1 Week SOUTHERN Albania Itinerary: Beaches & Ancient Cities

Unlike the mountainous region in the north of Albania, the south of Albania is home to the Albanian Riviera – a long stretch of coast lined with pristine beaches. In this 1 week southern Albania itinerary I’ll outline the best things to do from beaches to ancient cities.

Southern Albania is best seen in 2+ weeks – in my opinion – however 1 week in southern Albania allows for just enough time to see the highlights here.

This itinerary starts in Tirana, however many travellers enter Albania from Saranda via ferry from Corfu, Greece. Use this southern Albania itinerary as an outline for planning a route that works for you.

If you plan to venture out of the south, here’s my 1 week Northern Albania itinerary, my 2 week Albania itinerary, and my 1 month backpacker itinerary.

Skip ahead:

About Albania’s public transportation
Know before you go
Southern vs Northern Albania
1 week southern Albania itinerary

ALBANIA

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1 week southern Albania itinerary

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Albania Google Map – 200+ pins

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Outdoors: hiking trails, waterfalls, secret beaches & national parks
Places: ancient cities, beach towns & historical sites
Things to do: viewpoints, unique activities & tours
Planning: lodging, restaurants, bus stops & tedious details

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Quick Albania Travel Guide:

**Find my recommended Albania itineraries linked in the section below**

Travel Insurance: ALWAYS purchase reliable travel insurance before your trip. This insurance is trusted by backpackers and adventure sport enthusiasts around the world. You can also use my link to receive 5% off SafetyWing policies. Here’s a blog post with more trustworthy travel insurance options you can compare.

Best Time to Visit: May to September.

Best Activities: Looking for the best tours and activities around Albania? See my Viator shop for my top recommendations.

Currency: Albanian LEK (aka ALL). This is a closed currency so you’ll need to wait until you’re in Albania to withdraw/exchange money. Make sure you exchange any leftover money before you leave the country too. Credins ATMs don’t have a service charge.

Transportation: to enter the country you’ll find 1 international airport in Tirana, 1 port in Saranda (daily ferry arrivals/departures to Corfu, Greece), and a bus line from Montenegro. Buses are very cheap here, but unreliable and taxis are pricey in comparison. Driving is chaotic and there are no trains within the country.

Phone: purchase a local SIM card from Vodafone – the plans are cheap and they include lots of data, however international minutes are typically not available. Vodafone storefronts can be found in bigger cities (Tirana, Saranda, Shkoder, etc).

Language: Albanian, however you can get by with English. Google translate is recommended for smaller cities/villages.

Safety: I found Albania to be very safe. I and my fellow travellers had no trouble with theft and I felt comfortable walking around as a solo female at night. People are generally very welcoming here, but always keep your wits about you – no matter where you travel.

Helpful Info: don’t drink the tap water or bring a purifying bottle like this one. Most hostels/guesthouses/hotels have laundry facilities.

Purchase my Albania map which is downloadable to google maps on your phone. It has 200+ pinned locations around the country – all available at your fingertips.

Packing Guide: here’s my ultimate packing guide/travel essentials.

Albania is one of the last “undiscovered” countries in Europe. Plan your trip while prices & tourism levels are low!

Helpful Albania Blog Posts

Albania Itineraries: 1 week south | 1 week north | 2 weeks whole country | 1 month for backpackers

1 week southern Albania itinerary | 7 days in Albania

About Albania’s Public Transit System

Before we get into this 1 week southern Albania itinerary, I think it’s important to touch on how Albania’s public transit system works. There’s no passenger train in Albania and there’s only one international airport in Tirana. This may change in the semi-near future as Albania is gaining popularity fast as a travel destination.

The main methods of entry into Albania are flying into the Tirana International Airport, catching a ferry from Corfu (Greece) into Saranda, or taking a bus from Montenegro.

Once you’re in Albania the best way to get around is the bus. It’s the cheapest transport method too; less than 1€ for intracity routes and 6€ – 12€ for regional routes. The regional routes are typically operated via mini bus. There are taxis, however they can be pricey in comparison to the bus.

The bus system is Albania is a bit chaotic compared to what you may be used to if you’re visiting from North America or other parts of Europe. Schedules are only just starting to appear online/Google Maps (as of 2024) and the buses are frequently late. The drivers don’t speak English, however the locals are very friendly and will try their best to help get you where you need to go! Always check with your accommodation provider about the buses – don’t 100% rely on what you see online.

There are no bus transit hubs, but rather large parking lots with destination signs in the windows or weird pickups on the side of the road with minimal signage. It can be confusing, I won’t lie.

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Some tips to help you with the bus in Albania:

Driving can be fast and rough. If you experience motion sickness, bring peppermint oil or motion sickness pills – whatever works for you.
Talk to your hotel/hostel staff to find out when and where the bus routes run. I have important major bus stops marked in my Albania map which you can download here.
Bring extra water and food for the bus. You never know if the bus pickups/drop offs will be on time. Best to be prepared.
Buses don’t always have air conditioning and you may have to walk a distance to the bus stop. Travelling early in the morning will help you beat the heat.
Don’t rely on the last bus of the day. Ever. Just in case.

Know Before you Go

This is a classic “know before you go” segment. Like every country, Albania has a few weird and not-so-weird quirks. I’ve got a few of them listed above, however before you set off for your 1 week southern Albania trip – be aware of the following:

Don’t drink the tap water in Albania. Buy bottled water or purchase a filtered bottle before you go. I like this one.
It’s hard to buy stuff in Albania. Like, anything. My suitcase broke during my 1 month+ trip to Albania and I needed to buy a backpack. There was only 1 Intersport in Albania (in Tirana) that sold them, so I had to take multiple buses and spend a couple days travelling just to replace my poor suitcase. I recommend buying everything you need before your trip to Albania – don’t wait until you get there.
“Albania time” nearly drove my punctual self mad. Expect delays for everything; tours, buses, servers – Albanians don’t like to rush.
Xhiro is what Albanians call their evening walk. Evening is the most social time of day for the Albanians as temperatures are cooler. Make sure you get out for evening walks and experience the local culture.
Temperature mid-summer can be scorching. I personally think the best time to travel Albania is during spring (May/June) and fall (September).
There is garbage everywhere. Please don’t contribute to the mess by tossing yours on the ground too. Better yet, leave it better than you found it and help pick trash up along the way!
For the ladies – you may be asked constantly by local men if you’re married or if you want to go on dates. Be weary. I typically say yes to being married (even though I’m not) and always politely decline date offers to err on the side of caution.

1 week southern Albania itinerary for backpackers

Southern vs Northern Albania

south vs north albania - where should I travel? — Mountain views in the north of Albania

The south of Albania is where you’ll find the Albanian Riviera. The 476km coast of the Riviera lies along both the Adriatic and Ionian Sea which is lined with beaches; both sandy and rocky. Further inland you’ll find a couple ancient and stone cities, a few national parks, and plenty of places to indulge in delicious local foods.

The north of Albania is mountainous. We’re talking mountains with peaks soaring well above 2,000m. There are national parks here, waterfalls, and epic hiking trails. If you’re a hiker or love grandeur mountain scenery, the north is for you.

Here’s my 1 week Northern Albania itinerary.

Is 1 week in southern Albania enough time? No. In my opinion, at least.

In 1 week you can see Albania’s southern highlights, however you’ll be rushed and you’ll have to skip some destinations to ensure you can fit it all in. I travelled Albania for 1.5 months from top to bottom and felt that was a great amount of time. Obviously not everyone can travel that long, so I recommend spending at least 1.5-2 weeks in the south of Albania.

Here’s my 2 week Albania itinerary if you find yourself having a bit more time.

Albania Google Map – 200+ pins

Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Albania?

Then my Albania map is for you!

Get my 200+ recommendations all in one place for:

Outdoors: hiking trails, waterfalls, secret beaches & national parks
Places: ancient cities, beach towns & historical sites
Things to do: viewpoints, unique activities & tours
Planning: lodging, restaurants, bus stops & tedious details

DOWNLOAD ALBANIA MAP

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What to Wear & Packing for Albania

What to wear on a 1 week backpacking trip to southern Albania — Daily dress code to avoid the sun in Albania

Here’s my ultimate go-to packing guide/travel essentials

Depending on when you visit Albania, what you pack may vary slightly. Typically visitors flock to the mountains and beaches here during summer which is a HOT time of year. Light, flowy clothes are best. Leave the denim and hoodies at home.

The locals dress slightly more conservative, however as a tourist I felt comfortable wearing whatever I wanted – and I always dress to respect the local culture. Bikinis and crop tops to dresses and skirts, you’ll be fine no matter what you wear. The locals may stare the more revealing your clothing is, however they’ll stare regardless, it’s part of the culture.

I often wore long skirts, lightweight pants, and thin cardigans I could tie up around my waist. This was solely for sun protection as I’m not a fan of sunscreen. Keeping my sweaty skin off chair surfaces and whatnot was also nice.

Make sure you pack at least 2 bathing suits, a travel towel, a couple dresses or skirts, comfortable shorts and tanks/tees. I brought trail runners and Crocs for shoes, but sandals would work too. I won’t list recommended quantities of these things as depending on the activities you’re doing packing will be different. However what I will say is less is more. Laundry isn’t too hard to do in Albania and carrying around a massive, heavy backpack in the scorching heat is not ideal. Especially if you’re travelling Albania for a month+.

If you’re visiting Albania during spring/fall or are hiking in the mountainous northern areas, a pair of hiking pants and a light sweater could be useful. When I hiked the alps in summer it reached 35C at altitude though so this was not necessary for me.

I also recommend packing all your skincare products and toiletries before you arrive. I’m an all-natural product maker and user. I found only one shop in Tirana that sold high quality skincare oils and definitely would not have used the local products otherwise. Regretfully I can’t remember the name of the store to share for the other natural product users here.

best 1 week itinerary for the south of Albania

1 Week Southern Albania Itinerary

Now without further ado – the reason you’re all here. My 1 week southern Albania itinerary. For the best “user experience” you can download my Albania map which will give you a visual representation of everything mentioned in this post plus a quick way to reference the information when you’re on-the-go.

Due to the cheap prices, ease of last-minute travel planning (my favourite way to travel), and variety of landscapes and activities, I 100% recommend travelling southern Albania for 1 week – or more! Taking the extra time here will allow you to really grasp the local culture and experience everything in the south without having to rush.

This 1 week south Albania itinerary has a little mix of everything to suit every type of traveller – adventure, culture, history, and of course beaches. You can go about this itinerary in any order depending on where you enter Albania. Just know this 1 week southern Albania itinerary is jam packed – there’s not much time to lounge around!

Popular Albania Tours

From Berat: 4×4 tour: Mount Tomorr & Sotira Waterfall | Bogove Waterfall & Osumi Canyon | Osumi Canyon Rafting

From Permet: Benja Hot Springs & Lengarica Canyon | Horseback Riding | River Rafting

From Tirana: Gamti Mountain & Bovilla Lake Hiking Tour | Bike Tour | Traditional Cooking Class | Zipline

From Tirana or Shkoder: Day trip to the Blue Eye of Theth & Grunas Waterfall | Shala River Day Trip

From Vlora: Boat tour to Haxhi Ali Cave & Sazan Island – Karaburun | Snorkelling

From Saranda/Ksamil: Paddle boarding the Islands | Butrint, Ksamil, Blue Eye, Lekuresi Castle – 1 Day | Day Trip to Gjirokaster | Catamaran to Korez & Kokomo Beach

UNIQUE: Multi-day hiking tour: Peaks of the Balkans

You can find more Albania tours I recommend here

MORE UNIQUE ALBANIA TOURS

Day 1-2: Tirana – Berat

Day 1 of your 1 week in southern Albania is pretty much all about transportation. Assuming you’re arriving in Albania via air, I recommend catching a bus to the UNESCO city of Berat (aka the “City of a Thousand Windows”) as soon as you land. The regional bus station in Tirana is here.

Once in Berat you can explore the Gorica and Mangalem quarters of town to see the old stone buildings, visit the museums, churches, or the Lead Mosque. There’s also an informative free walking tour in the evening which ends at the Berat Castle. If you don’t have time for this on day 1, you can always check these things out the following day.

Day 2 in Berat is a tour to the Bogove Waterfall and the Osumi Canyon – one of my favourite adventures on this 1 week southern Albania itinerary! This tour spans an entire day and includes transportation, a riverside lunch, optional cliff jumping, polar plunging, and canyon swimming.

If you’re loving Berat, you can add a day to your 1 week southern Albania itinerary and do the 4×4 tour up Mount Tomorr (aka the “Holy Mountain”) to the Sotira Waterfall the following day.

More detailed information about the above recommendations can be found in my 2 Day Berat Guide.

Where to stay in Tirana

Backpackers: Trip’n’Hostel (party hostel) and Tirana Backpackers.
Mid-range hotels: There are too many to count! You can see them all here.
Guesthouses: NEO apartments and Home Sweet Home (with a full kitchen).
Luxury: Maritim Hotel Plaza Tirana, Arté Boutique Hotel, or the Rogner Hotel which is said to be one of the best hotels in Albania.

Where to stay in Berat

Backpackers: Berat Backpackers is the #1 place to stay as it offers tours to Osumi Canyon, a top notch included breakfast buffet, and a large/comfy lounge area. Their sister-hostel, Maya Hostel, is a great alternative. If both these are full, there’s always Hostel Mangalem.
Mid-range: Guesthouse Hava Baci offers a central location at a great price and free breakfast.
Luxury: Hotel Colombo is a 5 star hotel offering royal treatment to its guests.
Cultural Option: Hotel Mangalemi is situated in the stone city of Mangalem, Berat. Here you’re just steps away from the Berat Castle, museums, and restaurants.

1 week southern Albania itinerary

Day 3: Himara

In the morning of day 3 on this 1 week southern Albania itinerary, catch a bus to Himara and plan to relax on the beach for the day. Himara is a great place to unwind – it’s a quieter town along the Albanian Riviera where people go to chill. There’ll be multiple beaches within walking distance of your accommodations; Spile Beach, Potam Beach (my favourite), Prinos Beach, and Sfageio Beach.

If you’re looking for a bit more “action,” you can rent kayaks, explore the old town/castle, or wander over to the “secret” Gjiri Filikuri Beach.

If you’re liking the vibe in Himara, you can add an extra day or two here as there’s plenty to do in the area; longer kayak trips, scooter rentals, exploring nearby beaches, Llogora Pass, day trips to Porto Palermo, etc. I personally spent 1 week in Himara and never got bored.

More detailed information about the above activities can be found in my 3 Day Himara Guide.

Where to stay in Himara

Backpackers: Both the Himara Hostel and Sun Bakers offer cozy hostel environments. The Himara Hostel has great kayak rental prices.
Mid-range: Mema Hotel offers a central location at a cheaper rate.
Luxury: Sõnar en el mar (beach front), or the Sea View Hotel.

1 week southern Albania itinerary

Day 4-5: Saranda, Ksamil, and Gjirokaster

How to spend 1 week in southern Albania — Views from Lekuresi Castle

Next up is Saranda. Take a bus here from Himara in the morning and plan to spend 2 nights – this is the longest you’ll stay in one location for the duration of this 1 week southern Albania itinerary. In my experience the bus to Saranda from Himara was not on time, so try to get out fairly early in the morning. Alternatively if you’re coming from Greece, Saranda will be your target as your main point of entry to Albania – aka where this 1 week southern Albania itinerary begins.

As soon as you arrive I recommend dropping your bags and taking the bus down to Butrint National Park to see the old ruins, then continuing on to Ksamil to chill at the beach. This is a loud, “party” style beach with music and a million people. Not usually my style, personally, however the beach here is sandy unlike Albania’s mostly rocky beaches. And the water is a beautiful bright blue. It’s definitely worth a visit. When you return go for dinner and a wander down the main drag “Hasan Tahsini Boulevard.”

On day 2 I’m recommending you take a guided tour which is not something I typically recommend. However in order to fit Albania’s highlights in this 1 week southern Albania itinerary, this tour is necessary.

This guided tour encompasses a visit to the famous Blue Eye of Saranda, a quick stop at the Monastery of Saint Nicholas, a break in Gjirokaster (Albania’s “Stone City”) to explore the Bazaar, and the Lekuresi Castle. These are all stops I would NOT recommend missing. Especially the Blue Eye and Gjirokaster.

Here’s my 2 day Saranda itinerary

Here’s my 2 Day Gjirokaster itinerary

Optional activities in Saranda/Gjirokaster to add to your 1 week southern Albania itinerary:

Saranda is the best spot in Albania for clubbing. Orange is a popular club here
Hike to the Ali Pasha Bridge in Gjirokaster (need more time than the day trip linked above allows for)

Where to stay in Saranda

Backpackers: Saranda Backpackers is the top choice. Alternatively there’s the Wallaby Hostel and the Hasta La Vista Hostel. The Wallaby seems to attracts a younger crowd than Hosta La Vista.
Mid-range: Hotel Kanes and Hotel Real both offer good prices in central locations.
Luxury: Hotel Butrinti and the Bouganville Bay Hotel both offer a 5 star experience.
if you’re hoping to spend a night in Ksamil, these are the best options: Colosseum Hotel (luxury), Villa Oden (budget), and Hotel Divo Palace (mid-range) – all with close beach access.

1 week south albania itinerary

Albania Google Map – 200+ pins

Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Albania?

Then my Albania map is for you!

Get my 200+ recommendations all in one place for:

Outdoors: hiking trails, waterfalls, secret beaches & national parks
Places: ancient cities, beach towns & historical sites
Things to do: viewpoints, unique activities & tours
Planning: lodging, restaurants, bus stops & tedious details

DOWNLOAD ALBANIA MAP

see what other travellers are saying about my map

Day 6-7: Permet

Permet is one of Albania’s “hidden gems.” It’s slowly becoming discovered and won’t be a secret for much longer though. Permet is a hotspot for adventure. Think horseback riding, hot springs, and canyons. The bus to Permet doesn’t run very frequently, so plan to take the bus here from Saranda early in the morning on day 6 of this 1 week southern Albania itinerary.

As soon as you arrive make your way over to the Benja Hot Springs. At the time the only decent way I could find here was hitchhiking, however there are bike rental shops in town, or you could take a tour which is the safest option. When you arrive take a dip, then hike through Lengarica Canyon which is located just under the bridge next to the springs. I spent hours wandering through the canyon – it was one of my favourite spots in the whole country. When you return to town walk up the Big Rock, then grab a traditional dinner from Trifilia or Bar Restorant Sofra Permetare. Glicko (candied fruit) is the traditional dessert here.

On day 2 you can go horseback riding through the mountains. I had an amazing time on this tour and would highly recommend it. The tour lasted just over half a day. We rode up mountains and did a few small river crossings. It was epic. I’d recommend staying in Permet a second night as buses out are limited in the afternoon.

Here’s my 2 day Permet itinerary

Optional activities in Permet to add to your 1 week southern Albania itinerary:

Whitewater rafting through the Vjosa River

Where to stay in Permet

My #1 recommendation is to stay at the Funky Guesthouse in Permet. They serve complimentary breakfast and curate local adventure tours for you. Alternatively, I stayed at Eljo’s House which is run by the sweetest local family. Great accommodations at a great price.

There’s also the RAMIS Hotel if you’re looking for a traditional hotel option.

1 week south albania itinerary

Return to Tirana

Chances are you won’t be able to make it back to Tirana on day 7 after exploring Permet. I know this is “supposed to be” a 7 day southern Albania itinerary, but I’m going to add one more day here for travel purposes.

Here’s my guide to Tirana which outlines activity suggestions and must-see attractions in the city. I recommend returning to Tirana on the first bus the following morning after Permet and spending the day exploring here. The buses aren’t always 100% reliable in Albania so it’s best to arrive 1 day prior to your departure flight just in case.

I hope you enjoy this 1 week southern Albania itinerary. Here are a few more Albania itineraries to help you plan your trip: