Best time to travel to Albania – When To Visit?
Get all the information you need about the best time to travel to Albania in my post, including temperatures and climate tables for the different regions. Find out the best time of year to go hiking and when it’s best to go for a beach holiday. You can also find out the average rainy days, hours of sunshine and water temperature for the different regions in our climate tables.
Albania Koman Lake
In short: Mai to June and Sep to Oct are the best time to visit Albania – you will avoid the coastal summer heat, making it ideal for hiking, sightseeing and beach.
General information on the climate in Albania
- Type: Mediterranean climate
- Best time to visit: May & June, September & October
- High season: July & August
- Average annual temperature: 15 degrees Celsius (Tirana)
- Summer water temperature: approx. 26 degrees
- Annual precipitation: approx. 98 days
Albania is located on the Balkan Peninsula, at the same altitude as the southern part of Italy. As a result, the country can be categorised as having a Mediterranean climate, which is generally characterised by warm summers and mild, rainy winters.
However, the climate in Albania varies slightly depending on the region you are in. In the west, for example, the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic influence the climate, while in the east the mountains have a noticeable effect. In the centre of the country, the climate is more continental.
In the coastal regions, you can expect warm summers with daytime temperatures of up to 30 degrees.
Even in the colder months, temperatures in the Albanian coastal resorts rarely drop below zero – and even at night, temperatures don’t usually fall below freezing.
Saranda Albania
Best time to travel to Albania
Inhalt / Contents
So that you are perfectly prepared for your trip to Albania, we have researched the best time to travel to the country for you. Although the climate varies within Albania, the months of May, June, and September can be considered the best time to travel to the country.
During this time, the temperatures rise and make a wide range of activities possible, such as swimming on the coast, sightseeing in UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Gjirokastra, hiking in the mountain ranges and city trips to Tirana or Korça. You can also expect the least rainfall at this time of year.
Gjipe Beach Albanien
In winter, however, the number of rainy days increases and temperatures drop. July and August are also a good time for a holiday in Albania, but the temperatures then reach peak values, which can make a sightseeing tour or hikes very strenuous. This is also the peak tourist season, which is why the beaches are more crowded and the prices for accommodation are somewhat higher.
Similar to the coast, temperatures in the interior are also hot in the summer months, but the further east you travel, the colder it gets in winter due to the mountains in the east. Snow falls regularly in the high mountains and the surrounding mountain regions.
Our table gives you an overview of the best time to travel to Albania. We have also presented the best time to travel to the most popular places, namely the regions on the coast and the capital Tirana, in detail including climate tables.
| Month | Travelling time |
|---|---|
| January | less suitable time to trave |
| February | less suitable travelling time |
| March | suitable travelling time |
| April | good travelling time |
| May | good time to travel |
| June | best time to travel |
| July | best time to travel |
| August | best time to travel |
| September | best time to travel |
| October | good time to travel |
| November | suitable time to travel |
| December | less suitable time to travel |
Best Time To Visit The Coastal Region – Beach Holidays
Coastal towns such as Durrës, Vlora (also known as Vlore in Albanian), Ksamil and Saranda are perfect for swimming with daytime temperatures of around 30 degrees in summer. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, even the winters in the coastal regions remain largely mild. In summer, you can look forward to pure sunshine, few rainy days and pleasant water temperatures.
The best time to visit the coastal resorts is from May to September, with the highest temperatures in the summer months of July and August. The rainy months include November to March. The number of hours of sunshine and rainy days can be found in our climate table for Durrës.
Climate table Durres
The Capital Tirana
Anyone planning a city trip to Tirana should find out in advance about the temperatures in the capital. Here, the thermometer often climbs above 30 degrees in summer. At the same time, nighttime temperatures are very pleasant at this time of year.
In winter, maximum temperatures of up to 13 degrees can be reached in February – temperatures rarely drop below zero here. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Tirana. At this time, the temperatures are pleasantly warm and are perfect for a sightseeing tour.
Climate table Tirana
Best time to travel according to activities in Albania
Even though the best time for a holiday in Albania is between the months of May and September, you should plan your trip according to the activities you would like to pursue. The most popular activities include hiking and swimming. So that you know which activities you can do best and when, we have listed the best time to travel to Albania for popular activities.
Hiking trips in the mountains
If you want to focus on hiking through Albania’s beautiful nature during your holiday, you should consider spring and autumn as the best time to travel.
However, as it can get a little colder in the higher altitudes in the north of the country in spring and autumn, summer is also an interesting time for hiking in the mountains. Only the winter months, especially the months from November to March, are not suitable for hiking.
Beach holiday
The best time to go swimming in Albania is in summer, more precisely in the months of May, June, and September. If you don’t have a problem with the heat, you can also consider the months of July to August.
However, be prepared for the fact that there is very little cooling in the form of precipitation and rainfall on the Albanian coast. At the height of summer, which is why the months around this, can be more pleasant for many holidaymakers. Only a little sea breeze can cool things down here.
The popular seaside resort of Ksamil attracts many tourists in summer
Winter sports
December to February is the ideal time to go skiing and enjoy other winter sports. Because then you can look forward to plenty of snow in the Albanian Alps.
No matter which time of year you choose to travel, you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable holiday. We hope you enjoy planning your trip and have a fantastic holiday in Albania!
Conclusion on the best time to travel
Albania is still a real newcomer in terms of tourism. The Mediterranean climate is characterised by hot summers and mild, rainy winters. The average annual temperature in Albania is around 15.1 degrees.
The further you travel in the mountainous regions, the more you can expect snowfall in winter. However, the months of May, June and September are considered the best time to visit. It is not too hot, the beaches are not too crowded and there is significantly less rainfall.
Ura e Mesit Albania, Mesi Bridge
The months of July and August are also ideal for a beach holiday, with water temperatures of up to an incredible 30 degrees and numerous days of sunshine. Please note, however, that accommodation prices can be significantly more expensive in high summer than in the low season.
Hikers should travel mainly in the spring and autumn months, as the temperatures are much more pleasant. Especially in the more northerly regions of the country, the cooler temperatures mean that hiking is also possible in summer.
What is the best time to travel to Albania?
Mai-June and Sep-Oct are the best time to go to Albania – you’ll avoid the coastal summer heat and rainy winter season, making these ideal for hiking, cycling, sightseeing, watersports and beach holidays.
