As I’ve said many times before, travelling in Albania with kids is great. I’ve taken two holidays there with my children, once spending 10 days in the south of the country and the next time spending 10 days in the north. So if you are planning on visiting Albania in the school holidays then you’ve come to the right place!

Albania is a very family-friendly country and children are welcomed everywhere, which is one of the things I love the most about it.

However, if you are thinking about visiting from the UK, you are also probably having to factor that in around school holidays dates if your children are over the age of five.

The first time we visited Albania, our little adventurers were under school age, so we went in June. But the second time we made the decision to travel in the Easter holidays (which is fairly early for the north of the country, which often has snow at that time). However, we were lucky as it was unusually warm that year so we were able to spend time visiting Theth National Park, which can get cut off in the winter months.

When people ask me when is the best time to visit Albania? I usually suggest the shoulder seasons of May/June or September/October. However, this isn’t always feasible for families who take their main holiday in the summer. 

So if you’re thinking about visiting Albania in the school holidays, then read along for my recommendations of the best time to go: 

Is the school holidays a good time to visit Albania?

The school holidays is a great time to visit Albania from the UK. As it is still considered to be more of an ‘off the beaten path’ European destination for families, you might be able to bag yourself a bargain. Flights to Tirana, via British Airways, Whizz or Ryanair, are often cheaper than those to other capital cities and accommodation prices are lower too.

In addition, from May onwards the weather is nice and warm, so if you are planning a beach trip, Albania is a good choice.

Another reason I love Albania for older children, is that it has a huge array of outdoor activities, from paddleboarding and kayaking to canyoning and zip lining. If you’re looking for ideas to get your teenager excited about Albania, check out some of these tours:

Visiting Albania in February half-term

If you’re planning on visiting Albania in February half-term, then be prepared for cold weather, especially in the north where snow is likely. Some people do ski in the Albanian Alps, although the resorts are smaller than others in Europe. Dardhë is one of the most popular. We also stayed in Pukë during our summer visit and really liked the vibe of the town, which is known for its skiing and winter activities.

If you are planning on driving in Albania, then please read my tips carefully and make sure you are confident at driving in the snow.

However, if snow isn’t your thing, head south to Saranda, the largest town on the Albanian Riviera. Temperatures are likely to be around the 10C (50F) mark, but it’s your best chance of finding some sunshine.

The coast is significantly quieter in the winter months (with many hotels and restaurants closing for the season). However, it’s the perfect time to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint without the crowds. You can also take a ferry over to Corfu for a fun day trip.

If you’d prefer just to have a taster of Albania, you could opt for a short city break to Tirana. It’s an easy city to explore and here’s my top five things to do in Tirana with kids.

Visiting Albania in the Easter holidays

If you want a bit more time to explore Albania, the Easter holidays might be a good time to visit. Temperatures hover around 18C (64.4F), which might still be a bit cool if you’re all about the sunshine. 

However, it’s a great time to visit the historic city of Berat or the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, which we found to be very hot in summer. Our 10 day itinerary of Albania, which covers the south of the country would be the perfect way to explore during this holiday period.

Also, if you are planning on heading to the north, like we did, there may still be snow in the Alps. When we visited last year it was unusually warm, which meant that we were able to enjoy visiting Theth National Park and one of the highlights of our trip, hiking to the Blue Eye in Theth. However, some of the popular hiking routes, such as Theth to Valbona, don’t open until later in the season.

Also, be aware that early spring in Albania can still be quite rainy. So make sure you pack your waterproofs! 

Visiting Albania in May half-term

Personally, I would say visiting Albania in May half-term is one of the best times to go. Temperatures are starting to hover around the mid 20s (68F), which is nice if you are considering a beach holiday in Ksamil. 

It’s also a good time to start hiking up in the north of the country. And if you’re planning on hiking to the Blue Eye in Theth, it’s likely to be less busy than the summer months. Although I’d still advise heading out early if you want a view of the lagoon like this to yourself.

Visiting Albania in the summer holidays

While Albania may not be a huge summer destination for UK travellers, it definitely is for the rest of Europe. Plus, internal travel is also very popular during this time. So if you are planning on visiting Albania in the summer holidays, be prepared for crowds, especially if you are heading south to the beaches.

It’s also worth noting that temperatures can get into the high 30Cs (86F) in July and August, so make sure you read my best hacks to keep kids cool in a hot country.

When we visited Albania at the end of June it was just starting to get busy, although it didn’t feel too overcrowded (there were always plenty of sun loungers available on the beaches for example). The temperatures were in the high 20s (68F+), which was hot enough for us with two small children. It did however mean that exploring historic cities like Berat and Gjirokaster was very hot.

It might also be worth choosing a hotel with a pool in order to cool down at the end of a long day. I would also recommend checking beforehand that your hotel or apartment has aircon (not all do). Also, most restaurants we visited either used fans, or opened directly onto the beach, so it can feel hot inside in the middle of the day. 

Visiting Albania in October half-term

Visiting Albania in October is fairly late in the tourist season. However, one of the benefits of visiting Albania in autumn is that most of the internal visitors will have finished their summer holidays, so it will be quieter. 

Temperatures drop to the low 20Cs (68F) by this time, so while it is worth remembering that a lot of the beach towns will close up over the autumn/winter months, it is a good time of year to explore some of Albania’s cities and historic towns before the winter rain arrives.

I hope you’ve found this post about exploring Albania in the school holidays helpful. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.