Albania.
Flight from TLV
2h 42m
Best season
מאי–ספט
Avg temp
21°
Currency
L ALL · 1=₪0.038
Time zone
-1 שעה מול ת״א
Language
אלבנית; אנגלית נפוצה באזורי התיירות
Plug
C / F · 230V
Visa
אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום
Safety
בטוחה בדרך כלל לתיירים; מומלץ להיזהר בכבישים, לא להשאיר ציוד ברכב ולבדוק מראש תנאי נסיעה באזורים הרריים
Overview
🇦🇱Albania
🇦🇱Albania
Albania delivers a combination Israeli travelers love: turquoise Ionian beaches, dramatic landscapes, good value and relatively easy access from Tirana. Summer trips head south to Sarandë’s promenade and beach clubs, the coves of Ksamil and the spectacular coastal road linking Himarë and Dhërmi. For culture, add the stone towns of Gjirokastër and Berat; for mountain scenery, continue to Theth and Valbona. It is ideal for a five-to-eight-night road trip rather than a stay-put beach holiday.
Places
Islands & sub-destinations in Albania
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Where to stay
Where to stay in Albania
Each area and who it suits best.
Tirana, Blloku and the city center
Blloku is the right base for walking to bars around Rruga Pjetër Bogdani, eating near Pazari i Ri, and visiting Skanderbeg Square. Hotels such as Rogner Hotel Tirana and Maritim Hotel Plaza are central and convenient, but Blloku gets noisy on weekends and the southern beaches are at least two hours away.
Durrës, Vollga promenade and Golem Beach
Durrës combines its Roman amphitheater, the Vollga promenade, and evening activity around Rruga Aleksandër Goga, while Golem offers a long sandy beach and resorts such as Klajdi Resort & Spa. Prices are friendly and the airport transfer is short, but the water and scenery are less striking than the Albanian Riviera, and the beach is crowded in July and August.
Vlorë, Lungomare and Uji i Ftohtë
The long Lungomare promenade is lined with restaurants, ice-cream shops, and apartments, while Uji i Ftohtë to the south is convenient for boat trips to the Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island; Maritim Marina Bay adds an upscale option. It is a more practical base than Sarandë for exploring northward, but the urban beaches are only average and summer traffic along the coast is slow.
Himarë, Spile and Livadhi
Around Spile Beach, tavernas and the promenade are walkable, while Livadhi is well placed for Gjipe, Jale, and sunset at Himarë Castle; Rea Boutique Hotel is a well-known waterfront choice. The mood is calmer than Sarandë and the water is excellent, but nightlife is limited, hills are steep, and reaching remote coves without a car is difficult.
Sarandë promenade and Ksamil
Sarandë offers a lively promenade, bars near Rruga Butrinti, and sunset from Lekursi Castle, while Ksamil draws Israelis to turquoise water and loungers around Bora Bora Beach and Poda Beach. Hotels such as Andon Lapa and King Hotel Ksamil are popular, but August brings traffic, music, and high beach prices, and the drive from Tirana is long.
Theth and the Valbona Valley
In Theth, travelers stay in guesthouses near Theth Church and hike to Grunas Waterfall and the Blue Eye; in Valbona, guesthouses such as Hotel Rilindja face the Albanian Alps. This is rural Albania at its most dramatic, but there is no nightlife, service is simple, weather changes quickly, and crossing between the valleys requires a demanding full-day hike or a long road detour.
Year-round weather
Year-round weather in Albania
Temperature averages
Real climate dataינו
13°
4°
Cool
פבר
14°
4°
Cool
מרץ
17°
7°
Recommended
אפר
19°
9°
Recommended
מאי
23°
13°
Excellent
יונ
30°
19°
Excellent
יול
33°
21°
Hot
אוג
32°
20°
Hot
ספט
28°
17°
Excellent
אוק
22°
13°
Excellent
נוב
17°
9°
Recommended
דצמ
14°
5°
Cool
Most pleasant weather: מאי · יונ · ספט · אוק
Peak season for Israelis (when everyone goes): מאי · יונ · יול · אוג · ספט. July and August are the Israeli peak thanks to the school holidays, warm water and lively beach scenes in Ksamil, Sarandë and Dhërmi, but they are also busier and pricier. May, June and September are excellent for a calmer road trip with pleasant weather and better value.
Based on a 3-year average · measured in Albania · Open-Meteo
This week in Albania
Measured in Albania
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Things to do
Things to do in Albania
On the map
Albania on one map
Every spot travelers love — tap a pin for photos, opening hours, navigation and booking.
Suggested plan
A perfect Albania itinerary
Day by day, so you can picture the whole trip.
- 1
Day 1
Colorful Tirana
Begin at Skanderbeg Square, visit the Bunk’Art 2 museum, and continue to the Et'hem Bey Mosque and Pazari i Ri market. In the afternoon, ride the Dajti Ekspres cable car for city and mountain views, ideally about 90 minutes before sunset. Spend the evening around Rruga Pjetër Bogdani in Blloku; kosher travelers should prearrange a meal at LeChaim or stock up before heading south.
- 2
Day 2
Berat, City of a Thousand Windows
Leave Tirana by 08:00 and drive roughly two hours to Berat. Begin at Berat Castle before the heat, visit the Onufri Iconography Museum, and descend through Mangalem's lanes to Gorica Bridge. For lunch, choose stuffed vegetables, salads, or cheese byrek after checking ingredients independently; the city has no kosher restaurant. Continue to Vlorë toward evening and walk along the Lungomare.
- 3
Day 3
Karaburun, Sazan, and the Vlorë Riviera
Book a morning boat trip from Vlorë's port to Sazan Island and the Karaburun Peninsula, with swimming stops near Haxhi Ali Cave and clear coves. Reach the port 30 minutes before departure and carry water, sun protection, and packaged food, as onboard options are limited. If the sea is rough, substitute Zvernec Monastery and the promenade. Eat along the Lungomare in the evening and turn in early before the coastal drive.
- 4
Day 4
Llogara Pass, Gjipe, and Himarë
Leave before 08:00 on the SH8 and stop at Llogara Pass, where the mountains drop dramatically toward the Ionian Sea. Continue to Gjipe Beach; the upper parking lot is followed by an exposed 30-40 minute walk, so families with small children may prefer more accessible Dhermi or Jale. Visit Porto Palermo Castle and its small church in the afternoon. Finish with sunset from Himarë Castle and stay near Spile or Livadhi.
- 5
Day 5
The Blue Eye and Gjirokastër
Leave Himarë early for Syri i Kaltër, the Blue Eye, and arrive before 09:30 to beat buses and crowds on the trail. Continue to Gjirokastër, climb to the fortress, and visit Skenduli House among the Ottoman quarter's stone mansions. Eat around the Old Bazaar and request simple vegetarian dishes after confirming ingredients. Walk the cobbled Qafa e Pazarit in the evening, then stay in town or continue to Sarandë.
- 6
Day 6
Butrint, Ksamil, and sunset in Sarandë
Reach Butrint Archaeological Park when it opens, before the heat and day-tour groups, and see the theater, baptistery, and gates set within the forest. Continue to Ksamil and reserve loungers ahead in July and August; for a calmer experience, select a small bay south of the center rather than the dense rows at Bora Bora. Return to Sarandë in the afternoon, walk the promenade, and reach Lekursi Castle about an hour before sunset. If flying from Tirana the next day, avoid driving north that evening; add an overnight stop or book a late flight and allow at least five hours for the journey.
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Budget
How much does Albania cost?
Real ILS price ranges, so you know what to expect.
Return flight from Tel Aviv
₪650-1,500 (summer: ₪1,900+)
4-5 night package
₪1,700-3,200 per person
Mid-range hotel nightly
₪220-430 per room
Five-star hotel
₪500-1,050 per room
Restaurant meal
₪35-80 per person
Local beer
₪8-16
Coffee
₪4-9
Short taxi ride
₪15-35
Rental car daily
₪120-260 (summer)
Lounger and umbrella
₪35-100 per set
Boat or day tour
₪100-260 per person
Daily budget per person
₪240-480 (excluding flight)
Family, five nights
₪7,500-13,500 (family of 4)
Good to know
Good to know before Albania
Getting around
From the airport
The Rinas Express bus runs from Tirana Airport to Skanderbeg Square, usually taking about 40 minutes and costing roughly ₪16 per person; nighttime and traffic can lengthen the trip. An official taxi to central Tirana generally costs ₪80-110 and takes 25-40 minutes, while the Patoko app offers comparatively transparent booking. A private transfer to Durrës or Golem costs about ₪110-190 and takes 35-55 minutes. For Sarandë, Himarë, or Vlorë, rent a car or prebook a shuttle: allow about two hours to Vlorë and 4-5.5 hours to Sarandë, with a private car to Sarandë costing approximately ₪350-650.
Need a car?
A car is unnecessary in Tirana, where parking and congestion are liabilities. Families or couples touring the Riviera, Berat, and Gjirokastër save significant time with a rental and can reach Gjipe, Porto Palermo, and Llogara, but should choose a compact car and avoid mountain roads after dark. Young travelers staying only in Sarandë and Ksamil can use buses and taxis, while hikers bound for Theth can book a minibus from Shkodër rather than tackle the road themselves.
Tips
Use Patoko in Tirana, or have the hotel call a taxi and agree on the fare in advance; meters are not always used. Google Maps is too optimistic about Riviera driving times, and the Vlorë-Himarë and Sarandë-Ksamil sections clog in July and August, so leave before 08:00. In the old quarters of Berat and Gjirokastër and on narrow coastal streets, use an organized parking lot and continue on foot.
Kosher & Jewish
Chabad / community
Chabad of Albania and its synagogue are in central Tirana, near the Skanderbeg Square and Rruga e Kavajës area, and serve as the main address for services, Shabbat and holiday meals, and traveler assistance. Advance registration and confirmation are essential, particularly for meals and a minyan. Outside Tirana, including Sarandë, Ksamil, and the Riviera, there is no permanent Jewish infrastructure travelers should rely on.
Kosher food
Chabad's kosher LeChaim restaurant is the principal kosher option in Tirana, but opening hours and availability vary, so order and confirm in advance rather than arriving spontaneously. SPAR, Conad, and Big Market carry imported groceries and occasionally certified products, but there is no consistent kosher selection or kosher deli. Kosher-observant travelers heading to the Riviera typically stock up in Tirana on packaged bread, tuna, pasta, vegetables, and sealed products, and book an apartment with a kitchenette.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance for Albania 🇦🇱
A hospital day in Albania can cost thousands. Full coverage with Hebrew support.
- Medical + hospital 24/7
- Trip cancellation
- Baggage
- Water & extreme sports
Currency & rates
Live rateCurrency & rates
Quick conversion at today's rate
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You get
3.82
1 ALL
₪0.04
100 ALL
₪3.82
1,000 ALL
₪38.2
Source: exchangerate-api · updated Sep 13 · refreshes daily
Visa & documents
Visa & documents for Albania 🇦🇱
What you need before you fly
- אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום
- Passport valid 6 months
- Travel insurance, leave details for a quote
Local tips
Good to know about Albania
- 💵Pay in Albanian lek rather than euros, especially at restaurants, petrol stations and beaches, because the local conversion rate is usually poor; Credins and BKT ATMs are common, but check the displayed fee before confirming.
- 🚗For the Riviera, reserve an automatic rental car in advance and download offline maps, but avoid a large vehicle if you plan to enter the narrow streets of Old Himarë, Gjirokastër or Berat.
- ⏰In July and August, reach Ksamil’s beaches before 9:00, as clubs such as Poda Beach fill their front rows early and may require a minimum spend in addition to the lounger charge.
- 🏨Couples and younger travelers will enjoy staying in Tirana’s Blloku or around Drymades in Dhërmi, while families wanting a promenade, supermarkets and easy sea access are usually better served by Himarë.
- ⛵Book a private boat from Himarë to Gjipe and Pirate’s Cave at least several days ahead, and during peak August reserve the car, parking and hotel early because the best options disappear quickly.
- 🎰For nightlife, begin on Rruga Pjetër Bogdani in Blloku, and if continuing to a Tirana casino bring an original passport, dress neatly and set a lek-denominated budget in advance because entry rules can change.
- 🍽️Kosher-observant travelers should arrange meals in advance with Chabad Albania in Tirana and stock up before heading to the Riviera, where kosher infrastructure is extremely limited and a vegetarian label does not guarantee kosher utensils or ingredients.
- 🤝At restaurants, leave 5% to 10% in cash when service is not included, and do not photograph people in villages or inside mosques without permission and respectful clothing.
- 🧥Even on a hot beach day, carry a light layer and closed shoes for Llogara Pass or Theth, as temperatures drop quickly at altitude and stone trails become slippery after rain.
- 📱For a driving holiday, buy an eSIM before departure or a tourist package from Vodafone Albania or One at Tirana Airport, but save screenshots of the hotel and route because coverage weakens in secluded bays and mountain roads.
מאיה רוזן
Senior agent · Greece for 12 years
"To me, Albania feels like the Mediterranean of another era, now paired with new roads, boutique hotels and an energy that surprises me on every visit. Israelis fall for it the moment they see the turquoise water at Gjipe Beach and the sunset from Llogara Pass, then discover Tirana’s lively streets around Blloku. It offers excellent value, but its real magic lies in the combination of mountain villages, wild coves and warm byrek eaten straight from a neighborhood bakery."
Loves
My favorite local secret is reaching Gjipe Beach by speedboat from Himarë at around 9:00, before the tour boats and hikers coming down from the road fill the bay. In June or September the water is still beautiful, the cliffs look especially dramatic and you get hours of calm that are almost impossible to find in peak August.
Skip
I do not recommend basing an entire Riviera holiday in Ksamil during the first two weeks of August: the small beaches become crowded, loungers get expensive and traffic toward Sarandë wastes valuable time. Stay in Himarë or Dhërmi instead and visit Ksamil early for one focused day.
Boutique pick
At 8:00 I start with coffee and cheese byrek on Himarë’s promenade, then at 9:00 take a boat to Gjipe with a swim near Pirate’s Cave. At lunchtime we open a picnic prepared in advance beneath the cliffs, returning at 15:30 to drive north along the SH8 through Dhërmi. The day ends during golden hour at Panorama Llogara, with the mountains on one side and the entire Ionian Sea spread out below.
Client stories
What returning travelers say about Albania
"We started the day in the clear water of Gjipe Beach and ended at sunset among the stone houses of Berat Castle, a combination we never expected to find in Albania. Even the drives became part of the experience, with every bend in the coastal road revealing another beautiful bay."
Noa and Ido, Tel Aviv
Couple · 8 nights · September
"The children could not stop talking about the Dajti Ekspres cable car and the boat ride between the islands off Ksamil. Albania proved to be a wonderful family vacation, with spacious apartments, dramatic scenery, and easygoing days in the water."
Michal and Uri, Modi'in
Family with three children · 9 nights · July
"We danced late at Folie Marine in Jalë Bay, then changed pace the next evening with cocktails at Radio Bar in Blloku. Albania gave us excellent beaches by day and lively nights without making the budget feel out of control."
Omer, Roi and Shahar, Rishon LeZion
Friends · 6 nights · August
"The Lake Koman ferry was one of the most scenic days we have ever had, and walking through Gjirokastër’s stone bazaar felt like stepping back in time. Albania’s roads required patience, but the landscapes and warm hospitality justified every kilometer."
Ronit and Gadi, Haifa
Older couple · 10 nights · June
FAQ
Common questions about Albania
Do Israeli citizens need a visa for Albania?
Israeli citizens can visit Albania without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, although a valid passport is required and current rules should be checked before departure. Border officials may ask to see a return ticket, accommodation booking, and travel insurance.
Are there direct flights from Israel to Albania, and how long is the flight?
Seasonal nonstop flights operate from Tel Aviv to Tirana, with the journey to Albania usually taking about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours; winter frequencies are lower and a connection may be required. Tirana International Airport is roughly 30 to 45 minutes from the city center, depending on traffic.
When is the best time to visit Albania, and what should I pack?
Peak season in Albania is July and August, particularly in Ksamil, Sarandë, and Dhërmi, but June and September bring warm water, lighter crowds, and better prices. Pack light clothing and water shoes for the coast, plus hiking shoes, a warm layer, and a rain jacket for Theth and the Valbona Valley even in summer.
How many days are needed for Albania, and what can it be combined with?
Allow 7 to 10 days for a first trip through Albania from Tirana via Berat and Gjirokastër to the Riviera, or 10 to 14 days if adding Theth and Lake Koman. Albania combines naturally with Montenegro via Shkodër, Kosovo via Prizren, or Corfu on a short ferry ride from Sarandë.
What is the best way to get around Albania?
A rental car is the most convenient way to explore Albania, especially between Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, and Ksamil, though night driving is best avoided and a higher-clearance vehicle helps in mountain areas. Local minibuses connect major towns, but schedules can be informal and ride-hailing services are mainly useful in Tirana.
How much does a one-week vacation in Albania cost?
A week in Albania typically costs about ₪3,500 to ₪6,500 per person, including flights from Israel, good-quality hotels, a rental car, and activities, based on two people sharing; August stays in popular Ksamil and Dhërmi can push the total above ₪7,500. Families booking apartments in June or September can reduce the cost considerably.
Is Albania safe for Israeli travelers?
Albania is generally considered safe and welcoming for Israeli travelers, with petty theft in crowded areas and unpredictable driving posing more common concerns. During periods of regional tension, keep a low profile, never leave valuables in the car, and check Israel’s official travel advisories before departure.
What should not be missed in Albania, and is it better for families or couples?
Albania’s essentials include Berat Castle, Gjirokastër’s stone lanes, Butrint Archaeological Park, the beaches of Ksamil, and the Lake Koman ferry; families also enjoy the Dajti Ekspres cable car, while couples often favor Himarë, Dhërmi, and Berat’s boutique hotels. With young children, focus on the coast and historic towns, as Theth and Valbona involve longer drives and more demanding hikes.
What is nightlife like in Albania, and are there casinos?
Albania’s nightlife centers on Tirana’s Blloku district, including venues such as Radio Bar, with summer parties at coastal clubs around Dhërmi and Jalë such as Folie Marine. Tirana has a limited number of licensed casinos, but venues change and Albania is not a major casino destination, so confirm that any property is currently open and authorized.
Are kosher food and Chabad available in Albania?
Chabad Albania operates in Tirana and can assist with prayers, Shabbat meals, and kosher food by advance arrangement, while permanent kosher options outside the capital are extremely limited. Travelers heading to the Riviera or mountains should stock up in Tirana, consider an apartment with a kitchen, and confirm meal reservations and opening times directly with Chabad Albania.