The Perfect Albania Road Trip Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14-Day Routes
By Ermal · May 19, 2026 · 14 min read
Three routes covering the Alps, the UNESCO towns and the coast, with realistic driving times. Google Maps underestimates Albanian roads.
Albania is small on the map and huge on the road. The country is two-thirds mountains, the coastal highway bends around every cove, and Google Maps' time estimates are wildly optimistic. Plan around that and a road trip here is hard to beat: castles without queues, empty mountain passes, and good coffee at every fuel stop.
Below are the three routes we drive with guests, with realistic timings. Rule one for all of them: never plan more than three hours of driving in a day. Rule two: leave room for detours.
Albaniaitineraryataglance:7,10or14days
Not sure how long to spend? Here's how the three road trip routes compare.
Route
Driving
Best for
Don't miss
7 days
~16 hours total
A first visit, highlights only
Berat, Gjirokastër, the Riviera, Llogara Pass
10 days
Add ~6 hours
Highlights plus the mountains
Theth, the Valbona pass, Komani Lake ferry
14 days
Relaxed pace
Seeing the whole country
Shkodra, Korça, Lake Ohrid, a second Riviera day
7days:thegreatesthitsloop
The route we drive most: Tirana, Bovilla Lake, both UNESCO towns (Berat and Gjirokastër), the Blue Eye, and a Riviera finish over the Llogara Pass. About 16 hours of driving across the week, and it feels relaxed, not rushed.
Take the 7-day loop and bolt the north on the front: two nights in Theth, the Blue Eye of Theth and the Grunas waterfall, then the Komani Lake ferry — three hours of fjord-like scenery — down to join the loop at Tirana.
Two weeks adds the bits one-week visitors regret skipping: a real day in Shkodra, Korça and the Ohrid lakeside, the Theth–Valbona hike between two national parks, and a second Riviera day spent doing nothing but swimming.
Roads: main routes are good asphalt; the last kilometre to anything beautiful is often gravel. A compact SUV is the sweet spot. Fuel and cash: fill up in towns, carry lek for village cafés. Police checkpoints are routine; carry your licence and rental papers.
If you'd rather watch the scenery than the road, our 7-day guided road trip runs the same loop with a local at the wheel. But with these notes, you can also drive it yourself.
Tours along this route
Multi-Day
Tirana → Albanian Alps → Berat → Riviera → Saranda
The classic Theth-to-Valbona crossing of the Accursed Mountains, with guesthouse nights, home-cooked dinners and the Komani Lake ferry, fully organised.
Two southern icons in one day: the stone city of Gjirokastër with its hilltop fortress, and the Blue Eye, a 50-metre-deep spring of vivid blue water.
Full day
From€42
Frequently asked questions
01How many days do you need for an Albania road trip?
Seven days covers the highlights: the UNESCO towns of Berat and Gjirokastër and the Riviera coast. Ten days adds the northern Alps, and fourteen lets you see the whole country at a relaxed pace.
02Is Albania good for a self-drive road trip?
Yes. Main roads are good asphalt, fuel is cheap and distances are short. Plan around two things: the last stretch to many beaches and viewpoints is gravel, and Google Maps underestimates drive times. A compact car handles most routes; take an SUV for Theth and mountain tracks.
03What is the best 10-day Albania itinerary?
Start in the north with Theth, the Valbona pass and the Komani Lake ferry, then drop south for Berat, Gjirokastër and three nights on the Riviera. The full day-by-day is in the 10-day section above.
04Can you do an Albania road trip without a car?
You can follow most of these routes by intercity bus and furgon, but it is slower and timetables are loose. If you would rather not drive, our 7-day guided road trip covers the same loop with a local driver.
Want to see it with a local?
Our small-group tours cover everything in this guide: pickup, guide and advice included.
Multi-Day
Adventure
Day Trip
