For your trip to Albania, you've made your decision: you want to rent a car and explore independently ! Driving in Albania, recommended itineraries and cities to discover… Discover all our tips for planning a self-drive holiday in Albania !

Driving in Albania

Renting a car in Albania can offer numerous advantages. While bus networks are well-developed, a car will save you time. More importantly, it's the best way to travel at your own pace and discover the most remote and unexpected places in the country. But before embarking on a self-drive adventure, it's worth taking stock of driving in Albania.

Although not always observed, speed limits do exist:

• 40 km/h in built-up areas,

• 80 km/h on national roads,

• 90 km/h on roads reserved exclusively for motor vehicles,

• 110 km/h on motorways.

Also note that dipped headlights are mandatory in Albania, both day and night !

Outside towns, particularly in mountainous areas, you're likely to encounter animals on the road. For this reason, you'll need to stay alert and avoid driving at night. Generally speaking, we recommend avoiding mountain roads in bad weather, maintaining safe distances to anticipate unexpected driving from other motorists, and taking out comprehensive insurance.

The must-see destinations for a self-drive tour in Albania

If you're planning to take a self-drive tour in Albania, there are must-see destinations to include on your itinerary. Between each of them, you'll also discover off-the-beaten-path sites, cross stunning landscapes, and stop wherever you please. Here are the places you absolutely must see on a road trip by car in Albania :

Tirana

Start your self-drive tour in Tirana, Albania's capital. This is where you'll pick up your rental car. But before setting off to explore the country, take time to visit this constantly evolving city, whose unique atmosphere will fascinate you…

Among the things to see and do in Tirana, we recommend the famous New Bazar market, the great Skënderbej square, the Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation, Bunk'Art (which plunges you into the country's history), the Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, and Blok, the lively, trendy neighbourhood. For a stunning view over the Albanian capital, you can take a cable car to Mount Dajti. Hiking trails also allow you to gain height over the city.

Shkodra

Next head to the north of Albania where you can reach the city of Shkodra. Located in the foothills of the Albanian Alps, it's the largest city in the north of the country and a choice cultural destination. Before heading to the city centre, stop at Rozafa Castle, built by the Illyrians in the 3rd century BC, as well as the Shkodër Lead Mosque. Once in the centre, you can discover charming stone houses weathered by time and impressive buildings such as the Cathedral of Saint Stefan.

Around the city, you can easily reach Lake Shkodra, the largest lake in the Balkans where you can enjoy fresh air in nature ! We also recommend the Vau i Dejës reservoir, which is home to Shurdhah Island (accessible by boat), where you'll find the remains of the medieval city of Sarda.

Karavasta Lagoon

Your journey can continue on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea to the Karavasta Lagoon at Divjakë. Located in the heart of the Divjaka-Karavasta National Park, this lagoon is the largest in the country. Designated as an Important Bird Conservation Area and Ramsar site, the lagoon is renowned for harboring a rich concentration of fauna and flora, particularly migratory bird species. Depending on the season, you may be lucky enough to spot pelicans or flamingos. In addition to hiking, you can also enjoy kayaking and boat trips on the lagoon.

Dhermi

After feasting your eyes in the lagoon, you can take the road south along the Albanian coast. Your next stop can be the charming seaside resort of Dhermi. This seaside break will allow you to discover some of Albania's most beautiful beaches, with the Ceraunian Mountains as a backdrop, where numerous hiking trails await you. You can also rent a boat to explore Gjipe Bay and take boat excursions to discover the stunning Gjipe Canyon, also called the "Garden of the Gods".

Berat

To complete your self-drive holiday, we suggest heading about fifty kilometres from the Adriatic Sea to the city of Berat. Nestled in a hilly region crossed by the Osam River, it's one of Albania's oldest cities. Nicknamed the "City of a Thousand Windows", you'll discover architecture typical of the Ottoman period. The city is also renowned for its exemplary tolerance between different religious communities.

Among the sites you must discover, we can mention the Sultan's Mosque of Berat (one of the oldest Muslim buildings in Albania) and Berat Castle (over 2,500 years old) and its citadel where Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques coexist. It's worth noting that the city of Berat is also the ideal starting point for a trek to Mount Tomor, Albania's highest peak, where you'll find at its summit the Bektashi sanctuary, which is an important pilgrimage site.  

A travel log tailored to your desires

You want to explore Albania independently but don't want to handle the organization of your stay ? Our team can help you ! We can arrange car rental on your behalf and have it delivered to you on arrival. Based on your preferences and expectations, we prepare a travel log detailing an itinerary to follow. Restaurant recommendations, hotels and accommodations, dining options, lists of cities to visit and sites to discover between each stage accompanied by a guide for each destination… You won't have to think about anything. Just enjoy your journey in total freedom with no organizational constraints !

Request your quote now for the Albania Discovery self-drive tour or the Wonders of Albania self-drive tour