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.

Our price includes all transport, accommodation and a personalized itinerary for your trip. Byway's travel experts are also available on WhatsApp throughout for disruption support and travel tips.

No, flights to Europe aren't included, but all transport and accommodation once you're here is. Short-haul flights are highly carbon-intensive, and traveling around Europe by train, ferry or bus is an easy, enjoyable alternative.

Yes. Different hotel options are available to choose from on the trip page, and any room upgrade requests can be added in the booking form. Our team will then find upgrade options and discuss them with you.

No. If you'd like to leave Europe from a different city, our concierge team can build you a custom one-way trip.

Yes. Prices on our trip pages are shown in your local currency by default, or you can select your preferred currency, including USD, CAD, EUR or CHF, from the dropdown in the top right corner of the trip page. The payment page will always show the price in your chosen currency.

You can generally bring as much luggage as you can carry, as long as it fits in the luggage racks or overhead space. On Eurostar, UK and most European trains, the standard allowance is two large bags and one smaller item, provided you can manage them yourself; let us know in advance if you're planning to bring anything oversized. Since you may need to change stations or walk to hotels, packing light makes the journey more comfortable.

Most European train tickets are digital and sent to you by email. A few, including tickets for Spain, Portugal and some EuroCity trains, require paper tickets, which can be mailed to a hotel on your itinerary.

No, Byway trips are self-guided, not part of a group tour. You'll have on-demand personalized support by WhatsApp, text or phone throughout, so all the planning and booking is done for you, and any disruptions are handled without you having to worry about them.