Tirana and the Flag Festival, wine tasting in Berat, Durrës and the coast without crowds, UNESCO cities. Five reasons to come in November, and how a private minibus with a driver makes the trip easier.
Summer is gone, but Albania doesn't sleep. In November, Tirana and other cities celebrate Flag Day, in the south olives are harvested and new rakia is produced, while the coast and old towns are quiet, without the summer crowds.
For a group of tourists, for a weekend with friends, for a family visiting from abroad or for a company, November is a good month to see Albania. Here are five reasons, a sample itinerary and some practical advice.
The capital where groups arrive: squares, museums, the Blloku district and Mount Dajti.
Flags on every street and celebrations in Tirana, Kruja and Vlora.
Wine tastings around Berat, new brandy and olive season.
Durrës, Saranda, Ksamil and Butrint calmly, without queues and without heat.
Berat, Gjirokastra, Butrint and Skanderbeg's Kruja.
Most groups arrive at Tirana Airport, and Tirana is the best base for a trip in November. The capital is not dependent on the season: museums, restaurants, markets and cafes are open all year round, and when it rains there is always something to do indoors.
On the weekend of November 28, the squares are filled with flags and people, while from Tirana, Kruja, Durrës and Berat there are daily excursions. Here's what not to miss:
Tirana seen from Dajti Mountain.
The main square of the city, with the Skanderbeg monument, the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower. On holidays it is filled with flags.
The famous building in the city center, renovated and open to the public, with stairs to climb to the top.
Two museums in communist-era bunkers that tell the history of Albania in the 20th century. Ideal even for a rainy day.
The neighborhood where the communist leadership once lived, today full of cafes, restaurants and bars. The ideal place for a dinner with the group.
The renovated market in the center, with fruit, cheese, honey and raki, as well as restaurants with traditional cuisine.
Take the Dajti Ekspres cable car up above the city, weather permitting, and see all of Tirana from above.
In the center of Tirana, traffic and parking are difficult. The driver picks you up at the hotel, drops you off at each stop and waits for you, and in the evening takes you to Bllok for dinner and returns you to the hotel. From Tirana, we also take you to Kruja, Durrës or Berat for a day.
November 28 is Independence Day, or Flag Day. On November 28, 1912, Ismail Qemali raised the national flag in Vlora and declared the independence of Albania. According to tradition, on the same date, in 1443, Skanderbeg raised the flag in Kruja. The following day, November 29, is celebrated as Liberation Day.
The two days of rest create a long weekend of festivities. Cities are filled with red and black flags, squares are filled with people, and many Albanians from the diaspora come home for these days. Vlora, with its Flag Square, and Kruja, with its Skanderbeg Castle, are the places where the party is felt the most.
Kruja, the city where, according to tradition, Skanderbeg raised the flag.
On holidays, city centers are full and parking is difficult. The driver drops you off near the square and picks you up when you're done, so the whole group celebrates together and no one has to drive. For the weekend of November 28th, we advise you to book the minibus early.
Autumn is the harvest season. In November, olives are harvested in the south of the country, and in many homes and villages, new rakia is produced from grapes harvested in September and October. It is the time when the Albanian table is at its richest: fresh olive oil, cheese, roasted meat and a glass of rakia for a friend.
Berat is one of the most popular wine regions in Albania. Several wineries around the city offer tours and tastings by prior reservation, where you can try wines from local varieties such as Shesh i Zi, Shesh i Bardhë and Pulës. A wine tasting is a great idea for a weekend with friends, a birthday party or a company team building, and a nice stop after the castle and Mangalem.
After a wine tasting, no one in the group should get behind the wheel. With a private driver, everyone can enjoy the stop and return to the hotel without worry.
In July and August, Saranda and Ksamil are packed. In November, you'll find it different: empty streets, quiet seaside restaurants, and views that you can enjoy without rushing. The sea may be cool for swimming, but it's the ideal time for strolling along the coast and taking photos without people in front of the lens.
Near Saranda is Butrint, an ancient city protected by UNESCO. In November, you can visit it calmly, without the heat and large summer groups.
Durrës is the closest coastal city to Tirana and the airport. In November the beach is quiet and the city is best seen on foot, without the heat. Here's what not to miss:
Built in the 2nd century AD, in the middle of the city, it is one of the largest Roman amphitheaters in the Balkans.
Round stone tower in the old city walls, near the harbor.
The largest archaeological museum in Albania, by the sea, with finds from ancient Dyrrachium.
The long promenade by the sea, lined with palm trees, fills with people when the sun sets.
Seaside restaurants serve fish and seafood, the ideal end to the last day before the flight.
From Tirana Airport we take you directly to Durrës, Saranda or Ksamil, and during your stay the minibus serves you to Butrint, the Blue Eye or any other stop.
Berat and Gjirokastra are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Berat, the castle is still inhabited and houses the National Iconographic Museum “Onufri”. Below it, the white houses of Mangalem and Gorica look at each other over the Osumi River. Gjirokastra, the Stone City, has a castle overlooking the city, stone tower houses and an old bazaar.
To the north, near Tirana Airport, Kruja has the National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg” inside the castle and the old bazaar with handicrafts. In November, with fewer visitors, you can see these places at your own pace.
For more ideas, read our guide What to do in Gjirokastra.
The cobblestone streets of old towns are steep. The driver drops you off as close as the road allows and waits for you, without having to look for a taxi or parking.
November is suitable for different groups. With a private minibus, the entire group travels together, on its own schedule.
Families and groups arriving in Rinas and wanting to see as much as possible in a few days, with a driver waiting for them at the airport and taking them everywhere.
Birthdays, weekends with friends, singles, a wine tasting in Berat or the celebrations of November 28. The whole group celebrates together and no one is left out of the party because they have to drive.
Coming home for the holidays? We pick you up at the airport with your entire family and luggage, and take you to your relatives, in the city or in the countryside.
Business trips, end-of-year team building or DMC agency tourist groups, with organized transportation from start to finish.
An idea for a short week. You choose the days, stops and hotels, we arrange the minibus and driver.
The driver will pick you up at Tirana Airport, at any time, and take you to the hotel. Afternoon Skanderbeg Square, Pyramid and New Bazaar, then dinner at Bllok.
Morning in Kruja for the castle and the old bazaar, then towards Berat. Evening in Mangalem, below the castle.
Berat Castle and wine tasting at a winery around the city, then to Gjirokastra for dinner with local cuisine.
Morning at the Gjirokastra castle and the old bazaar, then the Blue Eye spring, Butrint National Park and evening in Saranda or Ksamil.
The road along the coast, stop in Vlora at the Flag Square and dinner by the sea in Durrës. Then to the hotel in Tirana or directly to the airport.
If you travel around November 28, you can reverse the order so that the day in Tirana, Kruja, or Vlora falls on the day of the holiday.
In November, the days are shorter and the weather changes more often. A vehicle just for your group allows you to take advantage of every hour of daylight, without waiting for buses or looking for taxis.
Easy communication for foreign groups throughout the trip.
November mornings and evenings are cool, it's warm in the minibus.
We are waiting for you in Rinas at any time, even when the flight is delayed.
You decide where you stop, how long you stay, and when we leave.
Yes, especially if you want historic cities, local food and wine, and a party atmosphere without the summer crowds. It's not a beach month, but it's very suitable for group travel.
Skanderbeg Square, the Pyramid of Tirana, Bunk'Art, the New Bazaar, dinner at Bllok, and the Dajti cable car when the weather permits. With a private minibus with driver, you can see them all in one day, without having to deal with traffic and parking.
Cooler than in summer and with more rainy days. On the south coast the days are often mild, while in the mountainous areas it is colder.
Yes. We provide chauffeured transportation: we take you to the winery in the Berat area, wait for you during the tasting, and return you to the hotel, so no one in the group needs to drive.
Yes. Pickup at Tirana Airport is available 24/7, even when the flight is delayed.
We have Minibus 8+1 and Minibus 18+1. Tell us how many people you are and we will suggest the right vehicle for your group.
Yes. The schedule is flexible: stop where you want and stay as long as you want. For major changes, like a different city or an extra day, let us know as early as possible.
Yes, our drivers speak English.
Every month has its own reasons to come to Albania. Read our articles for each month, and plan your group trip when it suits you best.
Tell us the dates, how many people you have, and where you want to go. We'll get back to you with an offer for your group.
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