Albania Road Trip: The Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary by Car
Albania is one of Europe's last great road trip destinations — wild mountains, a turquoise riviera, Ottoman old towns and roads that are finally good enough to enjoy. Here is the definitive 7-day itinerary, starting and ending at Tirana Airport.
Why Albania Is Perfect for a Road Trip
Albania packs extraordinary diversity into a country the size of Wales. In seven days you can drive from alpine villages in the north to sun-bleached beaches in the south, passing UNESCO heritage towns, canyon gorges and some of the most dramatic coastal roads in the Mediterranean. And because mass tourism has only just discovered Albania, most of these places are still uncrowded.
The only practical way to experience this variety is by car. Public transport is patchy outside Tirana, and the distances between highlights are perfectly sized for daily drives of 1.5–3 hours. Pick up your rental car at Rinas Airport (TIA) — all major rental desks are in the arrivals hall — and you're on the road within minutes of landing.
The 7-Day Albania Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 — Tirana: Arrive, Explore, Fuel Up
Land at Rinas Airport, collect your rental car and drive the 30-minute SH2 motorway into central Tirana. Check in, then walk Blloku — the neighbourhood that was strictly off-limits under communism and is now Albania's most vibrant café and bar district. Don't leave without the byrek (flaky pastry) from a traditional bakery.
Drive: Rinas → Tirana, 30 min. Stay: Tirana city centre.
Day 2 — Tirana to Berat (2 hrs)
Head south on the SH4. Berat — the City of a Thousand Windows — is Albania's most photogenic town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ottoman quarter of Mangalem climbs steeply up to a 13th-century castle with panoramic views over the Osum River valley. Arrive early to beat the midday heat and spend the afternoon wandering the cobblestone lanes.
Drive: Tirana → Berat, ~2 hrs. Stay: Berat old town.
Day 3 — Berat to Gjirokastër (2 hrs)
Continue south to Gjirokastër, the other UNESCO-listed city on this route. Known as the "City of Stone", its fortified houses cling to a steep hillside above a castle that houses a captured US Air Force jet from the Cold War. Walk the bazaar, visit the Ethnographic Museum (birthplace of Enver Hoxha) and eat dinner with views over the valley.
Drive: Berat → Gjirokastër, ~2 hrs. Stay: Gjirokastër old town.
Day 4 — Gjirokastër to the Albanian Riviera via Sarandë (2.5 hrs)
Drive west to Sarandë on the Ionian coast — from here you can see Corfu just 4 km away. Spend the afternoon at Ksamil beach, where three tiny islands sit in impossibly blue water. In summer, get there before 9am or after 5pm to avoid the crowds.
Drive: Gjirokastër → Sarandë, ~2.5 hrs. Stay: Sarandë or Ksamil.
Day 5 — Albanian Riviera: Sarandë to Vlorë via Llogara Pass (3.5 hrs)
This is the highlight of the entire trip. The coastal road north from Sarandë climbs through olive groves, passes hidden coves (Gjipe, Himara, Palasa) and then ascends to the Llogara Pass at 1,027m — a dramatic mountain crossing where the road drops straight down to the sea. Stop at the paragliding viewpoint for the best photograph in Albania.
Drive: Sarandë → Vlorë, ~3.5 hrs with stops. Stay: Vlorë or Himara.
Day 6 — Vlorë to the Albanian Alps: Shkodër (3.5 hrs)
Head north through the flat Myzeqe plains, stopping at the Independence Monument in Vlorë (where Albania declared independence in 1912). Continue to Shkodër, gateway to the Albanian Alps. The drive passes through Tirana — use the SH1 bypass. Walk Rozafa Castle at sunset for views over Lake Shkodër and the confluence of three rivers.
Drive: Vlorë → Shkodër, ~3.5 hrs. Stay: Shkodër city centre.
Day 7 — Shkodër to Tirana Airport (2 hrs)
Optional morning detour: the 30-minute drive to Theth (if you have an SUV) for a glimpse of Albania's most spectacular mountain village. Then return south on the SH1 to Tirana and drop off your rental car at Rinas Airport. Allow 2 hours airport time for fuel top-up, car return and check-in.
Drive: Shkodër → Rinas, ~2 hrs. Return car at TIA arrivals.
Practical Tips for Your Albania Road Trip
- Car: A compact is fine for the main coastal and mountain roads. For Theth and unpaved mountain tracks, book a 4×4 or SUV.
- Fuel: Petrol stations are plentiful on main routes. Carry cash in rural areas — card readers sometimes fail.
- Roads: Main highways (SH1, SH2, SH4) are in good condition. Mountain and rural roads vary — expect potholes and livestock.
- Best season: May–June or September–October. July–August is hot and coastal areas get crowded.
- Budget: Albania is one of Europe's most affordable destinations. Expect to spend €40–80/day total including accommodation, food and fuel.
Ready to Explore Albania by Car?
Pick up your rental car directly at Rinas Airport (TIA) and start your adventure. Browse available cars →
