Even with the boom of the last 5 years, Albania remains one of Europe’s most underexplored countries. A 30-minute drive off the main coastal route takes you to villages where you’re still the novelty of the day. With a rental car at Tirana Airport and a willingness to take dirt roads, you can find an Albania that almost no other tourist has seen.
These 12 destinations are personal favourites — places we’ve genuinely returned to, not just lifted off a list. Most are doable as side trips off the standard 7-day route, and several are worth a full extra day each.
1. Përmet thermal baths
Tucked deep in the Vjosa river valley near the Greek border, Përmet is a small town surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape in Albania. The reason to come: the Bënja thermal baths — natural hot springs flowing into stone Ottoman pools beside the famous arched stone bridge. Free to use, open year-round, magical at sunrise. Bring a swimsuit and towel.
2. Lake Koman ferry
The 3-hour ferry through the Lake Koman gorges is one of Europe’s most spectacular boat rides — sheer cliffs, isolated villages clinging to slopes, water so clean it looks like glass. Used by Albanian highlanders as their main transport for decades. Park your rental at the Koman dock (~€5/day), take the ferry to Fierza, and either continue to Valbona or return by minivan.
3. Zvërnec Monastery
On a tiny island in the Narta Lagoon north of Vlorë, the 13th-century Zvërnec Monastery is reached by a long wooden bridge through a forest of pine trees. Few tourists make it here; on a weekday morning you may have it entirely to yourself. Combine with a stop at Albania’s flamingo-rich lagoon.
4. Apollonia ruins
Founded by Greek colonists in 588 BC and once one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire, Apollonia today is a vast archaeological park where you can wander largely alone among temples, theatres, and Byzantine churches. Sometimes called “the Pompeii of the Adriatic”, it’s shockingly under-visited.
5. Valbona waterfalls and Çerem
Most people who hike the Albanian Alps stop at Valbona village. Push another 1.5 hours up the valley to Çerem, a high-mountain shepherd’s plateau with simple guesthouses and the genuinely jaw-dropping Valbona waterfall hike. You’ll likely see more horses than people. See our Albanian Alps guide for context.
6. Korçë
Albania’s most cultured city — known for its beer, its food, its old-bazaar bookshops, and its surprisingly Parisian boulevards. Skipped by most international travellers because it’s 4 hours east of Tirana, away from the main coastal routes. Worth two nights for the food alone. The October beer festival is one of the country’s great events.
7. Pogradec and Lini village
Lake Ohrid is shared with North Macedonia and the Macedonian side gets all the press. The Albanian side is quieter, cheaper, and just as beautiful. Don’t miss the tiny village of Lini on the lake’s western shore — stone houses, fish restaurants, and possibly the most peaceful sunset view in the country.
8. Theth Lock-In Tower and the Blue Eye of Theth
The Lock-In Tower in Theth is an 18th-century stone “refuge tower” that sheltered men marked for death by the local blood-feud Kanun. The Blue Eye of Theth (different from the southern Blue Eye near Saranda) is a deep blue spring at the bottom of a 4-hour return hike from Theth village. The hike is one of the great walks in Europe.
9. Drilon Springs (near Pogradec)
A canal-and-spring system feeding Lake Ohrid, lined with traditional restaurants serving fresh trout. A peaceful afternoon spot — paddleboats, picnic tables, and excellent fish lunches.
10. The Osumi Canyon (Berat region)
A 26-kilometre limestone gorge often called “Albania’s Grand Canyon”. From April to June you can raft through it; later in summer you can walk parts. Combine with a Berat overnight. See our Berat & Gjirokastër UNESCO guide for the area context.
11. Razma and Boge highland villages
On the way to Theth via the SH21, the highland villages of Razma and Boge are perfect places to break the drive. Boge is a tiny ski village (yes, with a single ski lift in winter) surrounded by limestone peaks. The food at Boge’s family-run guesthouses is excellent.
12. Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park
Albania’s only marine national park, covering the Karaburun peninsula and Sazan island west of Vlorë. Reached only by boat. Crystal-clear water, sea caves, and abandoned military tunnels from the communist period (Sazan was a closed military zone until the 2000s). Day boat tours from Vlorë, ~€40 per person.
How to fit these into a trip
Most travellers won’t do all 12 in one trip. The realistic breakdown:
- Easy add to a 7-day southern loop: Apollonia (Day 3 detour), Zvërnec (after Vlorë), Përmet (en route Berat–Gjirokastër).
- Requires a dedicated north-Albania extension: Lake Koman, Theth, Çerem, Razma/Boge.
- Requires a full extra day: Korçë, Pogradec/Lini.
- Day trip from Vlorë: Karaburun-Sazan boat tour.
Practical tips for off-the-beaten-path travel in Albania
- Carry cash. Many of these places have no ATMs.
- Fuel up before mountains. Gas stations are scarce in the highlands.
- Get Full Casco insurance. Some of these roads are gravel or rough — chip-and-scratch incidents are common. See our car rental tips guide.
- Download offline maps. Mobile data is patchy in the deep north and east.
- Bring a small gift if you’re staying in family guesthouses — chocolates or coffee from Tirana are appreciated.
- Don’t rush. The point of off-the-beaten-path travel is to slow down. Spend 2 nights minimum at each.
Final thoughts
These places represent the Albania most travellers miss — quiet, rural, deeply hospitable, and shaped by traditions that are 500 or 1,000 years old. They’re also the parts of the country that take the most planning and the most car. If you have 10+ days, build at least three of them into your route. They’re what you’ll be telling people about back home.