Trying to choose the best places to visit in Albania by car? After three separate trips through the country, we can say this without hesitation: Albania is a destination that works so much better when you have your own wheels.
The main highlights are scattered across the country, journey times are often longer than they appear on Google Maps, and some of the most memorable moments happen between the big-name stops — stone-built towns, Riviera coves, mountain villages, roadside viewpoints, and beaches that are awkward to reach by public transport.
This guide is about the places we genuinely think are worth building into an Albania self-drive route, along with a few honest notes on the stops that are useful rather than unmissable. If you are putting together your own road trip instead of copying one exact itinerary, this is the list we would use as a starting point.
Map of the Best Places to Visit in Albania by Car
Before deciding where to stop, it really helps to see how Albania’s best places are spread out. The country looks compact on a map, but in practice, mountain passes, winding coastal roads, and slower rural sections can make drives take much longer than expected.
If you are planning an Albania road trip, we would use the map to group the country into rough regions:
- North: Shkodër, Theth, Valbonë
- Central Albania: Tirana, Krujë, Berat
- South + Riviera: Gjirokastër, Blue Eye, Ksamil, Butrint, Sarandë, Himarë, Dhërmi
Once you see these clusters, it becomes much easier to understand where renting a car is most valuable — especially when you want to connect the Riviera, the historic towns, and the Albanian Alps without relying on buses.
Tip: If you only have a short trip, you will usually have a better experience by focusing on one region instead of trying to cross the entire country.
10 Best Places to Visit in Albania by Car
If this is your first time planning an Albania self-drive itinerary, these are the places we would put highest on the list. This is not just a ranking of the prettiest spots, but a practical selection of places that feel most rewarding once you factor in the drive, the scenery, the atmosphere, and how well they fit into a road trip.
1. Himarë
If we had to choose one place that explains why Albania is so enjoyable with a car, it would probably be Himarë. It gives you that classic Albanian Riviera feeling, but it is usually less intense and chaotic than Ksamil in the middle of summer.
What we enjoyed most about Himarë is how easy it feels. You have beaches, coastal walks — including the hike to Livadi Beach — sunset views, and enough restaurants to make it a comfortable base, but it still feels calmer and less overdeveloped than some of the southern Riviera towns. We also found it was the kind of place where we could slow down without feeling guilty for not constantly sightseeing.
Best for: a longer stay on the Riviera, relaxed beach days, and first-time visitors who want beautiful scenery without the full peak-season crowds
How long to spend: 1–3 nights
Good to pair with: Dhërmi, Gjipe Beach, or a scenic coastal drive north
Heads-up: the road is beautiful but very bendy, so even short distances can take longer than they look
2. Berat
Berat is one of the most unforgettable stops in Albania and one of the best non-beach places to include in your route. If you want one historic town that really feels worth the journey, make it this one.
The castle is the obvious highlight, but the whole town is what makes Berat stay with you. The white Ottoman houses stacked up the hillside, the river, the old neighbourhoods, and the slower rhythm all feel completely different from Albania’s coastline. We liked it enough to include two nights in our route, and we still think that is the right decision if your schedule allows. Sunrise at Berat Castle was easily one of the best moments of our trip.
Best for: history, architecture, and a slower overnight stop with real character
How long to spend: 1–2 nights
Good to pair with: Gjirokastër or Tirana/Krujë
Heads-up: visit the castle early in summer if you can — the heat builds quickly and can be harsh
3. Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër feels steeper, rougher, and a little more rugged than Berat, and we mean that as a compliment. It is one of the best places to visit in Albania by car if you like historic towns that still feel lived-in rather than overly polished for tourism.
We especially loved Gjirokastër for food. Between the cobbled old-town setting and traditional restaurants such as Odaja, it is one of the most satisfying places in Albania to slow down, sit outside, and eat properly.
The bazaar is the natural place to start, but the best parts often appear when you keep wandering uphill along the narrow stone lanes. The castle is also worth visiting, even though overall we slightly preferred Berat Castle. It still gives you a dramatic viewpoint over the valley and helps you understand why the town feels so distinctive.
Best for: old-town atmosphere, Ottoman heritage, and a cultural stop between central and southern Albania
How long to spend: half a day to 1 night
Good to pair with: Berat, Blue Eye, Ksamil, or Sarandë
Heads-up: both parking and exploring involve hills, so this is not the easiest stop for a zero-effort wander in flip-flops
4. Ksamil
Ksamil is one of the most eye-catching places on an Albania road trip. The sea really can be that bright, the small islands just offshore are genuinely beautiful, and on a clear day it looks almost unreal in the best possible way.
However, this is also where it is important to be realistic. Ksamil is no longer a hidden paradise. In July and August, it can be busy, packed with beach clubs, and more expensive than many travellers expect from Albania. We still think it belongs on this list because the beaches are gorgeous and it is incredibly easy to combine with Butrint and other southern coastal stops, but we would not describe it as a quiet undiscovered gem.
➡️ If you are including Ksamil in your route, read our guide to where to stay in Ksamil so you can choose the best base for beaches, parking, and quieter evenings.
Best for: classic turquoise Riviera scenery, beach clubs, and first-time visitors who want the postcard version of southern Albania
How long to spend: 1–2 nights
Good to pair with: Butrint, Mirror Beach, Monastery Beach, or Sarandë
Heads-up: if you can visit outside peak summer, you will probably enjoy it much more
5. Dhërmi
Dhërmi is one of the best places to add if you want your Albania itinerary to feel more dramatic. The mountains behind the coast are bigger, the landscape feels wilder, and the whole setting has that “yes, this drive was worth it” feeling.
It is a brilliant stop if you want beach time but do not want your whole trip to revolve around Ksamil. We would rate Dhërmi especially highly for travellers who care just as much about the views and the approach as they do about swimming. It also works well as a break on a longer coastal drive, giving you somewhere that feels memorable rather than simply convenient.
Best for: scenery-focused beach travellers and anyone following a wider Albanian Riviera route
How long to spend: 1 night or a long stop
Good to pair with: Himarë, Llogara Pass, or Gjipe Beach
Heads-up: the roads are manageable, but this section of coast is slow, winding, and not made for rushing
6. Butrint
Butrint is one of those southern Albania stops that is very easy to say yes to. Even if your trip is mostly about beaches, it adds a strong dose of history without taking up too much time.
We found Butrint much more atmospheric than many ruins that sit in the middle of a busy city. It is green, spacious, and genuinely pleasant to walk around, which makes a big difference when you are sightseeing in warm weather. It is also very straightforward to visit with your own car, which is exactly why it fits so naturally into a self-drive itinerary. You get one of Albania’s strongest cultural sights without making a major detour.
Best for: history, relaxed half-day sightseeing, and balancing out beach-heavy parts of the trip
How long to spend: 1.5–2 hours
Good to pair with: Ksamil or Sarandë
Heads-up: think of Butrint as a stop rather than a base — visit en route or as a short outing
7. Theth
Theth is one of the most rewarding places in Albania if you want big mountain scenery, but it only really works if you are willing to slow down. This is not a quick extra stop to squeeze in at the last minute.
The road up to Theth is part of the adventure. It is now fully paved, which makes it much easier to reach than it used to be, but it is still narrow and winding in places. Once you arrive, it feels completely different from the rest of the country — stone houses, huge mountain backdrops, and hikes such as the Blue Eye of Theth and Grunas Waterfall.
Best for: mountain views, hiking, and travellers who want more than beaches and historic towns
How long to spend: 1–2 nights
Good to pair with: Shkodër or Valbonë
Heads-up: do not force Theth into a short south-focused itinerary just because it looks amazing on Instagram
8. Valbonë
Valbonë is one of the best places to visit in Albania by car if you want your route to include a wilder, more remote alpine landscape.
Robin visited Valbonë on his own, and it is the kind of place that feels less like a quick sightseeing stop and more like a complete change of world — broad alpine valleys, sharp mountain peaks, and that quieter, more isolated feeling that makes northern Albania so special.
The reason Valbonë is worth considering is not only the village itself, but the entire landscape surrounding it. The drive into the valley is part of the experience, and once you are there, everything feels more rugged and spacious than the Riviera or the historic towns further south. If Theth is the more famous name, Valbonë is a great choice for travellers who want a similar mountain payoff with a slightly more off-the-radar atmosphere.
Best for: alpine scenery, longer road trips, and travellers who want to explore northern Albania in more depth
How long to spend: 1–2 nights
Good to pair with: Theth or a longer north-Albania loop
Heads-up: Valbonë makes most sense on a longer trip — if you only have about a week, it is one of the first places we would remove
9. Krujë
Krujë is one of the easiest cultural stops to recommend because it is compact, atmospheric, and simple to fit into a driving day. We even spent a full week here on one of our trips, so we definitely liked it as more than just a quick tick-box stop.
The bazaar and castle area are the main reasons to visit. Yes, some parts are clearly set up for tourists, but the town still has plenty of charm and gives you an easy hit of Albanian history without needing a big time commitment. It works particularly well near the beginning of a trip if you are flying into Tirana and want something more memorable than heading straight into city traffic and a hotel.
Best for: an easy first stop, Albanian history, and a half-day cultural break
How long to spend: half a day
Good to pair with: Tirana or Shkodër
Heads-up: you do not need a huge amount of time here, which is exactly what makes Krujë so useful
10. Shkodër
Shkodër is not the most beautiful stop in Albania, but it is a useful and worthwhile place if your route takes you north. This is less about finding the prettiest town in the country and more about building a route that actually makes sense.
We liked Shkodër as a pause before heading to Theth: somewhere to sleep comfortably, stretch our legs, maybe rent bikes, and get ready for the mountain section of the trip. If you are not going to northern Albania, though, this is one of the more optional places on the list.
Best for: a practical stop in northern Albania and a base before Theth
How long to spend: 1 night
Good to pair with: Krujë and Theth
Heads-up: it is mainly worth including if the Albanian Alps are part of your itinerary
Places That Work Better as a Stop or Base Than a Must-See
Not every well-known place in Albania needs to be treated as a major overnight stop. A few popular names are better used as a practical base, a short detour, or an easy add-on rather than as the main reason for planning your route.
Tirana
Tirana is useful, but for most travellers it will not be one of the most memorable parts of Albania. We would treat it as a convenient place to start or finish the trip rather than a destination to build the whole route around.
That does not mean you should ignore it completely. It is good for a first meal, a short walk around Skanderbeg Square, and one or two easy sights such as Bunk’Art 2 if you have half a day spare. But compared with places like Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, or Ksamil, it is not where we would spend too much of a limited itinerary.
Stay in Tirana if you want airport convenience or need a straightforward first or last night. Keep it brief if your main goal is to see the best places in Albania by car.
Sarandë
Sarandë is convenient, affordable, and well positioned for exploring southern Albania. We lived there for two months, so this is not us dismissing it after a quick visit. It is a useful base. It just is not as memorable as places like Himarë, Berat, or Gjirokastër.
Stay here if you want lots of accommodation options, easy logistics, and quick access to Ksamil and Butrint. Do not make it a top priority if you are trying to choose the most beautiful or distinctive places in Albania.
Blue Eye
The Blue Eye is beautiful, but it is also a place where it helps to keep your expectations in check. It works well as a detour between Gjirokastër and Ksamil, and the colour of the water is genuinely impressive. Still, it is not somewhere we would dedicate an entire day to.
If you are nearby and have enough time, go and see it. If you need to trim your itinerary, this is one of the easier stops to leave out.
Is Albania Worth Exploring by Car?
Yes — definitely.
If you want to see more than a single beach town or one city, Albania is far easier and more enjoyable with your own car. The country may look small on the map, but once you factor in mountain roads, coastal bends, and slower countryside stretches, journeys often take longer than first-time visitors expect.
Having your own wheels makes it much easier to connect places like Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, and Theth in a way that would be far more complicated by bus.
Our first trip to Albania was a backpacking trip using local buses, and honestly, it was pretty chaotic at times. We had peak-summer journeys with no air conditioning, one bus driver smoking while driving, and at one point we even had to share a seat with another passenger. On our second trip, we rented a car — and the difference was huge. It was more comfortable, much more flexible, and made it far easier to actually enjoy the country. That is why we recommend driving for most travellers planning a wider trip around Albania.
That said, driving in Albania is most useful when you are planning a proper self-drive itinerary. If you are only staying in one place, such as Ksamil or Tirana, you may not need a rental car for the entire trip.
For most people, though, we genuinely think Albania is one of the best countries in Europe to explore by car. The combination of mountains, Riviera beaches, historic towns, and small detours simply works better when you are not tied to bus timetables.
➡️ If you want a complete route that connects these stops, read our 10-day Albania road trip itinerary next.
FAQs About Visiting Albania by Car
What are the best places to visit in Albania by car?
For a first visit, we would prioritise Himarë, Berat, Gjirokastër, Ksamil, and Dhërmi. If you have more time, add Theth or Valbonë for the mountain scenery.
Do you need a car to visit Albania?
Not always, but it makes a big difference. If you want to combine the coast, historic towns, and mountain areas in one trip, travelling by car is by far the easiest option.
Is Albania easy to drive around?
In general, yes. The main roads are often better than visitors expect, but mountain and coastal routes can be slower, narrower, and much more winding. Distances in Albania frequently look shorter on the map than they feel on the road.
Is Albania worth visiting without a car?
Yes, but your route will be more limited. Visiting without a car works best if you focus on one region instead of trying to cover the whole country.
What is the most beautiful part of Albania?
It depends on the kind of trip you want, but for most travellers it is either the Albanian Riviera or the north around Theth and Valbonë. If you want beaches, head south. If you want dramatic mountain scenery, the north is the standout. For official travel information, you can also check the Visit Albania official tourism website.
Is Ksamil worth adding to an Albania trip?
Yes, especially if it is your first visit and you want those bright turquoise beaches. Just arrive with realistic expectations: in July and August, Ksamil can be crowded and more expensive than many people expect.
Is Sarandë worth visiting?
Sarandë is more practical than unforgettable. It works well as a base for southern Albania, but we would not place it near the top if you are choosing the most memorable stops.
Is the Blue Eye worth it?
Yes, but as a short stop rather than a main destination. It is beautiful, but it makes more sense as an easy detour than somewhere to plan a whole day around.
Final Word
If you are trying to narrow down the best places to visit in Albania by car, we would focus on variety instead of trying to squeeze in every famous stop. A route with one or two Riviera bases, one or two historic towns, and one mountain stop usually makes for a much better trip than racing across the whole country.
For us, the biggest highlights are still Himarë, Berat, Gjirokastër, and Ksamil — with Theth or Valbonë added if you have enough time to explore the north properly. Albania is one of those countries where having a car genuinely changes the whole experience, not just the logistics, and that is a big reason we keep wanting to return.
