The research phase of any travel is some of the most enjoyable parts of the whole trip for me. As I go from one website to another, an article to the next, a book after the other, I slowly get ready to the eventual trip itself, while also hyping myself up for it. That hype is quite useful in making the trip even more enjoyable. One of the hardships of doing such research though has often to do with budgeting. No matter how much time you put into it, how many articles you read, and how many cost comparisons you make, it is an art to figure out how much a trip would actually cost beforehand.
To help out with such monetary matters, and also help give an idea of what a two-week (cultural heritage and everyday life observation oriented) trip to Albania could look like, I ended up writing the following article. I do hope that it is of some use to you in your own plans, and I am quite certain that it will be quite useful compared to knowing the “average” price of espresso or an “average” meal in the centre of Tirana because let us face it, such averages often mean nothing for the “average” traveller.
For example, though Tirana was considered to be more expensive than Istanbul according to many websites that deal with such comparisons, the reality on the ground was much different with both the accommodation and restaurant prices being much cheaper than their Turkish counterparts. I am sure that a lot goes into those comparisons and that they have their own merits and uses but let us now look at (a ton of) prices in Albania and try to figure out just how cheap or expensive it is for you.
General Itinerary Notes
- Albania may look small on the world map, but it offers a lot to its visitors. Anything from a purely beach and party holiday to a nature/trekking oriented trip, and even from a fully immersive cultural visit to a more relaxed city-hopping centric plan could be easily achieved using Albania as one’s “playground.” What that means is that one’s itinerary for it can change radically from another. For example, we met an Italian family during our travels who came up with an almost three-month plan to see almost all Albania has to offer. Would be a lie if I said that I was not at least a bit jealous! I have also met day-trippers from Montenegro and Macedonia, and plenty of others that were staying in Albania for anywhere from a day to a year. I guess you can say the same for all countries in the world but at the end of the day, to speak about a “minimum required number of days to see Albania” sounds quite dumb to me, as it really is up to the specific traveller at hand and what they wish to achieve in the country.
- Speaking of what one wants to do, what we wanted to accomplish with our own trip to Albania was simple: a short and relaxing beach holiday followed by a decent exploration of the capital and its surroundings. We never planned to “see all that Albania has to offer” as that would be nightmarishly tiring within the given time frame. It may be a small country, but minibus/furgon drivers seem to enjoy making sure that an hour-long road could take as long as possible, making it relatively slow to get around the country. Visiting all important towns and heritage sites without having a car of our own could take around two weeks alone, spent mostly in mass transit, and that is not how we like to travel. We, at least I, prefer to immerse myself for at least a week in any “big city” I go to to be able to say that I know a bit about it and its denizens. That meant that at the end of the day, we only stayed in Vlorë and Tirana, and thanks to a few day trips we also got to see Berat and Krujë. Many other destinations like Sarandë, Durrës, Shkodër, Korça, Gjirokaster must wait for (hopefully) another trip to this beautiful country.
General Budgetary Notes
- Prices will all be in Albanian lek. It seems to be somewhat stable against the likes of USD and Euro, but we go through rather rough times and as such, in order for this article to be future proof, I will leave them in their local currencies. Admittedly, that could mean that local inflation may make the figures found in this article somewhat useless in due time as well, so do keep that in mind.
- Cash is the king in Albania so budgeting your trip is more important than ever. I have only really seen payment with card being an option in one single restaurant we have been to, and even some supermarkets do not really accept anything but cash.
- I went to Albania for a total of sixteen days if you include the days we flew in and out of the country, so, it was a proper two-week trip. We were there from 12th of June 2022 to 27th of June 2022.
- I keep saying “we” in some writings of mine on Albania as I was there with my mother. That means that the budgeting you see below will be for two people. My mother was not there in all my “exploratory activities” though so I will be noting whether each expenditure below were for one or two.
- You can only really buy ALL in Albania so try to bring some USD or Euro there. They say that Euros are the better option as at certain places you can even pay by Euros BUT that is a huge mistake. Prices in Euros are almost always far more expensive, sometimes up to 50 percent more, and so it is not worth it. Besides, foreign exchange offices work perfectly all-around Albania, with extremely welcome rates. These rates seemed to be the best in Tirana though so keep that in mind, however even in Vlorë they were quite superb.
- Tipping is expected in more “proper” restaurants where you can feel that the waiter wants to tend to all your requests, though it is never mandatory. If you like the service, tipping around 10% percent should not be an issue. Most bills written below with a total more than 1000 ALL spent often include a tip with them as well. Some cheaper ones also include a tip if I was satisfied with the service. In most cases these tips are only around 50 to 100 ALL though so even if you were to skimp on them all, it is not like you would save a lot of cash.
- We do not really like having a “proper” breakfast as we wake up too early and eat something before 7am at home, often with some tea. Then we usually opt for a somewhat early lunch. Therefore you will see “groceries” being bought almost daily, to let us enjoy some cookies, biscuits, bread, cheese, ham etc. in the morning. You can sort of think of them as our way of having breakfast, alongside with irregular visits to the nearest byrektore.
- It is not recommended to drink the tap water in Albania, and that meant that up to 2000 ALL we spent on groceries was actually spent on water, so do keep that in mind during your travels.
My Albanian Trip
12.06.2022 Sunday
We landed at Tirana International Airport, took a shuttle bus to Vlorë and settled into our Airbnb on our first day in Albania.
Hermes shuttle bus ride from TIA to Vlorë for two – 2400 ALL
Vodafone SIM card with a 7GB/Month plan – 1200 ALL
Gyro dinner for two at Angelos – 520 ALL
Groceries – 1460 ALL
Total – 5580 ALL
While they are not as good as the ones you can find in Greece, Albania nevertheless offers some memorable gyros meals of their own, especially in the more southern parts of the country where a noticeable Greek community lives. To find out more about such budget friendly meals one can have in Albania, do read THIS article of mine.
13.06.2022 Monday
Today was spent exploring what Vlorë had to offer, though we also enjoyed the beach for a few hours as well.
Two byreks to enjoy at the beach – 140 ALL
A Hawaiian Pizza at Ciao Italia Pizza Hallal – 700 ALL
Two Turkish coffees at the café next to Kuzum Baba – 200 ALL
Dinner at Novus Traditional Food Restaurant for two – 1000 ALL
Groceries – 620 ALL
Total – 2660 ALL
Read all about the sleep but beautiful Vlorë and what to do there HERE!
14.06.2022 Tuesday
Today was a slow day, meaning that we spent the majority of it indoors, trying to recover from a serious case of sunstroke thanks to the Adriatic sun. We still spent some time at the beach too.
KFC delivery for two – 1000 ALL
Two perfect pizzas at LaNonna – 1600 ALL
Groceries – 90 ALL
Total – 2690 ALL
While Albania has its own traditional dishes, if you enjoy Italian cuisine, you will be especially spoiled in its Adriatic coast. Moreover, since it is a relatively budget friendly country, even some proper sit down restaurants can surprise you with their affordability. To find out more about such restaurants, make sure to read THIS work of mine.
15.06.2022 Wednesday
Likely the best day of our entire trip, as on this lovely day, we took a boat tour to Sazan Island and Karaburun Peninsula!
Sazan Island and Karaburun Peninsula boat tour for two – 5000 ALL
Byrek and pizza slices for a lunch aboard the boat – 280 ALL
Gyro dinner for two at SUFLLAQE – 580 ALL
Pastries – 360 ALL
Groceries – 70 ALL
Total – 6290 ALL
Read more about this fantastic boat tour HERE!
16.06.2022 Thursday
This was our second slow day. We needed some rest following the wonderful but tiring boat tour and also wanted to save some energy for tomorrow’s lovely yet lenghty walk to Zvërnec Island.
Gyro lunch for two at 3 Fiori – 730 ALL
A packet of cigarillo and a lighter for my mother – 450 ALL
Seafood feast at Restorant Tradicional Zgara for two – 1700 ALL
Byreks and sweets for tomorrow’s breakfast – 330 ALL
Groceries – 180 ALL
Total – 3390 ALL
The folks at Restorant Tradicional Zgara knew how to make the best out of the freshly caught seafood from the Adriatic Sea. Well, admittedly Albanians in general know how to enjoy their meals properly. You can read what I think about the Albanian cuisine at large HERE, and you can also find out my impressions of the Albanian drinking culture HERE.
17.06.2022 Friday
We enjoyed an early morning walk to Zvërnec Island and the lovely monastery on it. However, the long was too long, and the sun was too hot so we hitchhiked on the way back to our Airbnb, for which we paid a small sum as is usual in this part of the globe. We managed to swim a bit more today as well.
Hitchhiker’s fee – 450 ALL
Dinner for two at Taverna Te LILO – 1380 ALL
Byreks for tomorrow’s breakfast – 260 ALL
Groceries – 70 ALL
Total – 2160 ALL
Read more about this memorable yet admittedly tiresome walk and about other such outings of mine in Albania HERE! Also, we came across too many bunkers on this route. If you want to find out why, make sure to check out THIS article.
18.06.2022 Saturday
After enjoying a quick early morning swimming session we moved from Vlorë to Tirana. Once settled in to our second and final Airbnb for the trip, we got acquainted with the neighbourhood we were staying in.
Bus ride to Tirana from Vlorë for two – 1200 ALL
A very light lunch with a single slice of pizza per person – 240 ALL
Grilled meat feast at Tek Zgara Tirones for two – 1800 ALL
Groceries – 1760 ALL
Total – 4940 ALL
To find out more about how to travel around Albania do read THIS article of mine!
19.06.2022 Sunday
After injuring her feet during our long walk on Friday, my mother would opt to rest for the next two days. I made sure to stuff the apartment with some snacks and drinks for my mother, and we even cooked together in the evening. I did some sightseeing around the city center and managed to visit the National History Museum as well.
Pharmacy run for my mother’s feet – 570 ALL
A kilogram of cherries – 100 ALL
National History Museum – 500 ALL
Meatball sandwich with six meatballs at Qofte Tradita Met Kodra – 225 ALL
A bottle of dhalle from a nearby kiosk to accompany my sandwich – 60 ALL
Groceries – 1260 ALL
Total – 2705 ALL
To read about all the museums I visited in Albania, please refer to this article HERE!
20.06.2022 Monday
As my mother continued her recovery, I decided to visit Bunk’Art 1 and Bunk’Art 2 museums with a combined ticket to make the best out of the day.
Combined ticket for both Bunk’Art museums – 800 ALL
Quick lunch at Burger King – 1180 ALL
Two legendary seafood sandwiches from Fish ‘N Chips – 650 ALL
Groceries – 825 ALL
Total – 3455 ALL
Little did I know at that time, but the best museum that Albania had to offer was just behind these humble looking doors.
21.06.2022 Tuesday
Thanks to my mom’s full recovery, it was time to explore the city together once again.
Two meatball sandwiches from Qofte Tradita Met Kodra with two dhalle on the side – 570 ALL
A memorable Albanian feast at Restorant Tymi – 900 ALL
Two cocktails at Hemingway Bar as we listened to some local performers – 1400 ALL
Total – 2870 ALL
Albanian food practically revolves around meat, something to keep in mind if you would like to visit the country yourself and do not eat any meat. If you would like to read more about the pros and cons of visiting Albania, you may want check out THIS work of mine.
22.06.2022 Wednesday
Today we had a blast at Berat, exploring its excellent architecture, and enjoying yet another Albanian feast by the Osum river.
Bus ride to the North and South Albania Bus Terminal and back for two – 160 ALL
Bus ride to Berat and back for two – 2000 ALL
Toilet fee at the Berat Castle – 50 ALL
Two bottles of water at an expensive kiosk – 200 ALL
Onufri Iconographic Museum – 400 ALL
An Albanian feast at Apsus – 1430 ALL
One beef Iskender at Capitol Meat & Chicken – 1300 ALL
Total – 5540 ALL
To find out all about Berat and how to spend a day trip there do click HERE!
23.06.2022 Thursday
This was our third and last slow day. We just had to recover from the extremely tiring day trip to Berat, and I personally had to mentally and physically prepare myself for the challenging trekking route I would go for in Krujë the next day.
Two perfect burgers at Delibros – 900 ALL
House of Leaves – 700 ALL
Superb dinner for two at Birrari Ke Tori – 1240 ALL
Groceries – 1500 ALL
Total – 4340 ALL
American fast food scene is thriving in Albania. To find out how American chains are doing here, and how the locals are responding to the trend, please click HERE.
24.06.2022 Friday
While my mother stayed back to rest a bit more, I hiked all the way up to Sari Salltik during an unforgettable day trip to Krujë.
Bus ride to the North and South Albania Bus Terminal and back for one – 80 ALL
Bus ride to and back from Krujë for one – 400 ALL
Pizza and beer at Fabiani Snack Bar & Pizzeri – 800 ALL
Skanderbeg Museum – 500 ALL
A beer and a bottle of water at a local pub in Krujë – 200 ALL
Two more exceptional seafood sandwiches from Fish ‘N Chips – 550 ALL
Total – 2530 ALL
To read all about my day in Krujë refer to this article HERE!
25.06.2022 Saturday
Today we explored the Grand Park of Tirana, which has its very own artificial lake. We also managed to catch an unexpected drifting event at the city center later at night.
Two pastas with a big bottle of water at Pastaria Tirana – 1070 ALL
Four slices of pizza at Laguna Pizza & Ice Cream – 480 ALL
Total – 1550 ALL
You can see older Albanians playing games that range from chess to mahjong in open air arrangements like these all around the country. The richness of this gaming culture can be explained somewhat by the unique political arrangements Albania was a part of throughout recent history. You can read my observation on Albania’s political entanglements with the likes of Americans, Chinese, Italian, and Turks HERE.
26.06.2022 Sunday
This was our last proper day in Albania. We mostly spent it on seeing the sites we liked one last time, having a proper walk around the town, and doing some shopping to bring some souvenirs back home.
Bus ride to and back from TEG for one – 80 ALL
Fried chicken meal at TFC – 640 ALL
Meatball sandwich with four meatballs in it from Qofte Tradita Met Kodra – 155 ALL
Sufllaqe dinner for two at Capitol Meat & Chicken – 600 ALL
Two scoops of ice cream at Laguna Pizza & Ice Cream – 200 ALL
Souvenirs – 3100 ALL
Total – 4775 ALL
While it is one of the smallest capital cities that I visited, Albania’s Tirana is both full of history and quirky new development. If you would like to find out what to see and do over there, you can refer to THIS article.
27.06.2022 Monday
We woke up at 5am and flew back to Istanbul with an early morning flight.
Shuttle to the airport for two – 800 ALL
Two small chocolate bars at the airport – 200 ALL
Total – 1000 ALL
Since we flew with Air Albania this time around, even when we left Albania, Albania did not leave us thanks to the snack boxes that were distributed on board. These were quite welcome, as we had already missed some Albanian flavours. To find out more about the snacking situation in Albania, please feel free to read THIS article of mine.
Grand Total – 500 USD
Yep, USD, not ALL. I exchanged this exact amount of USD, and only had a few Albanian coins left with me at the end of the trip, perhaps around 400 ALL combined. Remember that this is for two people so I would argue that 250 USD would be plenty for just one. Skimping on museums and some more expensive options we ate in could easily bring that down to 200 USD. Always opting for budget meals and not drinking booze at all could mean that you may end up spending as low as 150 USD. I am sure that there are ways to cheapen that further, perhaps by relying on byrektores and supermarkets for most of your dietary needs, and spending nothing on transportation etc. but I guess this much “cheapening” is already quite enough for most travellers out there.
At the end of the day, it would not be a mistake to call Albania as a cheap country. It may not be the cheapest out there, but for the quality that you get for your cash, it most certainly is a “bang for your buck” sort of destination. You should not fear much about travelling to Albania if you are short on cash, and in all honesty, airfare will be the biggest of your worries if you do not have access to a leisure (cheap) airline from your city. In our case, we paid more for our airfare and accommodation combined than all the spending we ever did in Albania, and for shorter trips I am afraid that this ratio could get even worse… In short, if you have the time for it, Albania is a perfect destination to go for a medium to long period of time, especially if you can stay in a cheap accommodation like a hostel.