Berat
The classic day trip from the capital, about two hours south. Berat is the UNESCO “city of a thousand windows” — tiers of white Ottoman houses climbing both banks of the Osum river beneath a still-inhabited hilltop castle, with Byzantine churches and the 16th-century Onufri icons inside the walls.
Duration: 9–10 hours | Drive: ~2 hrs each way Highlights: Berat Castle, the Mangalem & Gorica quarters, Onufri icons
Berat Castle guide · Book Tirana → Berat transfer
Kruja
The closest trip to the capital — 40 minutes up the mountain to Kruja, the 15th-century stronghold of Albania’s national hero Skanderbeg. His restored castle holds the Skanderbeg Museum, and just below runs a cobbled Ottoman-era bazaar of crafts and antiques, with long views down to the Adriatic. An easy half-day.
Duration: 4–5 hours (half day) | Drive: ~40 min each way Highlights: Kruja Castle, Skanderbeg Museum, the old bazaar
Gjirokastra
Farther south — about 2.5 hours — is Gjirokastra, the UNESCO “city of stone”, a slope of grey Ottoman houses beneath one of the largest castles in the Balkans. The fortress holds an arms museum and a Cold-War-era American plane, with long views over the Drino valley. A long but rewarding day, or a stop on the way to the coast.
Duration: Full day | Drive: ~2.5 hrs each way Highlights: Gjirokastra Castle, the stone old town, Drino valley views
Gjirokastra Castle guide · Book Tirana → Gjirokastra transfer
Ksamil & the Riviera
The southern Riviera — Ksamil’s turquoise beaches and swim-to islands, the UNESCO ancient city of Butrint, and the Blue Eye spring, around Sarandë at the bottom of the country. It’s 4–5 hours each way over the Llogara Pass, so it works best as an overnight or the start of a longer coastal trip rather than a single day.
Duration: Overnight recommended | Drive: ~4–5 hrs each way Highlights: Ksamil beaches, Butrint, Blue Eye spring, Sarandë
Ksamil guide · Butrint guide · Book Tirana → Ksamil transfer
Transfers from Tirana
Private door-to-door transfers with scenic stops along the way.
Ready to explore?
All day trips are private — just you, your group, and a local driver. Fixed prices, flexible stops, door-to-door.
Book a Day Trip →