Albania travel guide

Getting there

Most visitors fly into Tirana International Airport. Ferries link Sarandë with Corfu and Durrës and Vlorë with Italian ports, and there are land borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece.

Best time to visit: May–Jun and Sep – warm sea, sunny days and fewer crowds.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Tirana, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: Late July-August on the coast if you dislike crowds and heat; November-March brings rain and snow-blocked mountain roads.

Weather by month in Tirana

• 12°J●●
• 13°F●●
• 16°M●●
• 19°A●●
• 24°M●
• 28°J●
• 31°J
• 31°A
• 27°S●
• 22°O●●
• 17°N●●●
• 13°D●●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Tirane. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 92 of 198 other passports can enter Albania without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 106 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Albania (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-26). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Albania are based around Tirana, Berat or Gjirokastër. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$30–45 for a backpacker and US$70–130 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +355.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Tirana (Capital · culture & nightlife): A colourful, fast-changing capital with Cold War museums, the Blloku café district and a cable car up Mount Dajti.
• Berat (Central · Ottoman heritage): A UNESCO-listed town of whitewashed houses climbing to a hilltop citadel full of churches and icons.
• Gjirokastër (South · stone town): A grey-roofed old town around a huge fortress, with grand tower houses you can step inside.
• Sarandë & Ksamil (Ionian coast · beaches): Lively seaside base with small islands and clear water, close to Butrint and the Blue Eye.
• Himarë & Dhërmi (Albanian Riviera · coves): Pebble beaches, hillside villages and dramatic coastal road views along the Riviera.
• Theth & Valbona (Accursed Mountains · hiking): Remote alpine valleys with guesthouses, waterfalls and some of the best trekking in the Balkans.
• Shkodër (North · lake city): A bike-friendly city beside a huge lake, with Rozafa Castle and easy access to the northern mountains.
• Krujë (Central · history): Skanderbeg's mountain stronghold with a castle museum and an old covered bazaar.

Things to do

• Swim the Albanian Riviera. Hop between turquoise coves like Gjipe, Dhërmi and Himarë where mountains drop straight into the Ionian Sea.
• Hike Valbona to Theth. Cross a high mountain pass in the Accursed Mountains between two remote valleys on one of the Balkans' classic day hikes.
• Wander Berat's windows. Climb through the stacked white Ottoman houses of the 'town of a thousand windows' up to a castle quarter that is still lived in.
• Explore Butrint. Walk through Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian ruins set among lagoons and forest near the Greek border.
• Go underground at Bunk'Art. Descend into Cold War bunkers in Tirana that now tell the story of life under the communist regime.
• Kayak the Blue Eye. See the impossibly blue spring of Syri i Kaltër bubbling up from the depths near Sarandë.
• Ride the Komani ferry. Cruise a narrow, fjord-like reservoir lake through steep gorges on the way to the northern Alps.
• Taste byrek and fërgesë. Fill up on flaky savoury pies and peppery baked cheese stews in local family-run eateries.

Eat and drink

• Byrek – flaky pastry with cheese, spinach or meat
• Tavë kosi – baked lamb with yogurt and egg
• Fërgesë – peppers, tomatoes and cottage cheese bake
• Qofte – grilled lamb meatballs

Money and safety

Currency: Albanian lek (ALL). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants..

Emergency numbers: 129 police · 127 ambulance · 128 fire · 112.

• The currency is the lek; euros are often accepted in tourist areas but you usually get a better rate paying in lek.
• ATMs are widespread in cities and coastal towns but scarce in mountain villages, so carry cash before heading out.
• Albania is generally safe for visitors and locals are famously hospitable; petty theft is the main concern in busy areas.
• Roads can be narrow and driving styles erratic, so take extra care if renting a car, especially on mountain roads at night.