One of the main things we look for when we travel is food. In Albania, we were more than satisfied—delicious and affordable, Albanian cuisine is amazing. It’s also the kind of cuisine you can easily enjoy every day without feeling overwhelmed, with plenty of options suitable for vegetarians. Thanks to Italian influences, Albanians also know how to make a fantastic pizza! My all-time favorite breakfast would have to be byrek, bought from any bakery in the country, paired with a bottle of Dhallë—a salty, yogurt-based drink. Albanian cuisine was something I missed the moment we arrived at Tirana airport on our way back home…

After a day of exploring the city, we stepped out of the elevator at the Sky Tower in Tirana. Located on the top floor of the office center, it offers a 360° view of the city—literally. The bar is set on a platform that slowly rotates around its axis. It took us a while to realize why the buildings seemed to be changing positions! It was the perfect way to wrap up an intense day—the sunset, the colors, the lively ambiance—all of it was worth the slightly overpriced cocktails.

Albania is full of picturesque natural spots, but I believe there’s something special about the first experience. After our frustrating troubles with the car rental, Rodonit Cape was the first outdoor place we visited where we finally felt at peace. It perfectly matched the spirit of the place. Completely alone, surrounded by nothing but nature (and a couple of bunkers), it was a truly magical moment.

Discovering local authors is part of our pre-travel ritual, and Ismail Kadare, being Albania’s most prominent writer, was our choice. Kadare was a prolific author (I say “was” because he passed away in July 2024—just a month and a half after we returned from Albania!). We almost randomly chose his book Broken April, which explores blood feuds in northern Albania. It was an intense experience—reading about these dark, violent customs while driving through the mountainous rrafsh. The book, by the way, is brilliant.

One of the things we loved about Albania was its museums. We didn’t visit many, but the four we did (Bunk’Art 2 and Studio Kadare House in Tirana, and the Ethnographic Museum and Ismail Kadare’s House in Gjirokastra) were excellent. Admittedly, I had expected “old school” museums with long, boring texts under various items, but the Albanian museums surprised us. They were modern, interactive, not overwhelming, and, in fact, incredibly immersive.

Like with the museums, we visited four archaeological parks, but the first was Antigonea, near Gjirokastra. It’s not the most impressive park in Albania, nor does it have the best infrastructure, but that’s part of its charm—it doesn’t feel like a museum; it’s simply part of the landscape. An insanely beautiful landscape, where we were the only people in the world under a heavy sky filled with thunder and lightning. I had to include Antigonea in this list—the rare feeling of being just a tiny particle in something vast and eternal is unforgettable, and this is the place where it can happen.

It was love at first sight with Lin and Lake Ohrid in general. Like Rodonit Cape, it’s the perfect place to let your spirit wander, soak in the stunning shades of blue and green, and simply unwind. Lake Ohrid is a true natural gem, being the oldest lake in Europe and home to unique flora and fauna. If I had to choose one spot for a relaxing week with a single base, it would be Lin. Painting, reading, walking, meditating, eating (and oh, eating so well!)—it’s the place to do it all.

Speaking of meditation. As we spent hours driving through Albania, and it’s something I want to acknowledge separately. From North to South, the country offers breathtaking views, but we hold particularly warm memories of the empty roads in the East. Green valleys, forests, and the outlines of mountains—all without a soul in sight, except for the occasional lonely shepherd with his herd of goats. These hours of astonishing beauty were soothing, comforting and somehow put so much into perspective! We cherished every single one of them. And, for the record, Albanian roads are improving, though some are still quite bad (the road to Koman Lake is officially the worst!).

The second archaeological park that made it to this list is Butrint National Park. Not at all as “hidden” as Antigonea, we had an incredible stroke of luck to come there at the end of the day by quite a dull weather – the park was almost empty. Considering that it’s the major sightseeing place on Albanian Riviera, it may not always be the case. Like with Antigonea, its natural surroundings is as impressive as the “museum part”, which here is rich and inspiring – one can observe centuries of evolution of a small peninsula, from an important defense and trade place to a mass tourism spot it is today. Hypnotizing ways of history

No introduction needed—turquoise waters, wild and empty bays, and gorgeous nature speak for themselves. Despite some reservations (which I discuss in detail in a separate article about the Albanian Riviera), I can’t deny that diving into those crystal-clear waters, where you feel like a part of the maritime world, is one of the simplest and most powerful pleasures a human can experience. Albania offers many beautiful spots to enjoy, and although they are becoming less wild, they are still there.

Before wrapping this article (and the whole Albanian series!) up, I want to pass my greetings to all the wonderful chickens we met on this trip. Being parents of three wonderful hens, who we missed so much during our absence, we have a special chicken-radar that in Albania buzzed very often, thus bringing us much joy. In general, those who have a soft spot for farm animals, will be pleased to see so many of them. We definitely were!