Albania 7-Day Itinerary

If you have one week to explore southern Albania, this itinerary is a great way to see some of the country's most beautiful beaches, historic towns and natural attractions without trying to fit too much into each day.

This route starts in Corfu, where you can take the ferry across to Sarandë, before continuing along the Albanian Riviera to Ksamil and Himarë. You'll then return toward Sarandë to explore some of southern Albania's best day trips.

The itinerary is flexible, so you can easily adjust the number of nights you spend in each place depending on how much time you want to spend at the beach.

Your 7-Day Route At A Glance

Day 1 — Corfu → Sarandë

Start your trip by flying into Corfu. From Corfu, take the ferry across the Ionian Sea to Sarandë. The ferry is one of the easiest ways to enter southern Albania when you're already travelling through Greece.

Once you arrive in Sarandë, spend the rest of the day getting settled and exploring the waterfront. Sarandë is a great place to use as your base for exploring the surrounding area.

I would recommend spending your first night in Sarandë.

⛴️ HOW TO GET TO SARANDË BY FERRY →

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Day 2 — Sarandë → Ksamil

On your second day, head south from Sarandë to Ksamil. Ksamil is famous for its turquoise water, small islands and beautiful beaches.

You can visit Ksamil as a day trip and return to Sarandë for the night, or stay overnight in Ksamil if you want more time to enjoy the beaches.

If you're visiting during the summer, I would personally give yourself as much time as possible here because the beaches can get busy during the middle of the day.

🏝️ EXPLORE KSAMIL →

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Days 3–5 — Sarandë → Himarë

After exploring Ksamil and Sarandë, head north along the Albanian Riviera to Himarë.

The easiest option if you're travelling without a car is to take a bus from Sarandë to Himarë.

I would spend around three days in Himarë. This gives you enough time to slow down, enjoy the beaches and explore some of the smaller coastal areas around the town.

🚌 SARANDË TO HIMARË BY BUS →

What To Do During Your Three Days In Himarë

Use these three days to enjoy the coastline rather than trying to see everything at once. Himarë is one of the best places on this route to simply relax and spend time by the water.

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Returning From Himarë To Sarandë

After your three days in Himarë, return to Sarandë. Sarandë is a convenient base for the final part of your trip because several of the major attractions in southern Albania can be visited from here.

If you need to travel by bus again, use the transport guide below for information about getting around southern Albania.

🚌 ALBANIA BUS & TRANSPORT GUIDE →

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Day 6 — The Blue Eye

For the next part of your trip, visit one of southern Albania's most famous natural attractions: the Blue Eye.

The Blue Eye is a beautiful natural spring surrounded by incredibly clear blue and turquoise water. It makes for a great day trip when you're staying in Sarandë.

💧 VISIT THE BLUE EYE →

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Day 7 — Visit Gjirokastër

Finish your itinerary with a visit to Gjirokastër, one of the most interesting historic towns in southern Albania.

The city is famous for its stone houses, cobblestone streets and historic atmosphere. It is completely different from the coastal towns you've visited during the first part of your trip.

🏛️ WHAT TO DO IN GJIROKASTËR →

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Explore The Beaches Around Sarandë

If you have extra time on your final day, or if you'd rather spend the day at the beach instead of visiting another city, explore some of the beaches along the coast around Sarandë.

There are many different beaches to choose from, so you can easily spend an entire day driving or taking local transport between different coastal spots.

🌊 EXPLORE THE BEACHES AROUND SARANDË →

7-Day Albania Itinerary Summary