7 Days in Albania: The Perfect One-Week Itinerary
One week is the sweet spot for a first trip to Albania — enough to pair two UNESCO old towns with the turquoise coast and a mountain pass, without spending the whole holiday behind the wheel. This 7-day itinerary loops from Tirana through Berat and Gjirokastër down to the southern beaches and the Riviera, then back. It’s designed as a self-drive route (the most flexible way to do it), with a bus alternative noted, and links to our full guides for every stop.
At a glance – Route: Tirana → Berat → Gjirokastër → Blue Eye → Saranda/Ksamil → Riviera → Tirana – Distance: ~800–850 km loop · Best with: a rental car – Focus: the south & centre (for the northern Alps you need 10 days or 2 weeks) – Best time: May–June or September–October (why)
Before you go
Pick up a rental car in Tirana or at the airport — public transport can’t reach the Riviera’s best beaches efficiently, though a bus-based version is possible (see the note at the end). For the practicalities of driving, furgons and transfers, see how to get around Albania, and sort the basics with our visa guide. Budget roughly €700–1,200 for two for the week excluding flights (cost breakdown).
Day 1 — Arrive in Tirana
Land at Tirana International Airport, pick up your car and keep the first day light. Settle into the capital, walk Skanderbeg Square, wander the colourful Blloku district for dinner, and if you have energy, visit a Bunk’Art Cold War museum. Don’t force a long drive after a flight. Stay: Tirana, near the centre.
Day 2 — Tirana to Berat (≈2 hours)
Drive to Berat, the UNESCO “City of a Thousand Windows.” Spend the afternoon and evening among the white Ottoman houses of the Mangalem quarter, climb to the living castle for sunset, and eat by the river in Gorica. Staying overnight beats a day trip — the town is magic once the day-trippers leave. Full details in our Berat guide. Stay: Berat old town.
Day 3 — Berat to Gjirokastër (≈2.5 hours)
Transfer south to Gjirokastër, the “City of Stone.” Explore its vast hilltop fortress (with the Cold War spy plane and military museum), a traditional Ottoman house and the Old Bazaar. See our Gjirokastër guide. Stay: Gjirokastër old bazaar quarter.
Day 4 — Gjirokastër → Blue Eye → Ksamil (≈1 hour)
Leave early and stop at the Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), the mesmerising spring — arrive before 10 am to beat the crowds (Blue Eye guide). Continue to the coast and base yourself in Ksamil or nearby Saranda. In the afternoon, explore the ancient ruins of Butrint just south of Ksamil (allow 2–3 hours; a UNESCO highlight). Stay: Ksamil or Saranda.
Day 5 — Ksamil beach day
Slow down. Spend the day on Ksamil’s white-sand beaches and swim or kayak out to the little offshore islands. This is your reward day — sun, sea and seafood. Everything you need is in our Ksamil guide. Stay: Ksamil.
Day 6 — The Albanian Riviera (via the Llogara Pass)
Drive north up the coast along the Albanian Riviera, one of Europe’s great coastal roads (now easier thanks to the Llogara Tunnel). Pick one beach base — Himarë for a lively town or Dhërmi for style — rather than hopping all day. Swim, find a hidden cove, and watch the sunset over the Ionian. Stay: Himarë or Dhërmi.
Day 7 — Riviera back to Tirana (≈3.5–4 hours)
Enjoy a final morning swim, then drive back to Tirana for your departure. If your flight is late, squeeze in anything you missed in the capital.
Where to stay each night (summary)
Tirana (1) → Berat (1) → Gjirokastër (1) → Ksamil/Saranda (2) → Riviera (1). For how to choose each base, see where to stay in Albania.
Doing this without a car
It’s possible by bus, with compromises: take coaches Tirana → Berat → Gjirokastër, then a furgon to Saranda, using it as a base for Ksamil, the Blue Eye and Butrint via local minibuses or a day tour. The Riviera beaches are hard to reach without a car, so a bus traveller might swap Day 6 for more time in Ksamil. Tirana–Saranda direct buses take 5–6 hours.
Want more time?
A week skips the spectacular northern Alps. With more days, add the Lake Koman ferry and the Theth–Valbona hike — see our 10-day itinerary or, for the full country at a relaxed pace, the 2-week itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Albania? Yes — a week comfortably covers the south and centre: Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër, the Blue Eye, the southern beaches and the Riviera. It’s not enough to also do the northern Alps well, which need 10+ days.
Do I need a car for this itinerary? A car is strongly recommended — it’s the only efficient way to reach the Riviera’s beaches. A bus-based version works for the cities but limits coastal flexibility.
What’s the best direction to drive the loop? Tirana → Berat → Gjirokastër → coast → Riviera → Tirana works well, saving the beaches for the middle and the scenic Riviera drive near the end.
How much does a week in Albania cost? Roughly €700–1,200 for two excluding flights, depending on season and style. See our cost guide for the breakdown.
When is the best time to do this trip? May–June or September–October — warm seas, open roads (including the Llogara Pass) and thinner crowds than peak August.
Can I start or end in Corfu instead? Yes. Many travellers ferry between Corfu and Saranda, which pairs well with the southern part of this route.
Plan your trip
Use this route as your backbone, then go deeper: best places to visit, best time to go, getting around and trip costs. See all our routes on the Albania itinerary hub.
Related guides: 10 Days in Albania · 2 Weeks in Albania · Best Places to Visit · Albania Travel Guide