Albanian Riviera

Albania's southern Riviera has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate: long, dry summers with highs in the low-to-mid thirties, and mild but wet winters. Sarandë is the main town, a seafront of hotels and promenade cafés, and Ksamil, a short drive south, is the postcard: small sandy coves and islets you can swim to, often compared to the Maldives on social media. Butrint, a UNESCO-listed ancient city, and the Blue Eye spring are both within easy reach, which makes the area work for more than a beach week.

The season is short and steep. July and August bring Albanian, Kosovan and wider European holidaymakers all at once, and Ksamil in particular becomes very crowded, with sunbed and room prices at their highest. June and September are the value windows: the sea is warm (warmest in September), the beaches have space, and prices sit well below the August peak. By late October many beach bars and seasonal hotels have closed, and from November to March the coast is quiet and often rainy, though Sarandë itself stays open.

Getting there takes a little more planning than Spain. Direct flights run to Tirana from several UK airports, followed by a transfer of around four hours by road, or you can fly to Corfu and take the 30-minute fast ferry to Sarandë, which is often the easier option in summer.

The summer holidays are the Albanian Riviera's peak, and August is its busiest, most expensive month, with Ksamil at its most crowded. Scottish families, whose holidays start in late June, can catch the coast before the rush at noticeably lower prices. October half term is a good-value choice if you're happy with a quieter coast: days are often still warm enough for the beach, the sea holds some summer warmth, but some seasonal businesses will already have shut. Easter suits a sightseeing trip (Butrint, the Blue Eye, Gjirokastër) rather than a beach one, as the sea is still cold. February half term is off-season, cool and wet, and not one for a beach holiday.

Pick a school holiday in the date checker at the top of the page to see the exact term dates and typical premium for your region.