come across many bunkers I’m sure! Make sure you look inside. The bunkers are the real landmarks of Albania.

29. Visit the paradise of Lukova

Just north of Saranda, there are some amazing beaches which include Lukove and Kakome.

You will find the best local beaches to hang out in with crystal clear waters and not too many people – and it’s one of the best activities to do in Albania!

30. Stay in the old part of Himare in the mountains

Himare is a sleepy coastal town famous for its beautiful beaches and relaxed vibe.

I highly recommend staying up in the hills, next to the castle to wake up to the most magnificent view of Himare and the coast, it’s super beautiful!

Where to Stay in Himare

📌 If you’re looking for a good property to stay in, I would recommend Mana Vita or Himara Hostel if you’re a backpacker! 

31. Visit the monastery of the 40 saints in Saranda

This monastery was built in the 6^th century and has a fascinating and sad history. The legend goes that the monastery was named after the 40 saints who were jailed here.

The soldiers were being forced to change their religion however, they refused so they were tortured and left to die in the monastery. 

I recommend spending a few hours here taking in all the site has to offer as well as the amazing views from the top. This is one of the best things to do in Albania in my opinion!

32. Drink expresso with the locals

Drinking coffee is an important part of the culture here, and a fun fact you’ll learn when visiting Albania.

All-day long you will see the locals having their daily coffee/s.

It’s extremely affordable as well. An expresso can cost 50-70 lek.

33. Go to the second-hand markets in Tirana

The second-hand markets all over Albania are amazing. If you’re a lover of second-hand clothes, then you will be in heaven here! 

The second-hand markets in Tirana are the best. So many options and very cheap. There are lots of different markets scattered around the city, my favourite one is by the old train station.  

34. Get a tattoo

During my time in Albania, I have managed to gather 5 tattoos. My small tattoos have cost a total of 2000 lek each. 

Looking for fun things to do in Albania? There is a guy who does tattoos out of a bunker in Shkoder! 

Just stay at the Wanderer’s hostel and ask one of the staff how to get there.

35. Visit Old Qeparo

If you’re visiting Albania for the first time, I hope that this list will be a helpful guide to finding your way around.

These are just some of my favourite places and ideas on what to do in Albania for any type of traveller, so there’s something here for everyone!

Have fun exploring this beautiful country – I can’t wait to see all the amazing photos from your trip!

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