Okay, so this one starts with a confession: I did what my mum tells me not to do and went somewhere with strangers. Because I did a week-long girls trip around Albania with two girls I had never met in my life before.

No group chat history of inside jokes. No “we’ve been friends since school” safety net. Just three of us met at Luton Airport, got on a flight into Tirana, and figured the rest out as we went. If you’d told me a year ago I’d be doing this, I’m not sure I’d have believed you — but honestly? It might be one of the best trips I’ve done. Albania completely blew me away, and I already know I’ll be back.

If you’re thinking about a trip to Albania (solo, with strangers, with mates, doesn’t matter), here’s exactly what we got up to, what I’d recommend, and why the value for money genuinely stopped me in my tracks.

Flying Into Tirana and the Drive Down to Vlore

We flew from the UK into Tirana, Albania’s capital, which took us straight into the airport with barely any fuss getting through arrivals. From there, it was about a two hour drive down south to Vlore, watching the scenery shift from city outskirts to proper coastline as we went.

Tirana to Vlore isn’t a bad journey at all, and it’s a nice gentle way to ease into the trip before the beach days start. If you’re planning your own Albania itinerary, I’d factor this drive in as part of the adventure rather than just a transfer to get through.

Beach Days and a Boat Trip in Vlore (Highly Recommend)

Vlore was where the trip really started to feel like a proper girls trip. We had a few beach days here, and the water was honestly some of the clearest I’ve seen anywhere — genuinely crystal clear, the kind of sea you have to keep stopping to take photos of even though you know the photos won’t do it justice.

We also went on a boat trip while we were in Vlore, and this is a big recommend from me. The company was called Trip.Me and they took us out along the coast, to a few different spots including a cave and it was one of those days that ends up being the highlight of the whole trip. If you’re heading to Vlore, do not skip this.

We stayed at Santa 5 Hostel for three nights, which we were lucky enough to be gifted as a stay, and it was a brilliant base for exploring Vlore. Clean, sociable, well located for the beaches — exactly what you want from a hostel when you’re travelling with people you’re still getting to know.

Getting From Vlore to Sarande

After Vlore, we got a taxi down to Sarande, which took around three hours. The cost wasn’t bad at all for what you get, especially split three ways, and it was a lot more straightforward than trying to work out public transport for that leg.

Public transport in Albania is still up and coming and our hostel owners recommended having a car to see the best spots. However, getting from city to city is more straightforward as there are also public buses.

Sarande: The Blue Eye and Lekursei Castle

We spent three nights in Sarande, and this town might have been my favourite stop of the whole trip. From here we visited the Blue Eye, which is one of those natural wonders that photos genuinely undersell — this deep, almost impossibly blue natural spring surrounded by forest. It’s one of the most talked about spots in Albania for a reason, and if you’re building an Albania itinerary, it needs to be on it.

We also went up to Lekursei Castle, which gives you sweeping views out over Sarande and the coastline. It’s a lovely way to spend an evening, and I would definitely recommend going for sunset. Go early to grab a good spot, especially in peak summer season.

Sarande itself has a really nice seafront energy in the evenings too, with plenty of spots to grab dinner and watch the sunset after a day of sightseeing.

The Bus From Sarande to Tirana

For the journey back up to Tirana, we took the bus rather than a taxi this time, which took about five hours. It’s a long one, I won’t pretend otherwise, but it’s a budget friendly way to cover that distance and you get to watch Albania’s landscape properly unfold along the way. Although you can book online, it doesn’t guarantee you a seat on the bus. Therefore, I would recommend getting to the bus stop at least 30 minutes before to secure a seat.

We had a bit of a nightmare with this and had booked onto the 8:30am bus. However, 10 days previous they had moved to a new bus station which wasn’t clear on Google maps, so we ended up going to the wrong place. This meant we got to the bus station later than we would have liked (although still before 8:30) and they had already filled the bus. This meant they just put us on the 9:30am bus instead.

One Night in Tirana Before Flying Home

We only had one night in Tirana, so we used it to just explore the city before our morning flight home. Tirana has a completely different energy to the coastal towns — more city buzz, colourful buildings, good food, and enough going on to warrant a day exploring.

Why Albania Is Incredible Value for Money

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this post, it’s this: Albania is unbelievable value for money. Food, accommodation, transport, activities, it all costs a fraction of what you’d pay in most of Western Europe, without compromising on the experience. If you loved how far your money stretched in my Southeast Asia budget breakdown, Albania gives you that same feeling, except you can get there on a short flight from the UK.

The sea alone makes it worth the trip. That crystal clear water along the Albanian Riviera genuinely rivals anywhere I’ve swum, and I say that as someone who’s been lucky enough to see a fair few coastlines at this point.

Taking a Risk and Travelling With Strangers

I won’t pretend I wasn’t nervous going into this trip. Meeting two girls for the first time at the airport and then spending a week living out of hostels and travelling across a new country together is a proper leap of faith. But it paid off completely, and it’s reminded me why I love solo-adjacent travel so much (if you’ve read my post on travelling Australia alone, you’ll know I’m no stranger to throwing myself into the unknown).

There’s something about travelling with people you don’t know yet that pushes you to be more open, more flexible, and honestly just have more fun with it. If you’re on the fence about a trip like this, I’d say go for it. Worst case, it’s a week of your life. Best case, you come home with two new friends and a new favourite country.

Is Albania Worth Visiting?

Genuinely, yes. This trip confirmed everything I needed to know about the Balkans. There’s so much more of Albania I didn’t get to see this time, and I’m already thinking about when I can get back to explore further.

If you’re planning an Albania itinerary of your own, I’d say: don’t rush it, build in time for both the coast and the mountains, and don’t be afraid to say yes to the boat trips and detours along the way.

Enjoy your Travels!

Em x

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