3-Day Albanian Castles & Riviera Tour from Tirana

Gjirokastra Castle dominates a valley that holds three days of history, beaches and ruins.

A 3-day tour from Tirana through Albanian castles and coastal sites with private car and driver, visiting Karavasta Lagoon, Apollonia Archaeological Park, Gjirokastra Castle and Butrint on UNESCO grounds. You travel the Riviera by road, stop at Porto Palermo Castle and Himara Beach, walk through Ottoman-era stone towns, and return to Tirana. Hotel accommodation is available depending on the option you choose at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 614 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Tour with a car and driver, hotel not included 08:00 Duration: 3 days. Covers Tirana, Apollonia, Vlora Beach, the Albanian Riviera, Saranda Beach, Butrint and Gjirokastra. Vehicle options: car, SUV or minivan. English-speaking personal coordinator available via WhatsApp from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Pickup is included.

Car, driver and hotel included 09:00 3- or 4-star hotel with bed and breakfast: 2 nights' accommodation in a 3- or 4-star hotel with bed and breakfast is included. If a hotel is not possible, a guesthouse or boutique hotel is offered instead. Duration: 3 days. Covers Tirana, Apollonia, Vlora Beach, the Albanian Riviera, Saranda Beach, Butrint and Gjirokastra. Breakfast is included on days 2 and 3 in the hotel. Vehicle options: car, SUV or minivan. English-speaking personal coordinator available via WhatsApp from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Karavasta Lagoon and Apollonia

• Visit Divjake National Park and Karavasta Lagoon
• Enjoy boat ride to pelicans' island
• Walk on wooded bridge and visit watch tower
• Visit Nature museum
• Explore Apollonia Archaeological Park
• Relax at Mediterranean beach in afternoon
• Walk Vlora promenade and dine locally

Day 2: Travel along Albanian Riviera to Sarandë

• Check out hotel in Vlora
• Stop at Llogara National Park for coffee
• Drive scenic road along Albanian Riviera
• Stop at Himara Beach
• Visit Porto Palermo Castle and swim
• Stop at picturesque town of Dhermi
• Arrive and check in hotel in Saranda
• Free evening to explore Saranda city center

Day 3: Visit Butrint and Gjirokaster on return

• Visit Butrint Archaeological Park and museum
• Visit Gjirokaster Castle and military museum
• Stroll old Gjirokaster streets and cafes

What’s included

• All taxes and fuel are covered.
• private transportation with a dedicated driver for all three days.
• hotel accommodation for three nights if you select that option at checkout.
• the driver's accommodation and per diem.

Times

• Every day 08:00 09:00

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Before you book

Group Private 3 group tours ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 2d before

Ages Adult (12 to 85 years) · Child (2 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start. Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Pets welcome Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Albanian Eagle Tours

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

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Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 1 verified traveler review

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The experience

The route moves south from Tirana through Karavasta Lagoon, where a 36-meter watch tower rises above wetlands that host about 5% of the global Dalmatian Pelican population. You can take a boat ride through the marshes (tickets paid separately) to spot the birds, then walk a 950-meter wooded bridge parallel to the main road. Apollonia Archaeological Park sits next, a Greek colony founded in the 6th century BC that became so important the Romans built a branch of the Via Egnatia road to reach it. The afternoon opens onto the Mediterranean at Vlora, where you can rent a sunbed and swim before the evening promenade and dinner at a local restaurant.

Day two follows the Riviera south through Llogara National Park, which rises 1,040 meters directly above the sea. A coffee stop at the top gives a view across to the Greek island of Corfu. The road then curves through the most scenic stretch of the Albanian coast, passing Dhermi's stone houses with orange shingle roofs and wooden balconies, and stopping at Porto Palermo Castle: built by Ali Pash Tepelena in the early 19th century on a small island with a Mediterranean backdrop. You reach Saranda in the evening, a city with more international visitors than anywhere else in Albania, and have the night free to explore its center, cafes, bars and beach venues.

The return journey on day three begins at Butrint Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992 that holds over 2,700 years of history. A walking tour of the ruins and the on-site museum traces Greek, Roman and later periods. A professional guide is available for 30–40 euros paid on the spot. The final stop is Gjirokastra Castle and the old bazaar in the town center, where Ottoman-era stone streets and a military museum inside the castle complete the loop before the drive back to Tirana. Your private driver remains with you throughout. You arrange meals separately at local restaurants along the way.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start.

What is Karavasta Lagoon and what can I do there?

Karavasta Lagoon is a nature reserve that hosts about 5% of the global population of Dalmatian Pelicans, along with hundreds of other bird and amphibious species. You can take a boat ride through the marshes to a watch tower and visit the Nature museum, or walk the 950-meter wooded bridge to spot birds in the trees. The boat ride tickets are paid separately.

Can I swim at the beaches on this tour?

Yes, you stop at Vlora beach on day one, where you can rent a sunbed and swim in the Mediterranean; at Himara Beach on day two, one of the best beach towns on the Albanian coast; and you have free time in Saranda on the evening of day two to visit the beach bars and water. Beach umbrellas are not included in the tour price.

What is Butrint Archaeological Park and how much time do I spend there?

Butrint is one of Albania's most important archaeological sites, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. It holds remains spanning more than 2,700 years of Greek, Roman and later periods. You walk the ruins and visit the on-site museum on the morning of day three. A professional museum guide is available for 30–40 euros paid on the spot if you want deeper context.

What does Gjirokastra Castle contain and what is the old town like?

Gjirokastra Castle dominates the town with views over the river valley and houses a military museum with captured artillery, memorabilia from the Communist resistance, and a captured U.S. Air Force plane. The old town around it is built of Ottoman-era stone houses with orange shingle roofs and wooden balconies. You walk through the decorated stone streets and can stop at local cafes and shops.

Does the tour include meals?

Meals are not included in the tour price. You arrange lunch and dinner separately at local restaurants along the route. The driver can recommend options, and the itinerary builds in time for meals at each stop.