So there was this guy in a hostel in Sarajevo, Dutch, I think, maybe German, doesn’t matter, who would not stop going on about Albania.
“You have to go, trust me,” over and over, like he was letting me in on some secret the rest of Europe hadn’t figured out yet.
I nodded, said sure, and basically forgot about it for months. Then I actually went.
And now, annoyingly, I’m that same guy, cornering people at dinner to talk about a country most of them have never thought about once.
Before this trip, I couldn’t have told you Tirana was the capital. Had zero idea the place has something like 700,000 concrete bunkers just sitting around in fields, on beaches, wherever, left over from a war that ended a very long time ago.
Albania, or Shqipëria if you’re talking to someone who actually lives there, has apparently been quietly excellent this whole time. Here’s what actually stuck with me.
1. Locals Don’t Really Say “Albania”
Ask someone from there what they call their country, and you’ll get Shqipëria, not Albania. Something like “land of the eagles.” Makes total sense the second you clock the double-headed eagle on the flag.
2. The Bunker Thing Is Not an Exaggeration
Around 700,000 concrete bunkers, built under the old communist government, roughly one for every four people at the time. Still out there. Beaches, hillsides, someone’s backyard. A handful got turned into cafes. Most just sit there being weird and stubborn.
3. It Basically Shut Its Doors to the World
Under Enver Hoxha, Albania went properly isolated, barely any diplomatic contact, almost nobody in or out for decades. That closed-off stretch is a big reason the country still feels a little different from everywhere around it.
4. Mother Teresa’s Family Roots Trace Here
Born in what’s now North Macedonia, but ethnically Albanian, and the country claims her without hesitation. There’s a museum for her in Tirana.
5. The Coast Genuinely Caught Me By Surprise
Ksamil, Sarandë, that exact turquoise-water-white-sand combo you’d expect to pay Greek-island money for. You don’t. And nobody’s elbow is in your ribs the whole time either.
6. Skanderbeg Shows Up Everywhere Once You Notice
Gjergj Kastrioti, known as Skanderbeg, led the fight against the Ottomans back in the 1400s. His statue anchors Tirana’s main square, and his name’s on streets, on squares, even on a beer bottle.
7. Berat Almost Looks Too Perfect
A UNESCO-listed town climbing up a hillside, rows of white Ottoman houses with windows pointing every direction, hence “city of a thousand windows.” From a distance it genuinely looks staged.
8. The Language Is Kind of Its Own Thing
Albanian sits on its own separate branch of the Indo-European language tree. Doesn’t closely resemble much else you’ve probably heard, which apparently makes linguists very happy.
9. Raki Will Find You Whether You Want It Or Not
Grape or plum brandy, strong stuff, shows up at meals, celebrations, and completely ordinary Tuesdays. Homemade versions are common, and everyone’s convinced theirs is the best one.
10. Tirana’s Pyramid Has Had a Weird Life
Built as a museum honoring Hoxha, sat abandoned and graffiti-covered for years, then got renovated into a bright youth and tech hub. One of the odder building comebacks I’ve seen anywhere.
11. There’s a Genuinely Ancient Lake Nobody Talks About
Lake Ohrid, shared with North Macedonia, is one of the oldest lakes in Europe, UNESCO-listed for both its age and the strange life living inside it.
12. Albania Sheltered Jewish Refugees in WWII
Despite Nazi occupation, the country somehow ended the war with more Jewish residents than it started with, thanks to locals hiding and protecting people under Besa, a code of honor that roughly means “keeping the promise.”
13. Money Just Goes Further Here
Compared to most of Western Europe, it’s cheap. Food, rooms, getting around, all a fraction of what you’d pay in Italy or Greece, right across the water.
14. The Head Nod Situation Will Genuinely Confuse You
Nodding up and down here can mean “no.” Shaking side to side can mean “yes.” Took me a good two days before I stopped doubting every single conversation.
15. People Take Real Pride in the Olive Oil
Centuries of growing olives here. The oil doesn’t get the attention Italy’s or Spain’s does, but it’s genuinely good, and someone will happily explain exactly why over dinner.
16. Tourism’s Picking Up, But It Hasn’t Ruined Things Yet
Numbers are climbing fast, sure, but it still doesn’t feel overrun the way parts of Croatia or Greece do by August. Probably won’t stay that way forever.
Before You Fly to Shqipëria
Sort your connectivity out before landing. Between Tirana’s chaotic traffic and figuring out how to get to Ksamil, you don’t want to be stuck hunting for WiFi on top of everything else. A Commbitz eSIM for Albania gets you online the second you land, no local SIM card queue needed.
Planning a longer trip through the Balkans? We also wrote about what it actually costs to live in Uruguay, a completely different corner of the world but a similarly underrated one.
FAQs
What do Albanians actually call their country? Shqipëria, meaning “land of the eagles.”
Is Albania safe for travelers? Yes, generally very safe, with low crime in the areas most visitors go.
What’s Albania best known for? The Riviera coastline, its communist-era bunkers and history, and being noticeably cheaper than Greece or Italy.
Is it actually cheaper than Greece or Italy? Yes, by a good margin. Food, rooms, and transport all cost considerably less.
Do I need an eSIM to visit Albania? Not strictly required, but it makes everything easier. A Commbitz eSIM connects you the moment you land.
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