Mountain

The magnificent mountains forming the border with Montenegro are called Prokletije, but are popularly known as the Albanian Alps. [btn "Book a hotel in Albania at a discount" https://www.booking.com/country/al.html?label=p-albanie-alpy&aid=2380460] Prokletije has several parts, the most famous of which is the Thethi National Park or the picturesque Valbonë Valley. The Albanian Alps have a surprisingly good network of marked hiking trails just…

Castle, Tourist town

Krujë was the centre of resistance during the 15th century Turkish campaign led by the national hero Skanderbeg. It is still one of the most important historical sites in Albania and one of the most visited tourist destinations after the coastal resorts and Tirana. [btn "Find hotel prices in Albania" https://www.booking.com/country/al.html?label=p-albanie-kruje&aid=2380460] Krujë Castle The dominant feature of the city is the Krujë Castle and…

A pleasantly lively capital city. The Skanderbeg Square with the National History Museum decorated with a huge socialist fresco, the pyramid designed by Hodge's daughter and son-in-law to serve as the Hodge Museum, and the vast city park are all worth a visit. The city's "Blok" district, which under communism was reserved for the families of the party elite and inaccessible to ordinary Albanians, is now a centre of nightlife with a large number…

On the strip of coastline between the Llogara saddle and the town of Sarandë, you'll find Albania's most beautiful beaches (and plenty of bunkers, too). We recommend, for example, the easily accessible Palasa beach or the slightly more secluded Gjipe beach, hidden in the mouth of the canyon of the same name.

The most visited historical site in Albania, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins of the ancient city, first mentioned in the 6th century BC, include buildings from the periods of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as Byzantine and Venetian buildings. Admission is 500 all (although officially it should be 700 all). Nearby is the town of Ksamili with its beautiful, if rather crowded, beaches in summer.

The hometown of Enver Hoxha and the most famous Albanian writer Ismail Kadare is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its traditional architecture. In addition to the steep streets lined with traditional 19th-century houses, the local castle (admission is 200 all) is also worth a visit. Inside the castle, you'll find a gallery lined with WWII cannons, an interesting model of a Fiat L6/40 tank, and a fighter jet shot down in 1957 on display in…

Near the main road from Gjirokastër to Sarandë, there is an interesting underground spring that rises more than 45 metres below the surface into a circular pool, which resembles an eye in colour. In the past, the whole area was off-limits to Albanians - it was reserved for the party elite who fished here. Admission 100 all per car, 50 all per person.

One of Albania's oldest and most beautiful towns, with a vast citadel above the town (entrance fee 100 all), which houses a still inhabited town with many narrow streets and several still-preserved churches and mosques. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Natural thermal springs can be found near the town of Përmeti. There is also a 19th-century Turkish arched bridge. Apart from the main pool on the other side of the bridge, other smaller natural pools can be reached by going further into Langarica Canyon. The springs are located a few kilometres from the turn-off from the main road connecting Përmetis with the Greek border and the town of Korçë (turn-off before the village of Petran - Rruga e…

The Albanian side of Lake Ohrid is less built up, but there are plenty of hotels and restaurants. The best places to swim are in the town of Lin.

The cruise on Lake Komani, surrounded by steep cliffs, is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world. If you don't have a car, the lake can be reached by minibuses from Skadar. In the Valbonë area you can also go on several short treks or walk across the Valbonë saddle to Thethi.