List of Thermal Springs in ALB
Map of Thermal Springs in ALB
Guide to Albania’s Natural Hot Springs
Albania has a total of seven hot springs, plus both beautiful beaches and a mountainous region. And it’s in the valleys of those behemoths that many of the thermal springs can be found.
In Albania hot springs translate to, “llixha.” Like many European countries, Albania was once the territory of the Roman Empire and therefore has a history of Roman baths in many of the geothermal areas.
There are two things that thermal tourists should know about traveling in Albania. The first is that a good portion of the population speaks English, and the second is that the country was rated one of the safest on the continent. Go ahead and explore those hot springs. In Albania, locals are generally friendly and welcoming to visitors.
The Northernmost hot spring (or llixha) is Llixhat e Peshkopise. The hot spring and small town around it share a name. Here the water is nearly opaque and pools in three basins that allow bathers to spread out, even if there are a few groups taking the waters at the same time.
The reason for the cloudy appearance is the high level of sulfur in the water, so much so that bathers are told to remove all jewelry before taking a dip. While you bathe you can take in the landscape of rolling green mountains.
In the south of the country, you’ll find Fir of Hotova National Park located in Frashër, Albania. The park is sprawling and full of hiking trails and off-roading opportunities. The hot spring itself is crystal clear and quite warm.
Former guests warn that there aren’t any amenities out by the hot springs so make sure you have drinks and a way to dry off with you. You can rent a cabin in the national park if you want to explore its many gorgeous expanses.
Near the Greek border you can find the Albanian Blue Eye. Here is a spring protected on every side by mountains where the water is a light, crystalline turquoise. To reach the spring you must hike down a fairly steep incline, so be ready for some exercise.
The spring is a wonder, and divers have yet to find the bottom of it although they have descended 50 meters. If you’d like to stay nearby, there are plenty of places to rent a room in the village of Muzinë.
The final spring we’ll take a closer look at is within Holta Canyon. This is a cold water spring, and many recommend visiting it in summer since the heat of the day makes a dip in the canyon pool refreshing. Around the canyon you’ll also find a small collection of caves and stunning vertical cliffs.
The water is a beautiful, almost glowing blue. If you wait to bathe until you come to the spring basin, you can enjoy the restrooms and picnic tables arranged around it.
Other Albanian Hot Springs:
- Benja thermal springs
- Postenan steam spring
- Letan well
Visit Albania
Albania is slowly becoming a country with an economy based on tourism, therefore your hot springs adventures will be welcomed. Other things people do in the country include indulging in the affordable fine dining scene and visiting ancient archeological sites like Greek and Roman temples and prehistoric mounds.
