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We spent 23 days in 2 postcard-perfect, budget-friendly nations.
Snow-covered mountains.
Stunning beaches.
Historic towns.
And Djokovic got married on an island here!
Our detailed itinerary 🧵👇
Tirana - The Beginning (Day 1 & 2)
We landed in Tirana on a cold December afternoon, collected our rental car at the airport, and drove into a city that felt both unfamiliar and strangely welcoming. It was much more metropolitan than we had expected it to be - a sweet surprise to begin with!
Dinner that night was at a small Turkish diner. The adana kebabs were so authentic that they transported us back to Turkiye. So authentic!
The next day, we wandered without hurry. Tirana is colourful, expressive. Its buildings are weirdly shaped and painted in bright hues, its strrets and cafés bustling with Paris-like vibes!
We had reserved a table at a well-known Italian restaurant. The pizza was perfect, the raki homemade and strong, and the tiramisu… rightly said to be the best! The kind you wish would never end.
That evening we found ourselves at the Christmas market. Lights shimmered. Children laughed. Music floated through the crisp air.
And then - Nouvelle Vague, ranked No. 28 in the World’s 50 Best Bars!!
We were lucky to arrive on time and get a table. The cocktails were crafted with utmost perfection and creativity, the atmosphere intimate yet electric. We even tried their mocktails and they were equally phenomenal!
Korçë - Christmas Capital Of Albania (Day 3,4 & 5)
A three-hour drive took us to Korçë.
The road there was unforgettable. We drove along Lake Ohrid - one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe. Still water. Wide skies filled with sunset hues. Silence that felt sacred.
Korçë is a valley town of cobblestone streets and quiet charm. Its Orthodox Cathedral rises proudly. Ancient churches stand as witnesses to centuries.
We spent Christmas village-hopping: tasting local honey, fresh fruit jams, meeting warm-hearted people.
Here, we saw European autumn in its full glory for the first time. The colours were breathtaking. We were already mesmerised by the beauty of the landscapes and then all of a sudden, it started to snow. It couldn't get more magical!!
We visited the National Museum of Medieval Art - thousands of Byzantine and post-Byzantine works preserved with care. Walking through those halls felt like stepping into another century.
It was here that we discovered the true spirit of Christmas. We found it within the ruins of a small, ancient church, where the stones seemed to hold a thousand years of prayer. We did not expect to find such profound warmth and love. The people embraced us as though we had belonged to their community since the beginning. We left that place feeling changed - more grateful, and perhaps, a little better than we were before.
Përmet - Hot Springs (Day 6)
We drove 3 hours to experience the hot springs of Përmet on a freezing winter morning.
However, we couldn't really get inside the hot springs because of some construction work being out carried there.
Yet even standing 25 feet above, we could feel the warmth rising through the cold air. Steam brushing gently against the mountains.
Gjirokastër - A UNESCO World Heritage Site (Day 7)
Gjirokastër is a rare and beautifully preserved Ottoman town built into the mountainside.
We stayed in the heart of Old Bazaar, inside a heritage building. The streets were steep and alive with artisan shops and small cafés.
The fortress above the town is one of the largest in the Balkans - immense, powerful, and meticulously preserved.
Inside were exhibits of weapons, prison cells, and even a captured American spy plane. Walking through it, we felt the weight of history and Albania’s past told with sincerity. It was definitely the best museums we had ever been to.
Later in the evening, we visited a famous diner and tried the local specialities of the region and the best was Oshaf - a local dessert made with sheep’s milk. Unexpected, delicate, and surprisingly comforting.
Already impressed by Albania's bar scenes in Tirana, we decided to visit a Cocktail Bar for late night drinks and it turned out to be a wonderful decision! Totally blown away!!
Berat - The City of a Thousand Windows (Day 8 & 9)
After another 3 hours drive from Gjirokastërr, we reached Berat.
White Ottoman houses climb the hills like a painting. The castle, over 2,000 years old and still inhabited, watches over the city.
And we stayed inside the castle!
It felt like living inside a museum - stone pathways and walls, well-preserved ancient artifacts, quiet courtyards, views stretching endlessly into the valley.
We spent our days walking slowly, sometimes hiking, absorbing the stillness, watching sunsets from ancient walls. Immensely peaceful.
Just down the hill was the new town of Berat, which gave us a big city vibe with lot of cafes and restaurants. It also had a small but cute X'mas market and the city was decorated beautifully for the holiday season. Such contrast!
Krujë - Shopping from a 400-year-old market (Day 10)
Krujë sits high in the mountains, once the capital of Albania in medieval times.
We stayed in a cosy Airbnb that had stunning views of the castle, the valley and the Old Bazaar.
We hiked to Krujë Castle, explored the Skanderbeg Museum, and stood looking out over vast countryside views.
Lunch at the top with a gorgeous sunset view over the Adriatic sea was the highlight of our day!
On the way down, we walked through the 400-year-old Ottoman bazaar, famous for handmade silver jewellery, traditional clothes and handicrafts. We bought so many things that Manasi could do a separate "Shopping Haul" video here 😂
Practical Details:
Visa:
We applied for an Albanian e-Visa which took about a month to arrive.
The process is old-school. They accept swift payment only, no credit cards, no online payments for visa fee. Documents must be scanned through proper scanners as they don't accept documents scanned via scanning apps on the phone.
Cost: €15 per person + bank charges.
(Still far simpler and cheaper than a Schengen visa process)
Flights:
LOT Polish Airlines
Delhi – via Warsaw – Tirana
Round trip: ₹65.7K per person.
Albania surprised us.
It was raw, beautiful, layered with history, and filled with quiet moments that stay with you long after you leave.
And this was only half the story.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we visit the 2nd country of this trip - Prepare to be swept away by its insane beauty and our exciting travel stories!
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