Geography & Climate

Geography

Also known as “the country of eagles”, Albania is an East European country, situated on the west part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the East coast of Adriatic and Ionian Sea. The country is 340 km long from North to South and the country is 148 km wide.

The Republic of Albania shares frontiers with Montenegro and Kosovo on the North part, with Macedonia on the Eastern part, and with Greece on the South part. Its total area is 28748 square meters and the population of Albania gets around 4 million inhabitants.

Climate

Albania has a great Mediterranean weather, characterized by a dry summer period and a relatively short and humid winter period. However, because of the high average altitude of the country (708 meters above sea level, almost twice higher than the European average), there is in Albania a wide range of microclimates. In certain mountainous areas for example, snowstorms are normal and the snow layer can last for months.

The temperatures in the South can reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 °F). The minimum temperatures are around -5 / -10°C (23 to 14°F). Albania enjoys approximatively 270 up to 300 of sunny days, meaning 5 months of seaside season.

It can be 10 degree lower on the mountains and 10 degree higher by the seaside. Get ready to face this diverse climate. One pullover is not too much in the high altitudes and some very light clothing is appropriate during your stay on the coast.