15 Lunch Experiences in Albania to Build a Day Around

1.Kruja Castle & Bazaar with Traditional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 632 reviews · 5 hours · from $27Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned van from Durrës or Golem to Kruja, where guides such as Gledi, Afrim, Redjon, and Dion lead you through the castle and Old Bazaar. You get mountain views, shopping time, local food advice, and an optional museum visit. Lunch and museum tickets cost extra.

“Despite the rainy weather , we still had a really great time on this tour! Gledi was incredibly friendly, well-prepared, and very knowledgeable. He even helped us with umbrellas, which was super thoughtful 😊. He explained everything clearly, shared interesting insights about Albanian culture and history, and made the whole experience enjoyable despite the rain. Absolutely recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Berat Tour Osumi Canyons Exploration Lunch Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 212 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $47

Travel from Berat to Osumi Canyon for nearly three hours of guided walking, swimming, and optional rock jumps. Your guide supplies neoprene gear, a life jacket, helmet, and water shoes, followed by an Albanian lunch and brief stops at Bogovë and nearby legends.

“Positive points: the nature and canyoning experience is really worth. The tour is well organized and the guide Henry was really friendly. Points to improve: the equipment provided needs to be improved. This is particularly important for the old, damaged and dirty water shoes provided. And the water “tshirt” is useless as the water gets in and stays in, should be replaced with upper or full wetsuit. Asides from the equipment, the description is not correct. This tour ONLY includes the canyon and not all the other things mentioned. Please adjust description. Comparing to other competitors which combine this tour with Bogova waterfall, I consider this tour too expensive.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Off-Road 4×4 Safari Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 57 reviews · 6h 30m · from $84

Spend about 6.5 hours in a 4x4 exploring Borsh Beach, the Blue Eye, Shen Vasil and other quiet mountain stops. Your English-speaking driver-guide handles the rough roads, while lunch, one drink, beach umbrellas, and entry fees are included. Guides have included Xhulio, Erion, Cindy, and Julio.

“So much fun! Totally recommend anyone doing this especially over any other 4x4 tour. Guides were attentive and so much fun. So much included and a great amount of time at each place, never felt rushed. 10/10”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Saranda Catamaran VIP to Krorez and Kakome Beach with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 41 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $106

Set out from Limion Port at 9:30 for a six-hour catamaran trip along Saranda’s quiet coast. Swim at Krorëza, Kakome, Soldier’s Beach, and Qefal, then enjoy lunch cooked aboard. Mario may prepare seafood pasta, with options for some dietary needs.

“A very wonderful tour. The boat was very spacious. We were able to stop at each stop for an ample amount of time for a swim . The crowd was amazing too everyone was dancing at various points and staff was very responsive and attentive. I would recommend going !”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Theth Full-Day-Tour, With lunch.

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 32 reviews · 10 hours · from $151

Travel from Shkoder into the Albanian Alps with a private English-speaking guide and driver. Visit Qafa e Thores, Theth Church, the Reconciliation Tower, Grunas Waterfall, natural pools, and the Blue Eye, with a traditional northern Albanian lunch included.

“We had THE BEST day! We would highly recommend doing this tour. It honestly made us fall even more in love with Albania. We enjoyed the most wonderful hike, surrounded by the most beautiful scenery. Stopped for coffee and lunch at some really lovely places and enjoyed some delicious food. We went swimming in some beautiful blue lagoons and stopped off at a waterfall. We even got to go zip lining! Theth is stunning and it’s so worth a visit up to the mountains. We met some wonderful people and learned so much about the Albanian way of life. It was truly a magical day from start to finish! We’d…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Berat Hiking Off Road picnic lunch in Tomori Holy Mount

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $102

Leave Berat by 4x4 for Qafe Dardhe, then ride with mules through Tomorri Mountain countryside before a 30-minute hike to an old mountain castle. Guides such as Alma, Steiven, Arbri, and Zamo lead the day, with a local picnic and village-family visit included.

“The trip with the mules was beautiful, beautiful nature. And he was dedicated to us as a guide the whole way. It was an amazing experience. I recommend it for both children and adults.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Dajti Cable Car and Shengjergj Waterfall Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 30 reviews · 6 hours · from $60

Leave Tirana for a 25-minute Dajti Cable Car ride, mountain views, and a short walk to Shengjergj Waterfall. Your English-speaking guide, often Skerdi or Xhuljano, then takes you to a village lunch made with local produce, with time for a lake photo stop.

“Nature, fresh air, and amazing food – a perfect day trip! We were picked up in Tirana and drove to the Dajti cable car, which took us all the way to the top of the mountain. We had about an hour of free time to explore — I even did a short horse ride and enjoyed a nice coffee at the bar with great views. After that, we continued the trip toward Shëngjergj, with a quick photo stop by a beautiful lake on the way. We did a short and easy hike to the waterfall, which was peaceful and refreshing. Before heading back, we had lunch in a small mountain…”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Dajti Cable Car and Shengjergj Waterfall Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $66

Travel from Tirana by air-conditioned vehicle to the Dajti cable car, Shkalla Lake, and Shengjergj Waterfall. Your English-speaking guide handles the day, with a 15 to 20-minute walk to the falls and a traditional lunch in the village. Guide Skerdi has been praised for calm, safe mountain driving.

“Lovely experience! One of a kind! It was amazing and fun! Even it was heavily raining but still we enjoyed it! Both cable car and the hike to waterfalls! The food for lunch is so tasty too! Our tour guide and driver Skerdi is so patient and he drove through that mountain so smoothly and safely!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Cave of Pellumbas, Canyons & Castles hiking tour includes lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $118

Spend about 10 hours outside Tirana with a small group of up to four people. Hike into Pellumbas Cave with provided headlamps, eat a local lunch, visit Erzen River’s canyons, and finish at Petrela Castle. Good shoes are essential, and the canyon stop can change with weather and river safety.

“Troppo caldo! Per il periodo il tour è troppo faticoso, e poi non c’è stato il tempo per vedere i canyon! Guida empatica, disponibile, se non fosse stato per lui avremmo avuto grossi problemi! Era prevista una guida in inglese, ma parlava perfettamente italiano, fortunatamente!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Kruja & Mount Sarisalltik including traditional lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $179

Travel from Tirana to Kruja in a small group of up to five with an English-speaking guide such as Arlind. Visit the castle, Skanderbeg Museum, old bazaar, and Sarisalltik’s sacred cave, then enjoy traditional Albanian lunch, one drink, coffee or tea, and bottled water.

“Kruje is unique since it is the birthplace of Skanderberg and it is the place where he stayed while fighting with the Ottomans. Overlooking views from the castle and Mount Sarisalltik were fantastic. Visiting the Skanderberg Museum and the national ethnographic museum was informative and educational. Arlind is a cool and friendly tour guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Visit Vlore & Himare Beaches includes lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $215

Spend 11 hours with a small group of up to six on Albania’s Riviera. Erdi or Hertel may guide you past Vlore, Himare, Llogara Pass, and Gjipe Beach, with hotel pickup, lunch, a lounger, and time for swimming. Bring proper walking shoes for the short hike to Gjipe.

“We visited Vlorë and Himarë on a day trip, and it was truly the highlight of our Albania tour. The journey was quite long, so I would recommend making it a two-day trip if possible—or spending less time in Vlorë, as Himarë is definitely worth dedicating more time to. Our driver was excellent, very kind and attentive, always checking if we needed anything. He also shared interesting details about the local history, attractions, and monuments in Vlorë. Himare itself is absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear turquoise water at the perfect temperature for swimming and sandy clean beach. Be sure to come prepared! We were offered beach loungers, as well as access…”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Explore Secrets of Ionian Sea in Saranda, lunch included

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 11 reviews · 7 hours · from $58

Spend seven hours aboard Si Saranda’s family-run boat from Saranda to Krorez Beach, with stops at Gremina, Soldier’s Beach, Kakome, and Rojdhe. Swim, snorkel, eat lunch on board, and enjoy included drinks. You can also receive 20% off the only semi-submarine tour in Albania.

“Selve sejlturen var smuk. Ophold på de forskellige steder var fine. Maden var god. Vi har været på mange bådture, men det er første gang at vores oplevelse ikke har været god og det er udelukkende pga volumen på musikken - så mange timer med musik bragende ud af højtalerne så man hverken kunne have en samtale med hinanden eller bare tænke en tanke, gjorde simpelthen at vi stod fire mennesker ( to af dem teenagere) og bare ventede på at turen skulle slutte. Det var 7 lange timer.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Family Mandarin Farming Tour with Traditional Cooking Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

At a family plantation near Xarrë and Butrint National Park, Soraldo and local farmers show you how mandarins grow, then serve farmer-style lunch with bread, feta, olives, jam, vegetables, juice, and water. You will pick fruit, use gloves and clippers, and enjoy a private two-and-a-half-hour outing.

“Was a rainy day, but our host was prepared and give us personal costume, so easy moved and worked during the light rain. We enjoyed the plantation a lot, picking process was easy and meditative. The family served us lunch of the farmer, delicous. During the lunch we enjoyed the incredible view and story telling by lead farmer. Keep it like that”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Gourmet Lunch Farm Tour with Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $90

From Sarandë, Kyle and Shawn’s Bote Farms outing takes you to Finiq for a hands-on byrek cooking class, friendly farm animals, a six-course lunch, and a swim in a natural pool. Pickup, towels, transportation, and drinks are included. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be arranged.

“Possibly the best trip I had in Albania, certainly up there with the best!”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Bunkart 1 & Mount Dajti Tour – includes lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $155

Set out from your Tirana hotel at 10:00 for Bunk'Art 1, a five-story Cold War bunker museum, then ride the Dajti Express cable car for views over the city. You get free time at Mount Dajti, lunch, and optional mini golf, ziplining, ropes courses, horse riding, or balloon shooting.

“Very good tour. Appreciated the first hand accounts. The cable car was really cool and provided beautiful views.”

Check availability →Read our full review