Albania was never really on my radar as a holiday destination. Often overlooked in favour of more established European destinations, Albania was still something of a mystery to me when a group of friends and I started planning our next trip.
We wanted to explore somewhere in Europe that none of us had visited before, and after considering almost every country on our list, Albania was the one destination we knew the least about. So, we decided to take a chance and plan a one week Albania road trip.
A few months later, we had fallen completely in love with the country. From the turquoise beaches of the Albanian Riviera and the ancient ruins of Butrint to the mountain landscapes of Gjirokastër and the crystal-clear Blue Eye, the south of Albania turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of our travels!
If you’re planning your own trip, this 7-day Southern Albania road trip itinerary covers the best places to visit along the Albanian Riviera and beyond including: Saranda, Ksamil, the Blue Eye, Gjirokastër, Berat, Dhërmi, Gjipe Beach, Himarë and Borsh. I’ll also share practical tips for driving in Albania, renting a car, where to stay, and the best time to visit.
Expect to see the most spectacular coastal scenery on this route
Table of Contents
7-Day Albania Road Trip Itinerary: The Ultimate Southern Albania Route
Quick Overview: 7-Day Albania Road Trip
Planning a one-week Albania road trip? This itinerary takes you through the highlights of Southern Albania, combining the Albanian Riviera’s beaches with historic towns, mountain landscapes and some of the country’s most beautiful natural attractions.
🚗 Start & finish: Saranda
📅 Duration: 7 days
🗺️ Route: Saranda → Ksamil → Blue Eye → Gjirokastër → Berat → Dhërmi → Gjipe → Himarë → Borsh → Saranda
🏖️ Best for: Stunning beaches, scenic drives, hiking, history and hidden gems
🚙 Getting around: Rental car
🌊 DAYS 1–2 | SARANDA + KSAMIL
Start on the Albanian Riviera with Saranda as your base. Relax on the beautiful beaches of Ksamil, enjoy sunset by the sea and explore the ancient ruins of Butrint.
🏛️ DAYS 3–4 | BLUE EYE + GJIROKASTËR + BERAT
Leave the coast behind and head into the mountains. Visit the crystal-clear Blue Eye, explore the UNESCO-listed stone city of Gjirokastër and discover the historic city of Berat.
⛰️ DAYS 5–7 | DHËRMI + GJIPE + HIMARË + BORSH
Return to the Albanian Riviera for some of the most spectacular scenery of the trip. Drive along the dramatic coastal roads, hike to Gjipe Beach, explore the seaside town of Himarë and finish at beautiful Borsh Beach before returning to Saranda.
Where You’ll Stay
Days 1–2: Saranda
Day 3: Gjirokastër
Day 4: Berat
Day 5: Dhërmi
Day 6: Himarë
Day 7: Saranda
Relax on the beautiful beaches of South Albania
One Week Albania Road Trip Map
To view the stops listed in order, click the square in the top left hand corner of the map below. To view a larger version of this map, click the square in the top right hand corner to open it in a new window.
Why Take an Albania Road Trip?
An Albania road trip is one of the best ways to experience the incredible variety of landscapes this small Balkan country has to offer. You can drive through lush mountain valleys in the morning, follow dramatic coastal roads along the Albanian Riviera, and be swimming in the Mediterranean by the afternoon.
The scenery is a major reason to explore Albania by car. The roads between Saranda, Himarë and Dhërmi wind through the coastal mountains, offering spectacular views of the Ionian Sea along the way. It’s easily one of the most beautiful stretches of road I have ever driven.
Albania is also surprisingly affordable compared with many other European destinations. Fresh seafood, traditional Albanian food and local drinks are easy to enjoy without breaking the budget, while you’ll find plenty of unique accommodation options along the route.
Add in friendly locals, a fascinating history, beautiful beaches and some of Europe’s most underrated natural landscapes, and it’s easy to see why Albania is such a fantastic destination for a road trip.
Dine by the sea in Saranda
Planning Your Albania Road Trip
How to Get to South Albania
This Southern Albania road trip starts and ends in Saranda, and there are two main ways to get there: fly to Corfu in Greece and take the ferry to Saranda, or fly to Tirana and travel south by car or bus.
For this Albania itinerary, I would highly recommend starting from Corfu to keep things simple and travel time to a minimum.
From Corfu to Saranda
Flying to Corfu and taking the ferry to Saranda is the easiest option, particularly if you’re starting and ending your road trip in the Albanian Riviera. Ferries run regularly between Corfu and Saranda, with the journey taking around 30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the type of ferry.
I recommend booking your ferry online in advance, especially during the summer months. You can compare ferry schedules and prices here.
From Corfu Airport, you can take a taxi directly to the New Port for €20 or use the local Corfu City Bus Line 15 for €2. If you’ve already booked your ferry, make sure you head to the correct departure terminal when you arrive at the port.
First view of Albania from the ferry
From Tirana to Saranda
If flights to Tirana are more convenient or affordable, you can easily travel south to Saranda by car or bus.
The bus from Tirana to Saranda takes around 4.5 hours and costs approximately €17, it’s useful to have Albanian cash ready. Buses depart daily from the regional bus terminal, although I’d recommend renting a car if you’re planning to follow this Albania road trip itinerary. You can compare rental cars in Albania here.
→ Search for cheap flights to Albania or Corfu ←
When to Visit Albania
The best time for a Southern Albania road trip is between May and October, when you can expect warm weather and plenty of sunshine for beach days on the Albanian Riviera.
Late June to August brings the hottest, sunniest weather, with temperatures often reaching the 30s°C, but summer also comes with the biggest crowds. May, September and the beginning of October are quieter, while still offering plenty of warm days for beaches and sightseeing.
For the best balance of good weather and fewer crowds, I’d choose May, June or September.
Is Albania Safe?
Yes, Albania is generally a safe country to travel and we felt very comfortable throughout our road trip. Locals were friendly and welcoming, and we met several solo female travellers in Albania who had experienced no major safety concerns.
The only issue we encountered was a couple of minor billing scams at restaurants and bars, where an extra item was added or the total was incorrect. These were quickly corrected when we pointed them out.
As always, take normal precautions and keep an eye on your belongings. The biggest challenge we found was driving in Albania, which can be unpredictable at times. I’ll cover this in the next section.
Driving in Albania
I’ve read plenty of horror stories about driving in Albania, but my experience was much more positive. On this Southern Albania road trip, I found the main roads to be generally well-maintained and easy to navigate.
The biggest thing to be aware of is other drivers. Some locals overtake on blind corners or in places where you wouldn’t expect it, so I always stayed alert and was prepared to brake when approaching bends. I never felt unsafe driving through southern Albania, but I’d recommend being a confident and cautious driver.
The mountain roads can be narrow and have fewer barriers than you might expect, so take your time and don’t get distracted by the incredible views!
I used Google Maps throughout the trip and found it reliable. I recommend downloading the Albania map for offline use and getting a local SIM card so you can stay connected while driving.
Take in the history and views of Gjirokastër
Renting a Car in Albania
There are plenty of car rental companies in Saranda, with several located near the port and town centre. I’ve rented cars here myself and had smooth experiences with both Leka Car Rentals and Iris Car Rentals, both within walking distance of the port.
Car rentals in Albania typically cost around €25–€35 per day, although prices increase during the summer. I recommend comparing rental cars online and booking ahead if you’re travelling between June and August.
I’ve heard some unfortunate stories about tourists being charged for pre-existing damage, so I always recommend taking photos and videos of the car before driving away and checking the company’s reviews carefully.
If you’d prefer the reassurance of an international rental company, you can also find options such as Enterprise and Avis through Discover Cars. I use Discover Cars when I travel because I find it easy to compare prices and their affordable excess coverage gives me extra peace of mind.
So many stunning views on this road trip!
SIM Cards in Albania
I can highly recommend using an e-sim while road tripping in Albania, Airalo is awesome and I’ve used it in many countries around the world. You just have to download the app, make sure your phone is compatible for installing an e-sim and then follow the instructions to set it up.
►See more about setting up your Airalo account here◄
Alternatively, you can buy a regular sim card on arrival in Albania. Vodafone provides great mobile coverage around the country and there are shops all over Albania. You can get 30gb of data for 2000 lek (€20) and that will be more than enough data to get you through this road trip.
Watch the sunset in Saranda at Lekuresi Castle
Travel Insurance for Road Tripping in Albania
I never travel without solid travel insurance, and it’s especially important on a road trip where you’ll be driving, hiking and exploring remote areas!
I’ve personally used Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing several times while travelling in Turkey and living in Albania. When I spent a week in an Istanbul hospital with severe pneumonia, my medical bills would have been around $55,000 USD without insurance. Thankfully, my claim was approved quickly and I was able to continue my travels.
I particularly like SafetyWing because it’s designed for flexible, long-term travel. It provides coverage in 180+ countries, includes emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation, and you can sign up even after you’ve left home.
For longer trips, automatic monthly renewal means I don’t have to worry about buying a new policy every time I cross a border. For shorter trips, you can simply choose the dates you need.
If you’re planning an Albania road trip, get covered with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance and enjoy the adventure knowing you’re covered if something unexpected happens.
►Get covered with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance◄
Stay safe during your road trip with SafetyWing!
One Week Southern Albania Road Trip Itinerary
Days 1–2: Saranda + Ksamil
Day One – Saranda
Saranda is the largest town on the Albanian Riviera and the perfect base for the first two days of this itinerary. With a lively beachfront promenade, plenty of great restaurants and easy access to Ksamil and Butrint, I recommend staying here for both nights rather than changing hotels.
On your first evening, take a walk along the promenade and head up to Lekuresi Castle to catch the sunset. The views over Saranda and the Ionian Sea are stunning at this time of day. Afterwards, I recommend having dinner at Haxhi, one of my all-time favourite restaurants in Saranda.
You’ll spend the following day exploring the highlights of Ksamil and Butrint by car, before returning to Saranda for your second night. For more ideas, restaurants and the best places to visit, check out my complete guide to the best things to do in Saranda.
Beachfront promenade in Saranda
Day Two – Ksamil + Butrint
Pick up your rental car in Saranda
Pick up your rental car in Saranda in the morning and start driving south towards Ksamil. The coastal road is beautiful, winding through the hills with spectacular views over the Ionian Sea, mountains and small cliffside beaches along the way.
The towns are only 30 minutes apart by car but it’s worth stopping at one of the dramatic cliffside beaches along the drive.
Stop for a swim along the way
Before reaching Ksamil, stop at Shpella e Pëllumbave (Pigeon’s Cave Beach) or Pulëbardha Beach for a swim. Both are beautiful spots to experience the crystal-clear water and break up the drive.
These are two of my favourite beaches on the Albanian Riviera and I would advise to pick only one since both require a bit of a hike/walk from the parking lot to access. See more info to plan your visit on my detailed blog post about beaches in Albania.
Lunch in Ksamil
Hop back in the car and continue to Ksamil for lunch. For a meal with a gorgeous view, I can highly recommend Guvat Restaurant, where I’ve eaten several times and really enjoyed the food/vibe. The best part is their private beach where you can also take a refreshing dip.
Bar Restorant Korali Ksamil next door is another great lunch option, with equally beautiful views overlooking the beach.
A gorgeous view while dining at Guvat Restaurant in Ksamil
Visit Butrint National Park
After lunch, drive south for 10 minutes to Butrint National Park, one of the highlights of this road trip and best places to visit in Albania. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains remarkably well-preserved Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian ruins surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.
Allow around 1–2 hours to explore the archaeological site, soak in its fascinating history, and visit the small on-site museum.
Entry: 1,000 lek per person
Opening hours: 9am–7pm daily
