Albania
Albania was long overlooked, but due to it's loevely coastline, lovely mountains, lively cpaital city and amazing history is becoming increasingly touristy. All our friends who've been there agree it's well worth a visit, and soon er rather than later.
So it's top of our list of places to visit in retirement.
Most of the desciptions below originate from the Lonely Planet webgsite
Tirana
Lively, colourful Tirana is where this tiny nation's hopes and dreams coalesce into a vibrant whirl of traffic, brash consumerism and unfettered fun. Having undergone a transformation of extraordinary proportions since awaking from its communist slumber in the early 1990s, Tirana's centre is now unrecognisable from those grey days, with buildings painted in primary colours, and public squares and pedestrianised streets that are a pleasure to wander.
Theth & Blue Eye
A small village nestled in the Albanian Alps, Theth might just be the most peaceful place to visit in Albania.
Once you get to Theth, two hikes are essential. The first leads to the Blue Eye, through a forest, over rivers and finally to a vibrant blue natural spring. This hike is easy to moderate, and very doable for less-experienced hikers.
The second is one of Albania’s most popular – and most beautiful: the Theth-to Valbona-hike. This trail starts from the top of Theth village, near Guest House Gjelaj, and leads through the mountains to breathtaking views at the top. It’s not for the faint-hearted, as it will take roughly 6 to 8 hours to complete – but the effort will be well worth it.
Bring cash: ATMs are few and far between, and cards are barely accepted.
Saranda
Saranda is the southern gateway to the Albanian Riviera and close to one of the region’s best beaches, Ksamil.
One of the best things to do from Saranda is to hop on one of the day trip boat tours that leave from the boulevard and go to the beaches of Kakomë and Krorëz. Tickets start at €30.
Best time to visit Saranda is in May, June or September when the crowds are not crazy but the beach bars and restaurants are open. As this is a summer destination, most businesses close during the offseason.
Gjirokastra
Known as the City of Stone, UNESCO-listed Gjirokastra is famous for the bazaar in it's old town, impressive castle, and Ottoman-era 3-storey Zekate House.
Recommended: Te Fuçitë (The Barrels), a family restaurant and winery withviews of the vineyards and surrounding mountains.
Try pasha qofte, a creamy soup with small meatballs. It’s a delicious dish you’ll find only in Gjirokastër.
Dhërmi
Dhërmi has idyllic beaches, trendy beach bars and views that might make you never want to leave.
ry Restaurant Luciano for delicious food overlooking the water, or head to Alevra restaurant and beach bar to try super-fresh seafood with a twist.
Shkodra & Rozafa Castle
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Potential Route
Sterting at the soutrhenmost highlight, Butrint, heading north:
- Butrint
- Saranda
- Gjirokaster
- Dhermi
- Tirana
- Shkoder
- Theth
Further Highlights
Some other recomnmendations:
Porto Palermo
Near Dhermi: The triangle-shaped castle is a great reason to stop at Porto Palermo, as are the beautiful, unspoiled and peaceful beaches you'll find here. Filled with history and spectacular swimming bays, this under-visited Riviera town is an excellent place for camping. You can also rent a kayak and paddle along the beaches and quiet bays. As you kayak, you’ll see the old military submarine bunker situated on the hill not far from the main beaches.
Përmet
On a bend in the fast-flowing, turquoise Vjosa River – 60km inland from Girokaster, about 32km (20 miles) from Greece, from where the river springs – the town Përmet is a hub for adventure. From here, you can organize activities from white-water rafting to camping, hiking and mountain-bike riding in this mountainous region. Once an Ottoman-era commercial center, Përmet is today the center of one of Albania’s greenest and most pristine regions. Indeed, the Vjosa was recently designated as a wild river national park, Europe’s first.
Lin
Positioned on Lake Ohrid, 2 hours east of Tirana, Lin is a quiet village where fishing is a primary activity, and life is otherwise slow and blissfully tranquil. At a hilltop archaeological site, you’ll find the well-preserved mosaics of a Paleo-Christian church built in the 6th century. If you visit in the summertime, the mosaics will be uncovered, and there should be a guide who can tell you all about their history. From this vantage point, you can also admire the village from above – and even look over to North Macedonia in the distance.
Korça
Best for historical appeal
When you visit Korça (one hour south of Lin) in Central Albania, make sure to stroll through the Pazari i Vjetër, the city’s old bazaar. Cobblestone streets and Ottoman-style architecture testify to the site’s history, which stretches back to the 13th century.
When you visit this area, be sure to visit one of the many coffee houses in the Old Bazaar. Try the popular, traditional alcoholic drink called raki, made from distilled grapes. You might even catch someone chasing a glass of raki with their morning espresso.
Apollonia
The evocative ruins of the ancient Illyiran city of Apollonia sit on a windswept hilltop some 12km west of the city of Fier, roughly halfway between Dhermi and Tirana. While a large part of the ruins remains buried under the ground, what has been excavated within the 4km of city walls is pure poetry. The highlights include the theatre and the elegant pillars of the restored facade of the city's 2nd-century-AD administrative centre.
Kalaja e Beratit
Hidden behind the crumbling walls of the fortress that crowns the hill above Berat is the whitewashed, village-like neighbourhood of Kala; if you walk around the quiet cobbled streets of this ancient neighbourhood for long enough you'll invariably stumble into someone's courtyard, thinking it's a church or ruin (no one seems to mind, though).
In spring and summer the fragrance of chamomile is in the air (and underfoot), and wildflowers burst from every gap between the stones, giving the entire place a magical feel.
Just over an hour from the Apollonia site.
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