Lonely Planet Names Albania, Kosovo among ‘Best Destinations’

[DuPidh]

Tirana is a special place to visit thanks to all the brightly painted apartment buildings. Not many people in Western Europe know about them.

Albania, like other places in the Balkans (notably Montenegro and Croatia) is blessed with some breathtakingly beautiful mountains. I think that a lot of tourists are avoiding Albania because they are afraid of the Mafia. That's a shame because the country has a lot of potential. Even if the Mafia doesn't target tourists, it's the image of the mob or the risk of being caught in between gang fights that scares people away.

only the first colored building is in Albania. others are in Poland i think

 

[FBS]

Thanks

This Mullixhiu place looks really cozy. And their prices are amazing. I had forgot how cheap it is to eat in Albania. I just looked at their website, and their 8 course menu is only 15 euro. In my opinion that is really cheap, especially considering that the ingredients are local and the setting is fantastic.

Do you know any good places to eat in the northern mountains?
One time i stopped randomly at one place to eat once while on a roadtrip in the mountains range from Vlora to Saranda, and they served the best cheese and risotto i have ever tasted. And it was just some random family-run restaurant hidden deep indside the mountains.
I would like to know if there are some of those hidden restaurants or villages which are known for their food, but in the northern mountains instead? (because i plan mainly on being in the northern parts of albania this year. Valbona, Shengjin, Tirana etc.)

Mullixhiu is amazing and really cheap, chef Bledar Kola has worked three years with Rene Rexhepi in Noma, among others.

Since you want to visit mainly the northern part on your way to Valbona you should definitely eat at hotel/restaurant Tradita Tosk&Geg http://www.hoteltradita.com/, it is in town of Shkodër, i stayed overnight as well, you will experience amazing feel of historic building. On your way to Shën-Gjin you should stop at Rapsodia(the link in my previous post). As for Valbone, I have not been there yet since I am in love with the south, still exploring it, but one thing that I have come to understand in Albania is that every restaurant in the deep villages serve amazing food. In Valbone they offer only the seasonal produce and local typical dishes. Check this one http://www.restorantet.com/alb/restorant-hotel-natyra-valbone/, or Vila Margjeka. My son loved this one https://villagjecaj.com/. As far as I remember both Margjeka and Gjeçaj provide transport from Shkodër or Tirana.

 

[Maciamo]

This a good web/info/agency: http://www.discoveralbania.al/
this one is in English, Italian and French appart from Albanian http://albania-adventure.com

Both are private tour operators, not government websites promoting tourism. Anyway, the first sentence on the home page of the second says it all: "Albania - Unknown Beauty, which all admire, but many dread to view." They acknowledge that a lot of foreigners are afraid to visit Albania. If tour operators advertise their services based on that fear, it means there is still a lot to do to work on the country's image and reputation. How would you propose to do that?

 

[Maciamo]

only the first colored building is in Albania. others are in Poland i think

Sorry about that. I googled 'colourful buildings Tirana' but I guessed I should have checked more carefully each result. I have edited the photos.

 

[Maciamo]

Thanks for sharing all the pictures. Lots of nice places. I am especially impressed by Gjirokastër, its citadel and the homogeneity of traditional architecture. I am not surprised it's a World Heritage site.

 

[Johane Derite]

Thanks for sharing all the pictures. Lots of nice places. I am especially impressed by Gjirokastër, its citadel and the homogeneity of traditional architecture. I am not surprised it's a World Heritage site.

Berat is also very nice. Its visible in this video:

 

[Ernekar]

Mullixhiu is amazing and really cheap, chef Bledar Kola has worked three years with Rene Rexhepi in Noma, among others.

Since you want to visit mainly the northern part on your way to Valbona you should definitely eat at hotel/restaurant Tradita Tosk&Geg http://www.hoteltradita.com/, it is in town of Shkodër, i stayed overnight as well, you will experience amazing feel of historic building. On your way to Shën-Gjin you should stop at Rapsodia(the link in my previous post). As for Valbone, I have not been there yet since I am in love with the south, still exploring it, but one thing that I have come to understand in Albania is that every restaurant in the deep villages serve amazing food. In Valbone they offer only the seasonal produce and local typical dishes. Check this one http://www.restorantet.com/alb/restorant-hotel-natyra-valbone/, or Vila Margjeka. My son loved this one https://villagjecaj.com/. As far as I remember both Margjeka and Gjeçaj provide transport from Shkodër or Tirana.

Nice. I have heard about Noma. It is here in Copenhagen where i live, but i have never eaten there as the prices are too heavy for my wallet. But if i remember correctly they have michelin stars and are the best restaurant in the world for the fourth time in a row now.
So this Bledar Kola from Mullixhiu must really be a good chef since he has worked at Noma for years
I will definitely have to try out his restaurant in Albania this summer.

I understand your fascination with the south. It is a real paradise down there. The only reason i am skipping the south this year is because i am going to Kosova first, so it will be a lot easier for me to travel to the north. And i have never been to Valbona, so i want to see it this year, and maybe take a hike for a few days in the mountains.
I appreciate the recommendations for these great restaurants and hotels, i will save them on a list on my phone, and see how many of them my time and money this summer allows me to visit.

 

[Ernekar]

Thanks for sharing all the pictures. Lots of nice places. I am especially impressed by Gjirokastër, its citadel and the homogeneity of traditional architecture. I am not surprised it's a World Heritage site.

Yea it looks really nice. Personally i have not been there yet, but i would really like to go.

I actually think it has a nickname because of that homogeneity you mention. I dont remember exactly what the name was, i think its something like "The city of rock" or "The gray city" or something. (if someone can remember the name feel free to correct me)

 

[DuPidh]

Main Bulevard of Tirana. Newly build

 

[DuPidh]

The same boulevard. Different angle

 

[DuPidh]

tirana lake

 

[DuPidh]

open air theater Tirane

 

[DuPidh]

prizren kosovo

 

[DuPidh]

prizren

 

[Ernekar]

prizren kosovo

Nice.
I heard that they are going to build a lift all the way from the city center and up to the castle, so when its done people won't have to walk all the way up anymore.

 

[FBS]

Berat UNESCO site, a city of thousand windows and you can visit Onufri museum among other amazing sites http://albania.al/destination/12/berati/

 

[LABERIA]

We have this thread dedicated to the tourism in Albania:
[h=1]Discover Albania[/h]

 

[LABERIA]

Thanks for sharing all the pictures. Lots of nice places. I am especially impressed by Gjirokastër, its citadel and the homogeneity of traditional architecture. I am not surprised it's a World Heritage site.

About Gjirokaster i will suggest you to read Chronicle in Stone of Ismail Kadare. Gjirokaster is his hometown.

[h=2][/h]

 

[DuPidh]

elbasan albania

 

[DuPidh]

promenade elbasan