Travel info
Where to Stay in Albania: Cities, Beaches and Regions
Where to stay in Albania is less a question of hotel and more a question of region. The country is small but varied, and the right choice of base saves hours of driving. The simple rule: pick two or three “hubs” along your route rather than changing hotel every night.
The main bases
- Tirana — around Blloku or Skanderbeg Square. Everything is walkable, and that’s where the cafés and the life concentrate. Hotels in Blloku
- Sarandë — the most convenient base for Ksamil and Butrint, with a promenade and the sea. Stays in Sarandë
- Himarë — the balanced base for the Riviera, central for the hidden coves. Stays in Himarë
- Berat — a restored Ottoman stone house in the Gorica quarter, looking across at the lit town. Stays in Berat
- Gjirokastër — a stone house in the old town; the number of rooms is limited. Stays in Gjirokastër
- Shkodër — the gateway to the Alps, the night before the ferry. Stays in Shkodër
Types and prices
The range is wide: hostels (€10–20 a bed), private rooms and apartments (very common, €25–50), boutique and beach hotels (€50–120), and in the mountain villages guesthouses with half board (€30–45 per person). Outside peak summer, good lodging is easily found under €50 a night. If you would rather not drive between bases, multi-day tours bundle the accommodation and the transport together.
For planning by route see the itineraries and the cities guide. For the full picture: the Albania guide and the practical info guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to base yourself in Albania?
It depends on your route. In Tirana — around Blloku or Skanderbeg Square. In the south — Sarandë is the most convenient base for Ksamil and Butrint, and Himarë for the Riviera. In the stone cities (Berat, Gjirokastër) it's worth staying in the old quarter. In the north — Shkodër as the gateway to the Alps.
What types of accommodation are there in Albania?
A wide range: cheap hostels, private rooms and apartments (very common and cheap), boutique hotels and beach hotels. In the mountain villages lodging is in guesthouses, usually with homemade half board. Everything is roughly cheap compared with Europe.
Do you need to book accommodation in advance?
In peak season (July–August) in the south — definitely, months ahead, as Ksamil and Sarandë fill up. The rest of the year you can improvise, but booking ahead secures a better price and location.
Working out where to stay?
Compare live prices and availability across hundreds of hotels, apartments and guesthouses in this area.