Tirana is the capital of Albania, and the biggest city of the country. Still it is a small and compact place that is best explored on foot. Its architecture bears considerable influence of Italian as well as Turkish monuments, lying as it does exactly between Rome and Istanbul. The Skënderberg Square is a huge open space in the centre of the city while Mt. Dajti, at 5,030 ft, towers over the eastern side. Tirana is dotted by many museums.

Saranda is a city in southern Albania on the coast of the Ionian sea resorts.Saranda can be reached easily from the Greek island of Corfu by ferry. The town is a good base for exploring the most beautiful part of the Albanian coast - a strip also known as the Albanian riviera. Butrint is also a good excursion. You can visit the museum city, Gjirokaster. It is about 2 hours by bus. The city center of Saranda has been scarred by communist architecture but since the fall of communism many small shops and bars have sprung up which gives the city a very nice Mediterranean feel. Not far from the resort of Saranda lie the impressive ruins of Butrint. Ignored for many years, rambling creepers hid ancient masonry and buildings so effectively that a Roman Theatre and Baptistery have only recently been discovered.