Albania is still one of those places that many travelers hear little about before arriving. That makes it all the more rewarding once you’re here. Between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas, with high mountains, historic towns, and villages where traditions remain intact, it is a country that changes landscape every few hours. The best way to capture all of this variety is with a car. Distances are short, but the routes are full of views, turns, and surprises that invite you to stop again and again.
Tirana – where the journey begins
Most trips start in Tirana. The capital is a city of contrasts, where grand new buildings stand beside relics of the communist period, and every corner has a café filled with people. Skanderbeg Square is at the center, surrounded by museums, while just a few streets away Blloku shows another side of the city — lively, colorful, and filled with restaurants, cocktail bars, and boutiques.
If you plan to leave the capital and explore the country, Renting a car in Albania makes everything easier. It means you don’t have to follow the limits of bus schedules or guided tours. One morning you could be in the middle of the city, and by afternoon you might be looking at the Adriatic coastline or climbing into mountain valleys.
The southern coast – Albania’s Riviera
One of the most remarkable drives in Albania begins south of Vlora, where the road climbs the Llogara Pass. Pines cover the mountain slopes, and at the top, the entire coastline spreads out below in shades of blue. From there, the road descends into the Albanian Riviera, a sequence of beaches, cliffs, and villages.
Dhermi is one of the better-known spots, with long stretches of beach and lively nightlife in summer. Himara offers a more relaxed charm, with taverns right on the waterfront. Qeparo, divided between its hilltop old village and the newer settlement by the sea, shows both traditional life and quiet coastal beauty.
Saranda is the main city in the far south, busy in high season but a good base to reach Ksamil, famous for its white sand and shallow, turquoise lagoons. Not far away, Butrint offers a completely different attraction: ancient ruins surrounded by forest and water, with remains from Greek, Roman, and Byzantine times.
Towns of history and stone
Driving inland adds another layer of discovery. Berat, known as the “City of a Thousand Windows,” is spread along the Osum River, with white Ottoman houses built one above the other. Its fortress is still lived in today, with families who keep gardens and small chapels inside its walls.
Gjirokastër, farther south, is a city of stone. Its houses are built with gray roofs and wide windows, lining steep cobbled streets that climb toward the castle. The view from the top takes in the Drino valley and mountains in the distance. Both towns are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and both can be visited easily if you have your own car, making them ideal stops between the coast and the interior.
Toward the north and the Albanian Alps
The northern part of the country feels different again. Shkodra, the gateway to the mountains, is a lively city with bicycles on every street and a castle that looks down on rivers and lake. From here, the road winds into the Albanian Alps.
Theth is a village surrounded by peaks, with trails that lead to waterfalls, natural pools, and the small stone church that has become a symbol of the valley. Across the mountains, Valbona offers another valley of dramatic cliffs and forests. Many hikers cross from one to the other in a two-day trek, but simply driving into these valleys is enough to feel the power of the landscape. The roads are not always smooth, but every curve reveals a view that makes you stop and take a photograph.
The small encounters on the road
Traveling by car in Albania also means encountering the country in everyday moments. Farmers selling honey or cherries by the roadside, children waving as you pass through a village, or a café terrace where you sit down for a coffee and end up talking with locals.
Food is another pleasure along the way. On the coast, the fish and seafood are fresh and simply grilled. Inland, lamb, goat cheese, and homemade yogurt appear everywhere. Small taverns often serve dishes prepared with ingredients from their own garden. These are the kinds of places you only find when you’re free to stop along the road.
Practical notes
Tirana International Airport is the main entry point to the country. For travelers who want to begin their journey straight away, it is convenient to Find a car close to Tirana airport. That way you avoid transfers and can decide immediately whether to head south to the sea, north to the mountains, or first explore the capital.
During the summer months, demand is very high, and many visitors arrive without realizing how quickly cars get booked. To avoid stress and to secure the right type of vehicle, it’s best to Rent a car in advance. This gives peace of mind and lets you focus on planning the route rather than worrying about availability.
Driving conditions are improving, with many roads resurfaced in recent years, but expect narrow mountain passes and the occasional pothole. Traffic in Tirana and other cities can feel busy and fast, yet outside of them the roads are quieter. What matters most is to drive without rushing. Albania is full of views and stops worth taking, and having your own car means you can change plans whenever something catches your eye.
