Travel to Albania — everything you need to know
When to go to Albania?
- June – September — Adriatic and Ionian summer : Ideal for the coast (24–30°C, warm water, uncrowded beaches). July-August is hot but the Riviera stays less crowded than Croatia. June and September are perfect.
- April – May — Mountain spring : The Albanian Alps (Valbonë, Theth) are magnificent in spring. Ideal for hiking and visiting the UNESCO towns of Berat and Gjirokastër.
Weather in Albania
Check the weather city by city, starting with Tirana.
- Tirana: daytime highs from 13 to 33 °C depending on the season, 96 mm of rain per month on average.
- Sarandë: daytime highs from 14 to 34 °C depending on the season, 90 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Albania?
Albania is the Balkans' last frontier: a still-unspoiled Adriatic and Ionian coastline (the Albanian Riviera with its turquoise waters), Berat and Gjirokastër (two UNESCO Ottoman towns), Lake Ohrid shared with North Macedonia, and the Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps) in the north — a country emerging from 50 years of isolation that offers rare authenticity.
Berat — City of a Thousand Windows (UNESCO)
Berat (UNESCO) is one of the best-preserved Ottoman towns in the Balkans: its white houses with hundreds of identical windows climb the hillside beneath the 13th-century medieval citadel. The Mangalem quarter (Muslim side) and Gorica (Christian side) face each other across the Osum River. A living museum of Ottoman architecture.
Highlights : Berat Citadel (Kalaja) — inhabited since the 4th century BC, Mangalem quarter — Ottoman houses with hundreds of windows, Onufri Icon Museum — 16th-century Albanian painter, View of the Osum River from the Gorica bridge.
Gjirokastër — City of Stone (UNESCO)
Gjirokastër (UNESCO) is a 17th-century stone town in the Drino Valley: its tower houses with grey stone roofs (local slate) and its Ottoman citadel are unique in the Balkans. Birthplace of Enver Hoxha (communist dictator) and Ismail Kadaré (world-renowned Albanian novelist). The communist prison inside the citadel is a powerful historical testimony.
Highlights : Gjirokastër Citadel — American F-86 aircraft captured in 1957, Ismail Kadaré House-Museum — Albanian novelist, Labovë e Kryqit village — 10th-century monastery in the mountains.
Albanian Riviera — Ionian Coast
The Albanian Riviera (from Vlorë to Sarandë) is Europe's least-known Mediterranean coastline: turquoise Ionian waters, limestone cliffs, pebble and sand beaches, fishing villages clinging to the cliffside (Dhermi, Himara, Lukova). The scenic Riviera road (SH8) is one of the most beautiful in Europe and remains uncrowded.
Highlights : Ksamil Beach — 4 islets in turquoise water facing Corfu, SH8 scenic road Vlorë–Sarandë — views of the Greek islands, Dhermi — village perched above the Ionian Sea, Ruins of Butrint (UNESCO) — ancient Greek and Roman city in a lagoon.
Albanian Alps — Valbonë and Theth
The Albanian Alps (also called the 'Accursed Mountains') in northern Albania are one of the wildest areas in the Balkans: Valbonë National Park with its 2,700m peaks, the Theth valley (an isolated village with its Bektashi watchtower), and the Valbonë-Theth trek (6h) are among the most beautiful in the region.
Highlights : Valbonë–Theth trek (6h) — mountain pass at 1,800m, Theth Waterfall (Grunas) — 30m in a pine forest, Kulla (watchtower) of Theth — architecture of the Albanian Kanun, Lake Koman — ferry crossing through a fjord-like landscape.
Tirana
A colourful, bustling capital, Tirana surprises visitors with its multicoloured facades and youthful energy. Between communist relics turned into museums, an Ottoman castle and lively markets, the city tells Albania's turbulent history. Trendy cafés and local cuisine set the pace of its days.
Highlights : Skanderbeg Square, Bunk'Art — museum in a bunker, Tirana Castle, Blloku (The Block) — communist architecture, Pazari i Ri Market.
Travel budget for Albania
Albania is one of the cheapest countries in the Balkans: prices remain very low despite a rise in tourism since 2018. The coast is more expensive in July-August. Tirana and the UNESCO towns are very affordable year-round.
- Backpacker : 30–50 €/j — Guesthouse + byrek + furgon
- Comfort : 60–110 €/j — 3★ hotel + tavern + car
Practical tips for travelling to Albania
- Flight from Paris : ~2h30 (Wizz Air direct Beauvais/CDG–Tirana, Air Albania). Regular flights.
- Visa : No visa required for French citizens (90 days). Passport or ID card accepted. Not in the EU (candidate country).
- Currency : Albanian Lek (ALL). Euros accepted in hotels and along the coast. Cash essential in villages and furgons.
- Language : Albanian (a unique language — neither Slavic nor Romance). English spoken by younger people in Tirana and on the coast. Italian widely understood (strong influence of Italian TV).
- Electricity : Type C/F (European) — 230V. No adapter needed.
- Health : No special precautions needed. Avoid tap water in rural areas. Travel insurance recommended.
- Roads : Mountain roads (Albanian Alps) can be in poor condition. A 4x4 is recommended for Valbonë and Theth. Local furgons know every route.
- Riviera : The Albanian Riviera is still spared the big crowds, unlike neighbouring Croatia. July-August is busier — June or September is preferable.
Compare Albania with other destinations