{"id":237447,"date":"2021-08-23T08:00:05","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T12:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=237447"},"modified":"2025-12-04T16:57:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:57:47","slug":"visiting-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/visiting-albania\/","title":{"rendered":"Albania: An Unexpected Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

Mention Albania<\/a> to most of my fellow American citizens and you\u2019ll evoke images of a post-Communist country out of some James Bond movie, where the mafia runs everything and people live in ugly concrete housing blocks and ride mules around archaic villages.<\/p>\n

I mean, most Americans probably last heard about Albania in the 1990s. It’s not a big country constantly in the news.<\/p>\n

But those images could not be further from the truth.<\/p>\n

Sure, Albania is still developing in many ways. It\u2019s only been thirty years since communism and the country still bears its scars, especially as there was never any sort of truth and reconciliation commission and many former Communist leaders are still in government. In a nation where neighbors turned in neighbors, there are still a lot of trust issues that need to be worked out.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, government corruption is rife, the environment is not prioritized, and many of the younger generation have left for better economic opportunities around Europe<\/a>, leading to a massive brain drain. In short, there\u2019s still some work to be done.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

But on the flip side, the youth that remain are demanding more rights and freedoms, the capital Tirana<\/a> boasts a growing coworking scene, there are tons of new developments happening, every restaurant has Wi-Fi, and tourism is growing by leaps and bounds.<\/p>\n

Going in, I had kind of high expectations for my visit. I\u2019d heard so many wonderful things about Albania. It was \u201coff the beaten path\u201d and a chance to \u201cdiscover\u201d (at least for myself) a new place. When I first went, it was going to be my first new country in over two years!<\/p>\n

And what I discovered was that Albania is even better<\/em> than people say. It is, in fact, being undersold.<\/p>\n

Tirana had a really cool and hip vibe, and my face was glued to the window of every bus ride as I stared at the country\u2019s stunning landscape, with majestic mountains, gorgeous canyons, cascading waterfalls, and tranquil lakes. It\u2019s a hiker\u2019s paradise too, with lots of trails scattered throughout its mountains.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The country is also full of ancient ruins and castles perched high on hills, with a fraction of the crowds neighboring countries have. For example, I absolutely loved Gjirokaster, a UNESCO site in the center of the country, where you\u2019ll find a medieval town with cobblestone streets, historic mansions, and a fort overlooking the city. The overgrown and derelict ruins of Butrint were also fabulous \u2014 you get to really feel like you\u2019re an intrepid explorer as you roam around them.<\/p>\n

\"Clear,<\/p>\n

Throw in the beautiful Komani Lake with its deep blue water and rising peaks, Osumi Canyon with its towering canyon walls and rapids, and historic Berat with its scenic fort, hikes, and buildings, and it was nonstop oohs<\/em> and aahs<\/em>. Oh, and how can one forget the ancient city of Butrint, with its overgrown ruins that make you feel like you’re Lara Croft or Indiana Jones?<\/p>\n

Moreover, the locals are uber friendly. Sure, \u201cthe locals are so great\u201d is a travel writing clich\u00e9, but here, they really go above and beyond! They\u2019re generally happy to see visitors to their country, of which they are proud and which they love to share. They will start a conversation, help you get where you need to go, give you a thousand tips, and teach you basic Albanian. They exude a great warmth.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a strong culture of honoring guests in Albania \u2014 and foreigners are considered guests and are taken care of accordingly. Everyday crime is virtually nonexistent. Sure, the mafia is still a thing (and, oddly, so are family blood feuds), but as a tourist, you\u2019re unlikely to have to deal with either. I never once felt unsafe. You aren\u2019t going to get robbed if you go out at night here.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

In fact, Albania<\/a> is a nighttime country: everyone is out and about late so there are eyes and ears everywhere, which means crime is less likely to occur.<\/p>\n

And the cherry on top? It\u2019s very inexpensive. You can easily get by on 40-50 EUR ($45-55 USD) a day. Even less if you stay in dorms and are a frugal backpacker.<\/p>\n

All in all, it\u2019s the recipe for a perfect destination. I can\u2019t say enough wonderful things about the country. I ended up extending my visit since I enjoyed it so much.<\/p>\n

So, I highly encourage you to visit as soon as you can because the writing is on the wall and it\u2019s about to become the next Croatia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But more about that in my next article.
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\"Get<\/div>

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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n