What are your suggestions for sightseeing on a road trip with kids from Nice to Albania?

Hi there,

This summer, we’ve decided to do a 3-week road trip starting from Nice and heading down to Ksamil in Albania.

We’re leaving from Nice, and our route is already pretty much set: Nice - Verona (Italy) - Rijeka (Croatia) - Zadar - Split - Budva (Montenegro) - Shkodër (Albania) - Ksamil, then back through Italy via Bari.

The itinerary is packed! 🙂

Do you have any suggestions for things to see—visits, beaches, viewpoints, villages, or excursions—to make the most of our journey?

Thanks everyone!

Is it 3 weeks total for the round trip or 3 weeks just to get there?

How many kids and what ages? What do they like, and what do you enjoy? Islands, mountain hiking, waterfalls, seaside, architecture, historic sites, museums, etc.?

Do you have any suggestions for visits, beaches, viewpoints, villages, or excursions to make the most of our journey?

YES! The Michelin Green Guides for these countries...

Good evening, Trieste is on the Verona-Rijeka route.

Check out this discussion: "One-week stay in Friuli Venezia Giulia". To find it, do a keyword search for "Friuli".

I made two illustrated suggestions (with photos) about Trieste and its surroundings. Theme: walks, viewpoints, and a castle.

If you look closely, you’ll also see a photo of a white castle at the end of a wooded promontory—that’s Miramare Castle (third suggestion). It’s featured in all the guides and websites about Trieste, with stars and "must-see" labels. Refer to those.

Note: Ask specific questions so it’s clear (to someone answering) that the response they’re writing will interest you. It’s doubtful for a 4,000 km road trip where you’ve only shared the broad outlines of the outbound route.

Oh, that’s really ambitious! I can only advise you on Albania, since it’s a country I visit regularly:

Shkodër: an excellent summer destination because it’s less hot than on the coast. If you have time, I highly recommend going further to Theth, just 2 hours away by car, to walk in some stunning mountains. You don’t even have to spend the night—you can easily do a day trip. But the area is definitely worth the detour. In Shkodër itself, I’m not sure how interesting kids will find it, but the Rozafa Fortress is usually a hit. I also suggest taking a stroll by Lake Shkodër—it’s large, beautiful, and the water is clean. And try the local carp dish, Tavë Krapi, a regional specialty. The lakeside taverns prepare it perfectly.

Near Shkodër, but already on the coast, is the small resort of Shëngjin. You’ll find few foreign tourists there—mostly Albanians coming for a swim. If you pass through and feel like taking a dip, don’t stop at the central beach: head north instead, where fewer people go and it’s really pleasant in summer. Here are the approximate coordinates: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qTGXerxF3dj28btu5

Ksamil: count about 5 to 6 hours by car from Shkodër. But I don’t think the distances will scare you! My personal opinion: in summer, Ksamil is way too crowded and noisy. All the cafés are packed, and the beaches are jammed. There are much nicer spots on the Albanian Riviera, where it’s busy but without the crowd effect. I really liked Himarë or Porto Palermo, for example. With kids, it’s clearly more relaxing. A good guide to the Riviera, if you’re interested: https://goalbania.voyage/guide/riviera_albanaise

One last (equally subjective) tip: avoid Durrës for the same reasons as Ksamil. The coast there is concreted over for kilometers. If you really want to stop in the area, opt for Golem, the suburb of Durrës, which is much nicer.

Have a great trip! And don’t hesitate to let me know when you’re back about what you liked and if my tips were helpful.