Going underground: the world’s best caves

This isn’t one for claustrophobes.

What not to miss: Albania’s historic highlights

Boasting a number of UNESCO protected sites, Albania is home to a wealth of historic treasures.

Looking back: Albania’s communist heritage sites

Travel back in time with a visit to these important historical sites.

From peril to natural paradise: inside Albania’s notorious gulag

Elizabeth Gowing takes a look inside on of Albania’s most powerful sites of memory.

Korça

The people of Korça are justifiably proud of their city’s cultured and intellectual traditions. The city is home to a number of interesting museums…

Lake Komani

The journey along Lake Komani deserves to be one of the world’s classic boat trips, up there with the Hurtigrut along the Norwegian coast…

Kruja

Kruja has been fortified since ancient times – ceramics and coins from the 3rd century BC have been excavated there. The name comes from…

Butrint

The ancient city of Butrint, one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, is far and away the most-visited archaeological site in Albania, with visible remains…

When to visit Albania

Climate For most purposes, the best times of year to visit Albania are spring and autumn. In early spring, apple and cherry blossoms form…

Berati

Berati is one of the oldest cities in Albania and one of the most attractive; the view of its white houses climbing up the…

Thethi

About 50km northeast of Kopliku, at the head of the River Shala, lies the national park named after its largest settlement, the village of…

Shkodra

Shkodra has been a highly significant city during most of its long history. It was the capital of the Illyrian state of the Ardiaeans…

Travel and visas in Albania

Visas Citizens of many countries are not required to obtain Albanian visas in advance. Countries to which this visa-free system applies include all those…

Food and drink in Albania

Food Albanian cuisine is rich in Mediterranean ingredients such as olive oil, tomatoes and pimentos. Lamb, as you would expect in a mountainous country,…

Health and safety in Albania

Health Albania is no more dangerous from a health point of view than any other country in southeastern Europe. It is a good idea…