3-Day Southeast Albania Road Trip: Tirana, Lake Ohrid, Korçë & Voskopoja

Lin is a tiny peninsula village of stone lanes and fishing boats on one of the oldest lakes in the world. Its prehistoric pile-dwelling heritage is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing, and the hilltop above the village hides early Byzantine mosaic floors. Come for lunch: the family tavernas serve lake fish metres from the water, and the view across to North Macedonia is unforgettable in the soft light.

Just east of Pogradec, ice-clear springs bubble up through white sand at Drilon, feeding channels shaded by willows and crossed by little bridges. Swans glide past waterside restaurants, and the whole park has an easy, old-fashioned holiday feel. Combine it with a stroll along Pogradec's lakeside promenade, a favourite evening ritual for local families, before settling in for the night by the water.

Korçë carries itself differently from the rest of Albania: broad boulevards, a grand Orthodox cathedral, and a beautifully restored Ottoman bazaar whose cobbled square fills with cafe tables in the evening. The National Museum of Medieval Art here holds an exceptional icon collection, and the city's beer, brewed since 1928, is a point of local pride. It is the natural overnight base for the highland finale.

In the 18th century Voskopoja was a Balkan metropolis with dozens of churches and its own printing press; today it is a serene village at 1,160 metres, wrapped in pine forest. Several churches survive, their interiors covered in vivid frescoes by the celebrated Zografi brothers. The 30-minute drive up from Korçë is a joy in itself, and the cool mountain air makes it a beloved summer escape for locals.