Albania by train and ferry

April to June or September to October is the best time to visit Albania, with warm, dry weather and fewer crowds than peak summer. July and August bring the hottest weather and the busiest coastal towns, particularly along the Albanian Riviera. Winters are quiet, with many coastal businesses closed, though the mountains draw some visitors for skiing. There are highlights year-round: Dita e Verës welcomes spring with music and traditional sweets in Elbasan every March, the Korça Beer Festival draws over 100,000 visitors to Albania's biggest public event every summer, and Tirana's Skanderbeg Square hosts festive lights and concerts through the end of the year.

The best things to do in Albania include relaxing on the Albanian Riviera, exploring the old towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, and visiting the ancient ruins of Butrint.

• Relaxing on the Albanian Riviera's beaches, from Vlorë and Dhërmi to Ksamil

• Exploring Berat's UNESCO-listed old town, known as the "town of a thousand windows"

• Wandering Gjirokastër's UNESCO-listed old town and Ottoman-era architecture

• Visiting the ancient ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site once inhabited by Greeks, Romans and Venetians

• Touring Tirana's museums, colourful architecture and Skanderbeg Square

• Hiking in the Albanian Alps, around Theth and Valbona, connected by one of the Balkans' most scenic day hikes

• Rafting or kayaking the Vjosa River, one of the last wild rivers in Europe

• Sampling olive oil and local wine at harvest festivals in the groves around Berat

Albania has no functioning international rail connections, so the main route in is by ferry. An overnight sleeper ferry runs from Bari in Italy to Durrës, taking around 8 to 10 hours, with year-round daily sailings. A separate short ferry also connects Sarandë in southern Albania with Corfu in Greece. Within Albania, there is no functioning passenger rail network, so buses are the main way to travel between towns and cities.