How I packed for a week in Albania

Seven days between Tirana, Sarande and Ksamil force you to think through your packing with more care than it seems at first — it's not just beach, and not just city, but both in a row with driving in between. Here's what I brought, what I didn't need, and what I wish I'd packed from day one.

What I used the most, without a doubt: real sunscreen, not the kind you use around the house. The sun on the Albanian Riviera is much stronger than it looks, especially on the islands of Ksamil, where there's barely any natural shade and you spend hours exposed without realizing it.

A close second: the rental car paperwork and the printed insurance policy. Carrying it this way, not just saved on the phone, helped shut down any attempt to sell us a second insurance policy at the counter — I cover that in more detail in another post, because we almost fell for it.

An extra swimsuit beyond what you'd normally pack. With three nights in a row getting into the water in Ksamil, having two dry swimsuits made a real difference compared to just one that never quite dried between swims.

The key to packing for Albania is bringing just enough to move comfortably between city, road and beach, without overloading — the country doesn't call for special clothing, it calls for practicality.

What I didn't need: fancy clothes for nights out. The vibe, both in Tirana and along the whole coast, was much more casual than I'd imagined before packing, and I wore it exactly once the entire trip.

What I wish I'd brought from the start: more cash in euros. A lot of small beach clubs and food stalls don't take cards, and I had to improvise more than once looking for an ATM near the beach.