Collaborative Post¦ Every time I sit down to plan a family holiday, I end up going in circles. Spain again. Maybe Greece this year. France is always there. Over the past year or two, though, a new name has started turning up in my planning: Albania. At first I barely knew where it was on the map, let alone that it had the kind of turquoise water you usually fly hours for, UNESCO-listed cities, and prices that would make a Greek taverna blush. Now it feels like every other parenting Instagram account is posting a photo of a turquoise cove in Ksamil. I’ve found myself scrolling Albania tours packages late at night more than once, doing that thing where you pretend you’re just browsing but you’ve already mentally packed. If you’ve been feeling the same pull, here’s why Albania keeps climbing my shortlist, and what I’ve worked out about actually planning a family trip there.
Why Albania Is Suddenly Everywhere
I used to think of Albania as one of those countries that belonged to backpackers in their twenties with bigger budgets than sense. That’s completely shifted in the last few summers. The Albanian coast has gone from a well-kept secret among Balkan regulars to a full-on viral sensation, with families and couples trickling in from across the UK and Europe. The food bloggers found it first, then the travel influencers, and now just regular mums in the school pickup queue are mentioning it.
There are a few reasons it’s broken through. Flights from the UK have become a lot more practical, with direct routes to Tirana from several major airports. Prices are still a long way below what you’d pay for a similar experience in Croatia or Greece. And unlike some “next big thing” destinations, it isn’t just hype. Albania genuinely has the goods: beaches on the Ionian that rival anything in the Med, mountain scenery in the north that could pass for the Dolomites, and a cultural density that means you’re tripping over Ottoman architecture and Roman ruins without even trying.
What Makes Albania Actually Work for Families
This is the bit I kept second-guessing, because there’s a difference between “great holiday for adults” and “great holiday with a 9-year-old and a 4-year-old in tow.” Albania, it turns out, passes the kid test surprisingly well.
The beaches, first of all, are fantastic for younger children. Ksamil in particular has warm, shallow water with almost no waves most of the summer, and lots of little coves where you can set up for the day without fighting for towel space. Saranda just up the coast has more of a buzz and a proper promenade for an evening wander with ice creams. Up in Tirana, the city has invested heavily in family-friendly spaces over the last few years, including big open parks, a cable car up to Mount Dajti that kids seem to love, and an increasingly good café scene that doesn’t mind buggies.
The food is another quiet win. Portions are generous, a lot of it is recognisably Mediterranean, and Albanians are warm with children in a way that doesn’t always happen in more tourist-worn countries. It’s common for a waiter to just appear with a small free pudding or a treat for the little ones.
The Practical Bits From the UK
Now the stuff I always want to know before committing. Flights from the UK to Tirana take around three hours, which is about the same as flying to Spain and shorter than a lot of Greek island routes. British citizens don’t need a visa for up to 90 days, and English is widely spoken in the main tourist areas, especially among younger Albanians. The currency is the lek, but euros are accepted in a lot of places on the coast, which makes budgeting easier.
Safety-wise, Albania has a reputation problem that’s hung around longer than it should. The reality is that the country is about as safe as anywhere else in Europe for visitors, and families will feel comfortable on the coast and in the main towns. The usual common sense applies, same as you’d use in any holiday destination.
One practical thing worth knowing: the country is still building out its tourism infrastructure. The roads between destinations can be slow, especially the rural ones, and signage isn’t always consistent. That isn’t a reason to stay away. If anything, it’s part of the charm. But it is a reason to think carefully about how you move around once you’re there.
Where I’d Actually Go With the Kids
My loose plan, the one that keeps playing in my head, goes something like this. Fly into Tirana and spend a couple of days in the capital getting our bearings. The city is walkable, the colourful buildings would be a hit with the children, and it’s a gentle introduction to the country. Then either head south to the Riviera for beach time (Ksamil if we want quieter and more swimmable, Saranda if we want a bit more going on) or inland to Berat, the UNESCO-listed “city of a thousand windows” where Ottoman houses climb up a hillside. Berat looks like something out of a storybook and I think it would genuinely stick with the kids.
If we had a proper two weeks, I’d want to work in the Albanian Alps up north, but with younger children I’d probably leave that for when they’re older and save the first trip for the easier coastal route. Better to leave them wanting to come back than cram everything in and exhaust everyone by day five.
Why I’d Book This One as a Package
Usually I’m quite happy to plan a family trip myself. I’ve done enough of them to know where the pitfalls are. Albania is the one I’d make an exception for, and here’s why. When you’re travelling somewhere new, in a language you don’t speak, with roads that don’t always match Google Maps, and with a couple of children who need to not be melting down at the roadside for two hours, you want the logistics handled. A package that sorts the flights, the hotels, the transfers between towns, and any internal transport takes the one real friction point of Albanian travel and just quietly removes it.
It also means you don’t have to become an expert on a country before you go. Someone has already worked out the sensible route, the decent hotels, and the timing. You get to turn up, be present with your family, and enjoy the bit that actually matters, which is a week or two of not having to make 400 small decisions.
For this kind of destination, at this stage of our family’s life, that’s exactly the kind of holiday I’d want. Albania has been on the shortlist long enough now. Maybe this is the year we finally book it.