Six reasons why it's worth visiting Albania in December: the Christmas market in Tirana, the New Year's atmosphere, snow in Dajt and wood-burning stoves, all made easier by a private minibus with driver.
December is the most festive month in Albania. Tirana lights up with holiday lights, a Christmas market opens in Skanderbeg Square, and many Albanians from the diaspora return home for Christmas and New Year. Above the city, Mount Dajti is often covered in snow during the winter, while wood-burning stoves are lit in mountain restaurants and guesthouses.
For a group of tourists, for friends who want to celebrate the New Year together, for a family coming from abroad or for a company's year-end party, here are six reasons to visit Albania in December, two sample itineraries, and some practical advice.
Christmas market in Skanderbeg Square, holiday lights and New Year's Eve.
The mountain above Tirana, with snow during the winter and views over the entire city.
Restaurants and guesthouses with wood-burning stoves, barbecue, pies and homemade brandy.
Korça, Voskopoja and Dardha, with frescoed churches and stone houses.
I was staying near Përmet and the Elbasan Spas, warm water even in winter.
TEG, QTU and Toptani, with offers for Christmas and New Year.
In December, Tirana is at the height of the festivities. The boulevards and squares are lit up with lights, and a Christmas market usually opens in Skanderbeg Square, with stalls selling gifts and sweets, a large Christmas tree, and music. It is the place where families, friends, and tourists meet every evening.
New Year's Eve is the liveliest evening of the year: restaurants serve festive dinners, concerts are usually organized in the center, and at midnight the city is illuminated by fireworks. Here's what not to miss:
Stalls with gifts and sweets, a Christmas tree and music, in the heart of the city.
The boulevard and streets of the center are decorated with lights, ideal for an evening stroll with the group.
Festive dinners in restaurants, concerts and fireworks at midnight.
The traditional New Year's Eve dish in many Albanian families, also served in restaurants.
Warm cafes and restaurants for cold December evenings.
We pick you up from any hotel in Albania and take you to the Christmas market in Skanderbeg Square, wait for you and return you to the hotel. On New Year's Eve we work even after midnight: we take you to dinner or a party and return you to the hotel, without worrying about taxis or parking.
Dajti Mountain rises immediately above Tirana and is the closest national park to the capital. During the winter the upper part of the mountain is often covered in snow, and for many families and groups it is the fastest way to see snow without leaving Tirana.
By Dajti Ekspres cable car, weather permitting, or by minibus from the mountain road, you reach the Dajti plateau, with views over the entire city. The restaurants there serve roasted meat and mountain dishes by the wood stove, and after a walk in the snow, a mountain tea or a glass of raki will warm you up immediately.
Our minibuses have winter tires and chains, so we can take you to Dajt even when the road is snowy. You can combine it with the cable car: the driver will take you to the station and wait for you, or take you up the mountain.
December in Albania smells of wood. In many homes, guesthouses and mountain restaurants, heating still comes from wood-burning stoves, and dinner around them is part of the trip. The winter table is warm and plentiful: stew, yogurt casserole, pies, lakror, roasted meat and homemade raki.
From Tirana, restaurants in Dajt and in the hills surrounding the city are close by for a lunch or dinner with the group, while in Korça, Voskopoja, and Dardhë, a wood-fired stove is part of every winter evening.
After a long dinner with raki, no one in the group should drive. The driver will pick you up and take you back to the hotel, no matter how late it is.
Korça, the city of serenades in the southeast of the country, has a special atmosphere in December: the renovated old bazaar, the Orthodox cathedral in the center, Korça beer and the famous lakrori. With its festive lights, the city is one of the most beloved places for the end of the year.
Near Korça, Voskopoja and Dardha are mountain villages that are often covered in snow during the winter. Voskopoja has 18th-century churches with frescoes, while Dardha preserves stone houses and narrow alleys. They are ideal places for a snowy weekend by the wood stove.
Mountain roads in winter require a prepared vehicle. Our minibuses have winter tires and chains, and we also organize day trips in the snow. You only need to take your bags and warm clothes.
After the snow, nothing is better than warm water. In Bënja, near Përmet, thermal springs form natural pools in the Langarica canyon, near the old Ottoman bridge. The water remains warm even in winter, and bathing in the open air among the mountains is a special experience.
Closer to Tirana, the Elbasan Spas have long been known for their thermal waters, with hotels and spa centers where you can spend a relaxing day with your group.
We take you to Bënja or Llixha for a day or as part of an itinerary, and we'll wait for you as long as you want. The minibus is warm for the return trip.
December is also the month of gifts. Shopping malls in and around Tirana are decorated for the holidays and often have Christmas and New Year offers and discounts on clothing, shoes, cosmetics and gifts. When it's raining or cold outside, an afternoon of shopping is the ideal way to spend the day with the group.
The largest centers are outside the city center, so you can easily visit them with a private minibus, even some on the same day:
One of the largest shopping centers in Albania, at the entrance to Tirana from Elbasan Road, with shops and restaurants.
On the Tirana-Durres highway, suitable for a shopping stop on the way to the airport or to Durres.
In the center of Tirana, near Skanderbeg Square, to combine with an evening at the Christmas market.
We pick you up at your hotel, take you to the shopping malls of your choice, and wait for you to finish shopping. Your bags and gifts remain in the minibus, and you return to the hotel without holding them in your hands.
December suits different groups. With a private minibus, the whole group travels together, on its own schedule, even on New Year's Eve.
Groups who want to see Tirana in celebration, the snow in Dajt, and winter cities, with a driver waiting for them at the airport at any hour.
Christmas market, New Year's Eve dinner or a snowy weekend: the whole group celebrates together and returns to the hotel without a worry.
Coming home for Christmas and New Year's? We'll pick you up at the airport with your whole family and luggage, even when your flight is delayed.
Company end-of-year party, team building in the snow or DMC agency tour groups, with organized transportation from start to finish.
For groups coming for the holidays. Tirana is the base, Dajti Mountain is the snowy day.
The driver will pick you up at Tirana Airport at any time and take you to the hotel. In the evening, stroll through the Christmas market at Skanderbeg Square.
Climb to Dajt by minibus or cable car, walk in the snow and lunch by the wood stove. In the evening, dinner in Bllok.
Morning shopping at shopping malls with end-of-year offers. In the evening we take you to a festive dinner or concert, and return you to the hotel after midnight.
Quiet lunch by the sea in Durrës, then directly to Tirana Airport.
From Tirana and Dajti towards Korça, snowy villages and the thermal waters of Bënja.
Arrival in Rinas. Afternoon in Dajt for the snow and the view over the city, in the evening Christmas market in Skanderbeg Square.
The road to the southeast. Evening in the old bazaar of Korça, with lakror and Korça beer.
The frescoed churches of Voskopoja and the village of Dardha with stone houses, dinner by the wood-burning stove.
The thermal waters of Benja in the Langarica canyon and dinner in Përmet.
Return to Tirana or directly to Tirana Airport.
Example itinerary: you choose the days, stops, and hotels, we customize the minibus and driver.
In December the days are short, the mountain roads can be snowy, and transportation is difficult on New Year's Eve. A vehicle just for your group solves it all.
The vehicles are ready for the snowy roads in the mountains.
It's cold outside, but it's always warm in the minibus.
We take you to the party and return you to the hotel after midnight.
We are waiting for you in Rinas at any time, even when the flight is delayed.
Easy communication for foreign groups throughout the trip.
You decide where you stop, how long you stay, and when we leave.
Yes, especially if you want a festive atmosphere, Christmas market and New Year's in Tirana, snow in the mountains and thermal waters. It is a cold month, but very lively.
Yes. We pick you up from any hotel in Albania, take you to Skanderbeg Square, wait for you, and return you to the hotel.
Yes. We take you to dinner or a party and return you to the hotel even after midnight. Book early, because it's the busiest night of the year.
During the winter the upper part of the mountain is often covered with snow, but not every day. Ask us before departure and we will plan the day according to the weather.
Yes. Our vehicles have winter tires and chains, and the drivers are professionals.
At the TEG and QTU shopping centers, outside the city center, and at the Toptani Shopping Center, near Skanderbeg Square. We pick you up from your hotel and wait for you when you finish shopping.
Cold, with rainy days in Tirana and on the coast, and snow in the mountains. The days are short, but the evenings are full of lights and festivities.
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 are and where you want to go: Christmas market, Dajti, Korça or New Year's in Tirana. We will respond with an offer for your group.
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