Hire a local driver to explore Albania from Tirana — ancient ruins, Ottoman towns, turquoise coastline, and mountain villages that feel untouched by time. Albania is Europe's best-kept secret, and a driver is the best way to see it.
Albania is the most exciting destination in Europe right now. Pristine beaches, UNESCO towns, Roman ruins, and mountain villages where time stopped — all at prices that feel like a time warp. But getting around is the challenge.
Albanian roads have improved dramatically in the last decade, but outside the main highways, you're dealing with mountain switchbacks, unpredictable signage (sometimes in Albanian only), and local driving habits that can be... creative. Google Maps sometimes routes you through roads that are technically goat tracks.
A private driver from Tirana opens up the entire country. Berat and Gjirokastër (both UNESCO) are each 2–3 hours away. The Albanian Riviera (Dhërmi, Himara, Saranda) is accessible via the spectacular Llogara Pass. And the ancient ruins at Apollonia and Butrint rival anything in Greece, without the crowds or the prices.
Each itinerary is fully customisable. Tell your driver what interests you and they'll adjust on the fly.
Berat is Albania's most photogenic town — Ottoman houses stacked up a hillside, earning it the UNESCO nickname 'City of a Thousand Windows.' The castle is still a living neighbourhood with residents, churches, and mosques inside its walls. The Onufri Museum houses stunning 16th-century icons. Below, the Mangalem and Gorica quarters face each other across the Osum River, connected by an Ottoman bridge.
Gjirokastër is a stone city frozen in the Ottoman era, with a massive fortress overlooking slate-roofed tower houses. The old bazaar is atmospheric and the castle houses a military museum with captured Italian and German equipment. On the way back, stop at the Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) — a mesmerising natural spring where water of an impossible blue wells up from unknown depths. It's genuinely one of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe.
Cross the Llogara Pass at 1,027m for one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic coastal reveals — the Ionian Sea suddenly appears below you. Descend to Dhërmi, where white-pebble beaches meet crystal water. Continue to Himarë for a seafood lunch (cheaper and better than anything on the Croatian coast), then Porto Palermo — an 18th-century fortress on a tiny peninsula in a sheltered bay.
Apollonia was one of the most important cities in the ancient world — Julius Caesar sent his nephew Octavian (future Emperor Augustus) to study here. The ruins include a beautifully preserved bouleuterion (council chamber), an odeon, and a library. The adjacent Byzantine monastery has a small museum with excellent artefacts. All of this with perhaps 20 visitors, compared to thousands at equivalent Greek sites.
Minimum 4 hours. Add extra hours as you go at the same rate. No fixed schedules.
Local professionals who know the history, the restaurants, and the hidden spots tourists miss.
Picked up at your hotel, cruise port, or airport. Dropped off wherever you want.
Fuel, tolls, parking, and driver's meals included. The price you're quoted is the price you pay.
Albania is excellent value. Sedan hire from €20–30/hour, with full-day rates from €120–160. This is significantly cheaper than Croatia or Montenegro for comparable service.
Yes. Albania is a safe country for tourists, with very low crime rates. Albanians are renowned for their hospitality — 'besa' (a sacred code of honour towards guests) is deeply embedded in the culture. You'll feel welcome everywhere.
It's a long day (12+ hours) but absolutely doable. The Llogara Pass drive alone is worth the trip. Alternatively, your driver can drop you at the coast for a few days and pick you up later.
Saranda is about 4–5 hours from Tirana via Gjirokastër. From Saranda, there's a ferry to Corfu (30 minutes). We can arrange a one-way hire to Saranda combining sightseeing along the way.
The Albanian Lek (ALL). Euros are widely accepted at tourist spots but you'll get change in Lek. ATMs are common in towns. Budget around €10–15 for a good restaurant meal.
Our drivers are fluent in English. Albanian is a unique language unrelated to its neighbours, so having a driver who can communicate with locals on your behalf is very helpful.
“Albania blew our minds. Our driver took us over the Llogara Pass and down to beaches that looked like the Maldives. Lunch was €8 for fresh grilled fish. Why doesn't everyone know about this country?”
“Berat was the highlight of our entire Balkans trip. Our driver navigated the narrow castle roads effortlessly and recommended a family restaurant where the grandmother cooked everything from scratch.”
“The Blue Eye Spring was surreal — water so blue it doesn't look real. Our driver from Tirana knew exactly when to arrive to avoid the tour groups.”