Albania
A small country where Ottoman hill towns, Ionian coves and snow-capped Albanian Alps sit within one itinerary.
Albania is a country in Southeastern Europe on the western Balkan Peninsula, with coasts on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. It borders Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece. Mountains cover much of the north, east and centre, and the Albanian Alps have snow-capped peaks. Tirana International Airport is the main air gateway.
Travelers come for a mix that is unusual in a country this size: Ottoman-era hill towns such as Berat and Gjirokastra, the archaeological site at Butrint National Park in the far south, and the sea caves and coves of the Albanian Riviera. Lake Shkodër in the northwest is described as the largest lake in Southern Europe. Ottoman rule lasted about four centuries, and the towns still show it. Road time matters more than distance, so a trip works best with a clear split between the south and the north. Spring and autumn suit most visits, since summers on the coast are long, hot and very dry. One to two weeks covers the main regions.
Five things to know before Albania
- Check the rule for your passport
UK, Canadian, Australian, German and Spanish passports need no visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days; Spain's ministry puts it as under three months. Your passport must be valid three months past departure. Visa checker
- Never enter on a document once reported lost
UK, German and Spanish advice all warn that Albanian border police refuse passports and ID cards that were ever reported lost or stolen, even if you found them again. Carry a clean passport. UK entry advice
- Carry lek outside the big cities
Canada's advice says cards work in major cities, but cash is needed for small purchases and in rural areas. Withdraw lek in town before heading to a mountain guesthouse or a village. Money
- Treat driving as the hard part
UK advice calls Albanian driving hazardous, with poor rural roads and no street lighting outside towns. A 1968 international driving permit is useful beside your licence, so choose fewer bases and longer stays. International driving permit
- Hike the Alps only with a plan
German advice says Albania has no professional mountain rescue and few rescue helicopters, and UK advice warns of landmines near the Kosovo border. Stay on marked paths and book a guesthouse first. Theth
Albania travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
The capital, the airport and the start of both routes.
Read the guideBeratUNESCO hill town of white houses by the river.
Read the guideGjirokastraThe Stone City of tower houses and a huge castle.
Read the guideSarandaButrint, Ksamil beaches and the Corfu ferry.
Read the guideShkodraA castle city by the lake and the gateway to Theth.
Read the guideThethThe Alps valley behind a high pass.
Read the guideDurrësRoman amphitheater and the Italy ferries.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules by passport, checked against official pages.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- ALL 1,500
- Food
- ALL 1,500
- Transport
- ALL 120
- Sights
- ALL 500
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- ALL 3,500
- Food
- ALL 3,500
- Transport
- ALL 1,500
- Sights
- ALL 700
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- ALL 6,000
- Food
- ALL 7,000
- Transport
- ALL 4,000
- Sights
- ALL 5,000
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, rainyJanuaryRain
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 169 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rainy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cool, rainyFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rainy
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Mild, greenMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, springAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Warm, flowersMayRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, flowers
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot, busy coastJulyClear
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy coast
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh33°Low21°Hottest, busiestAugustClear
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, busiest
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, clearOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Wettest monthNovemberRain
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 208 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest month
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cool, wetDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
Average daily high and low in Tirana, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Albania
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Tirana
09:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°7°98%Monday: Rain. High 20°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue14°9°93%Tuesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Wed16°7°5%Wednesday: Fog. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Thu17°7°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri17°6°2%Friday: Clear. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat16°6°9%Saturday: Rain. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun14°11°24%Sunday: Rain. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 24%.
Updated 09:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 81.47 ALL
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Albania
Albania FAQ
Do I need a visa for Albania?
Not for a tourist stay of up to 90 days on a UK, Canadian, Australian or German passport, and Spain's ministry says none is needed for under three months. Albania's foreign ministry also lists visa-free entry for nationals who can enter Schengen without a visa, so check your passport there.
Is Albania in the EU or Schengen?
No. It is outside both, so you pass Albanian passport control and your days there are not Schengen days. Greece is the one Schengen neighbor, and the Entry/Exit System checks apply when you re-enter on that side.
How many days do you need in Albania?
Seven to ten days cover Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastra and two nights in Saranda. The north is a separate leg: Shkodra and two nights in Theth need about four days, so choose one route per trip.
Is Albania safe to visit?
UK advice says reports of crime targeting foreigners are rare, but road traffic deaths are among the highest in Europe and rural roads are poor. Watch for pickpockets in tourist areas and stay on marked paths when hiking.
When is the best time to visit Albania?
May, June, September and October for most routes. The sea is warm from June to September, and the Alps trails suit summer. UK advice lists wildfires as a danger from April to October.