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Albania has been seeing more tourist interest in the last few years due to its affordability, stunning coastlines and historic towns. This is especially evident in the Balkan nation as overtourism affects major European travel destinations such as Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal.
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The Albanian Alps have also emerged as the perfect hidden gem alternative to the Dolomites, which have been struggling with rising visitor numbers and increased infrastructure strain lately.
Planning to travel to Albania this year? Here’s what’s new for tourists in 2026.
Key places to visit
Tirana
Albania’s capital offers travellers a vibrant culture and rich history. As a city rapidly transforming from closed communism to a bustling Balkan hub, it features a unique blend of Italian, Ottoman and communist-era architecture.
Visit iconic landmarks such as The Pyramid of Tirana, Bunk’Art 1 & 2 and the House of Leaves museum, for more insight into Tirana’s communist history, or take a stroll to admire the colourful, artistic buildings. Tirana also has a thriving cafe and bar culture, with tourists able to try local delicacies like burek pastry.
With a compact, walkable layout, the city offers easy access to mountains and nature too.
Albanian Riviera
The Albanian Riviera highlights stunning Ionian coastlines and secluded beaches like the Gjipe and Filikuri. Relax on white sand or pebble beaches like Jale and Ksamil or take a boat tour to explore hidden coves.
Watersports lovers can kayak or snorkel to explore the Ionian Sea’s underwater wonders too, as well as dive into the Blue Eye natural spring. Explore the 19th-century Porto Palermo Castle or Butrint National Park’s UNESCO-certified ancient ruins. Hikers can enjoy the beautiful trails of Llogara National Park.
Tuck into delicious, fresh seafood at a number of waterfront restaurants in Sarandë or head to Himarë for a quieter time.
Albanian Alps
Travellers looking for a peaceful, memorable mountain holiday can head to the Albanian Alps, also known as the “Accursed Mountains”.
Enjoy rugged landscapes on the most famous hike in the region, the Valbona to Theth hike, taking around six to nine hours, or head to Theth Blue Eye for a vibrant, turquoise cold water pool near the village of Nderlysaj. Visitors can also head to the Grunas Canyon and Grunas Waterfall.
Explore a number of charming, traditional villages in Theth and Valbona for a glimpse of mountain life or take a boat ride through the Drin Canyons on Komani Lake, for a “fjord-like” experience. For a more authentic experience, stay in a traditional “Kulla” or stone house, with organic, homemade food and local hosts.
New hotel openings in Albania
Green Coast Hotel
Opened in June 2025 on the Ionian coast near Palasë beach, this is the MGallery Collection’s first luxury property in Albania.
The five-star boutique hotel is around an hour’s drive from the upcoming Vlora International Airport, making travel even more convenient to the country.
Following a design-led approach, the hotel mimics a stone quarry, intended to blend with the Mediterranean environment and use earthy, raw materials.
Perched on the Albanian Riviera, travellers can enjoy dramatic rocky landscapes and pristine beaches. There is also a private Blue Flag beach, a five-level spa with sound healing and olive oil-infused treatments, a high-end infinity pool, and panoramic sea views from every room.
History buffs can learn more about Palasë’s ancient connection with Julius Caesar through the Caesar’s Trail hiking experiences.
Travellers will be within easy reach of the Llogara National Park as well, perfect for hiking, traditional mountain cuisine and exploring “Flag Pine” forests.
Crowne Plaza Durres
Crowne Plaza Durres is another five-star addition on Albania’s Adriatic coast, having opened in 2026. With more than 130 stylish rooms, it sits on the Taulantia Promenade and offers easy access to the centre of Albania’s oldest city and all local attractions.
Tourists can enjoy a full-service spa, an indoor swimming pool, a casino and a fitness centre, while business travellers have a range of high-tech meeting facilities. Wellness seekers can also enjoy a sauna and Turkish hammam.
Adorn Tirana
Adorn Tirana, from Accor’s Handwritten Collection, is expected to open in the second quarter of 2026. With only 25 rooms, including six suites, the hotel aims to offer a warm, welcoming and intimate atmosphere, compared to larger options.
Located on Gjin Bue Shpata Street in Tirana, travellers will get easy access to key spots like Bunk’Art 2 and the National Art Gallery.
This will be ideal for both tourists and business travellers, with other iconic attractions like the Selman Stermasi Stadium and the Artificial Lake of Tirana park also within easy reach. Similarly, Skanderbeg Square and the Former Residence of Enver Hoxha will be a stone’s throw away.
Rooms will have standard facilities like air conditioning, televisions, minibars, 24-hour room service and free high-speed internet access. Guests can also enjoy a piano bar and cozy restaurant, with available services such as airport transfers.
Upcoming developments
Vlora International Airport
Vlora International Airport is expected to tentatively open in late 2026, with infrastructure being mostly completed. However, the airport has already faced a few delays since 2024, due to pending certification, so this timeline could be pushed back even further.
Located near Akerni, around 10km north of Vlora, this will be Albania’s third international airport and is expected to serve more than a million passengers per year. As such, it will mainly focus on tourism on the southern coast.
It will also have a 3,200m runway, which will enable it to handle larger aircraft and more tourists.
Once the airport is open, travellers will have easy access to the Albanian Riviera and southern coastal region. This also includes the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape, which has plenty of hiking, biking, wildlife watching and boating opportunities, as well as monasteries like the Zvërnec Monastery.
For now, travellers planning to visit the Vlora region should still fly to Tirana International Airport, around two hours away.
Visa-free travel
Albania maintains an “open and traveller-friendly entry policy, especially for European visitors”, said LoveAlbania.al. Citizens of the EU, Schengen Area, EEA countries, Switzerland, and the UK can visit Albania without a visa for short stays.
Visa-free stays are permitted for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, in line with common European travel rules.
Saudi Arabia is the latest country to be added to Albania’s visa-free list. From 15 April to 31 December 2026, Saudi Arabian tourists will be able to travel visa-free to Albania with only a valid passport.
This is a temporary exemption, only for tourism purposes and is intended to cover the peak season and end-of-year holidays. Passports need to be valid for at least six months beyond travellers’ intended stay in Albania.
Saudi Arabian travellers with valid, multiple-entry Schengen, US or UK visas, which have been used at least once previously can also enter Albania, along with visitors with valid residence permits from the above.
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