Amazing  Albania tours & holidays

The best time to visit Albania is from April to June and September to October, to avoid the extremes of weather during the summer and winter months. There are three different climate zones across the country, including the Mediterranean coast, the mountains in the north-east and the interior which sees more extreme summer heat and winter cold, so spring and autumn are some of the best months to explore the whole country. As fewer tourists visit Albania, it also means that the beaches along the coast tend to be quieter than other neighbouring countries, even if you’re planning your Albania holidays during the peak summer months.

UK citizens can visit Albania without a visa for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Your passport must have an expiry date of at least three months after the day you plan to leave Albania. Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.

No Albania holidays are complete without a visit to the capital Tirana, home to some of the country’s key historical and cultural attractions. Beach-lovers will also find plenty to tempt along the Albanian Riveria, from historic cities to smaller beach towns, and beautiful islands to enjoy. For those looking for history, Albania is a dream though. Find Ancient Greek and Roman settlements at Butrint and Durrës, with its 2nd century amphitheatre, as well as the Illyrian city of Apollonia. Pretty Berat is one of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, known for its Ottoman architecture and houses scattered across the hillsides, while there’s medieval architecture in Kruja and the 12th century Gjirokastra Castle to explore. Or pretty Shkodra was founded in the 4th century BCE, with pastel buildings and a lake-side setting.

Albania has some wonderful beaches along its coast, usually quieter than similar stretches in Greece and Croatia too. Saranda is one of the best known, the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera with ferries running to Corfu. While it’s more developed than other areas, there are some wonderful beaches with crystal clear water – Monastery Beach and Mirror Beach, just outside town, tend to be quieter than the main public beach. The Ksamil Islands are just 12 miles from Saranda, but a world away from the busier coast, with white sand beaches fringed by turquoise sea. Durrës is Albania’s second biggest city, famous for its string of Roman sites, but the six-mile-long beach is another big draw when you’re planning your Albania holidays. Or at the northern end of the Albanian Riviera, the historic port of Vlore has a string of tempting beaches including quieter Uji i Ftohte, and the livelier Plazhi i Ri with its beach bars. Smaller Himara is another popular beach town with its gleamingly blue seas and fine white pebble beaches, including Livadhi, or the long stretch of pale pebbles at Borsh is backed by olive groves and green hills. Another of the largest beaches in Albania can be found at Dhërmi, whose long sandy beach is a favourite with locals.

Yes, Albania holidays are generally very safe for tourists. The biggest risk is from pickpockets or opportunist thieves in busy tourist areas, on public transport and at airports, train and bus stations. You should always take sensible precautions, especially in larger cities and late at night, by avoiding isolated areas and keeping valuables hidden. Driving can be dangerous with some aggressive and erratic behaviour from other road users. If you are involved in an accident, however minor, wait at the scene until police arrive as otherwise you could face a fine. Heavy snowfall is also common in northern Albania during the winter months, which can also cause flooding.

The official currency of Albania is the Lek, which consists of 100 qindarka (qintars). Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 20, 50 and 100, while notes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000. You can’t easily exchange this outside the country, so it’s best to bring sterling and change this on arrival. Euros are also accepted in some places and are also easily exchanged. Credit cards are accepted in bigger hotels and restaurants, but are not always widely used elsewhere, so you will need to have lek to pay as cash is most common in Albania. Using credit cards and withdrawing money from ATMs can also incur high fees, which may not be evident in advance. Booking Albania tours which include accommodation, excursions and meals means you can limit how much cash you need to bring.

Public transport is notoriously sporadic in Albania and not always easy to navigate as a tourist (although things are improving). Buses are the main option to get around, but often depart when full rather than to a specific timetable. Otherwise, small minibuses take locals between destinations; while it’s a memorable experience, this isn’t necessarily the most efficient option either. The rail network is extremely limited, both in terms of routes and number of trains per day. As the country is still fairly new to tourism, Albania escorted tours can be one of the best ways to see the highlights. Our Albania itinerary has been meticulously planned and tested to discover the best parts of this hidden gem of a country, without you having to worry about the whens, wheres and hows, as your Titan tour manager will take care of everything for you.

For the top cultural and historical attractions in Albania, start your Albania tours in the capital Tirana. The huge Skanderberg Square is home to the National Historical Museum, the 18th century Et’hem Bey Mosque and the Palace of Culture, home to the National Library of Albania and the National Theatre, while the National Archaeological Museum is just a short walk away. Outside the capital, Berat is nicknamed the ‘city of a thousand windows’ thanks to the houses clinging to the hillside, while you can also find Byzantine churches inside the walls of Berat’s castle. The medieval town of Kruja (or Krujë) has its own 5th century castle, which is home to the History and Ethnographic Museum. Or discover Gjirokastra Castle, which dates from the 12th century, and now houses the National Museum of Armaments, before travelling further back in time in Butrint. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded by the Greeks in the 8th century BCE, later becoming a Roman city. The Roman Amphitheatre of Durrës is another Roman highlight, one of the largest and best-preserved in the Balkans, which once had space for up to 20,000 spectators.

You won’t find any strict dress codes to follow on your Albania holidays, unless you’re visiting a mosque, in which case you’ll be expected to cover shoulders and legs (and women need to cover their heads). Otherwise, if you’re visiting in the summer, it can get very hot so you’ll want lightweight, loose clothing and sandals, as well as swimwear, high SPF and a hat. In spring and autumn, the weather can be changeable with sunny days but also rain showers and cool evenings, so packing layers is the best option, along with a lightweight rain jacket and umbrella, comfortable shoes for walking in cities and sturdier footwear if you’re heading into the mountains or hiking. In the winter, temperatures can drop dramatically, especially in the mountains and the north, so go prepared for much colder weather. Insect repellent is also useful outside the winter months. For more tips, check out our packing guide.

You’ll discover a mix of Greek, Turkish, Italian and Eastern European influences in Albanian food, plus its own individual flavours, so some dishes will already be familiar if you’ve travelled in this part of the world. Byrek, a flaky stuffed pastry with spinach, feta or meat, mezes, and kebabs are just a few examples. But during your Albanian holidays, look out for specialities such as fërgesë, a dip made using roasted red peppers, salty cheese, tomatoes, yoghurt and herbs, and tavë kosi, a baked dish made with lamb, yoghurt, herbs, garlic and rice. Start your day with petulla, fried dough balls, and finish your meals with sheqerpare biscuits, soaked in syrup and often topped with walnuts, syrupy revani cake and ashure, a dessert that’s a cross between porridge and rice pudding, sweetened with nuts and dried fruit.

Tipping isn’t expected in Albania but it’s always appreciated. In restaurants and cafes, it’s customary to round up the total if you’re satisfied with service, or to leave around 10% if you’re very pleased. You’ll need to tip in Albanian lek to ensure it goes straight to staff. Tour guides and drivers will appreciate a small tip (we include recommended amounts for tour managers, drivers and guides in our useful information packs, which you’ll receive after booking). Remember that porterage is included in our Albania guided tours, so there’s no need to tip for bags.