How Much Does Albania Actually Cost? My Complete Travel Budget Breakdown
I drove solo down the Albanian Riviera for under $800 total. Here's every dollar I spent — and how you can do it too.
Why Albania?
Honestly? Albania wasn't even on my radar until I started seeing it pop up everywhere as Europe's best-kept secret. Crystal blue water, ancient history, incredible food — and prices that make your jaw drop compared to Italy or Greece right next door. I needed to see it for myself, so I booked a solo trip and drove the coast. Spoiler: it absolutely delivered.
This guide is for anyone who's been Albania-curious but has no idea where to start, how much it costs, or whether it's actually safe to go alone. I'm breaking down every single expense from flights to food, the activities worth booking in advance, and the one mistake I'd avoid on your first visit (hint: skip Durrës beach!).
For flights, I always start with Skyscanner — their flexible dates feature is genuinely unmatched for finding deals. That's how I locked in my flight for this trip, and I'll walk you through it below.
Watch the Full Trip
The full vlog is on my TikTok — watch it before you keep reading for the visuals.
The Full Budget Breakdown
5 days, solo, rental car included. All prices in USD.
| Category | Paid | Tips to save | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight (Barcelona → Tirana) | ~$79 | Use Skyscanner flexible dates — BCN to TIA is a steal | |
| Rental car (6 days) | ~$153 | Localrent.com — local agencies beat big chains easily | |
| Airbnb Vlorë (3 nights) | $142.57 | ~$47/night hillside apt with bay views — pick hillside over strip | |
| Airbnb Durrës (2 nights) | $68.08 | $34/night — fine as transit, skip the beaches here | |
| Last night near airport | $34.24 | Quick overnight before early flight | |
| Gas | $53.33 | Drove the whole coast — gas is cheap in Albania | |
| GetYourGuide speedboat tour | $24.40 | Sazan Island + cave + peninsula — best $24 of the trip | |
| Food, markets & restaurants | ~$135 | Eat where locals eat — meals for $5–8 everywhere | |
| Misc (ATM, airport, lounge) | ~$55 | ATM cash for small vendors + airport lounge on the way out | |
| Total (6 nights, flights included) | ~$741 | Under $750 all-in for 6 nights in Europe with a rental car | |
All prices in USD. Rental car converted from EUR at time of booking. Car battery fixed for free — twice — by the nicest people in Albania.
Activities Worth Booking in Advance
Here's what I did and what I'd recommend.
1. Sazan Island + Haxhi Ali Cave Speedboat Tour ⭐ Highlight of the Trip
Day three was the best day of the whole trip, full stop. I booked a speedboat tour through GetYourGuide, and we hit three spots: Sazan Island (absolutely stunning — we had it to ourselves for 30 minutes), Haxhi Ali Cave, where you can jump into the water (freezing but 100% worth it), and the Karaburun Peninsula, where we spent the most time. The views were unreal — dramatic limestone cliffs dropping into the clearest water I've ever seen. This is the one thing I'd tell every person visiting Vlorë to book.
I paid $24.40 — absolute steal.
Book the speedboat tour on GetYourGuide →
2. Grama Bay Snorkeling Tour
If you have an extra day around Vlorë, the Grama Bay tour is on everyone's list for good reason. Grama Bay is a sheltered cove tucked inside the Karaburun Peninsula — known for its impossibly clear water, ancient inscriptions carved into the rocks by sailors dating back centuries, and a level of quiet that feels unreal in summer. Only accessible by boat, which makes it feel like a genuine hidden gem even in peak season.
Book your Snorkeling Tour on Get Your Guide →
4. From Tirana: Sazan Island, Pirate Cave & Karaburun Adventure
Staying in Tirana or doing a day trip from the capital? This tour runs the full Sazan Island + Pirate Cave + Karaburun route — the same stretch I explored from the Vlorë side — but picks up directly from Tirana so you don't need to drive south first. Great option if you're spending your first or last night in the capital and want to tick off the coast without renting a car.
Where I Stayed
Vlorë: I found the most gorgeous apartment up on the hill above town with an insane view of the whole bay. I booked through Airbnb —
3 nights for $142.57 total (about $47/night). This is 100% the move over a hotel. You get a full kitchen, a terrace, and that view every single morning. Look for listings up in the residential hillside area, not on the main strip.
Durrës: I stayed two nights here to be closer to the airport before flying out — $68.08 total ($34/night). It did the job as a transit base, but the beaches are genuinely not worth staying for. If you have extra time, stay in the south. Search Durrës stays on Airbnb →
⚠️ Skip Durrës for beaches — here's why
The little walkways to the beaches in Durrës were cute, but the beaches themselves were murkier, more crowded, and just not the same experience as the beaches of the Albanian Riviera in the south. I drove up there on day four to be closer to the airport, and honestly, I didn't love it. Unless you're transitioning, base yourself in Vlorë or further south for the Albania beach experience everyone talks about!
The Story You Didn't Expect: Car Battery Edition
Okay so. I woke up in Durrës on day four to a dead car battery. Not ideal. But here's where Albania showed me exactly what kind of country it is.
Watch the video below for the full experience.
I pulled up Google Translate, walked out, and started talking to my Airbnb host's mom. She called her son (the actual host), who came over and helped fix it! They gave me water. They made sure I was okay. We communicated entirely through Google Translate, and it was one of the warmest, funniest interactions of the whole trip. Then it happened AGAIN in Tirana — and the Airbnb family there helped fix it too. Both times, completely free.🥹
Albania has a reputation for being an unknown destination, but the people are genuinely among the nicest I've encountered anywhere in Europe. That alone is a reason to go.
How I Found My Flights
I use Skyscanner for every single trip, and Albania was no different. I was already in Barcelona doing my European summer, so I searched Barcelona → Tirana and found a flight for €73.49 one way. That is genuinely one of the cheapest European flights I've ever booked.
The flexible dates calendar is what makes Skyscanner indispensable for me — you can see the whole month's prices at a glance and instantly spot the cheapest day to fly. Even shifting by one day can save $50–100.
✈️ Skyscanner tip
Use the 'Everywhere' destination feature if your dates are flexible — sometimes Albania will show up as one of the cheapest options in all of Europe. Set a price alert for your route and wait for a dip. Barcelona → Tirana was a steal at under €75.
Renting a Car in Albania — What You Need to Know
I booked through Localrent.com and paid €137.70 for 6 days (Kia Morning, automatic, picked up and dropped off at Tirana Airport). The deposit was just €27.54 online, and I paid the rest at pickup. Way cheaper than Hertz or Europcar.
A rental car is honestly the best way to see Albania — the coast road is incredible, and you can pull over at any beach or viewpoint you want. Just be aware: Albanian drivers are... expressive. Stay alert, especially on mountain roads, and you'll be fine.
International driving license recommended (though not always checked)
Full tank policy — return it with a full tank
Book in advance in summer — airport stock runs out
Pro tip: if your battery dies, your Airbnb host's mom will save you (true story!).
Final Thoughts
Albania genuinely surprised me. The scenery in the south rivals anywhere in the Mediterranean — and the price is a fraction of what you'd pay in Croatia or Greece next door. Under $750 all-in for 6 nights, including flights, is something I'm still not fully over.
Going back is 100% on my list. Next time, I'd spend more days on the Riviera south of Vlorë, go even further south to Himarë, add a stop in Berat (a UNESCO town that looks like something out of a movie), and skip Durrës entirely except as a quick transit night.
If you're on the fence about Albania — don't be. Book the flights. Rent the car. Take the boat tour. You will not regret it.
Have questions about this trip?
Drop them in the comments below, or come find me on Instagram and TikTok — I reply to everything.