Gay Travel Guide to Albania

When it comes to Adventure, you don’t want to miss Out. This gay tour brings you to the best spots in both Albania and the Balkans. Prepare to venture inside the walled city of Kotor, famous for its Medieval monasteries and Roman-style buildings. Explore the Durmitor National Park, known for its tumultuous natural terrain, where you’ll move through man-made WWII tunnels and stunning mountain ranges.

Sail up the Moraca River, taking in the epic canyon views and the dramatic waterfalls. All the while enjoying the company of the savvy gay host, Gabor, who will make the experience both fun and insightful.

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North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and of course, Albania – you’ll be well acquainted with the Balkans once you’ve finished this fabulous gay tour… Coda Tours will take you around the picturesque village of Berat, the farmlands of Albania, the sparkling Lake Ohrid and its surrounding monasteries, the kooky statues of Skopje, and the fortified city of Kotor.

Highlights include a tour of the Sarajevo Tunnel, where food and humanitarian supplies were passed along into the city during the war in the mid-1990s. Plus, a small group size of 16 means you get to become familiar with everyone and make life-long friends!

Coda Tours is offering our readers an exclusive $125 discount valid for any cruise and tour you book with them. Click the button below to find out more.

Known as the City of a Thousand Windows, Berat is a charming town dotted with white Ottoman-style houses. Its nickname comes from the large symmetrical windows you’ll see lined up along the rocky hills in the Mangalemi quarter. This area gets direct exposure to the sun, meaning all of the light rays get bounced around the streets – better bring those shades! We recommend spending a full day here to truly soak up the magic of one of Albania’s oldest towns.

During the dark years of the Cold War, thousands of bunkers were built across Tirana to shelter the Albanian people. Bunk’Art 1 is by far the most impressive, located northeast of the city center. Bunk’Art 2 is right in the center, just a few minutes walking distance from Skanderberg Square. A visit to either of these will take you through the long and devastating history of Albania, from when Italy invaded in 1939, to the country’s fight against the rule of Enver Hoxha.

It may not have the gothic fantastical vibe of Dracula’s castle…but it is every bit as spooky. First built during the 12^th century, the walls of the Gjirokastra fortress have witnessed Albania’s most sensational historical moments.

From invasions to independence, they’ve seen more drama than at a drag show. Inside, you’ll find a museum that covers the long history of the building, the Clock Tower, a collection of cryptic-looking armor, a recovered US Air Force jet, as well as unbeatable views of the surrounding town of Gjirokastra. You can join a day trip from Tirana for a guided visit to the town and castle.

As the hometown of Skanderberg, Albania’s national hero, Krujë deserves your time and adoration. It is a charming village, that pays homage to the historical figure who helped fight off the Ottoman Turks. In the town, you’ll find a museum dedicated to his life and achievements.

Also, we recommend taking the time to roam around the bazaar market, which has existed for over 500 years, where you’ll spot merchants selling handwoven fabrics and clothing, and cafes to grab coffee and cake. Join this tour to explore the bazaar as well as Kruja Castle.

If you love Greek and Roman history or are hoping to bring your Song of Achilles fantasy to life, then a day at the Butrint Archaeological Park is a must. With crumbling walls and ancient theatres, you can easily see how it was once a major attraction for the Chaonians – an ancient Greek tribe.

Over the centuries, it went from a colony where Julius Caesar sent his soldiers to unwind, to succumbing to Venetian rule, before falling under the thumb of the Ottomans, until Albania finally became independent in 1912.

With the shimmering blue waters, the rugged rocky backdrops topped with olive groves, and the superbly white sands, there is no better photo op than at Drymades Beach. Early risers will get the most out of the beach as this is when it’s at its most peaceful. Though it does get quite busy once the sun pops out.

There are several seafood restaurants and beach bars nearby, so you can sip on a drink whilst bathing in the glorious sun rays and taking in the incredible view.

The dramatic outline of the Porto Palermo castle is one of the standout sights whilst driving along the Albanian Riviera. Its signature triangular shape has left historians in a frenzy debating over who could have built the castle. Some claim it was Ali Pasha of Tepelena, an Albanian ruler from the 1800s, along with a group of French military engineers.

Whilst others insist it was constructed by the Venetians, due to its feature of round towers. Inside, you’ll find the remnants of a prison, old paintings, and many dark passageways.

You won’t have to apollo-gize anymore for being an Ancient Greek fanatic. Apollonia will welcome you with open arms. The resort town, located near the southern coast of Albania, is a wonderful blend of natural beauty, monuments, ruins, and architecture.

Join a tour from Tirana in order to spend time roaming around the Apollonia Archeological Park, with its array of ancient Roman baths, cemeteries, and Byzantine basilicas. Make sure to enjoy some Apollonian cuisine in one of the many restaurants dotted around the town as well.

Tavë kosi is Albania’s national dish, made up of lamb and rice, that's baked in a mix of yogurt, eggs, flour, and butter. Maybe it’s best you DON’T tell people that its name translates to “soured milk casserole” – (had we known that before we tried it, we may never have given it a go). Albanians consider it a comfort dish. So, whilst some countries order pizza or fish n' chips for their cheat day, Albanians tuck into a plate of Tavë kosi.

It ain’t quite like an Eastern European version of American Pie. For one, there are no apples involved! Albanian Pie, aka byrek, is one of the country’s signature dishes. It is made up of a flaky pastry and a scrumptious filling, either spinach or cheese. It’s typically enjoyed as an afternoon or evening snack. There’s the spinach version for when you are trying to be sensible and healthy, and the cheese version, for when you fancy gorging yourself on something light and creamy. 

When we think of summer, we imagine beers and ice lollies. When Albanians think of summer, they think of ferges! No Albanian family get-together would be complete without this. It's made up of cottage cheese, green peppers, and garlic in a creamy tomato sauce. After it is taken out of the oven, people hold off eating it for 2-3 hours to allow the sauce to thicken. ‘A cold dinner' we thought? Fear not – once we gave it a go, we saw how the wait was well worth it.

We love a good stuffing! (Don’t be so crude, we’re talking about peppers!). This dish is made up of green peppers stuffed with sour cream, the perfect side dish to a meal, alongside potatoes or rice. It's the perfect blend of spicy and sour, not too sweet, not too overpowering, just right – which sounds exactly like our Airbnb rating…

Nothing will quite remind you of your college days than tucking into a steaming cup of soup. Made of white beans (shocker!), capsicum peppers, tomato, and olive oil then mixed with a simple stock, it’s a light and airy dish, perfect for a starter. Once a family recipe that had been passed down through generations, Jani me Fasule is now enjoyed throughout the country. It’s also great for when you’re feeling down in the dumps, sick, or severely hungover (not that we’d know about that, ahem).

What can we say? Albanians love their cheese! And who can blame them? Kackavall ne Furre me Domate, literally means ‘baked cheese with tomatoes‘. No creative spin to it. Kackavall is a traditional type of Albanian cheese that can come from either a cow or a sheep (its consistency depends on which it came from). It’s baked with tomatoes and herbs and served as a side dish at dinner. It's delicious!