Albania has started to gain in popularity of late, and rightly so. Not only is it beautiful, but the people are some of the friendliest and welcoming you'll ever meet, which makes for some great hospitality. This guide highlights some of the best locally owned guesthouses around Albania, not only ensuring you'll have the best stay, but also that your money can go directly to support these incredible local businesses.
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Would your rather stay with locals in their homes for a more affordable and cultural immersive stay? Look for homestays on homestay.com using the link below and get 20 euros off your first stay!
Tirana, Albania's quirky capital has a great vibe, and is a great place to learn more about the country's dark history. Try and spend at least 2 days here to make the most of it. Vegan options were easier to find here than other cities!
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Not just your average hostel. Run by a feminist non-profit, ‘Useful for Albanian Women’ (UAW), this cute villa hosted events to promote women’s rights before being converted into a hostel in March 2023, & now funds UAW. The owner Lora & her mum are so friendly & helpful & made me a vegan breakfast every morning. They have a couple of comfy private rooms, and, as it's only a very small hostel, the bathrooms are very clean, and you never have to queue. And for you dog lovers, their 2 dogs Krikri & Coco are adorable.
N.B. Payment is in cash only
A very affordable and clean guesthouse in a very central location. The owner is incredibly friendly and even let us check in early.
N.B. Payment is accepted only in cash
Sadly didn't get a chance to stay here as it was sold it but it looks beautiful and has some great reviews due to its central location, beautiful garden, good breakfast, comfortable rooms and friendly staff.
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Lin
Most of you may have never heard of this village but trust me, you're in for a treat. This beautiful and quiet fishing village is located around 2h drive from Tirana on the shores of one of Europe’s oldest & deepest lakes, Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s absolutely stunning, with some of the clearest waters you’ll ever see! Walking through the scenic & quaint streets of Lin almost feels like stepping back in time. The slower pace of tourism development makes it a great place to experience the slow local village life. This is especially true if you stay at one of the historic family-owned stone home guesthouses where you’ll get to experience the unrivalled Albanian hospitality.
I recommend spending 2 nights here to have a more relaxing stay - I also suggest visiting nearby Pogradec!
This beautiful and homely guesthouse is set in a traditional stone house, right on the shores of Lake Ohrid, meaning you get direct lake access if you fancy a swim! The family who run it are so sweet; they treated us to raki, a dessert, & vegan breakfast + a coloured egg for Orthodox Easter. A little pricier than your average guesthouse in Albania, but so worth it!
If you're after something more affordable, check out Rosa B&B. Right next door to Guesthouse Lin, we had dinner here one night. The owner Rosa is the loveliest woman you'll ever meet and her garden has beautiful views of the lake.
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Berat
A UNESCO world heritage site, Berat was one of the most important Albanian cities back in the Ottoman era and to this day remains one of the best preserved Ottoman cities in the Balkans. What makes Berat so unique are its traditional style houses that climb up the side of the hill upon which the 13th century Berat Castle sits atop, giving it the nickname of 'the city of a thousand windows'. I recommend spending at least 2 nights here.
A charming family owned boutique hotel with only 4 rooms. The brother & sister who once lived in this traditional house now run it as a guesthouse. Located in the Gorice neighbourhood with beautiful views of the river & Mangalem, they welcomed us with a local homemade dessert at their very popular restaurant. This place is pretty instafamous so make sure to book well in advance!
Beautiful guesthouse with traditional stone walled rooms. They also have beautiful views from their terrace where you can sit to have a meal or a drink
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Gjirokaster
Slate-roofed houses, windy streets paved with limestone, and a castle assembled from rock hewn from the surrounding mountains, Albania’s ‘Stone City’ is a silvery beauty and like Berat has UNESCO world heritage status. I recommend spending at least 2 nights here.
This stunning traditional ottoman style house from the 1860s is run by a lovely family. Worth it alone for the traditionally decorated rooms & beautiful terrace with great views, it’s the kindness of the family that really blew me away. They not only spent ages trying to fix the TV in our room, but they even made me vegan Petulla (Albanian donuts) for breakfast, & got me some soy milk!
Great central location, beautiful terrace views, and traditional style rooms - what else do you need?
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Himarë
Skip touristy and crowded Ksamil for this absolute gem of a village with stunning views of Ionian sea. It's not only beautiful, but also much more laid-back than it's popular neighbour. Make sure to check out the castle ruins on your stay and head down to the beach for a swim after. I recommend spending at least 3 nights here to give you time to hike, go to the beach and visit the nearby coastal towns.
Named after the owner’s granddaughter, this guesthouse has a beautiful garden with lemon trees & great views of the Ionian Sea. Their restaurant Fig & Olive bistro serves homemade dishes using locally sourced ingredients & it was one of the best meals of our trip! They even made us some off-menu vegan dishes! Note that it's located up the hill in the old town, so you'd need a car to get to the beach, but it's so worth it for the views and the hospitality!
This was my second choice of place to stay in Himare as it has great reviews and stunning views of the Ionian sea below. This historical 100 year old stone villa is owned and run by a Greek Albanian family who have completely refurbished their grandfather's home, turning it into a guesthouse. The story goes that their grandfather and 10 people worked for 1 year carrying stones from the mountains and sand from the sea with donkeys to construct this villa!
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Can I help you plan your trip?
If you're planning on visiting Albania but don't want the hassle of planning the logistics and itinerary, I can help you by creating a Custom Itinerary for your trip. I spent 2 weeks in Albania earlier this year and planned the whole trip for myself and my family! Check out the link below to learn more!
Looking for ways to make your trip more sustainable?
- Do away with all the unnecessary plastic bottles and get yourself a reusable filtered water bottle that you can use to safely drink tap water around the world! I have a link for 20% off (I get a small comission at no added cost to you):
- Consider travelling by public transport instead of renting a car. The bus system in Albania isn't very well connected but it's very affordable and a great way to travel if you have more time
- Can you travel to Albania without flying? There's a ferry that leaves goes from Bari in Italy to Durres in Albania, which makes for a more sustainable form of transport!
Hi there,
I am Sivan, a vegan & imperfect sustainable traveller. I like to visit off the tourist trail destinations, or if I do visit more popular destinations I like to do so as responsibly & sustainably as possible.
I grew up in the Netherlands, lived in the UK for 16 years, and have lived in Marseille, France, for the last 4 years. I’ve also travelled to around 50 countries all around the world, and have meticulously planned all of them myself. Trip planning, is something I enjoy doing for myself, as well as for my family and friends, and is something I pride myself in. I do hours and hours of research making sure I find the best locally owned accomodation and immersive cultural experiences, to ensure I leave as much of a positive impact on my travels as I can.
I mostly travel solo & once I get to my destination, I rely on public transport and overland travel as opposed to flying, where possible. Learning about the local culture & supporting local economies is important to me so I try and stay at either locally-owned guesthouses, homestays, or sustainable boutique hotels, and avoid big chain hotels or Airbnb. I also love looking for local vegan food wherever I go.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, make sure to follow along on Instagram @sivan_travelsgreen, and check out my detailed sustainable & vegan-friendly guides and itineraries here on Thatch, with a focus on ways in which you can support the local community of the places you’re travelling to. All the places mentioned in my guide, are places I have been to before, and all the itineraries I've tried and tested myself.
If you need something more personalised/any tips or advice on a specific location, then we can get on a consultation call to see what I can do for you!
