Europe · 3 cities
Things to Do in Albania
Tirana, Saranda and Vlore in one place: how people actually arrive on this coast, why the roads take longer than the map says, and which season the Riviera is open for.
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Practical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
Saranda is half an hour from Corfu
The ferry crossing takes around thirty minutes, and a large share of visitors to southern Albania arrive that way for a day or two rather than flying in. Butrint, the best Roman site in the country, is twenty minutes from the Saranda port.
The roads are slower than the distances suggest
Tirana to Saranda is around five hours despite looking short on a map — the coast road climbs and winds through the Llogara pass. Build travel days in properly, and prefer the organised transfer to a tight self-drive schedule.
The two Ottoman towns are inland and worth the detour
Berat and Gjirokastër are both UNESCO-listed and both look like nothing else in the Balkans — stone towns stacked up a hillside. Neither is on the coast road, so they need a car or a dedicated tour.
The bunkers are everywhere and they are a museum now
Around a hundred and seventy thousand concrete bunkers were built under Hoxha and most are still standing in fields and on beaches. Two of the largest in Tirana have been turned into the Bunk’Art museums, which are the best introduction to the period.
The Riviera season is June to September
Outside it, many beach hotels, restaurants and boat operators on the southern coast simply close. Tirana works all year; the coast in April is beautiful and largely shut.
Cash matters more here than in the EU
The currency is the lek and card acceptance thins out quickly outside Tirana and the main resorts. Prices are often quoted in euros in tourist areas and paid in lek at a poor rate — draw local cash.
When to visit
Albania through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Spring
Apr–May
- Best for
- The inland towns, Butrint without a queue, hiking before the heat.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Much of the coast has not opened yet — check that your hotel is actually running.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- The Riviera beaches, boat trips, everything open at once.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- August is when Albanians living abroad come home — the coast is at its fullest.
Autumn
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Warm sea into October, empty beaches, the best value of the year.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- September is the pick — full services, half the people, sea still warm.
Winter
Nov–Mar
- Best for
- Tirana, the museums, the mountains under snow, and very low prices.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The Riviera is closed rather than quiet — this is an inland season.
Frequently asked
Albania: common questions
How many days do you need in Albania?
Two days for Tirana, and four or five more for the south: Berat or Gjirokastër inland, then Saranda with Butrint and the Riviera beaches. A week covers the country properly without driving every day.
Is Albania cheap to visit?
Among the cheapest countries on the Mediterranean, yes — it is not in our fifty-city price index, so we will not quote a median, but food, transport and guiding all cost noticeably less than in neighbouring Greece or Montenegro.
When is the best time to visit?
June and September for the coast — everything open, the sea warm and the crowds manageable. May and October are lovely inland. July and August are hot and full, particularly in the second half of August.
Can you visit Albania from Corfu?
Easily. The ferry to Saranda takes about half an hour and runs several times a day in season; day tours to Butrint from Corfu are a standard product. Remember it is outside the EU, so bring a passport rather than an ID card.
Are tours run in English?
In Tirana and on the southern coast, yes, and standards are rising fast as the country takes more visitors. Italian and Greek are also widely spoken; smaller inland operators are worth confirming with in advance.