Albania in December

Tirana Christmas lights; coast closed.

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatExcellent: warm, flowers at Butrint, hotels opening on the Riviera.
• JuneGreatSwim, hike and sightsee; Alps open mid-month.
• SeptemberGreatBest month: warm sea, open trails, calmer coast.
• OctoberGreatHill towns and Butrint at their best; Alps closing.

• Riviera and Ionian coast · Vlorë, Dhërmi, Himarë, Sarandë, Ksamilrainy

  Sea warm June–October; July–August crowds; winter rain and closed resorts.

• Central lowlands and valleys · Tirana, Durrës, Berat, Elbasancool

  Tirana and Berat pass 35 °C (95 °F) in July–August.Tirana and Berat pass 95 °F (35 °C) in July–August.

• Southern hill towns · Gjirokastër, Përmet, Korçëcool

  Korçë is cooler at 850 m; snow possible in winter.

• Albanian Alps · Theth, Valbona, Shkodër highlandscool

  Accessible roughly June–September; Koman ferry and the Theth pass are summer operations.

• Coastal Albania: Adriatic coast (Velipoja to Vlorë) · northern and central lowlandcool

  Sandy, shallow and warm from June; July–August 30 °C (86 °F)+ and humid. August is the crowd peak.Sandy, shallow and warm from June; July–August 86 °F (30 °C)+ and humid. August is the crowd peak.

• Coastal Albania: Ionian coast (Vlorë to Sarandë) · southern coastcool

  Clearer, rockier water; the season runs May–October, with September the sweet spot for warm sea and fewer people.

• Northeastern Albania: Drin valley (Kukës, Fierzë) · River valley, 300–400 mcold

  Continental; July and August reach the low 30s °C, January nights well below freezing. Rain spreads across spring and autumn.

• Northeastern Albania: Dibër and Tropojë highlands (Peshkopi, Bajram Curri, Valbona) · 700–1,500 m and abovecold

  Snow from November to March; the high passes and the Valbona road can stay shut into April. Summer days are mild, nights cool.

• Southeastern Albania: Korçë plateau and the lakes · Korçë, Pogradec, Pusteccold

  The highest part of the region: cold winters with snow, mild summers. Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa moderate the heat.

• Southeastern Albania: Drino and Vjosa valleys · Gjirokastër, Tepelenë, Përmet, Beratcool

  Warmer and drier than the plateau; July and August afternoons are hot, so hike and drive in the morning.

• Tirana13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 13 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 13 rain days
• Bajram Curri6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Belsh11 °C (52 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 9 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 9 rain days
• Berat12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 13 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 13 rain days
• Bilisht7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Borsh14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 12 rain days
• Burrel11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 10 rain days
• Cërrik14 °C (57 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
• Dhërmi14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 13 rain days
• Durrës13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 13 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 13 rain days
• Elbasan11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 13 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 13 rain days
• Ersekë7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 11 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 11 rain days
• Fier14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 13 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 13 rain days
• Fierzë14 °C (57 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 8 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 8 rain days
• Fushë Arrëz7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 13 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 13 rain days
• Gjirokastër11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 13 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 13 rain days
• Golem14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
• Gramsh13 °C (55 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 5 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 5 rain days
• Himara14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 10 rain days
• Jorgucat12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 13 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 13 rain days
• Kavajë14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 12 rain days
• Koplik13 °C (55 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 8 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 8 rain days
• Korçë6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Krujë10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 13 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 13 rain days
• Kruma6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Kukës5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 11 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 11 rain days
• Leskovik10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 6 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 6 rain days
• Lezhë13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 13 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 13 rain days
• Librazhd10 °C (50 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 5 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 5 rain days
• Lukovë15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 13 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 13 rain days
• Lushnja14 °C (57 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 7 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 7 rain days
• Maqellarë7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 10 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 10 rain days
• Milot14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
• Përmet11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 8 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 8 rain days
• Petrela14 °C (57 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 11 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 11 rain days
• Pogradec8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 12 rain days
• Pukë5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
• Pustec9 °C (48 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 9 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 9 rain days
• Sarandë14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 12 rain days
• Shëngjin13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 13 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 13 rain days
• Shijak14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 8 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 8 rain days
• Shishtavec4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Shkodër11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 13 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 13 rain days
• Tepelenë10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
• Tropoja6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 13 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 13 rain days
• Vau i Dejës12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 8 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 8 rain days
• Velipoja13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 7 rain days
• Vlorë13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 13 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 13 rain days
• Voskopoja8 °C (46 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Vuno14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 6 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Christmas

  25 Dec

  Holiday for all.

• Youth Day

  8 December · Tirana

  Public holiday.

• Christmas and New Year lights

  25 Dec–2 Jan · Tirana

  Festive lights and markets; some shops closed on the holiday itself.

Crowds · Albania

Low

Prices · Albania

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Albania, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Golem

  Best months: Jun–Sep for beach; Dec–Feb for ski (check)

• Shishtavec

  Best months: Dec–Mar for ski; Jun–Sep for hiking and festivals