Driving in Albania: What Tourists Actually Need to Know
Driving in Albania is one of the best ways to discover the country, particularly if you are planning to explore southern Albania and the Albanian Riviera.
For many first-time visitors, however, the idea of renting a car in Albania creates a long list of questions.
Are the roads good?
Is Albanian traffic difficult?
Are petrol stations easy to find?
Is parking difficult in Sarandë?
Can British tourists drive comfortably in Albania?
Is it safe to drive from Sarandë to Ksamil, Himarë, Dhërmi or Llogara?
The good news is that driving in Albania is generally manageable for a reasonably confident driver.
The more important thing is understanding that the experience may feel different from driving in the UK, Germany, Belgium, France or Scandinavia.
Traffic can sometimes feel more fluid. Lane discipline may not always be as rigid as you are accustomed to. Pedestrians, scooters and other vehicles can appear unexpectedly, and mountain roads require greater concentration than ordinary city driving.
But there is one piece of advice that solves a surprising number of problems:
Do not try to drive like the most impatient driver around you.
If somebody wants to overtake, let them.
If somebody behind you wants to travel considerably faster, do not feel pressured into matching them.
You are on holiday.
Your job is not to prove that you can drive Albania quickly.
Your job is to arrive safely — and enjoy everything you see along the way.
And once you become comfortable behind the wheel, having your own car can completely change your experience of southern Albania.
From Sarandë you can easily build road trips towards Ksamil, Butrint National Park, the Blue Eye, Gjirokastër, Borsh, Porto Palermo, Himarë, Dhërmi, Llogara and Vlorë.
That freedom is exactly why renting a car in Sarandë makes so much sense.
Albania Drives on the Right
The first thing international visitors should know is simple:
Albania drives on the right-hand side of the road.
If you come from most continental European countries, this will already feel familiar.
If you are travelling from the United Kingdom or Ireland, you will need a little time to adjust.
Interestingly, the moments that require the most concentration are often not busy roads.
They are quiet moments when instinct takes over.
For example:
leaving a petrol station;
exiting a car park;
joining an empty road;
turning after stopping for lunch;
driving early in the morning when there is little other traffic.
British visitors may therefore find an automatic rental car in Sarandë particularly convenient.
Instead of thinking about changing gear with the opposite hand while simultaneously adjusting to right-hand traffic, navigation and unfamiliar roads, you can concentrate almost completely on positioning the vehicle correctly.
This can be especially helpful around Sarandë because the city includes hills, junctions and busy summer traffic.
What Are Roads in Albania Really Like?
This question has no single answer.
You will find visitors online saying:
“Albanian roads were excellent.”
You will also find somebody else saying:
“The roads were terrible.”
Both travellers may be telling the truth.
It depends entirely on where they drove.
Albania has:
modern highways;
important national roads;
recently improved routes;
normal urban streets;
winding coastal roads;
narrow village streets;
mountain roads;
smaller roads leading to remote beaches.
If you are driving around the major tourist destinations of southern Albania, you will generally be travelling on established routes.
The famous Albanian Riviera corridor connects destinations such as Sarandë, Lukovë, Borsh, Qeparo, Himarë, Dhërmi, Palasë, Llogara and Vlorë.
The important distinction is between the main road and the smaller road you may use to reach a hidden beach, apartment or viewpoint.
The main coastal route might be perfectly comfortable.
Then Google Maps tells you to turn left.
Suddenly the final kilometre becomes narrower, steeper or rougher.
This is where common sense becomes more important than navigation.
Never Follow Google Maps Blindly
Navigation applications are incredibly useful in Albania.
Use them.
But remember that Google Maps does not know how comfortable you are driving a particular road.
If navigation suddenly sends you down:
a very narrow lane;
an obviously unfinished road;
a steep dirt track;
a route that appears unsuitable for a normal vehicle;
stop and reconsider.
Do not continue simply because a blue line on your phone tells you to.
There may be another route.
Sometimes the best solution is simply to park somewhere sensible and walk the last few hundred metres.
This is particularly important with rental cars because damage to wheels, tyres or the underbody may be treated differently depending on your insurance package and rental agreement.
A beautiful beach will still be beautiful after a ten-minute walk.
What Is Driving in Sarandë Like?
Sarandë itself is manageable for most experienced drivers.
What changes things considerably is the season.
During July and August, Sarandë becomes one of the busiest tourism centres in southern Albania.
That means more:
cars;
taxis;
pedestrians;
scooters;
delivery vehicles;
tourists looking for parking.
The best approach is patience.
Do not schedule journeys too tightly.
If you want to reach Ksamil early in the morning, leave before the majority of beach traffic.
If you are returning to central Sarandë in the evening, remember that restaurants and the promenade attract large numbers of visitors.
If your accommodation provides parking, use it.
Once you return from your day trip, there may be little reason to move the car again.
Park it.
Take a shower.
Then walk into town for dinner.
That also means you can enjoy a drink without worrying about driving afterwards.
Driving From Sarandë to Ksamil
For many visitors, the journey from Sarandë to Ksamil will be their first experience of driving in Albania.
It is also one of the easiest ways to understand why renting a car is useful.
You can leave Sarandë in the morning, spend time swimming in Ksamil, continue toward Butrint National Park and return whenever you want.
During July and August, the main issue is usually traffic rather than road difficulty.
Our advice is straightforward:
Go early.
Have breakfast.
Pack your swimming things.
Get into the car.
Leave before everyone else has the same idea.
You can either visit Ksamil first and Butrint afterwards or reverse the itinerary.
If the weather is extremely hot, visiting Butrint early and swimming later can be the more comfortable option.
The important thing is that your rental car gives you the choice.
Driving North From Sarandë
This is where the real Albanian Riviera road trip begins.
Leave Sarandë heading north and the landscape gradually becomes increasingly dramatic.
A classic route takes you through or near:
Lukovë → Borsh → Qeparo → Porto Palermo → Himarë → Dhërmi → Palasë → Llogara
This is one of those drives where the journey itself becomes an attraction.
Mountains rise above the Ionian Sea.
Villages appear on hillsides.
Small beaches suddenly become visible below the road.
The coastline seems to change around every corner.
You will repeatedly want to stop.
And you should.
Just make sure you stop somewhere safe.
Do not suddenly brake in the traffic lane because you have discovered the most beautiful view of your holiday.
There will be another viewpoint.
Probably five minutes later.
How to Drive Mountain Roads Safely
You do not need advanced mountain-driving experience to explore the Albanian Riviera.
You simply need to reduce your speed and increase your concentration.
Approach unfamiliar bends cautiously.
Leave adequate space between you and the vehicle ahead.
Be prepared for:
pedestrians;
cyclists;
livestock;
slower vehicles;
buses;
roadworks;
vehicles joining unexpectedly.
If someone wants to overtake you, allow them to do so when it is safe.
Never feel embarrassed because you are driving slowly.
You have never seen that road before.
The person behind you may have driven it every week for twenty years.
Those are completely different circumstances.
Llogara: Scenic Road or Tunnel?
Travellers researching the Albanian Riviera should also understand that the opening of the Llogara Tunnel has changed the journey between the Riviera and the Vlorë side.
The tunnel provides a much faster connection through the mountain.
That is excellent when your objective is simply getting somewhere efficiently.
But tourists searching for the famous Llogara Pass views need to understand something important:
The fastest road and the most scenic road are not necessarily the same road.
If you want the traditional mountain experience, viewpoints and high-level scenery associated with Llogara Pass, make sure your navigation is not simply sending you through the tunnel.
Always follow current signs, restrictions and road conditions.
But if scenery is your priority, the older mountain route is part of the experience.
Are Petrol Stations Easy to Find in Albania?
Around Sarandë and on the principal road network, fuel is generally straightforward to find.
You do not need to spend your holiday nervously searching for petrol stations.
But there is a simple rule worth following:
Do not start a long road trip with an almost empty tank.
If you are planning to drive from Sarandë toward Himarë, Dhërmi, Llogara, Vlorë or Gjirokastër, fill up beforehand.
Could you find fuel later?
Probably.
But why create an unnecessary problem?
A road trip is much more enjoyable when nobody is staring at the fuel gauge every ten minutes.
Petrol or Diesel? Always Check
Never guess which fuel your rental car uses.
When you collect the vehicle:
ask.
Check the rental agreement.
Check the label inside the fuel flap.
If necessary, save it as a note on your phone.
Putting the wrong fuel into a rental car can cause serious mechanical damage and turn a relaxing holiday into a very expensive problem.
Five seconds of checking can prevent hours of inconvenience.
Should You Carry Cash When Driving Around Albania?
Yes.
Cards are increasingly useful throughout Albania, particularly in tourism businesses, hotels and restaurants.
However, having some Albanian lek with you is still sensible.
When road-tripping, we recommend carrying:
your physical driving licence;
identification;
rental agreement;
bank card;
some cash;
charged mobile phone;
charging cable;
water;
offline navigation.
That basic combination solves a surprising number of travel problems.
What Is Parking Like in Albania?
Parking varies dramatically depending on location and season.
In a quiet coastal village outside peak season, it may be incredibly easy.
In central Ksamil in August?
Completely different story.
If your accommodation is in Sarandë, ask about parking before you arrive.
Do not automatically assume that every hotel or apartment has a dedicated private space.
When parking elsewhere:
follow signs;
do not block entrances;
do not obstruct traffic;
do not assume parking is legal because other people are doing it;
avoid leaving valuables visible inside the car.
These are sensible habits anywhere in Europe.
Can You Drive in Albania at Night?
Yes.
But if this is your first time driving an unfamiliar mountain or Riviera route, daylight is much better.
You can read the road more easily.
You can see bends earlier.
Pedestrians are easier to spot.
Junctions are easier to understand.
But there is another important reason.
Why drive the Albanian Riviera in darkness?
The scenery is one of the main reasons you rented the car.
If you are driving toward Borsh, Himarë, Dhërmi or Llogara for the first time, try to complete most of the journey while there is still daylight.
What Type of Rental Car Is Best for Sarandë?
Bigger is not automatically better.
A massive SUV may look impressive, but you may regret it when trying to park in central Sarandë or squeeze through a smaller village road.
For many travellers, the ideal compromise is a compact automatic or compact SUV.
You get:
comfortable driving position;
easier hill driving;
enough luggage space;
manageable dimensions;
easier parking;
good comfort for longer journeys.
Automatic transmission is particularly useful for visitors from Britain who are simultaneously adjusting to driving on the opposite side of the road.
Is Renting a Car in Sarandë Worth It?
If you are planning to spend your entire holiday walking between your hotel, beach and the Sarandë promenade, you may not need a car every day.
But if you want to visit several places such as:
Ksamil;
Butrint;
Blue Eye;
Gjirokastër;
Borsh;
Porto Palermo;
Himarë;
Dhërmi;
Llogara;
Vlorë;
then renting a car can completely transform your holiday.
Without a car, you think:
“How can we get there?”
With a car, you think:
“Where should we stop on the way?”
That is a much better question.
Explore Southern Albania With Saranda Cars
At Saranda Cars, we believe renting a vehicle should be about more than simply getting from one location to another.
Sarandë is the perfect base for exploring southern Albania.
Drive south one day.
Drive inland the next.
Then follow the Riviera north.
Leave one day completely unplanned.
Maybe somebody recommends a beach you have never heard of.
Maybe you discover a restaurant overlooking the sea.
Maybe you enjoy Himarë so much that you decide to stay for dinner.
That freedom is what makes road trips memorable.
If you are looking for car rental in Sarandë, visit sarandacars.com and arrange your vehicle before your trip, particularly if you are travelling during the busy summer season.
Then take the keys and explore Albania at your own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions About Driving in Albania
Is driving in Albania difficult for tourists?
Most reasonably confident drivers can manage driving in Albania successfully. Defensive driving, patience and sensible speeds are more important than trying to imitate local traffic behaviour.
Does Albania drive on the left or right?
Albania drives on the right-hand side of the road.
Is an automatic car better in Albania?
An automatic can make hill driving, summer traffic and mountain roads easier. It can be particularly convenient for British visitors adjusting to right-hand traffic.
Are Albanian roads good?
Road quality varies. Principal national and tourist routes can be very good, while small roads leading to remote beaches and villages can be narrower or rougher.
Are petrol stations easy to find around Sarandë?
Yes. Nevertheless, filling up before a long coastal or inland excursion is sensible.
Is it safe to drive from Sarandë to Ksamil?
It is a commonly travelled tourist route. During high summer, traffic is often the biggest consideration, so leaving earlier can make the journey easier.
Can you drive the Albanian Riviera?
Yes. Driving is one of the most flexible ways to explore Borsh, Qeparo, Porto Palermo, Himarë, Dhërmi and Llogara.
Is renting a car in Sarandë worth it?
If you want to explore beyond central Sarandë, absolutely. Having your own vehicle gives you significantly more flexibility for beaches, historical sites, mountain destinations and spontaneous stops.