TravPa

Albania

Tirana's Skanderbeg Square and Cold War bunkers, Berat's old town of stacked windows, Gjirokastër's stone houses, then Butrint's ruins, the Blue Eye spring and the beaches of Ksamil.

Best timeMay to Jun, Sep to OctMoneyAlbanian lek (ALL)Plugs[plug types and voltage]Main airportTirana (TIA)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips start in Tirana, then head south. Tirana's airport is about 30 minutes from the center. Berat is about 2 hours south by road, Gjirokastër about 3 hours beyond it, and Sarandë, with Butrint, the Blue Eye and Ksamil, about an hour further on the Ionian coast.

The national tourism agency points to spring and autumn for the old towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, and to summer for the southern coast, where the sea is clear by day and the seafronts are lively in the evening. Winters are quieter and cooler, so plan indoor sights in Tirana for those months.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janColdfebColdmarMildaprMildmayBestjunBestjulHotaugBusysepBestoctBestnovRainydecCold

Berat's Gorica Bridge is known for a rite held on 6 January, when a cross is thrown into the Osum river.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Tirana]
Tirana in 2 daysSkanderbeg Square, National History Museum, Bunk'Art 2, Pazari i Ri, House of Leaves, Kruja Castle, Kruja bazaar, BllokuBalanced pace
[Photo: Sarandë]
Sarandë in 3 daysLëkurësi Castle, Blue Eye, Sarandë seafront, Ksamil, Butrint, Porto Palermo, Gjirokastër Castle, Gjirokastër bazaar, Zekate HouseBalanced pace
[Photo: Albania]
Albania in 7 daysTirana, Kruja, Berat Castle, Onufri Museum, Gjirokastër, Blue Eye, Butrint, Ksamil, SarandëBalanced pace

Where to stay

BeratMangalem for lanes and mosques; Gorica for quiet views of the castle; the new town for services and easier parking.Best areas to stay in BeratHotels in Berat
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SarandëSarandë town for the seafront and day trips; Ksamil for beaches near Butrint; Gjirokastër old town for a night in the stone city.Best areas to stay in SarandëHotels in Sarandë
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TiranaThe Skanderbeg Square center for first-timers on foot; Blloku for restaurants and bars; the Pazari i Ri area for market mornings and cafes.Best areas to stay in TiranaHotels in Tirana
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Getting around

  • From the airport: Tirana's airport is about 30 minutes from the city center by road.
  • In Tirana: Walk the center around Skanderbeg Square; the blue city bus Center to Porcelan leaves near the Clock Tower for Bunk'Art 1 and the Dajti cable car.
  • Between cities: Allow about 2 hours by road from Tirana to Berat, 2.5 to 3 hours from Berat to Gjirokastër, and about an hour from Gjirokastër to Sarandë.
  • On the coast: Ksamil is about 20 minutes from Sarandë by road, with Butrint a few minutes beyond, and the Blue Eye is about 40 minutes inland.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates.
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Phone dataMobile data helps with Tirana bus lines, the Dajti cable car closing day and long road trips between Berat, Gjirokastër and the coast.How a travel eSIM works
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