2 Week Albania Itinerary: The Ultimate Family Road Trip
Albania’s popularity is growing quickly, and it’s no wonder, with its beautiful beaches, dramatic mountains and historic towns. While some places are becoming busier, we still found plenty of hidden gems and completely authentic, relatively untouched areas.
Our 2 week Albania itinerary starts in Tirana, Albania’s capital city, before heading south through the historic inland towns and then onwards to the stunning Albanian Riviera on the Ionian coast. From the colourful streets of Tirana and the historic towns of Berat and Gjirokastër to the crystal-clear waters of the Riviera, our route provides a great mix of culture, history, mountains and beaches.
In this guide, we share our complete Albania road trip, including where to go, where to stay and our tips for travelling Albania with kids, to help you plan your own Albania family holiday.
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A glance at our 2 week Albania itinerary…
Our 2-week Albania itinerary takes us to four different bases, starting in Tirana, Albania’s capital city, before heading south through the beautiful inland towns and eventually reaching the coast, where we base ourselves in Himarë.
Many 2-week Albania itineraries cover both the north and south of the country, but we wanted to make sure we had enough time to properly explore each place rather than rush and spend too much time driving. As a family, covering both would have been too much in two weeks, so we chose to concentrate on the south — and we’d definitely recommend doing the same unless you have more time.
Although buses in Albania are an affordable way way to travel, as a family of five we found that hiring a car worked out just as affordably and gave us much more flexibility. It also meant we didn’t have to worry about the kids getting travel sick on buses. We deliberately planned stops and day trips along the way to break up the journeys, so we rarely drove for more than an hour or two at a time.
If you’d prefer not to drive, we’ll share how to get between each destination by bus, as well as driving.
Heading south from Tirana, we stop in beautiful Berat, famous for its Ottoman-style houses and known as the City of a Thousand Windows, before continuing to Gjirokastër, the charming Stone City. Along the way, we explore canyons, waterfalls and castles before heading to the coast and basing ourselves in Himarë to explore the stunning Albanian Riviera.
Help bring this itinerary to life by watching our Albania 2 week trip on Instagram stories.
- Days 1-3: Tirana
- Accommodation – Margen Apartments
- Highlights – KLCC Park, Petronas Towers, KL Tower, Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor Food Street, China Town, Batu Caves.
- Days 4-6: Berat
- Accommodation – Villa Ari
- Highlights – George Town, Clan Jetties, Penang Hill, The Habitat, Penang National Park, Ferringhi Beach.
- Days 7-9: Gjirokastër
- Accommodation – Andria’s Apartment
- Highlights – Pantai Tengah Beach, Island Hopping, Langkawi Sky Bridge, Seven Wells Waterfall, Kilim Geoforest Park, Eagle Square.
- Days 10-14: Himarë
2 week Albania Itinerary Map
Is Albania safe for families?
Yes! We found Albania to be a really safe country to travel around with children. Crime rates are relatively low, and we never felt uncomfortable or unsafe during our two weeks travelling around the country.
The Albanian people are also incredibly friendly and love children. We actually found this even more noticeable when travelling inland, particularly in places such as Berat and Gjirokastër, where people were so warm and helpful.
The only thing we would point out is to be careful when crossing or walking alongside roads. Albanian driving can be unpredictable and, at times, quite chaotic. Cars often overtake unexpectedly, stop suddenly or pull out without much warning.
Having said that, all that is needed is a little extra care, and the friendliness of the Albanian people was one of the things we really loved about our trip.
How to travel around Albania
🚘 Car hire:
Hiring a car to travel around Albania was the best option for our family. It gave us the flexibility to travel between our different bases when it suited us, stop at remote places along the way and easily take day trips without having to work around public transport schedules.
It also gives us the comfort of being able to stop if the windy roads get too much and the kids start feeling travel sick. See our top tips for car travel with kids.
Public transport connects the main destinations, but a car makes it much easier to reach smaller towns, beaches and more remote places. And while Albania’s buses are very cheap, don’t automatically assume public transport will work out cheaper for a family. Once you pay for five seats and add up all the journeys, hiring a car can actually be surprisingly affordable.
Where to hire a car?
There are two main options when hiring a car in Albania: booking through a car hire comparison site such as Discover Cars, or booking directly with a local car hire company.
We normally use Discover Cars, as they are reliable and competitive but we left it a little late and availability wasn’t great by the time we looked. So, we decided to book directly with a local company instead. The best way to do this is look for recommendations on ‘Albania Travel’ Facebook groups and message them directly, usually via WhatsApp.
Prices are fairly similar, but you may find a difference in the cars available. The car we hired locally was older and, shall we say, a little more battered than the cars we’ve hired through larger international companies. Although, they often don’t require a security deposit and seem much less concerned about minor marks and damage.
Whichever option you choose, make sure you carefully check the car, take plenty of photos and videos, and document any existing damage before you drive away.
Is it safe to drive in Albania?
Yes, and we actually found it easier than we expected after reading asome of the things we’d seen about how bad driving in Albania can be. Driving in Albania can take a little getting used to, but we were glad we had a car and would definitely do it again.
It is more just a case of a different style of driving. Albanian driving can be unpredictable and a little chaotic, with drivers overtaking when you wouldn’t expect them to, and pulling out into traffic. However, we didn’t experience any road rage or anger. It just seems to be the way they drive!
We also found most of the roads to be in really good condition. It was only when we headed into more rural and remote areas that we came across dirt tracks with lots of potholes.
Our advice is simply to take your time and don’t be tempted to rush because another driver is behind you. Just let them overtake.
🚌 Bus:
Albania has a good network of buses and minibuses (furgons), and they’re a popular way to travel between the larger towns and cities.
For smaller families, couples or solo travellers, buses can be an excellent budget option. However, for larger families, the cost can soon add up if you need to make multiple journeys.
However, if you don’t plan to travel around too much then buses are definitelty worth considering. You can check the timetables, prices and book online at Gjirafa Travel.
🚗 Taxis and Private Transfers:
For shorter journeys, taxis and private transfers can be a good option, particularly for larger families. For example, we took a taxi from Tirana Airport into the city rather than the bus, which actually worked out about the same price as five bus tickets.
The best way to pre-book a taxi is to find local drivers through ‘Albania Travel’ Facebook groups and contact them directly via WhatsApp.
Another option is to download the Patoko app, which works in a similar way to Grab. You simply enter your journey details, book your ride and pay through the app.
Booking accommodation
As always, booking your accommodation as far in advance as possible gives you the most choice, particularly when travelling as a family and looking for larger places with enough beds and bedrooms for everyone to have a comfortable stay.
We booked all four of our accommodations through Booking.com, which consistently offers competitive rates and gave us a good range of family-friendly options.
Money and payment tips
The currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek. It is a closed currency, so is not generally available to order before you visit and for this reason, some places do also accept Euros. However, it’s easy to withdraw or exchange money once you arrive.
We normally use cards as much as possible when travelling, but our research before visiting Albania told us that cash is king, particularly outside the larger towns and cities.
We therefore made sure we took cards that don’t charge for spending abroad or cash withdrawals and simply withdrew Albanian Lek from ATMs as we needed it.
Top tip: Whenever you’re paying by card or withdrawing cash abroad, always choose to pay or withdraw in the local currency (Albanian Lek), rather than letting the ATM or card machine convert it into pounds.
ATM Fees
We used the really useful ATM Fee Saver app, which shows you the fees charged by different ATMs and can help you find lower-cost options.
We found that most ATMs charged around 500–800 Lek (roughly £5–£8) per withdrawal. The fees are displayed on screen before confirming your withdrawal.
Because the fees can be quite high, it’s worth withdrawing a larger amount less frequently rather than making lots of small withdrawals.
If you don’t already have a favourite travel card, we’d recommend the Halifax Clarity card, which gives excellent exchange rates and no extra fees. We also used our Lloyds Club card, which has recently removed charges for overseas use, and found that worked well too.
Days 1-3: Tirana
How to get to Tirana
Most visitors travelling to Albania will fly into Tirana International Airport (TIA), which is a good starting point for exploring both the north and south of Albania.
Another option, if you’re only planning to visit southern Albania, is to fly to Corfu in Greece and take the ferry across to Sarandë, which can take anything from 30 minutes up to 70 miutes. For this itinerary, however, we start by exploring Tirana and then travelling inand, so flying into Tirana airport makes sense.
We’d recommend booking your flights at least four to six months in advance to secure the best prices and routes.
Top tip: If you want to know how to find the cheapest flights possible, then follow our step-by-step guide to booking cheap flights.
Getting the bus into Tirana
The easiest budget option is the Rinas Express airport bus, which takes you directly to Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana.
You can find the bus just outside the airport terminal, near the car hire desks. It runs 24 hours a day, every hour, and the journey takes around 30–40 minutes, depending on traffic. The current fare is 400 Lek per person and you can pay by cash or card on the bus.
Pre-booking is not required, but if you’d prefer you can pre-book a coach transfer instead.
Taking a taxi or private transfer to Tirana
We chose a taxi/private transfer from the airport into Tirana instead of the bus. For a family of five, the cost worked out at roughly the same as buying five bus tickets, but it was much more convenient and took us directly to our accommodation.
A taxi from Tirana Airport to the city centre currently costs around 2000 Lek and takes around 20–25 minutes, depending on traffic.
You can arrange a taxi or private transfer in advance by finding a local driver through ‘Albania Travel’ Facebook groups, using the Patoko app, or booking a private transfer through GetYourGuide.
Where to stay in Tirana with kids
Tirana is quite a compact city, so we’d recommend staying within around a 1.5–2 km walk of Skanderbeg Square, depending on how much walking you are happy to do. This puts you within easy reach of the main sights, restaurants and attractions.
Blloku is one of the most popular areas to stay. It’s south of Skanderbeg Square and packed with restaurants, cafés and shops, as well as being close to the Grand Park and lake.
We stayed at Margen Apartments, which is north of Skanderbeg Square, and found the location really convenient for exploring the city. Our apartment had two bedrooms and a sofa bed, which gave us plenty of space, and there was a supermarket and a fresh fruit and vegetable shop directly below us.
Our apartment was a great choice for our family but the only downside was the noise. Luckily we are all good sleepers but being in the middle of the city meant there was lots of hustle and bustle and traffic outside.
Things do in Tirana with kids
- 🏛 Skanderbeg Square – The heart of Tirana and a good place to start exploring the city. You’ll find the Skanderbeg Monument, Et’hem Bey Mosque, National History Museum and Clock Tower all around the square. Free activity or as part of a 2-Hour Guided Tour.
- ☁️ Cloud Art Construction – This unusual cloud-shaped art installation didn’t overly impress us at first but the girls spent ages climbing on and hanging from it. Free activity.
- 🏰 Tirana Castle – A small historic area in the centre that’s now home to shops, cafés and restaurants. It’s a nice place to wander through and grab something to eat but it is pricier then elsewhere in the city. Free activity.
- 🏛 Bunk’Art 1 & 2 – These two underground museums offer a fascinating insight into Albania’s communist past. BUNK’ART 1 is housed inside a huge former nuclear bunker on the outskirts of Tirana, around 6 km from the city centre, while BUNK’ART 2 is right in the centre near Skanderbeg Square. You can obviously do both but we chose to visit BUNK’ART 1 which is bigger. Tickets can be purchase at the entrance.
- 🌳 Grand Park of Tirana – A huge green space around an artificial lake, with walking paths, playgrounds. We spent about an hour here letting the kids have a good run around. Free activity.
- 🚡 Dajti Ekspres Cable Car – Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do this but if you have a few spare hours, you can take the cable car up Mount Dajti for panoramic views over Tirana. You will need to take a bus or taxi to the Dajti Ekspres stop and purchase tickets from there.
- 🎨 Pyramid of Tirana – This former communist-era building has been transformed into a modern cultural space. Climb the steps to the top for panoramic views across the city. Free activity.
- 🏔 Lake Bovilla – Around 20–25 km northeast of Tirana, Bovilla is a beautiful mountain reservoir surrounded by dramatic scenery. We had this on our list but didn’t have enough time to go. You can book a reasonably priced day trip here.
- 🏰 Krujë – Another trip we didn’t get time to squeeze in but around 40 minutes from Tirana, you can visit this historic mountain town known for Krujë Castle, the Skanderbeg Museum and its old bazaar. If you don’t have a car the best way to visit is by booking a day trip.
Best places to eat in Tirane
- Breakfast – Fruit Juice & More for amaing smoothie bowls!
- Lunch – Dani Byrektore for amazing byrek (traditional savoury pastry with fillings)
- Dinner – ODA Restaurant for traditional Albanian food
Days 4-6: Berat
How to get to Berat from Tirana
After spending a few days exploring Tirana, we picked up our hire car and headed south, on an inland route to Berat. The drive from Tirana to Berat is around 100 km and takes just under 2 hours. The most challenging part is driving an unfamiliar car, on the wrong side of the road out of the chaotic city. Once we made it out, the driving became much simpler.
We broke the journey up by stopping off at the Cyclops Eye (Syri i Cikllopit), a beautiful waterfall and set of natural pools. If you’re up for the one hour hike each way and a refreshing secluded swim, then it’s about a 45 minute drive from Tirana, on the way to Berat, and 100% worth it.
If you haven’t got a car, buses run regularly from Tirana to Berat throughout the day. You can book tickets online, or buy directly at the bus terminal. The journey takes around 2–2½ hours and costs roughly 400–700 Lek per person, depending on the service.
Where to stay in Berat with kids
Berat is such a beautiful city, there’s really no bad area to stay but we’d recommend either Magalem or Gorica, which sit on opposite sides of the Osum River and are connected by the Gorica Bridge. Both are within easy walking distance of the main sights.
You can also stay inside Berat Castle, in the historic Kala neighbourhood, but it’s worth noting that the castle is uphill so you’d have to walk up and down every time you wanted to leave the castle area.
We stayed at Villa Ari and would highly recommend it for families. It had two bedrooms, private parking, a lovely spacious living and kitchen area and a fantastic rooftop terrace.
Things to do in Berat with kids
- 🚶 Berat Walking Tour – Berat is relatively compact, so one of the best ways to explore it is simply by wandering through the historic Mangalem and Gorica quarters. Take your time admiring the beautiful Ottoman houses, cross the historic Gorica Bridge and explore the old streets and squares. Free activity or book a walking tour.
- 🍷 Wine Window Semani – Located in the pretty cobbled streets of the Mangalem Quarter, you ring a bell and get served a glass of wine through this tiny little wine window in the wall. We were gutted that it was closed when we visited, but were glad we still got to see it! We’d definitely recommend the experience to anyone else who enjoys wine, of course! Free activity or the cost of the wine you drink!
- 🏰 Berat Castle – High above the city, Berat Castle is 100% worth a visit. Unlike many castles, it’s still a living neighbourhood, with houses, churches and other historic buildings inside the walls. There are restaurants, bars and accommodation. Free activity.
- 🌊 Osum Canyon & Bogovë Waterfall – We took a day trip into the mountains to visit Osum Canyon, where we went kayaking, which was so much fun! You can also go rafting or tubing. We didn’t get time to visit Bogovë Waterfall, which is around a 45-minute drive from the canyon. You can visit independently by car, or you can book day trips that combine both in one day.
Best places to eat in Berat
- Breakfast – Te Nani for huge fruit platters, avocado toast, omelette’s and more in a beautiful garden setting
- Lunch – Shtepia e kafes Gimi for amazing coffee, milkshakes, crepes, desserts and ice cream
- Dinner – Homemade Food Lili (but book well in advance via WhatsApp), or Terrace 360° Lion for amazing views and a resident tortoise!
Days 7-9: Gjirokastër
How to get to Gjirokastër from Berat
Before leaving Berat, we called in at Te Nani for an amazing breakfast of fresh fruit platters, eggs, smoothie bowls and avocado toast, which set us up for the drive ahead.
The drive from Berat to Gjirokastër is approximately 2.5 hours. We didn’t have a plan to stop anywhere along the way, but had the flexibility to if we needed to. The roads were well maintained and the journey was easy (no windy mountain passes), so in the end we decided to just crack on and get there by mid-afternoon.
If you don’t have a car, buses run between Berat and Gjirokastër, but only once or twice a day (usually early morning), so it’s worth checking the timetable in advance. You can book tickets online, and the journey takes around 3 hours and costs roughly 1200 Lek per person.
Where to stay in Gjirokastër with kids
Gjirokastër is made up of two halves: the historic centre, perched up on the hillside with its charming cobbled streets, stone houses and the Old Bazaar. And then, the downtown (new town) below, which is more modern with the main road, bus station and everyday shops. We’d recommend staying in the historic centre where all the atmosphere and restaurants are, and everything is walkable once you’re up there.
We stayed right in the heart of the historic centre at Andria’s Apartment, just steps from the bustling crossroads of five streets that forms the centre of the Old Bazaar. The apartment is a traditional house that’s been passed down through the family for generations. Our host was the daughter who used to live there herself. She was so lovely and told us all about what it was like growing up in the house, and what Gjirokastër was like before tourism arrived.
The apartment has a terrace and bar above it with beautiful views over the historic centre, and it was so nice to start the day being served breakfast up there each morning. Everything about this place was warm, welcoming and full of character. The only thing to note is that you’ll need to park about 5 minutes’ walk away, but that was absolutely not a problem for us.
Things to do in Gjirokastër with kids
- 🚶 Gjirokastër Walking Tour – Wander the cobbled streets of the historic centre, including the Old Bazaar, the Ethnographic Museum, Skënduli House and Zekate House. Free activity or book a walking tour.
- 🏰 Gjirokastër Castle – The castle is one of the highlights of Gjirokastër and is definitely worth allowing a couple of hours to explore. It’s enormous, with plenty to see inside and some fantastic views over the Drino Valley. Tickets can be bought at the entrance.
- 🌉 Ali Pasha Bridge – One of the remaining sections of the historic aqueduct that supplied water to Gjirokastër Castle and the town. You can follow the signs from town, but we’d recommend visiting after the castle, as it’s a fairly steep walk and doing it this way means you’ve already tackled some of the climb! Once you reach the bridge, it’s another 5–10 minute walk down to get to it. Keep an eye out for the local goats shepherd on horseback! Free activity.
- ♨️ Bënja Thermal Baths, Përmet – This is a brilliant day trip from Gjirokastër. You can drive there yourself or book an organised tour. There’s a 200 Lek parking charge, followed by a short walk to the beautiful Ottoman bridge and thermal pools. You can simply enjoy the main pool near the bridge, or walk further into the canyon, where you’ll find more natural pools and can even walk through the river itself. Just don’t expect piping-hot water — these are more lukewarm than hot, and they definitely have that lovely sulphur smell!
- 💧 The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) – We stopped here on our way to Himarë, making it a great stop when travelling between Gjirokastër and the coast. This stunning natural spring bubbles up from underground with enormous pressure. From the entrance, it’s around a 1.5 km walk to the spring, although you can take the tourist train instead. We found a different route back through the forest (around 3.5 km), but absolutely loved it because there were zero tourists and we saw lots of nature, including butterflies and frogs. Entrance fee is just 50 Lek per person.
Best places to eat in Gjirokastër
- Breakfast – We didn’t actually go out for breakfast during our stay because breakfast was included with our stay at Andria’s Apartment.
- Lunch – Ali Pasha’s Table for traditional food with incredible views over the castle and valley.
- Dinner – Furra Restaurant for great pizza, salads and traditional Albanian dishes, right in the heart of the old town. A good variety menu (the menus can get a little repetitive).
Days 10-14: Himarë
How to get to Himarë from Gjirokastër
We drove to the final destination on our 2-week Albania itinerary, and from Gjirokastër to Himarë it takes roughly 2–2½ hours. We stopped at the Blue Eye on the way, which worked really well and meant we could split the journey up with another fantastic adventure. Allow a little longer if you want to make stops along the way. The roads are good condition but very windy, so the viewpoints are perfect places to stop if anyone suffers from travel sickness.
You can also take a bus from Gjirokastër to Himarë, but these are limited to one or maybe two per day. The journey takes around 3 hours and costs roughly 1600 Lek per person. You can book tickets online.
Where to stay in Himarë with kids
There are a few different areas to choose from in Himarë. Spile/Himarë centre is a convenient option, with the main beach, restaurants, cafés and shops all within easy walking distance. Potam is a little further south and quieter, with beachfront accommodation and more of a holiday-resort feel. Livadhi Beach is further out and offers a more relaxed, while Himarë Old Town sits high above the coast and has beautiful views but is much hillier.
We stayed about 1 km outside the centre, up on the hillside at Lovely Sea View Apartments & Junior Suites, and it was perfect for us. We were far enough away from the hustle and bustle to enjoy the peace and amazing sea views over Himarë from our balcony, but still close enough to walk into town.
The walk back was uphill and pretty hot during the daytime, though, so you may prefer to stay closer to the centre if you don’t fancy that — particularly with younger children.
Our accommodation was also really spacious and had a swimming pool, which was a fantastic bonus. Pools aren’t something you can take for granted when booking accommodation in Albania, so it was lovely to have somewhere to cool off after a day exploring the coast.
For us, the hillside location was ideal, but choose your accommodation based on whether you prioritise being close to the restaurants and beach or having more space, peace and those fantastic sea views.
Things to do in Himarë with kids
- 🏘️ Explore Himarë town – The town is small and easy to explore on foot, so there’s no real need for a walking tour. Free activity.
- 🏖️ Explore the beaches – We walked between the beaches from Spile through Sfageio, Maraçi, Prinos and Potami (about 2km in total), stopping to swim along the way. Livadhi Beach is also worth visiting, although it’s further from the centre. Free activity.
- 🥶 Take the plunge at Potami Beach – At the end of Potami Beach you’ll find a cold freshwater spring flowing into the sea. Dare to take the plunge! The water is freezing but makes the perfect way to cool down on a hot day. Free activity.
- 🏰 Himarë Castle & Old Town – Walk up to the sleepy old town and castle for some of the best views over the coast (roughly 3km), or grab a taxi if you don’t fancy the steep climb. Once you’re there, Café Butterfly and Amphora are great places to stop for a drink and enjoy the incredible views. There is a cash entrance fee of 300 Lek per person (unless you are staying in the old town).
- 🚤 Take a boat trip – This is a must and we’d recommend a northern boat trip to explore the hidden beaches, caves and crystal-clear swimming spots. You can book group or private tours from the waterfront or pre-book tours here. We chose a private trip with Bella Italia Boat Tours, and our favourite part was being able to stop wherever we wanted — especially at secluded spots where there was nobody else around. Swimming into the Secret Cave was a highlight.
- 🏰 Day trip to Sarandë & Lekursi Castle – Head south for a day to explore Sarandë and visit Lekursi Castle, which has amazing views across Sarandë and the surrounding coastline. Driving takes about 1.5 hours or you can take a bus – click here for times and tickets.
- 🏖️ Day trip to Ksamil – Just another 30 mins south of Sarandë is Ksamil, famous for its turquoise water and beautiful beaches. We actually did Lekursi Castle, which is free and doesn’t need long, and Ksamil in the same day. However, visiting at the end of August, it was far too commercialised for us. With so many people people packed onto the beaches like sardines, it was difficult to really appreciate its beauty. Free activity.
Best places to eat in Himarë
- Breakfast – Eleni’s Country Breakfast for delicious breakfast served and cooked fresh in the back garden by the old lady herself. Or if you have a car, head to Jo & Jo for amazing pancakes and more in Qeparo.
- Lunch – Brothers Grill & Fast Food for amazing gyros and souvlaki.
- Dinner – Aphrodite’s Garden for delicious food and sunset views. Or drive to Luna Mare on Borsch Beach for incredible seafood and relaxing beach vibes, whilst the kids swim in the sea.
Final Day: Travelling back to Tirana
How to get to Tirana from Himarë
If you’re following our itinerary, you’ll need to head back to Tirana for your flight home. We had an evening flight, so we could take our time and enjoy a leisurely drive back to the airport.
The drive from Himarë to Tirana takes roughly 3½–4 hours, although we’d allow longer just in case. We made sure to take the scenic Llogara Pass rather than the new tunnel, as the views are incredible. Just make sure you stay on the SH8 and take the sharp right turn towards the pass rather than continuing straight ahead towards the tunnel.
Having a hire car worked perfectly for us, as we could leave Himarë when we wanted and stop along the way depending on how much time we had. We arranged to drop our car off near Tirana Airport, and the hire company then drove us to the terminal, making the whole process really easy.
There are also direct buses from Himarë to Tirana, with tickets currently costing around 1,700 Lek per person and the journey taking approximately 3¾ hours. You can book your bus tickets online here.
If you’re heading directly to the airport, there is also a direct Himarë to Tirana Airport service, currently taking around 4 hours 50 minutes.
FAQs: Planning your Albania family trip
What to pack for Albania
We found packing for Albania pretty easy. If travelling in summer then light, cool clothes are definitely the way to go. Even the evenings were very warm when we visited.
One thing we’d definitely recommend packing is water shoes. They were really useful for the rocky beaches and especially for the activities we did, including kayaking and swimming in the rivers and natural pools.
Don’t forget suncream, as you’ll need plenty in the strong summer sun and we found it was quite expensive to buy once we were there. A good hat and sunglasses are also worth packing.
We’d also recommend bringing mosquito repellent, particularly if you’re travelling into the countryside or spending evenings outdoors.
When is the best time of year to visit Albania?
For a trip like ours, combining city sightseeing, road trips, outdoor activities and the Albanian Riviera, we’d recommend visiting between May and October. The summer months are hot, dry and perfect for enjoying the beaches, although July and August can get extremely hot and much busier, particularly along the coast.
We visited in late August and early September, which worked really well for us. If you want to avoid the busiest part of the summer, September is a particularly good option. Temperatures are still hot, while the crowds begin to ease.
If you’re more interested in sightseeing, hiking and exploring inland Albania, we’d choose May, June or September. The weather is generally more comfortable for being out and about, while July and August can be very hot for activities such as hiking and canyon trips.
If you’re tied to the UK school summer holidays, don’t let that put you off visiting Albania — just expect the beaches and popular resorts to be considerably busier in July and August. And places like the canyons do have plenty of shade and of course water to cool down!
Do you need any vaccinations?
There are no specific vaccinations required for entry into Albania if you’re travelling from the UK.
Mobile data?
Albania isn’t covered by standard EU/EEA roaming, so don’t assume your usual UK mobile data allowance will work here without extra charges. Check your provider’s roaming rates before you travel, as these vary between networks and tariffs.
We used Revolut’s eSIM for our mobile data and found it really easy. You can set it up before you travel and buy a data plan directly through the Revolut app, so you’re connected as soon as you arrive without needing to find a local SIM shop.
What age does this itinerary suit?
This 2 week Albania itinerary is really flexible and can work for families of all ages. We travelled with our children aged 13, 10 and 5, and there was plenty to keep all three of them entertained.
The mix of historic cities, castles and cultural sights, kayaking and waterfalls, boat trips, beautiful beaches and plenty of swimming meant there was always something different to look forward to.
Older kids and teens will love the more adventurous activities, while younger children can enjoy the beaches, boat trips and plenty of opportunities for swimming and exploring. Just be aware that Berat and Gjirokastër aren’t particularly pushchair-friendly, with lots of steep streets, cobbles and steps, so a baby carrier may be a better option for very young children.
If you’re travelling with toddlers or very young children, you might also want to slow the pace down a little and allow more time at each stop.
You could easily turn this into a 3 week Albania itinerary by adding a few extra nights in each destination, or take out on destination, depending on what you want to do.
Are there mosquitoes in Albania?
Yes, there are mosquitoes in Albania, so we’d recommend packing a good child-friendly mosquito repellent and applying it before heading out in the late afternoon or evening.
Do you need car seats for kids?
We travelled around Albania with our three children and didn’t use car seats, although in the UK our youngest (aged 5 needs one). We did ask for one when we hired our car through a local hire company, but unfortunately one wasn’t available.
Children travelling on laps is also very common, although this will come down to your level of safety and preference.
If you’re travelling with a baby or younger child, we’d definitely consider bringing your own car seat rather than relying on one being available locally. If you hire through Discover Cars, you can request a baby seat, child seat or booster when booking.
Is Albania suitable for pushchairs?
Albania can be a little tricky with pushchairs in places, particularly if you’re following a more adventurous itinerary like ours. We no longer need a pushchair for our youngest, but if you want our recommendation, take a look at our review of our favourite travel-friendly pushchair.
Tirana and Himarë are generally easier for pushchairs, although you’ll still come across uneven pavements, steps and the occasional obstacle along the way.
Berat and Gjirokastër are much more challenging. Both have beautiful historic streets, but they’re also full of cobbles, steps and steep climbs, which can make pushing a buggy hard work. In many places, you’ll find yourself lifting or manoeuvring the pushchair rather than simply pushing along.
If you’re travelling with a baby or toddler, we’d definitely recommend bringing a baby carrier as well as, or instead of, a pushchair. It will make exploring the more historic and hilly parts of Albania much easier.
Final thoughts on our 2 weeks in Albania…
Our 2 weeks in Albania gave us the perfect mix of adventure, culture, history and beach time as a family of five. From exploring Tirana, Berat and Gjirokastër to kayaking through Osum Canyon and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Riviera, there was something for everyone.
We loved having a car, which gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace and make those spontaneous stops along the way.
This 2 week Albania itinerary works really well as it is, but could easily be extended to 3 weeks by adding a few extra nights, particularly around Himarë, for a more relaxed pace.
We’d definitely recommend visiting Albania sooner rather than later, particularly if you want to experience the more authentic and traditional side of Albania while places inland like Berat and Gjirokastër still feel relatively untouched by mass tourism. We’d love to return and explore the north of the country.
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