Eastern Europe - Albania (Chapter)

This is the Albania chapter from Lonely Planet's Eastern Europe guidebook.

After years of government-enforced isolation, Albanians welcome travellers with sincere hospitality. The unique sights are unforgettable: donkeys tethered to concrete bunkers, houses crawling up each other to reach the hilltops in Unesco World Heritage-listed Berat and Gjirokastra, isolated beaches...

• feast your eyes on the wild colour schemes and experience the hip Blloku cafe culture in Tirana
• maps
• travel back in time to the ruins of Butrint, hidden in the depths of a forest in a serene lakeside setting
• transport
• catch some sun at Drymades, just one of the many beaches on the south's dramatic Ionian Coast
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Tirana & around, Northern Albania, Shkodra, Theth, Valbonë, Central Albania, Kruja, Durrës, Apollonia, Berat, Southern Coast, Vlora, Llogaraja Pass National Park, Drymades, Dhërmi, Himara, Vuno, Jal, Saranda & around, Eastern Albania, Gjirokastra, Understand Albania, History, the Albanians, the Arts, the Landscape, Food & Drink, Survival Guide, Directory, Getting There & Away, and Getting Around.