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
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.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.
- Tirana12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
- Bajram Curri5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Belsh9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Berat11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 12 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 12 rain days
- Bilisht5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Borsh13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
- Burrel9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 9 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 9 rain days
- Cërrik12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 10 rain days
- Dhërmi13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
- Durrës12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 12 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 12 rain days
- Elbasan10 °C (50 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 12 rain days
- Ersekë5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Fier12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
- Fierzë13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Fushë Arrëz5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
- Gjirokastër9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 12 rain days
- Golem13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 6 rain days
- Gramsh13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 5 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 5 rain days
- Himara13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
- Jorgucat10 °C (50 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 12 rain days
- Kavajë12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 11 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 11 rain days
- Koplik12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Korçë4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 10 rain days
- Krujë9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 12 rain days
- Kruma5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Kukës4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 10 rain days
- Leskovik9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 6 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 6 rain days
- Lezhë11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
- Librazhd9 °C (48 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 5 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 5 rain days
- Lukovë14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
- Lushnja13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
- Maqellarë5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
- Milot12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
- Përmet9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 7 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 7 rain days
- Petrela12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 10 rain days
- Pogradec6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 11 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 11 rain days
- Pukë4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
- Pustec7 °C (45 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Sarandë13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
- Shëngjin11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
- Shijak13 °C (55 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
- Shishtavec2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
- Shkodër9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 12 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 12 rain days
- Tepelenë9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 12 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 12 rain days
- Tropoja4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
- Vau i Dejës10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
- Velipoja12 °C (54 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 6 rain days
- Vlorë12 °C (54 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
- Voskopoja6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Vuno13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 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
Where to go in January
Rated best or good this month
Best months: Jun–Sep for beach; Dec–Feb for ski (check)
Best months: Dec–Mar for ski; Jun–Sep for hiking and festivals