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When to go · Albania

Albania in January

Mixed month. Rainy coast, closed resorts; Tirana and Berat are fine for city stays.

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
Low
Albania
Prices
Low
Albania

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Albania

Rainy coast, closed resorts; Tirana and Berat are fine for city stays.

Is another month better than January?

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Weather in January

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

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

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

  • 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.

  • Tirana12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days
  • Bajram Curri5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days
  • Belsh9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days
  • Berat11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 12 rain days
  • Bilisht5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days
  • Borsh13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days
  • Burrel9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 9 rain days
  • Cërrik12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dhërmi13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days
  • Durrës12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 12 rain days
  • Elbasan10 °C (50 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days
  • Ersekë5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days
  • Fier12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days
  • Fierzë13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days
  • Fushë Arrëz5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days
  • Gjirokastër9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days
  • Golem13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days
  • Gramsh13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 5 rain days
  • Himara13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days
  • Jorgucat10 °C (50 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kavajë12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 11 rain days
  • Koplik12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days
  • Korçë4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 10 rain days
  • Krujë9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kruma5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days
  • Kukës4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 10 rain days
  • Leskovik9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 6 rain days
  • Lezhë11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days
  • Librazhd9 °C (48 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 5 rain days
  • Lukovë14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days
  • Lushnja13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days
  • Maqellarë5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days
  • Milot12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days
  • Përmet9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 7 rain days
  • Petrela12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days
  • Pogradec6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 11 rain days
  • Pukë4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days
  • Pustec7 °C (45 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days
  • Sarandë13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days
  • Shëngjin11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days
  • Shijak13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days
  • Shishtavec2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days
  • Shkodër9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days
  • Tepelenë9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 12 rain days
  • Tropoja4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days
  • Vau i Dejës10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days
  • Velipoja12 °C (54 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days
  • Vlorë12 °C (54 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days
  • Voskopoja6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days
  • Vuno13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days

Festivals and holidays

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.

  • New Year

    1–2 Jan

    Closures; families gather.

  • New Year holidays

    1–2 January · Tirana

    Public holiday; many shops and some museums closed.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Albania
Low
Prices · Albania
Low

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Jan: Mixed

    May: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Jan: Low

    May: Medium

  • Prices

    Jan: Low

    May: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Jan: 2

    May: 5

January: Rainy coast, closed resorts; Tirana and Berat are fine for city stays.

May: Excellent: warm, flowers at Butrint, hotels opening on the Riviera.

Albania: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

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

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in January

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