Florian's Guest House

We welome you to Florian's Guesthouse and Hostel! Since 2010, Florian's Guesthouse and Hostel has provided a unique home-style stay in North Albania.

As the first guesthouse in Northern Albania, this is a special place and we are fortunate to have so many special people visit us. Our guests enjoy authentic and off-the-beaten-path experiences. We all share our stories over dinner and often make connections and new friends. We are also more than happy to help our guests with their trips within Albania and to neighboring countries.

The Guesthouse is located just outside the city, a short walk or bike ride to the center of Shkoder (we offer bikes at no additional charge to help you get around). Surrounded by lush fields (including our own private garden and vineyard, where we grow the grapes and food for the wine and dinners we serve each night) and scenic mountain views, we are sure that our guesthouse offers a unique and peaceful stay unlike any other in Shkoder. We are also a five minute drive from Adriatic Tennis Park, the best tennis center in all Albania.

Florian started working in tourism in 2005 with a Dutch company that arranged travel to the Balkans. As an avid traveler himself, he noticed there were no hostels or guesthouses in Albania, and so he pitched the idea to his family to create one. His parents loved the idea, and they soon began hosting people from all over the world. The entire family wanted the world to see Albania and what 'she' has to offer: beautiful scenery, landscapes, the sea, authentic food, wine, raki, and more!

The Guesthouse uses a solar powered shower which is hottest from April to September and helps save the planet too. Our Guesthouse is very accessible for disabled people with limited mobility. There are no stairs and has well-lit flat paths, perfect for people in wheelchairs who preserve some upper body use.

Florian has contacts with mountain guides who can arrange hiking and treks for you anywhere around the mountains. Additionally, he can arrange other types of tours, anywhere from horseback riding to fishing. Whatever you wish to do and see around the northern mountains, we can make it happen!

*Please note, this is a family home, so we kindly ask that our guests respect the space and the environment. As such, we have a few requests that we would like our guests to be mindful of. First, we like to lock our gate at 11 pm so that the family can go to sleep, so we ask that any guest who would like to spend the night out in the city center to please return by that time. Second, because we and our guests need our rest, we cannot accommodate check-ins after midnight, unless there are extenuating circumstances, in which case we kindly ask that you inform us beforehand. Finally, we like to offer our guests a peaceful experience, so those who would like more of a party vibe, there are plenty of other excellent options located in the center. That being said, our dinners have been known to inspire lively conversations, so there is plenty of fun to be had :)

The Food
We serve vegetarian Albanian cuisine between 8 and 9 pm every night made from organic food grown right here in our garden and orchard. Breakfast is included in your booking. A typical breakfast includes homemade bread, homemade jam, cheese, tomato, and green onion.

A vegetarian dinner is 10 Euros per person per night and comes with a complimentary glass of wine. Lunches can be arranged at an additional cost. One liter of homemade wine can be purchased for an additional 8 euros. We also serve raki, which is the traditional spirit of the region made from grape mash. Florian's father has been making wine and raki for almost 50 years. These libations are made from the grapes that are organically grown on our property. There is a fee of 2 euros for raki after dinner.

For groups of 4 or more who are not staying overnight at our property, we provide free transportation to and from your place of accommodation in Shkoder to join us for our famous fun dinner gathering.

Other Services
If you are looking to travel on from Shkoder, we can assist you with advice and bookings, transfers, accommodation, and tours all over Albania and our neighboring countries through Florian's tour company, North Albania Tours (northalbaniatours.wordpress.com).

If you're planning on visiting the Northern Albanian Alps, taking a day trip to the Adriatic beaches, or maybe extending your journey to Montenegro, Shkoder is an essential stop along the way. We think you'll enjoy exploring the countryside, historic sites, and the bustling city center.

By request, we can arrange for rental cars, a minibus, private car, and transfers. Delivery of a rental car can also be arranged for you.

Florian's sister, a professional chef with decades of restaurant experience, offers a traditional Albanian cooking class so you can bring the knowledge of Albanian cuisine home with you.