Ksamil's white beach, clear water and green islets on the Albanian Riviera
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Albania

From the turquoise coves of the Albanian Riviera and the islets of Ksamil to ancient Butrint and the stone towns of Berat and Gjirokastër: Albania, the Mediterranean's newest coast, chosen by one rule: first class or not at all.

Ksamil, the Albanian RivieraPhotograph: Vangel Dimo

Kultura

The last undiscovered coast

Closed to the world for much of the twentieth century, Albania has become the Mediterranean's newest coast. South of Vlorë, the Albanian Riviera runs beneath the Ceraunian Mountains in a line of white-pebble coves and clear water, down to the islets of Ksamil facing Corfu.

Near Ksamil, the ancient city of Butrint, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian in turn, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its lagoon. Inland, the Ottoman towns of Berat, the city of a thousand windows, and Gjirokastër, the stone city, share a second UNESCO listing.

This guide brings together only the first class. No hotel, restaurant or beach club on the coast yet meets our standard, and we say so plainly; we will add them when they do.

A few words of Albanian
EnglishAlbanianSay it
HelloPërshëndetjepuhr-shun-DET-yeh
PleaseJu lutemyoo LOO-tem
Thank youFaleminderitfah-leh-meen-DEH-reet
Good eveningMirëmbrëmameer-um-BRUH-mah
The bill, pleaseLlogarinë, ju lutemloh-gah-REE-nuh, yoo LOO-tem

Where to go

The best places to visit in Albania

The Albanian Riviera: the best time to visit and how to arrive by private jet, helicopter or yacht.

Albanian Riviera

Best time to visitJune and September are best: warm sea and almost no rain, with the beaches far quieter than in the July and August peak.

  • Stay
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Dine
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Tirana International Airport (TIA / LATI), about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours by car to Dhërmi. For the southern Riviera around Sarandë, Corfu Airport (CFU / LGKR) in Greece is the usual alternative, with a fast-boat crossing to Sarandë of about 30 minutes.
By helicopter
Not a regular option.
By sea
No superyacht marina here yet meets our standard. D-Marin Vlora, with 438 berths for yachts up to 50 metres, is due to open in 2027, about an hour by car from Dhërmi; Sarandë port has a superyacht jetty for picking up and dropping off guests.

Beyond the coast

Berat and Gjirokastër

Berat

A hill town in central Albania with white Ottoman houses below a castle, the Kala, built mainly in the 13th century. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra, and its Byzantine churches date from the 13th century.

Best time to visitApril to June, September and October.

  • Stay
    No hotel here yet meets our standard; visit as a day trip from Tirana.

Gjirokastër

A stone town in the Drinos valley of southern Albania, built around a 13th-century citadel, with tall tower houses from the 17th to 19th centuries and a traditional bazaar. It shares the UNESCO World Heritage listing with Berat.

Best time to visitApril to June, September and October.

  • Stay
    No hotel here yet meets our standard; visit as a day trip from Sarandë.

Cruises

Albania by sea

How the ships arrive in Albania, and the luxury lines that call.

Ships call at Sarandë, anchoring in the bay and bringing guests ashore by tender, a short drive from Ksamil and the ruins of Butrint.

The luxury lines that call here

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise LinesSuites at Sea

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Albania and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

When is the best time to visit Albania?

June and September are best: warm sea and almost no rain, with the beaches far quieter than in the July and August peak.

How do you arrive in Albania by private jet?

Tirana International Airport (TIA / LATI), about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours by car to Dhërmi.

Do you tip in Albania?

Not obligatory. In restaurants, rounding up to the nearest lek note is usual, and about 10% is the norm on bigger bills. Rounding up is usual for drivers. Luxury hotels: porters the equivalent of €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, in lek or euros, which are often accepted in tourist areas.

What should you wear in Albania?

Mosques and churches expect shoulders and knees covered. Women should bring a scarf for mosques, and shoes come off at the door. The coast is relaxed, but cover up away from the beach. No hard-soled shoes on yacht decks. Smart-casual suits fine dining.

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Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in Albania

How Albania does things.

Language
Albanian (shqip) is the official language. English is spoken in upscale hotels and restaurants in Tirana and on the Riviera, and Italian is widely understood.
Greetings
A handshake is the norm on meeting. Friends and family often greet with cheek kisses. Albanians go out of their way to welcome foreign guests, so accept coffee or a small drink when it is offered.
Dress
Mosques and churches expect shoulders and knees covered. Women should bring a scarf for mosques, and shoes come off at the door. The coast is relaxed, but cover up away from the beach. No hard-soled shoes on yacht decks. Smart-casual suits fine dining.
Dining
Lunch is typically early-to-mid afternoon. Dinner starts late in summer, often after 8 pm. Seafood on the Riviera and slow-cooked mountain dishes inland are highlights.
Tipping
Not obligatory. In restaurants, rounding up to the nearest lek note is usual, and about 10% is the norm on bigger bills. Rounding up is usual for drivers. Luxury hotels: porters the equivalent of €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, in lek or euros, which are often accepted in tourist areas.
Good to know
Albanian head gestures run opposite to most of Europe: a shake (more of a wobble) of the head means "yes", and a nod (more of a tilt) means "no". When in doubt, confirm in words.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

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