Albania

Albania rewards a route that mixes lively cities, mountain scenery, and the Ionian coast. Start in Tirana, where colourful Ottoman-era buildings, cafés, Bunk’Art, and Skanderbeg Square make an easy introduction. Continue to Berat for its white hillside houses and castle, or head north to Shkodër before exploring the dramatic Albanian Alps around Theth and Valbona. Along the coast, Vlorë, Himarë, and Sarandë offer beaches, swimming, and sunset dinners, while Gjirokastër adds stone-roofed streets and a beautifully preserved old town.

Build in more time than the map suggests: mountain roads and buses can make short distances surprisingly slow. A practical itinerary might allow two nights in Tirana, one or two in Berat, several nights on the Riviera, and extra days for the north. Use Hello’s trip planning tools to group destinations by region and reserve flexibility for weather or transport changes. Before departure, activate Hello eSIM so maps, translation apps, accommodation messages, and taxi services work as soon as you land, without relying on airport Wi-Fi or incurring roaming charges.

Public transport is inexpensive but informal. Scheduled buses connect major towns, while furgons—shared minibuses—serve smaller destinations and often leave when full rather than at a fixed time. Tickets commonly cost around 400–900 lek (roughly US$4–10) for journeys from Tirana to places such as Berat, Shkodër, or Vlorë; longer routes, including Tirana to Sarandë, can cost about 1,500 lek (around US$16). Confirm the departure point locally, since stations may be separate and timetables can change.

Carry small lek notes: drivers and ticket sellers may not accept cards, and exact change makes boarding easier. Taxis are convenient in cities, but agree on the fare or use a reputable booking app before setting off. Renting a car gives access to remote beaches and mountain villages, though driving requires patience—roads can be narrow, overtaking is assertive, and navigation signals may weaken in the mountains. Download offline maps before leaving town, even if Hello eSIM keeps you connected. For a relaxed road trip, organize your route in Hello and avoid packing too many distant stops into one day.

Albanian food is generous, seasonal, and shaped by Mediterranean and Balkan traditions. Begin with byrek, flaky pastry filled with cheese, spinach, or meat, then try tavë kosi, baked lamb with yoghurt, or qofte served with bread and salad. Along the coast, grilled fish, prawns, and octopus are excellent; inland, look for slow-cooked dishes such as fërgesë, a rich combination of peppers, tomatoes, and cheese. In the south, local olive oil and mountain herbs appear everywhere.

Markets and family-run restaurants are often the best value. A casual meal may cost around 600–1,200 lek (approximately US$6–13), while seafood and polished restaurants cost more. Ask whether bread, salads, or bottled water are included before ordering, especially in tourist areas. Albanian coffee culture is unhurried: order a small coffee and stay awhile, or try boza, a mildly sweet fermented drink in some towns. Keep cash for bakeries, market stalls, and rural eateries. When dining with companions, record shared meals and settle costs through Hello’s expense splitting feature rather than trying to reconstruct every bill later.

The local currency is the Albanian lek (ALL). Cards work in many hotels, supermarkets, and urban restaurants, but cash remains essential for buses, furgons, markets, small cafés, guesthouses, and remote beaches. Withdraw lek from an ATM in a town rather than waiting until you reach a mountain village, and keep a reserve of smaller notes. Euros may be accepted in some tourist businesses, but paying in lek usually gives clearer pricing. Hello’s budget tracking can help you monitor spending in lek, particularly when moving between accommodation, transport, food, and activities.

Albanian is the official language, though English is common in tourist areas and Italian is also widely understood. Learn a few words—faleminderit means “thank you,” while përshëndetje means “hello”—and expect warm hospitality. Dress respectfully when visiting religious sites and villages, and bring sturdy shoes for cobbled streets or hiking trails. Mobile coverage is generally good in cities and popular destinations but can fade in remote valleys. Install Hello eSIM before flying, save important addresses offline, and download translation and navigation tools before heading into the mountains.