The temperatures vary between the coasts and the mountainous interior, but it is generally pleasant all year round. According to the Köppen climate classification, Albania has a warm Mediterranean climate, a subtropical climate, an oceanic climate, a continental climate and a subarctic climate.
The coast has a typical Mediterranean climate, while the mountains have a continental climate. Likewise, in both areas the climate varies considerably from north to south.
Average temperatures in Albania
The weather in the seasons
Winters are the wettest season in Albania, with the inland mid-mountain area having the highest rainfall. In spring and autumn temperatures are pleasant on the coast, so the holiday season can be extended in good weather until October. The summer months are the warmest, without being too oppressively hot, but at the same time July and especially August are the months when most tourists, both domestic and from the Balkan hinterland, choose to visit Albania’s coasts.
Clothing should be appropriate for the time of year and the regions of the country being visited. Also for the planned activities. For example, if you are doing outdoor activities in the mountains, good mackintoshes and warm layers should be worn at all times of the year. On the coast in summer, long trousers and a light jacket are often required in the evenings.
Climate on the Albanian coast
Albania’s geographical location in southern Europe with a stretch of coastline towards the Adriatic and Ionian Seas influences the temperatures. The climate in the coastal areas is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. In summer the average temperature is 24°C.
Climate of the Albanian Inland Mountains
The presence of the Albanian Alps with important mountains between 2,700 and 2,500 metres in altitude such as Korab
Jezerca, Gryka e Hapët, Radohima, Kollata, Kollata e Keqe, Maja Rosit, or Grammos, makes the cold sub-Arctic climate in the alpine areas the complete opposite of that of the coast.
The low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the climate in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. North and north-easterly winds blow most of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the inland basins and river valleys are very high, but nights are almost always cool.
In the eastern mountains the coldest winters can reach lows of -1°C in January – although the average is 7°C – while in summer the average temperature is 20°C. with highs of 35°C.