Road and sightseeing questions for a 60-day van trip in Albania

hi, I’m planning a trip to Albania in a camper van, most likely between May, June, and early July (2027), for about 60 days. On the way down, I’ll go as far as Bari (or Brindisi) and cross by ferry, and on the way back, I’ll go through the former Yugoslavia (or maybe take the return ferry?). Has anyone been there recently? What are the roads like, the must-see spots, and any general tips you can share? There’ll probably be two of us traveling together. Thanks

I traveled all the way down to southern Albania in my camper van 2-3 years ago. Personally, I’d do everything by road, especially since you’ve got the time. There are plenty of options for both the outbound and return trips. I totally improvised day by day: Germany (I started in Switzerland), Austria (north to south), Slovenia, Croatia (1 night = 1 fine), so the next day I turned toward Bosnia, crossed from west to east into Serbia, then headed south to Kosovo, and southwest to northern Albania.

Return trip via Montenegro, Bosnia again (south to north this time), Slovenia, Austria (east to west), Switzerland.

Apart from Croatia and, to some extent, Austria and Slovenia, it’s easy to camp either for free or cheaply, often in idyllic spots. Total freedom—prohibitions are prohibited 😄. Albania is wonderful, the people are kind and very welcoming, and the beaches are stunning.

Thanks Prerna for these valuable tips. I actually wondered about taking the road down, and I'm further south than you—Marseille ;)—route: cross Italy and go down through Slovenia, Croatia, etc. Still need to look into it... Best regards

Hi there, we drove to Albania from Lyon back in 2019 and absolutely loved it. We did a road trip with some real highlights like Butrint, the Blue Eye, Farma Sotira, and so many other amazing spots... If you'd like some inspiration or tips, check out https://routesenexsis.com under the "Voyage" section and then Albania. Just be careful never to respond to any provocations, whatever they may be, and avoid stopping near the "guetteurs" (lookouts) sitting by the roadside in the mountains. Other than that, no worries—just a fantastic welcome everywhere. Happy planning, Anita

Funny, I didn’t encounter any troublemakers or lookouts during my five-week trip there. On the contrary, the people were kind and welcoming.

In Shkodër, some women threw stones at my back after I walked by. I was dressed simply and modestly in an ankle-length dress with no neckline, without any provocation. Neither my husband nor I responded. If we had, the "men" would have come out and robbed us. This is a known tactic, and an Albanian friend warned us about it.

People were always kind, but sometimes they made it clear it was better to move along or sit somewhere other than the bench we’d chosen... We don’t know why, but they did, so we instinctively trusted these "gentle hints."

Thanks for the details—I guess I was lucky not to experience that. I have to say, I focused more on the beaches than the historical sites. Did you make it down to the south? Apparently, the culture is different there (people speak Greek and are Orthodox).

hi there, and thanks for these tips

Hi Prerna, Basically, we went from Shkodër to Butrint and then back via Gjirokastër, Korçë, Tirana, Kukës, Fierza, and returned to Shkodër by the Koman Lake ferry. We didn’t spend much time on the beaches, preferring old ruins, rural areas, and mountains—avoiding those in the north, which at the time were known as hotspots for drug traffickers and producers. It’s true we sometimes caught some strange smells in the forests... Have a great afternoon, Panfla