5-Day Albania Itinerary — Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër & the Riviera
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Itinerary · 7 min read

5-Day Albania Itinerary — Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastër & the Riviera

A balanced short trip that reaches both UNESCO old towns and gives you a real day on the Albanian Riviera.

Day 1 · Tirana

Land at TIA, pick up a rental and base in Tirana for the night. Bunk'Art 1 and a Blloku evening.

Day 2 · Tirana → Berat

Two-hour drive. Mangalem and Gorica old quarters, sunset over the citadel, dinner in the old town.

Day 3 · Berat → Gjirokastër

Three-hour drive with a stop at the Blue Eye spring on the way in. Sunset on the castle ramparts, dinner in the old bazaar.

Day 4 · Gjirokastër → Vlorë & the Riviera

Drive to Vlorë, then on to Dhërmi or Himarë over the Llogara pass for an afternoon and evening on the beach.

Day 5 · Riviera → Tirana

Drive back to Tirana via Vlorë — about four hours with stops — for an evening departure.

From the road

Vlorë coastal road with a small stone tunnel cut into the cliff, pink oleander flowers in the foreground and turquoise Ionian sea with rocks and waves, Albania
Vlorë coast road — seaside tunnel framed by pink oleander

Practical tips

  • This is the shortest itinerary that genuinely covers both UNESCO old towns and the coast.
  • Book a Riviera beach club a day ahead in July–August.
  • The Llogara pass is one of Europe's great coastal drives — do it in daylight if you can.

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Tirana International Hotel in Tirana, Albania
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Tirana International Hotel

Landmark high-rise overlooking Skanderbeg Square — you cannot get more central. Walk to the museum, the mosque, the pyramid.

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Maritim Hotel Plaza Tirana in Tirana, Albania
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Maritim Hotel Plaza Tirana

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Rogner Hotel Tirana in Tirana, Albania
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Low-rise five-star hidden in a private garden on Dëshmorët Boulevard — palm-lined drive, outdoor pool, longest-running luxury address in the city.

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