At Pub Crawls Nissa, we love running our own nights in Nice — but we're also curious about how nightlife works everywhere else. So this summer, our staff hit the road for something different: a full road trip through Albania. We came back with a bunch of ideas, a few great surprises, and one massive highlight: the pub crawl scene in Tirana.
Here's our honest, city-by-city recap.
Tirana: the real discovery of the trip
Let's be honest — we didn't have huge expectations for Tirana. We knew the Albanian capital was starting to blow up as a travel destination, but the nightlife? We had no idea what we'd find. Then we heard about a pub crawl that was crushing it on TripAdvisor, so we booked it.
We did the TiranaSZN Pub Crawl, and honestly, it was one of the best nights of our entire road trip.
Here's what stood out:
The vibe and the international mix
This is the whole point of a good pub crawl, and these guys nail it. From the welcome shots onwards, everyone's already talking — travelers from Australia, Brazil, Spain, Germany, the UK — and the on-site team works hard to make sure nobody's stuck in their corner. As people in the same industry, we know exactly how hard it is to build that kind of group energy. They pull it off effortlessly.
The venue selection
Here's the thing about Tirana: the nightlife zone isn't huge. Most travelers who show up for a couple of days end up in the same 3-4 streets, hitting the same standard bars. We were seriously impressed that TiranaSZN took us to places we would never have found on our own. Spots slightly off the beaten path, different vibes from one venue to the next, a real journey. This isn't just "let's go grab a drink" — this is a proper night out. That's exactly what we try to do ourselves in Nice, so we know good work when we see it.
The energy of the crew
Massive shout-out to the guides. They run the night with a smile, no forced hype, and they handle the group like pros. We chatted with them a bit — they've got over 10 years of experience running pub crawls all across Europe, and it shows immediately.
The value
Starting at €15 for the Standard package, you get welcome shots at every venue, VIP entry to 3 venues, a professional photographer capturing the night, and pro party guides. If you want to send it harder, there's the Power Hour package at €25 with one full hour of unlimited Raki (the national Albanian spirit). Trust us, it's a solid way to kick off the night.
Meetup point: the National History Museum, every night at 9:30 PM. Simple, efficient.
Big thanks to the entire TiranaSZN crew for hosting us properly. We know what it takes to run a pub crawl at that level night after night — massive respect. If you're passing through Tirana, seriously, go check them out.
Vlorë: beautiful by day, quieter by night
Next stop on the road trip: Vlorë (or Vlora), on the southern coast. We're not going to lie — nothing much happened for us at night. It's a pretty coastal town, super pleasant during the day, with gorgeous beaches and a solid summer vibe, but the nightlife is much more low-key than what you'd find in a capital like Tirana.
That said, we found out afterward that VloreSZN (TiranaSZN's little sister) actually runs pub crawls there — we didn't get the chance to test it, but based on their level in Tirana, we imagine they know how to bring the town to life. If you're in Vlorë in summer, take a look.
For us, Vlorë stayed a daytime affair: swimming, seafront restaurants, sunsets on the beach.
Ksamil: too French for our taste
Next stop down the coast: Ksamil, that little turquoise corner sometimes called "the Maldives of Europe". The scenery is unreal — crystal-clear water, small islands just a few meters from the shore — but when it comes to the nightlife, we were surprised by how many French tourists we ran into in the bars and clubs.
Ksamil has become a bit of a favorite destination for French travelers over the past few years, and you feel it at night. Nothing against our fellow countrymen of course (we are French ourselves), but part of the fun of going out abroad is meeting people from other countries. In Ksamil, the vibe felt more like "French people on holiday together" than "international travel experience". If that's what you're after, it might be perfect for you — but it wasn't really our thing.
By day though, seriously, take your time here. It's breathtaking.
Saranda: chill, with a cool little spot
Last stop: Saranda, Ksamil's bigger neighbor, slightly to the north. We stopped over there before heading back on the road.
Here, we found a solid little place to end the day on a high note: a cool club that brings a real energy boost to the local scene. No comparison with what we experienced in Tirana in terms of group dynamics and production, but a nice spot to settle in and grab a drink in a good atmosphere.
Overall, Saranda is a good compromise: more life than Ksamil, but more chilled than Tirana. A nice pit stop to balance out an Albanian road trip.
Our verdict after Albania
Albania is an incredibly charming country, with landscapes that rival those of the south of France, warm hospitality, and a nightlife scene that's growing slowly but surely.
Our biggest highlight, we won't repeat ourselves: TiranaSZN. If you only have one night to spend in Albania, make it that one. You can book directly on their site — it's simple, and you won't be disappointed.
And if you find yourself on the French Riviera after your Albanian trip and want to experience the same energy on this side of the Mediterranean: you know where to find us 😉
