Parents love well-planned vacation destinations. It is not surprising either. The annual vacation stands for a relaxing time! Something new? How about the first family vacation in Albania? Albania offers many opportunities and there is a lot to discover! Guided tours or individual explorations in an unknown region. Vacation packages for families are still new territory in Albania. Many travel packages are not particularly family-friendly. We show how you can plan your arrival stress-free and what you need to consider during a family vacation in Albania. First-hand travel tips!
But who is a family vacation in Albania for?
Traveling in Albania with children always requires careful planning. What wants to be discovered? Where does the journey start and end? What on-site activities are family-friendly and what type of accommodations are suitable? The positive news that family vacation in Albania are wonderful and varied! A small drop of bitterness are sometimes longer distances.
A pinch of patience is the most important thing for a relaxing and unique family holiday in Albania!
With good planning and an experienced contact person, the two most important building blocks have been laid. A travel guide is recommended depending on the activity and travel region. A professional guide should be organized, especially for long-day tours in areas with little signage or water activities.
On the one hand, a travel guide knows the region like the back of his hand, on the other hand he always offers help with questions or spontaneous rescheduling. A family vacation in Albania is mainly suitable for active travelers. Exploring new things is easy in Albania!
Albania is often good for surprises – a special highlight when watching: parachute gliding on the coast
Self-guided – our travel tip for family vacation in Albania
Our organized self-guided trips are particularly suitable for families! Rental car, hotel and leisure activities individually tailored to your wishes! All reservations and travel plans are made by us. Our guests stroll and explore the country carefree! If you are interested, we look forward to your contact form.
Basic Packing list for Albania trips
- Sunscreen for summer and winter hikes/ beach vacation
- Classic first aid kit
- Reserve medication for chronic complaints
- ID copies and insurance cards
- Children’s equipment
Here you will find a helpful article about suitable sunscreen for children (only German). Extensive sun protection (sun hat and long clothing) is very important, especially for children!
Organized city tour in colorful Tirana – family vacation in Albania
Travel tips for Albania holidays
The journey to Albania can be organized very differently. We recommend different routes depending on the destination. For beach holidays in southern Albania near Saranda and further south, such as the small seaside resort of Ksamil, we recommend approaching the island of Corfu. From there, there are various ferries to the port city of Saranda.
There are different options depending on the arrival time. When the weather is nice and the visibility is clear, the mainland is within sight! For Saranda vacationers: This is a readable and detailed article about Saranda! For all other travel destinations in Albania, however, this is neither the fastest route nor the most convenient solution.
Seaside resorts such as Himara, Dhermi and Borsh around the city of Vlora can be reached from Tirana in around three hours. We recommend arriving here via Tirana Airport. Many travelers also enter Montenegro, Kosovo or Macedonia by land. This is particularly useful for longer trips to the Balkans. The coastal road offers countless catering and stopping options.
Often, however, the holiday is not limited to the holiday destinations by the sea. All places in the interior can be easily reached via Tirana. Depending on the city, the travel times differ. Due to the central location of the capital, it is also the hub of the country. Due to the heavy traffic in the city center and conurbation, it is imperative to avoid entering the city center. A supposedly small trip into the city turns out to be a time trap here. Traffic congestion is practically all year round in Tirana!
Depending on the season and weather, the travel times look as follows:
- Tirana – Durres approx. 1 hour
- Tirana – Shkodra approx. 3 hours
- Tirana – Gjirokastra approx. 4 hours
- Tirana – Berat approx. 2 hours
- Tirana – Vlora approx. 2.5 hours
Ferry connection to Albania
Another way to travel to Albania is by ferry to the port cities of Saranda, Vlora and Durres. Depending on the place of departure (mostly port cities in Italy), you are between 5 and 12 hours at sea. Registrations and passport controls are not included. This is usually only worthwhile if you want to extend your Italian vacation.
Conversely, entry by land and onward travel to Italy as a reverse option is a popular route. Make yourself comfortable in the mountain huts of Northern Albania and travel south. After the city break in Tirana, a few days on the beach of your choice are a welcome change. This way, many attractions can be explored in one route and a long return trip avoided.
Especially with small children, an arrival by plane is preferable.
The arrival via Italy with the crossing of the Adriatic Sea is more of an option for adventurers and patients. The journey by ferry is rarely financially worthwhile.
Crossing the Llogara Pass in southern Albania – a panorama for «young and old» – family vacation in Albania
Family friendly places in Albania
Albania is a very child-friendly travel destination. Families are in good hands at all holiday locations! However, it is worthwhile to be close to nature. Combined with visits such as in Tirana, Berat or Gjirokastra, this results in an ideal travel mix for families!
We particularly recommend families to plan at least one overnight stay for each city. Better two! So children can adapt to the new ambience and the journey becomes more relaxed. Children are welcome in restaurants or museums. There are often discounts too. Restaurants are happy to cater to the needs of the little ones.
The choice of accommodation should be made according to personal preferences. The standard of the hotels corresponds approximately to other countries in the Mediterranean area. When choosing accommodation, it is also important to ask for a parking space. Unfortunately, this is not always available. This then leads to unexpected additional costs.
In Albania, payment is usually made for a room, regardless of the exact family size. The details are listed for relevant booking portals. If necessary, we recommend asking the hotel directly. There is often the possibility to make minor changes. Hospitality is very important and usually a suitable solution is found! We hope to have sparked interest in family vacations in Albania!
We look forward to your questions and feedback!
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