Day 1: Tirana – The Capital’s Culinary Kickoff
Location: Tirana
Activities: Start in the bustling capital with a morning visit to the New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri) to sample fresh produce, olives, and cheeses like djathë i bardhë (white cheese). Grab a quick byrek (flaky pastry with spinach or meat) from a local vendor. Lunch at a traditional restaurant features fergesë (peppers, tomatoes, and cheese) and tave kosi (lamb with yogurt). In the afternoon, explore Blloku, the trendy district, and sip Albanian coffee or boza (a fermented corn drink).
Evening: A welcome dinner with petulla (fried dough) and a glass of rakia.
Food Focus: Urban staples and Ottoman influences.
Overnight: Tirana
Day 2: Kruja – History and Mountain Flavors
Location: Kruja (1-hour drive from Tirana)
Activities: Head to Kruja, a historic hilltop town. Visit the old bazaar for handmade goods and a taste of halva (sweet sesame treat). Lunch includes * mish me qepë* (meat with onions) paired with local wine. Tour the Skanderbeg Museum to connect food with history, then enjoy a scenic afternoon with petë (homemade pasta) at a family-run guesthouse.
Optional: try kos (thick yogurt) with honey.
Food Focus: Simple, hearty mountain dishes.
Overnight: Kruja or back to Tirana
Day 3: Shkodër – Northern Traditions by the Lake
Location: Shkodër (2-hour drive from Kruja)
Activities: Travel north to Shkodër, near Lake Shkodra. Start with a breakfast of flija (layered pancake dish) before exploring Rozafa Castle. Lunch highlights karp në tavë (baked carp from the lake) with cornbread. Visit a local producer for raki rrushi (grape rakia) tasting.
Afternoon: stroll the city or relax by the lake, ending with a light dinner of jufka (handmade noodles) with cheese.
Food Focus: Freshwater fish and northern specialties.
Overnight: Shkodër
Day 4: Berat – The City of a Thousand Windows
Location: Berat (2.5-hour drive from Shkodër)
Activities: Journey to Berat, a UNESCO-listed city. Morning snack: bukë misri (cornbread) with turshi (pickled vegetables). Tour the castle district, then enjoy a lunch of pispili (cornmeal pie with greens) and grilled meats. Visit a local winery for Albanian reds like Shesh i Zi, paired with djathë kaçkavall (smoked cheese).
Dinner: slow-cooked tavë me mish (meat casserole).
Food Focus: Central Albanian comfort food and wine.
Overnight: Berat
Day 5: Vlora – Coastal Cuisine and Seafood
Location: Vlora (1.5-hour drive from Berat)
Activities: Head to the coast in Vlora, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. Morning: taste fresh midhje (mussels) or karkaleca (shrimp) at a seaside stall. Lunch is a seafood feast—grilled fish, octopus, and salce kosi (yogurt sauce). Explore the waterfront or nearby Llogara Pass for stunning views.
Evening: sip uzo (anise-flavored spirit) with meze (small appetizers like stuffed peppers).
Food Focus: Fresh seafood and coastal flavors.
Overnight: Vlora
Day 6: Gjirokastër – Ottoman Heritage and Stone City Eats
Location: Gjirokastër (2.5-hour drive from Vlora)
Activities: Travel south to Gjirokastër, another UNESCO gem. Start with qifqi (fried rice balls) as a snack while touring the old town and castle. Lunch features shapkat (corn pie with spinach) and kukurec (grilled offal, optional!). Visit a local family for a cooking demo of byrek me kungull (pumpkin byrek).
Dinner: roasted lamb with patate në furrë (oven potatoes).
Food Focus: Ottoman-influenced dishes and southern specialties.
Overnight: Gjirokastër
Day 7: Korçë – Meat, Beer, and Farewell
Location: Korçë (3-hour drive from Gjirokastër, then back to Tirana)
Activities: End in Korçë, known for its culinary scene. Breakfast: lakror (leek or onion pie). Visit the Korçë Brewery for a tasting of their famous beer with qofte (spiced meatballs). Lunch: tave dheu (meat and cheese baked in clay). Spend the afternoon exploring the bazaar or a nearby village for homemade preserves. Return to Tirana (3-hour drive) for a farewell dinner with a mix of favorites from the week.
Food Focus: Southeastern meats, beer, and rustic dishes.
Overnight: Tirana (or departure)