Arriving in Lalzi Bay and San Pietro Resort

← Back to local tips

We have co-owned Swiss Sweet Apartment in San Pietro Resort since 2022. But our real discovery of Lalzi Bay as travellers started later, during our first stays on site.

It may sound paradoxical, but owning a place somewhere does not mean you truly know it. You need to sleep there, get a little lost, look for a good restaurant, understand the taxis, test the beaches, make a few imperfect choices, and slowly build real reference points.

Lalzi Bay, also known as Gjiri i Lalëzit, is one of the easiest beach destinations to reach from Tirana. Around 40 to 45 minutes from the airport, it offers a rare combination: sandy beach, shallow sea, beach restaurants, a family atmosphere, a well-kept residence and easy access to San Pietro Resort.

Getting there: closer than you might think

Good news for travellers from Switzerland: from Zurich, Tirana is around two hours away by direct flight with SWISS. That makes Lalzi Bay realistic even for a long weekend. Direct flights from Geneva may also be available depending on the season, and the bay is easy to reach from several major European cities.

In short: you can leave Switzerland with a jacket, arrive in Albania with sunglasses, and wonder why you did not do it earlier.

Arriving in Tirana

Tirana Airport is growing quickly. The works are moving fast, and the surroundings can still feel a little improvised. Nothing dramatic, but enough to make a prepared arrival much more comfortable.

If you rent a car, we recommend choosing an agency that meets you directly at arrivals. It is much calmer than looking for rental offices on foot with a suitcase, poor phone reception and the dignity one always loses after a very early flight.

For everyday basics, there is a small convenience store inside the residence compound, next to Breeze, just a few minutes on foot. For a larger grocery run, use the SPAR supermarket in a nearby village; it is better reached by car or taxi, not on foot.

A SIM card should be your first reflex

Albania is outside the EU roaming zone, so mobile data can become expensive quickly. An e-SIM or local SIM card is almost essential for Google Maps, WhatsApp taxis, restaurant searches, communicating with drivers or translating a menu.

Without internet, you rediscover two forgotten skills: your sense of direction and stress. Both have their charm, but rarely on the first day of a holiday.

Driving locally: a different rhythm

Driving may feel a little disorganised at first. Let’s say the traffic rules exist, but everyone sometimes adds a small personal interpretation.

That said, if you drive calmly, things work out well. If someone follows closely, they will usually overtake at the first opportunity. No big drama, no aggressive show, no constant honking. It is simply another rhythm.

Arriving at the apartment: quiet at last

The first thing you notice is the quiet. Swiss Sweet Apartment is located in one of the last buildings of the San Pietro residence, so you are not surrounded by neighbours on every side. On the second floor, the second bedroom and the bathroom overlook a wooded area, which gives the apartment a real sense of privacy.

Parking is generous. Very generous. After certain European cities where finding a parking space feels like a psychological test, this is a small luxury.

The residence is very well maintained. A few minutes on foot bring you to the small market, Breeze Restaurant and a playground where children can play while parents enjoy a coffee.