Albania is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Though it increases in popularity each year, the country is largely ignored by tourists, who still think of it as a post-communist backwater (as if the world hasn’t changed in the last 30 years). Yet this is a land of untouched natural beauty, with a rich history dating back to the ancient Illyrians. It has become a solid favorite of backpackers looking for an affordable, off-the-beaten-path destination to explore. Albania is on the up and up, with more tourists visiting each year. I think will become as popular (and expensive) as Croatia in the next couple of years, so visit now before the crowds come.
This travel guide to Albania can help you plan the perfect trip there without blowing your budget
Backpacking Albania Suggested Budgets
If you are backpacking Albania, expect to spend about 3,350 LEK per day. This budget covers a hostel dorm, cooking some meals, limiting your drinking, using public transportation, and sticking to free and cheap activities, like hiking and free tours. If you plan on drinking a lot (Sarandë and Tirana are big party spots), add another 500-1,000 LEK to your daily budget.
On a mid-range budget of around 9,000 LEK per day, you can stay in private hostel rooms or private Airbnbs, eat out for all your meals, see all the sites you want, do day tours, and take taxis where you want. This budget will get you whatever you want, within limits. You won’t be restricted, but you won’t be living the lux life.
On a “luxury” budget of around 14,800 LEK per day, you can basically do whatever you want here. The country is super cheap, and if you’re spending this amount of money per day, the sky is the limit!
You can use the chart below to get an idea of how much you need to budget daily. Keep in mind that these are daily averages — some days you may spend more, some days less (or you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in LEK (1 LEK = $0.97 USD).
Albania Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips
Albania is already a cheap country. You’ll be hard-pressed to spend a lot of money, even if you’re staying in private rooms or hotels. You really have to go out of your way to spend money here. I didn’t find the country expensive at all and I wasn’t even trying to budget here. If you are looking to save a few LEK, here are some tips:
- Take a free walking tour – Tirana Free Tour offers a free walking tour, which is a great way to get familiar with the city and its sites, learn some history, and ask a local guide all your questions. There are also free walking tours in Berat and Shokdër.
- Cook your own meals – Many hostels here include kitchen facilities, so if you want to save money, cook your own meals! Groceries are cheap here and you’ll find a lot of farmer’s markets around.
- Stay with a local – Staying with a local via Couchsurfing is a great way to not only save money but to meet a knowledgeable local who can help you better understand the city and its people.
- Walk everywhere – Most towns and cities in Albania are walkable, so skip the public transportation and taxis to save money.
- Enjoy the outdoors – There are plenty of free hiking trails and outdoor activities around the country that can fill your days.
- Take advantage of wild camping – As it is legal to camp anywhere in Albania, traveling with a tent, or in a camper van, is the perfect way to save money on accommodation.
- Bring a water bottle – The tap water here usually isn’t safe to drink, so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand, as its bottles have built-in filters to ensure that your water is always clean and safe.
How to Get Around Albania
Public Transportation – In most towns and cities, almost everywhere is accessible on foot. Otherwise, take the bus. The fares costs 30-40 LEK per ride.
To get from the airport to Tirana, the cheapest way is via the airport shuttle. It runs from 6am until 6pm and drops you off near the National Museum of Tirana. It costs 300 LEK (one way) and takes around 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi for 2,500 LEK.
Taxis – Taxis are readily available in all the major cities. Expect to pay 250 LEK to turn on the meter plus another 250 LEK for every kilometer. A lot of taxis will just quote you a price, which will be overly inflated. Make sure they put on the meter!
Trains – Albania has a small rail network, but I never saw or heard of anyone taking it. The locals I talked to say it is too unreliable and slow. Use the bus network instead, as it has a far bigger reach, and is faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
Bus – Buses go everywhere in Albania and are the main form of transportation. They loosely follow a timetable. From major cities and starting points, they tend to leave on time. But getting to your destination? Add an hour buffer just to be safe. The roads are always jammed and aren’t in great shape, so on-time arrivals are rare.
Buses cost from 300 to over 1000 LEK depending on how are far you go. A bus from Sarandë to Tirana costs about 1,300 LEK, while Berat to Tirana costs about 400 LEK and takes under three hours. The two-hour journey from Vlorë to Berat is around 400 LEK.
For international bus travel, you can find buses to or from Sofia for 3,000 LEK on the slow bus (12 hours) or 7,750 LEK on the fast bus (8.5 hours). The 3.5-hour bus journey from Montenegro costs around 2,000 LEK.
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