Albania is a compact country with a big story. Once closed off to the world during the Cold War, it now welcomes travelers with café culture, Ottoman towns, and a coastline that glows turquoise. In one week, you can taste farm-to-table cooking in Tirana, walk through ancient cities, and swim at beaches that feel like a secret.

History is everywhere. From Skanderbeg Square and the Et’hem Bey Mosque to the Cold War bunkers reinvented as museums, Tirana balances memory with momentum. Down south, Saranda is your base for the Albanian Riviera: you’ll step into the UNESCO-listed city of Butrint, hop over to the sugar-sand coves of Ksamil, and watch the sun melt behind Corfu from a hilltop castle.

Practical notes: the currency is the Albanian lek (ALL), and cards are accepted in many spots, though small cash is handy. Spring and fall bring ideal weather with fewer crowds; July–August is beach season. Roads have improved, buses are affordable, and food—think byrek, grilled seafood, and slow-cooked lamb—is hearty and affordable.

Tirana

Tirana is the country’s lively heart—colorful facades, street art, espresso bars, and a creative culinary scene. Start around Skanderbeg Square and work outwards to Blloku, once an elite quarter and now a nightlife hub. The city’s bunkers-turned-museums tell Albania’s modern story with rare candor.

• Top sights: Skanderbeg Square, Et’hem Bey Mosque, National History Museum façade mosaic, Bunk’Art 2 (city center) and Bunk’Art 1 (near Mount Dajti), New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri), the Pyramid of Tirana (revamped cultural hub), Grand Park of Tirana.
• Where to stay: Browse central stays near Skanderbeg Square or Blloku on Hotels.com or apartment-style options on VRBO.
• Getting there: Fly into Tirana International (TIA); compare options on Omio (flights in Europe). Within Albania, intercity travel is mostly by bus/minibus; check schedules locally or explore regional connections on Omio (buses).
• Food & drink: Reserve at Mullixhiu (neo-Albanian tasting menus), try ODA or Era Vila for home-style dishes, and sip raki at Komiteti—part café, part museum bar. For coffee, Mulliri i Vjetër and specialty spots around Blloku keep the city buzzing.

Day 1 — Arrival in Tirana: Squares, Bunkers, and Albanian Flavors

Morning: Fly into TIA (Tirana). If you’re arriving late morning, drop bags at your hotel/apartment near Skanderbeg Square—book ahead on Hotels.com or VRBO.

Afternoon: Orient yourself around Skanderbeg Square. Step into the Et’hem Bey Mosque to admire delicate frescoes, then descend into Bunk’Art 2 to learn how everyday life unfolded under surveillance. Stroll to the New Bazaar for produce stands, spice shops, and a first espresso.

Evening: Dinner at ODA (rustic setting; try fërgesë, a baked pepper-cheese dish) or Era Vila (reimagined regional classics). Cap the night with a raki flight at Komiteti Kafe-Muzeum or craft cocktails at Radio Bar in Blloku.

Day 2 — Dajti Panoramas, Street Life, and New Albanian Cuisine

Morning: Coffee and byrek at Mulliri i Vjetër near the Lana River. Ride the Dajti Ekspres cable car for city-wide views; up top, stroll forest paths or try the rotating viewpoint café.

Afternoon: Visit Bunk’Art 1 (inside a sprawling Cold War bunker) for immersive exhibits, then head back to the center. Walk past the Pyramid of Tirana, now a creative campus with ramps and terraces, and relax in the Grand Park by the lake.

Evening: Book dinner at Mullixhiu—chef Bledar Kola’s seasonal menus spotlight heirloom grains and foraged ingredients. For a nightcap, sample natural wines at Nouvelle Vague or people-watch along Blloku’s Ismail Qemali street.

Day 3 — Day Trip to Berat (UNESCO “City of a Thousand Windows”)

Morning: Early bus to Berat (about 2 hours; ~400–600 ALL; check stalls at Tirana’s regional bus area or browse options on Omio (buses)). Climb to Berat Castle for sweeping valley views and tiny chapel frescoes.

Afternoon: Wander the Ottoman quarters of Mangalem and Gorica, crossing the Gorica Bridge for postcard angles of whitewashed houses. Lunch at Home-Made Food Lili (intimate, family-run; excellent stuffed peppers and çomlek stew) or Restaurant Antigoni (river views).

Evening: Return to Tirana. Dine at Salt in Blloku (Mediterranean-leaning, sleek vibe) or Padam (fine dining in a villa garden). Grab gelato at Cremino before a gentle walk past the Reja “Cloud” installation.

Saranda

Saranda is the gateway to the Albanian Riviera, curving around a bright-blue bay with Corfu sitting just offshore. Its seaside promenade fills with families at dusk, while hilltop ruins and olive groves frame the coast.

• Top experiences: Butrint National Park (UNESCO), Ksamil’s powdery beaches, Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) spring, Lekursi Castle at sunset, day trip to Gjirokastër’s stone city.
• Where to stay: Sea-view apartments along Rruga Mitat Hoxha or hotels near the central promenade on Hotels.com or VRBO.
• Getting there from Tirana: Bus/minibus 4.5–6 hours, ~1,300–1,600 ALL; buy at the South Bus Terminal (morning departures). For alternatives, compare regional buses on Omio. Self-drive via the coastal SH8 is spectacular (allow extra time for photo stops).
• Food & drink: Expect just-caught fish and coastal grills. Local favorites include Taverna Fish Filipi (market-fresh), Limani (waterfront staples), Haxhi (homey Albanian plates), and Mare Nostrum (polished seafood).

Day 4 — Tirana to Saranda, Seaside Strolls, and Castle Sunsets

Morning: Depart Tirana by bus for Saranda (aim for a 8–9 a.m. departure; ~5 hours). Snack plan: grab bakery byrek and fruit before boarding.

Afternoon: Check in and decompress with a swim at the town beach or at Mango Beach to the south. Walk the palm-lined promenade, stopping for espresso and a pistachio gelato.

Evening: Taxi up to Lekursi Castle for a golden-hour panorama across the bay and to Corfu. Dine back in town at Limani (grilled sea bream, garlicky greens) or Haxhi (qofte meatballs, village salad), then a night drink at Jericho Cocktail Bar by the water.

Day 5 — Butrint National Park and Ksamil’s Turquoise Coves

Morning: Head 25 minutes south to Butrint (bus or taxi). Wander the ancient city’s layers—Greek theater, Roman forum, Venetian tower—set among wetlands and laurel trees; allow 2–3 hours. Entry is typically around 1,000 ALL.

Afternoon: Continue to Ksamil (10–15 minutes). Beach-hop between the small coves; rent a pedal boat to the tiny islets if the sea is calm. Lunch at Guvat (sea views, grilled octopus) or Poda Beach Restaurant (simple, feet-in-the-sand fish plates).

Evening: Return to Saranda for dinner at Mare Nostrum (refined seafood pastas, solid wine list). Gelato stop on the promenade and a relaxed stroll under the string lights.

Day 6 — Blue Eye Spring and Stone-City Gjirokastër (UNESCO)

Morning: Drive or take a minibus 30–40 minutes to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër). The karst spring’s electric-blue pool is mesmerizing; follow the boardwalks and trails for the best vantage.

Afternoon: Continue about 1 hour to Gjirokastër. Explore the cobbled bazaar, Ottoman tower houses, and the hilltop castle with sweeping views to the Drino valley. Lunch at Taverna Tradicionale Kodra (qifqi rice balls, lamb baked with herbs) or Odaja (cozy, traditional).

Evening: Return to Saranda. Feast at Taverna Fish Filipi—pick your fish from the display and add a side of fried zucchini and chilled white wine. Nightcap on the promenade or a quiet tea back at your balcony.

Day 7 — Swim, Brunch, and Departure Options

Morning: Early dip and a slow breakfast: try Mon Cheri or a local bakery for byrek me spinaq (spinach pie) and Albanian espresso.

Afternoon: Depart. Easiest is the fast ferry to Corfu (30–70 minutes; ~€20–30 one-way)—search ferries on Omio (ferries in Europe)—then fly onward via Corfu Airport (CFU) with options on Omio (flights). Alternatively, return by bus to Tirana (5–6 hours) for a late-day flight.

Evening: If you have extra time before departure, squeeze in one last seafood lunch on the promenade and pick up olive oil, mountain tea, or raki as souvenirs.

Where to Book and How to Get Around

• Stays in Tirana: Compare hotels near Skanderbeg Square and Blloku on Hotels.com or find apartments on VRBO.
• Stays in Saranda: Sea-view options on Hotels.com and apartment balconies on VRBO.
• Transport tools: Omio (flights in Europe) for air into/out of TIA or CFU; Omio (buses) for regional connections; Omio (ferries) for Saranda–Corfu.

This 7-day Albania itinerary balances culture, nature, and coast—Tirana’s museums and modern dining, Berat’s old-world beauty, and Saranda’s beaches and ancient sites. You’ll leave with a feel for Albania’s past and a taste of its vibrant present, plus a camera roll full of Ionian blues.