Camping in Albania with kids: shallow sandy beaches, short drives, food children like, health and safety, the best months and a lakeside campsite near Durrës.
Albania is an easy country to travel with children. Distances are short, the sea is warm from June to September, and Albanians make a fuss of kids wherever you go. Waiters bring them snacks, and strangers stop to say hello.
Families fill a good part of our camp near Durrës every summer, and parents ask us the same things again and again. Here are our answers.
01Beaches for small children
For toddlers and young children, head for the Adriatic coast around Durrës, Golem and Divjakë. The beaches are long and sandy, and the water stays shallow for a good distance, so little ones can splash about safely. At Divjakë a pine forest runs right behind the beach, which gives you shade at lunchtime.
The Ionian coast in the south, around Himarë and Ksamil, has clearer water and bigger views, but the beaches are mostly pebbles and the water gets deep quickly. It suits older children who swim well. Bring water shoes.
02Keep the drives short
Mountain roads are slow, so a distance that looks like an hour on the map can take two. With children, we suggest no more than two or three hours of driving a day, with a stop for fresh bread, fruit and a stretch.
If you rent a car, bring your own child seats or book them early, since rental companies often have only a few.
03Food children will eat
Picky eaters do fine in Albania. Byrek, a flaky pie filled with cheese or spinach, is sold in every bakery. Grilled chicken, qofte (small grilled meatballs), chips, pasta and pizza are on almost every menu, and fruit from the markets is ripe and cheap.
Most restaurants are happy to make something plain for a child. Albanians eat dinner late, so if you go around 7 pm you will usually have the place almost to yourself.
04Heat, health and safety
In July and August the coast reaches 35°C in the middle of the day. Plan the beach and sightseeing for the morning and late afternoon, and spend the hottest hours in the shade. Hats, sunscreen and a lot of water are a must.
The European Health Insurance Card does not work in Albania, so take travel insurance that covers medical care. Pharmacies are everywhere, Durrës has a regional hospital, and Tirana, about an hour away, has the largest hospitals in the country.
Many beaches have no lifeguard, and the same goes for lakes and rivers, so keep an eye on children in the water. Street dogs are usually calm, but teach children not to pet dogs they do not know.
05The best time to go with children
June and September are the best months. The sea is warm, the beaches are quieter and the midday heat is easier to live with. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, and most Albanian families take their holidays then too. Our guide to camping in Albania has more on the seasons.
06Days out that children love
In Durrës, children can walk through the old corridors of the Roman amphitheater and finish the day with ice cream on the promenade. In Tirana, the Dajti Express cable car climbs over the city to Mount Dajti, and older children usually enjoy the bunker museum at Bunk’Art.
At Divjakë-Karavasta National Park you can watch pelicans on the lagoon, and Kruja has a castle on the hill and a bazaar full of toys and souvenirs. Our day trips from Durrës and things to do in Tirana have the details.
07Family camping at Wonderful Camping
Our camp sits on a farm by a lake, so there is room for children to run. We have two paddle boats on the lake, sunbeds from May to October, geese, chickens and two friendly farm dogs, barbecue areas and, in summer, an open-air cinema. In the evening hundreds of lights come on around the lake.
Every pitch has electricity, and there are hot showers, drinking water and Wi-Fi. Families often take our family tent and car pitch. Durrës beach is fifteen minutes away. See the camp or message us with your dates and the ages of your children, and we will suggest the best spot.
