Sofia Adventures

All About Albania

Discovering Tirana and Beyond

Albania is a country of over 2.8 million people – and even more Albanians live outside of the country, due to the large worldwide diaspora. Of their population, nearly half a million live in the busy capital city, Tirana. 

It’s hard talking about Albania without talking about the country’s past. For decades, Albania was under one of the most repressive communist regimes in 20th-century history, under the rule of Enver Hoxha. Hoxha’s legacy is still visible in the landscape of Albania, in the hundreds of thousands of bunkers which now dot the countryside. 

But Albania is more than its difficult past. The country has a wealth of beautiful landscapes. From the pristine mountains of the Albanian Alps to the turquoise-blue deep springs called ‘Blue Eyes’ to still deep blue lakes to the stunning cerulean beaches all up and down the Albanian Riviera, there are so many amazing spots in the country. The cities are busy and vibrant, with a rich cultural tapestry of mosques, churches, museums, and galleries. 

 

ALL ALBANIA POSTS

Is Albania Safe? 11 Tips to Stay Safe in Albania

Is Albania Safe? 11 Tips to Stay Safe in Albania

For many travelers unfamiliar with Albania, there's a lot of confusion about the current state of the country that might leave them wondering is Albania safe to travel to. While we love traveling to Albania (and we've both traveled here solo), there are some...

27 Incredible Things to Do in Tirana, Albania

27 Incredible Things to Do in Tirana, Albania

Tirana is one of my favorite cities in the Balkans, and it always breaks my heart when I hear a traveler has only dedicated a day - or worse, a mere transit stop - to visiting this incredibly vibrant capital. OK, Tirana isn't "pretty" in the traditional European sense...

9 Things to Do in Gjirokastra, Albania’s Stone City

9 Things to Do in Gjirokastra, Albania’s Stone City

Gjirokastra (alternately written Gjirokastër because, Albania) is a UNESCO World Heritage gem, thanks to its gorgeous Ottoman-era stone architecture. In fact, Gjirokastra is lovingly nicknamed “the city of stones” due to its unique building style. While Gjirokastra is...

17 Beautiful Albania Quotes & Instagram Captions

17 Beautiful Albania Quotes & Instagram Captions

Albania is a beautiful and beguiling country with an intriguingly long history, cataloged through stories, literature, art, and poems. Here are some of our favorite quotes about Albania, one of our favorite Balkan countries, as well as some quotes by famous Albanians...

23 Hilarious Albania Puns & Instagram Captions

23 Hilarious Albania Puns & Instagram Captions

If you're looking for some cheesy Albania puns that will make your Albanian friends cringe (or to perfectly suit your Instagram feed with some punny Albania Instagram captions), this is the post for you - literally! No post gathering up puns about Albania existed on...

The Best Cafes in Tirana: Coffee & Coworking Guide

The Best Cafes in Tirana: Coffee & Coworking Guide

If I had to pick one place in the Balkans that has the best cafe culture, it'd be hard to pick but ultimately, I think I'd have to give the edge to Tirana. This funky Albanian capital city probably has more cafes per capita than anywhere else I've ever been: it seems...

7 Best Restaurants in Tirana: Where to Eat in Tirana

7 Best Restaurants in Tirana: Where to Eat in Tirana

Tirana's restaurant scene is booming, and now there are plenty of delicious places to eat in Tirana. From traditional Albanian food to international-inspired restaurants in Tirana, you'll find plenty of places to eat your way through this fun, vibrant capital city....