J'arrive en train a Van le 28 octobre au matin, je prend mon avion a antalya le 30 en milieu d'apres midi...
Je finis un voyage de plus de 5 mois, je suis a sec 😎
J'aurais besoin de vos conseils pour:
1// l'hotel le moins cher du coin. Vous inquietez pas pour le standing, rien ne me fait peur. (ca m'est deja arrive de dormir sur une dalle en beton dans une station service a 50 metres du perif a kuala lumpur, et j'en passe.)
2// Que faire en moins de 2 jours sur van et les alentours ???
3// Le moyen le plus eco de rejoindre antalya par un transport de nuit (comme ca pas d'hotel a payer) Je pense qu'un bus de nuit est la solution, connaissez vous les compagnies les moins cheres ???
4// Savez vous si il est possible de prendre une douche a l'aeroport ( ou ailleur sur antalya) Perso, je deteste avoir a suporter un voisin qui pue, donc j'essaye de rester propre...Meme si le vol sur paris est court.
5// Le moyen le plus economique pour rejoindre l'aeroport depuis le centre ville.
6// Aller j'abuse un dernier coup: Donner moi une bonne adresse a antalya pour acheter 3-4 kilos de vrais bons loukoums😉😉😉
De où ? De Van ; traînez dans les rues et demandez.
2// Que faire en moins de 2 jours sur van et les alentours ???
Vu le temps dont vous disposez : en partir.
3// Le moyen le plus eco de rejoindre antalya par un transport de nuit (comme ca pas d'hotel a payer) Je pense qu'un bus de nuit est la solution, connaissez vous les compagnies les moins cheres ???
A part demander et voir, personne ne pourra vous aider.
Il y a des agences partout à Van, en ville.
5// Le moyen le plus economique pour rejoindre l'aeroport depuis le centre ville.
1// Il y a bien un truc qui me fait c...r, c'est de tourner en rond pour trouver un hotel...Apres, je ne connait pas van, peut etre est ce petit comme ville...
2// En partir... C'est mieux antalya ??? J' etais alle en turquie il y a 15 ans je n'en ai plus aucun souvenir, mais on m'a dit que la vie etait chere...
Bon, il y a un truc auquel je viens de penser, les turcs parles surement un anglais potable...Parce que d'ou je viens, c'est souvent peine perdu pour se faire indiquer le terminal quand il est a 500 metres...Ca m'est deja arrive plusieurs fois de voyager sans lonely, je trouve ca plus que chiant de ne pas avoir de plan de ville et de tourner pour trouver un hotel, un terminal...
1°) C'est un hôtel que vous voulez ou n'importe quelle piaule ; parce que si c'est n'importe quelle piaule, marchez le nez en l'air, et cherchez les panneau "otel", il y en a plein, en étages.
2°) Le trajet Van - Antalya, il ne va pas se faire tout seul ; si vous avez deux jours en tout, il faudra quasiment les passer dans les transports.
Certains voyagent beaucoup comme moi et ferons tout pour se faire passer pour des aventuriers.
Perso je me moque completement d'avouer que la plupart de mes hotels je les trouves dans les bouquins, que oui, j'aime avoir un plan de ville.
Ca fait moins rootsbackpackeraventurier qui fait mieux que tout le monde, ne va que dans les endroits ou il y a pas de touristes car il connait tout mieux que tout le monde, blah blah blah...
Si il y a bien une chose que j'ai appris en 30 mois de voyage, c'est qu'on economise enormement de temps et d'argent avec les guides... Pas besoin de tourner en rond 3 heures quand on debarque en pleine nuit quelque part, pas besoin d'avoir a payer un taxi au double tarif car on ne sait pas ou on va donc combien ca coute, ni meme qu'un bus a 50 cents va vous y enmener mais que comme il se trouve a 500 metres et que personne ne vous le dira car personne ne parle votre langue...etc, etc...
Pour moi, l'aventure c'est traverser des glaciers en solo au pakistan, faire de la motocross au cambodge pendant la saison des pluies, conduire des motos indiennes de 200 kg avec une passagere en plus alors qu'on a jamais touche ce genre d'engins auparavant et passer des cols carrossables dans les cailloux a plus de 5000 metres d'altitude, partir tout seul en autonomie en haute montagne pendant 8-10 jours...Etc etc...
Faire ce que j'ai fait en voyage m'a amuse, mais tourner comme un gland pour dormir ou trouver un transport, ca me gonfle 😏😏😏
Je prefere le confort de n'avoir a penser a rien pour ce genre de chose, et surtout que ca me coute le moins possible...Debarquer dans un pays sans mon lonely planet ca me gonfle...😛 Surtout les destinations ou les gens ne parlent pas anglais ou sont malhonnetes ( aller donc demander conseils ou une direction a un mec dans la rue en inde)
Ce que vous voulez c'est l'adresse la moins chère du LP pour Van, alors ?
Je ne l'ai pas sous la main, mais il y a certainement moins cher que ça.
Quelqu'un le sortira pour vous, d'ici quelques heures ici même.
Van - Antalya, c'est 1300 km au moins, il y en a bien pour 24 heures.
Oui oui, je ne me cache pas (contrairement a beaucoup qui eux se cachent) de dire ''vive le lonely planet'', a condition de ne pas en abuser...
Bien entendu, comme ils ecrivent beaucoup de conneries et ne font que du jetter d'adresse pour noicir du papier, les meilleurs plans n'y sont pas toujours...
Van-antalya 1300 km... Si j'avais su, j'aurais pris un avion teheran-antalya...🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
Alors je ne le fais jamais, mais là je me lâche :
Je recommande à Van, sur l'avenue principale, en étage, le Kervasaray Restaurant, grand restaurant de grillades, parfaitement propre, qui propose des repas extraordinaires pour environ 10 TL, quatre ou cinq mezzés compris.
Petite description...
A Van il y a quand même une certaine atmosphère montagneuse et orientale, et puis des petits déjeuners spéciaux....
On y parle plutôt allemand ; en tous cas on s'y fait comprendre, sans souci.
Quelqu'un le sortira pour vous, d'ici quelques heures ici même.
OK, alors à Van :
extrait du LP :
" petits budgets
Otel Aslan . Tel : 216 2469 adresse : Ozel Idare Is merkezi Karsisi . simples: 15-20 TL les moins chères sont avec salle de bain communes . Ne laissez aucun objet de valeur dans les chambres."
Pour aller de Van à Antalya tu as : soit l'avion avec "sun express" ( www.sunexpress.com.tr ) 3 vols hebdo à partir de 148 tl
En bus, je vois un Van-Ankara en 22 h, 40 tl ( fréquent ) ; puis Ankara-Antalya ( guichet 32 ) en 8 h, 30tl ( 4 par jour)
Sinon Van-Matalya en 9 h, 35 tl, (fréquents), puis Matalya-Kayseri en 4 h, 25 tl, (plusieurs). Puis Kayseri-nevsehir en 1h, 10 tl, (toutes les heures) et enfin Nevsehir-antalya en 10h, 38 tl (fréquents)
Voilà, voilà. Mais tu sais surement que de voir sur place est souvent plus payant et par conséquent moins cher que de se fier au guide, alors peut-être trouveras-tu un bus direct Van-Antalya pour pas trop cher, qui sait ?
Ah oui, pour tes sucreries :
Ulker firin et café : tel: 2470324. Recep Perker caddesi 21 A " n'ayez pas les yeux plus gros que le ventre ! Les gourmandises turques, traditionnelles ou non servies dans cette boulangerie très modernes sont bien plus nourrissantes que bla bla bla (...) Baklava 3 tl "
Pour le Aslan il faut un coeur de lion.... 🙂
Sérieusement, il y en a une bonne douzaine comme celui-là, il faut marcher un peu et voir si ça fait l'affaire ; prévoir d'avance ne sert à rien.
Pour l'avion, je pense que le moins cher serait Anadolujet via Ankara.
l'hotel le moins cher du coin. Vous inquietez pas pour le standing, rien ne me fait peur. (ca m'est deja arrive de dormir sur une dalle en beton dans une station service a 50 metres du perif a kuala lumpur, et j'en passe.)
Alors je ne le fais jamais, mais là je me lâche :
Je recommande à Van, sur l'avenue principale, en étage, le Kervasaray Restaurant, grand restaurant de grillades, parfaitement propre, qui propose des repas extraordinaires pour environ 10 TL, quatre ou cinq mezzés compris.
Petite description...
Michel
bonjour,
oui c'est sur...il aura peut etre le temp d'y aller en attendant son bus...
Pour moi, l'aventure c'est traverser des glaciers en solo au pakistan, faire de la motocross au cambodge pendant la saison des pluies, conduire des motos indiennes de 200 kg avec une passagere en plus alors qu'on a jamais touche ce genre d'engins auparavant et passer des cols carrossables dans les cailloux a plus de 5000 metres d'altitude, partir tout seul en autonomie en haute montagne pendant 8-10 jours...Etc etc...
Ah, mais il en veut "thony" il en veut ...
Quand je disais qu'il avait le temps de piquer une tête dans le lac de Van, je plaisantais, évidemment ...
Ah, si on s'y baigne tout habillé, c'est possible. 😏
Mais la sensation sur la peau est plutôt poisseuse (j'avoue y avoir plongé deux orteils, sous la contrainte)....
Pour moi, l'aventure c'est traverser des glaciers en solo au pakistan, faire de la motocross au cambodge pendant la saison des pluies, conduire des motos indiennes de 200 kg avec une passagere en plus alors qu'on a jamais touche ce genre d'engins auparavant et passer des cols carrossables dans les cailloux a plus de 5000 metres d'altitude, partir tout seul en autonomie en haute montagne pendant 8-10 jours...Etc etc...
L'hiver dernier j'ai passé près de 3 mois à Antalya dans une pension de famille "Held Otel Pansiyon" dont le proprio est très sympathique (il s'appelle Abduz Kahraman) et où tu pourras, du moins je l'espère, prendre une douche gratuite (il y a des chambres à 15 LT la nuit). Kiliçslari Mah, Tobakhane Sokak N° 4 se trouve près de cette mosquée au minaret tronqué (Tel 0242 243 28 02). Et juste au coin de la rue en face de cette pension il y a un super petit restaurant "Le Berlin" qui fait des SUPER chich kebab délicieuses pour 8 LT c'est un repas qui te tient toute la journée crois-moi.
Quant au moyen de transport le moins coûteux pour rejoindre l''aéroport c'est sûrement de prendre le tram (1 LT) à la porte d'Hadrien puis un autobus dont je ne connais pas le N° mais tu peux le demander à Abduz il te conseillera ainsi que pour trouver la meilleure pâtisserie...!!!
PS Va voir Abduz de ma part c.a.d. de Philippe.
Bon retour.
Bonjour, l'île de Limnos ou Lemnos semble intéressante pour un séjour en septembre : pas trop de touristes à cette période, des possibilités de rando, des plages des villages etc ...Toutefois les guides mentionnent la présence d'une base aérienne avec, selon les sources, des passages d'avions plus ou moins fréquents. Pour ceux qui connaissent: sur ce dernier sujet, qu'en est-il s'il vous plaît ? Beaucoup de trafic/de nuisances?
Merci par avance
I'm currently planning a trip to Cyprus for late October. I have a few questions:
- I plan to visit Nicosia, Paphos, and Ayia Napa. What do you recommend in Ayia Napa?
- Is it easy to get around by bus from one city to another? Or do you have any private drivers to recommend?
- Do you have any hotels to recommend?
Any tips or advice is welcome!
Thanks in advance
Bonjour j'hésite entre ces deux destinations si on va en Crète on ira plutôt dans la région de La Canée et dans le sud qui a l'air plus sauvage sur 10 jours en voiture ça devrait se faire, si nous allons à Sardaigne on n'a pas trouvé le coin encore où on pourrait aller nous aimons bien marcher nous baigner bien manger nous avons 10 jours pour fin septembre et nous préférons qu'il n'y ait pas trop de foule cette année en mai nous sommes allés à Minorque et on a beaucoup aimé marche très belle plage nourriture sympa pas trop de voitures
Bonjour,
Je cherche un transfert privatif pour relier l’aéroport d’Istanbul au centre historique Serkeci, quelqu’un connaît t’il une compagnie, j’en ai trouvé plusieurs :
Getyourguide,
Istanbultour24.fr (plus interessant car ils proposent des transferts A/R moins chers
Si vous avez utilisé un de ces services, j’aimerais avoir votre avis
Merci d’avance
Hi,
I'm looking for info on the Pristina–Skopje bus route.
Can you leave from the main bus station in Pristina?
I’ve also heard about a bus station near the theater...
If anyone has details, I’d love to hear them—thanks!!!!
We want to book our tickets to visit the Acropolis site and the associated museum. For these reservations, we need to specify entry time slots.
For the Acropolis alone: the first slot is at 8:30 AM.
For the museum: 10 AM? 11 AM?
We like to wander around, so here’s our question: if we haven’t finished exploring the site after 1.5 hours, is it possible to go back in after leaving the museum?
We’ll be buying tickets from the official websites—audio guides are mentioned. Any feedback on those? On sites like Get Your Guide, the prices are much higher with the audio guide included, but does that mean better quality?
Hello,
We're heading to Istanbul from October 7th to 12th. I’d love to do a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus on a more intimate boat (no show) with a private table and alcohol (wine, since it’s a birthday dinner). Could anyone recommend a reliable company (I’m not looking for a private yacht either) that organizes this kind of evening?
Thanks in advance,
Hi, I’d like to buy a ticket to go to Terezín from Prague using the Pid Litacka app, but I don’t know which zone to get the ticket for. Thanks for your help! 😊
Hi there,
After booking an Airbnb last January for this summer’s vacation in Sarajevo... My "host" canceled our reservation without any reason—this has never happened to me before.
Of course, now it’s impossible to find a place to stay at a "normal" price in Sarajevo with parking...
So we’re falling back on the capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, which had already crossed my mind before I booked Sarajevo.
I already have quite a few ideas in mind, without having dug too deep into the region yet.
But if anyone has already been there and has suggestions? Even for restaurants—I’m all ears!
And even if it’s not right next door, I’m planning to spend a day in Sarajevo!
Hi, I’m going to Turkey for 3 weeks. I’ve heard that you can’t book through Booking.com once you’re there and that everything has to be reserved in advance. Is it true that Booking.com doesn’t work in Turkey? Thanks to anyone who’s already been or is there—if it’s true, how do you handle bookings?
I’d love to get your opinions and advice on a destination.
It’s actually for my 19-year-old son who wants to go to Greece with his cousin, who’s the same age.
They’re looking at leaving on October 24th for 7 to 10 days.
For their trip, they want gorgeous beaches where they can swim, beautiful typical villages and historic cities, stunning landscapes, but also lively spots for their nights out. In short, they’re not just going there to laze around—they want to make the most of it...
But here’s the thing: will the weather be too iffy at that time, especially for swimming?
Also, would Crete be the best choice for what they’re looking for?
Then, a travel agent suggested Tenerife instead because of the weather at that time of year—he said the climate there is the same all year round. But will they find landscapes and beaches as beautiful as in Crete?
Hello!
I’m planning a trip to Greece in May or June 2027. We’re independent travelers.
We’ll rent a car after our stay in Athens and book accommodations through Booking or similar sites.
What do you think of this itinerary? We’re taking our time (beach and swimming if the weather allows in May—is the water too cold?)
Athens, 3 days
Nafplio, 3 days (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Archaia)
Mystras, 2 days or Monemvasia, 2 days (Laconia peninsula)?? Dilemma between the two
Return trip from the Peloponnese via the Rio-Antirrio bridge
Nafpaktos, 1 night
Arachova, 2 days (Delphi, Osios Loukas Monastery)
Return to Athens and departure
Is it crowded in May or June for visits to archaeological sites?
Thanks for your suggestions or corrections!
Hi there,
Our first trip to Greece as a couple. We're planning to spend 7 days in Greece from August 30th to September 5th. We'll reserve 2 days for Athens at the end of the trip. For the remaining 5 days, we want to visit an island—any recommendations? Thanks for your tips and details, we really appreciate it.
Hi,
What tips can you give me for dealing with a car rental scam attempt in Lithuania?
In our case, it’s the Avis-Budget agency in Vilnius trying to scam us.
We rented a car at Vilnius Airport for 2 weeks on July 28, 2019, to return it in Tallinn on August 11.
We brought it back on August 11 at the airport, in perfect condition, and with a full tank at the gas station right by Tallinn Airport.
On the parking lot, the receptionist’s booth was closed. So we had to leave the car in the lot and go to the counter inside the airport. The person at the counter told us their colleague had gone for lunch!
But they refused to come out and do the inspection with us because they were alone at the counter.
They told us we could leave and that everything was fine!!!!
Two days later, we got an email from Avis-Budget with two invoices saying the car was damaged—scratched on both sides—and charging us for a full tank of gas. That’s two bills totaling 800 €!!!! Coincidentally, the deposit was 900 €!
It’s clear this isn’t over!!
Have any of you been through the same nightmare? How did you handle it?
Thanks in advance!
I’m spending 2 weeks in Crete in September and will need a rental car.
I usually go with Europcar, but comparing their offer to what Aegean Rentals has, I see Europcar is charging no less than 400 € more for the same car and similar insurance!
I’d love to hear if others have experience with Aegean Rentals, and if so, whether it was a good one?
Hi,
We’re heading to Greece in early October and will be staying in Kineta, north of the Saronic Gulf, and renting a car.
Is it feasible to visit Acrocorinth, Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidaurus in a single day?
Thanks for your recommendations!
Hi there!
I’m sharing our itinerary for May/June 2027—23 days. This is our first time in Greece, so we’re starting with the must-see spots. We’re planning another trip later to explore the north, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, and some islands.
- Athens, 4 nights
- Corinth area, 2 nights (Heraion of Perachora, Canal, Acrocorinth)
- Nafplio, 3 nights (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Methana peninsula)
- Gefira, 2 nights (Monemvasia)
- Areopoli, 2 nights (Mani). Maybe add an extra night and stay on the peninsula??? Based on my calculations, the Mani loop is about 100 km—doable in a day, but it’d be a quick trip.
- Sparta or Pikoulianika, 2 nights (Mystras)
- Dimitsana, 2 nights (Lousios Gorge, monasteries)
- Olympia, 2 nights (via Lagkadia?)
- Delphi or Arachova, 3 nights (via the west coast, Galaxidi bridge) (Delphi, Hosios Loukas Monastery)
- And back to Athens.
This is just a rough draft for now. We’re planning to stay in hotels or book through Booking.com. What do you think? Thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve traveled the roads between France and Moldova a good ten times, sometimes via Central Europe, other times via the Balkans.
It was while traveling like this—what I call "hitting the road the slow way"—that I realized something simple: our neighbors' neighbors are very clearly our neighbors too. And that’s not insignificant.
After a break of a few years, I’m planning to hit the road again in September, this time heading to Kosovo, crossing through Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Having gotten a bit older, I’ve no intention of rushing—no need to speed ahead of the music! 😄
I’d rather take my time.
I’m not looking to see everything, but to soak in the atmosphere of the places, always leaving room for the unexpected and for encounters.
I’m especially drawn to culturally immersive, authentic, and welcoming regions: lively villages, backroads, preserved landscapes, markets, local festivals, traditions that are still very much alive... and, why not, a few offbeat, forgotten, or slightly secret spots.
If any of you know Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Kosovo a little, I’d love to hear your suggestions for itineraries, stops, backroads, homestays, village festivals, or local contacts, for example.
Planning to return to Belarus in mid-August, I just realized that since last September, Poland has reopened several border crossing points, and for buses, this means connections like Białystok-Grodno.
Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours.
Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus.
Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:
In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
Hi there.
I’d like to know what the daily budget is for Greece in December. I’ll be landing in Athens and staying there for a week, then heading to some other islands—I don’t have a set itinerary yet. Also, I’ve heard that in December, or early January, the temperature is around 11–16°C. Is that accurate?
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth.
In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well.
Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
A little trip report from an 11-day journey to Albania at the end of April 2026, with two friends in their early sixties and beyond...
Our route: Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Tirana
Here are some opinions, tips, and great deals to share:
Flight Round-trip Beauvais-Tirana: Ryanair, 260 € with checked baggage (20 kg) and seat selection. Flight was fine and on time. 2h 30min flight.
Exchange: 1 € was worth 95 lek in April 2026. We were advised to exchange in the airport hall at the Illiria counter (98 lek outside the security zone), saying we wouldn’t find a better rate. However, the exchange rate was 93 lek for 1 euro, while in the city it was 95...
Car rental at Tirana airport for 9 days via Booking.com: 144 € (56 € for the car rental and 88 € for optional full insurance deductible waiver).
Wheego agency: the car was fine, but be careful when signing the contract—they tried to convince us that the insurance taken through Booking didn’t cover everything and insisted we take their own insurance for 250 €... We refused.
After reading about driving in Tirana, instead of starting our trip by visiting the capital, we decided to head straight to Berat upon arrival and return the car at the end of the trip to explore the city on foot. This turned out to be a great choice!
Accommodations: All our stays were booked via Booking.com. Everyone prefers to be paid in euros and in cash—they mention this when booking.
Berat: 2-hour drive from the airport.
Accommodation: Vila Arben Elezi: 135 € for 3 nights with breakfast and private parking. The room was decent and clean but a bit dark, located slightly below ground level near the parking. However, the breakfast on the rooftop was excellent, especially with the stunning view of the "city of a thousand windows." Great location.
Berat was our favorite—there are lovely walks through the different neighborhoods on both sides of the river, each with a very different vibe. The citadel visit is also fascinating, as it’s like a small town within the fortress.
The walk along the river is pleasant, with plenty of restaurant choices. Other restaurants in the old town are also very nice. The White House Restaurant, on the first floor along the road, is good and offers a great view of the Gorica district.
Gjirokastër:
Accommodation: Te Ajdini Guest House: 120 € for 3 nights with breakfast. A private home stay. There’s free parking just before entering the city, a 5-minute walk from the accommodation, which is very convenient since the cobblestone streets are narrow and parking is tricky. Yes, it’s a climb to get to the place, but everything in this city is uphill... The room was bright and clean. Breakfast was very good, hearty, and served in the courtyard with a view of the castle. The guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the city center (the bazaar) but in a quiet area.
Restaurants: Rrapi and Kujtimi—good and affordable with their little pergolas.
The old town of Gjirokastër is charming but very touristy, with streets packed with souvenir shops and restaurant tables and chairs. Lots of people.
-The bunker visit (near the tourist office) is very interesting: Cold War Tunnel.
The castle offers a beautiful view of the city.
-Visit to the Ottoman house Skenduli: very well done. Don’t forget to climb the ladder facing a trapdoor in the ceiling to see the roof’s framework—it’s like a forest of beams: impressive!
-The bridge Ura e Ali Pasha: A steep 45-minute climb from the city to the site is worth it, but once you reach the viewpoint (which is stunning), you have to go back down a path to reach the bridge. You can drive to the viewpoint, but parking is very tricky.
Around Gjirokastër:
-Just outside the city: Lake Liqeni i Viroit: a nice, ordinary-looking lake, but at the end, there’s a natural spring making the water crystal clear and a brilliant blue—really spectacular, like photos of Blue Eye near Sarandë.
-Drive to Përmet along the gorges: beautiful viewpoints along the way and lovely countryside.
Himarë:
Accommodation: Vila Kosteli: 120 € for 2 nights with breakfast—slightly overpriced for this type of place but very close to a small beach and not far from the promenade with all the restaurants. Private parking, but very tight (4 cars on a tiny lot along the road). The "sea view" room is a bit obstructed by the building across the street. However, the rooftop breakfast view is beautiful. Friendly staff.
Himarë is a pleasant seaside resort, quite calm (but it was April...). There’s a cute promenade with restaurants along the beach. The castle on the heights of Himarë is worth a visit.
Around Himarë:
-Qeparo is worth a quick stop, but Qeparo village is really worth the detour: a village lost in the heights after a scenic drive up from the coastal road—narrow but well-maintained. Beautiful view from the top and a charming village.
-The Big Bunker and Llogora Panorama: take a right turn several kilometers after Dhermi—a road that climbs steeply from the start... A breathtaking winding road that reaches 900 meters in altitude. The view is stunning.
-Several small villages between Dhermi and Himarë are worth a quick stop.
-Porto Palermo Castle is somewhat disappointing.
Tirana:
Taxi from Tirana airport to the city center: 15 € with electric taxis (Green Taxi, Bee Taxi, Do Taxi).
Accommodation: Hotel Nevi Apartment: 63 € for 2 nights. A private apartment in an older building but very clean and well-equipped, with a kitchen and small enclosed balcony.
Great welcome and contact—the owner even booked a taxi for our departure. Very well located, close to the main square, shops, and restaurants. A small supermarket nearby is perfect for stocking up on breakfast supplies.
The city is lively and dynamic, with plenty of green spaces and promenades. Buildings are popping up everywhere, often with surprising architecture—like a building shaped like a face, a huge golden cube, and many others under construction.
-Sky Tower: at the top, a rotating bar offers a 360° view of the city and its buildings. Drinks are a bit pricier than usual, but it’s totally worth it (6 € for a beer or a glass of white wine, 3 € for coffee). We were there for sunset, and it was amazing! A must-do. Arrive early, as it fills up quickly.
-The House of Leaves: a house used for secret surveillance and interrogations during the dictatorship... A great way to learn about the surveillance systems of that era.
-Bunk’Art 2: a bunker in the heart of the city—very interesting, covering the dictatorship period and its system...
-The Pazari i Ri Bazaar: the new bazaar district. The large hall is worth a visit, but souvenir prices are often higher than elsewhere... The area is nice.
Restaurant: Kastrati Restaurant—a bit like a canteen with lots of traditional dishes. It’s on the first floor of a building. Excellent value for money, and the waitress explains the dishes in French.
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions!
Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
