Albania is often called one of the cheapest countries in Europe. And it’s true, you can still sleep and eat out here for very little. But the cost of a family road trip in Albania can still add up. Car rental is sometimes pricier than in other countries, excursions aren’t always cheap and on the coast tourists sometimes pay inflated prices.
In this article we share the full cost breakdown of our three-week road trip through Albania with kids. From flights and accommodations to sunbeds, ice creams and horse riding. Plus: our best tips to save money.
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Family Travel Costs in Albania Summarized
Here’s a breakdown of our total costs per category. In total we spent €7,056.70 on a three-week family trip with two children (aged 2 and 5) in July 2024.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Transportation (flight + car rental) | €2.977,42 |
| Accommodations | €2.104,28 |
| Excursions & tickets | €525,00 |
| Food, drink & other | €1.450,00 |
| Total | €7.056,70 |
What Does a Family Road Trip in Albania Cost Per Category?
Transport in Albania: Costs and Tips
Transport is one of the biggest expenses during a family road trip in Albania, especially if you rent a car. Still, we think it’s the best way to explore. With your own car you have the freedom to visit remote spots like Theth or the Osumi Canyon.
We rented our car via DiscoverCars.com, a platform where you can easily compare prices from different providers. We also tried booking directly with rental companies, but that usually turned out more expensive than DiscoverCars or RentalCars, which we’ve also used in the past. Booking early can save a lot. Because tourism in Albania is growing so fast, demand for rental cars is often higher than supply. That scarcity means higher prices, especially in high season. So the earlier you book, the better your deal.
Flights to Albania also vary a lot in price, especially in summer. Outside of school holidays you’ll often find much cheaper tickets. For this trip we booked directly with Ryanair. Recently we also tested Booking.com Flights, where you can compare and even combine multiple airlines in one booking. Super handy if you want the best deal without juggling separate tickets.
Note:
Driving in Tirana is busy and parking is tricky. That’s why we only picked up our rental car after staying in the capital, which saved us both money and stress.
👉 Also read our separate article: Driving and Renting a Car in Albania: Tips and Experiences for Your Road Trip
| Category | Cost | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Return flight Weeze – Tirana | €1.519,82 | 4 people, summer vacation |
| Car rental (18 days) | €1.137,60 | Via DiscoverCars.com |
| Gasoline | €150,00 | Approximately 1400 km driven |
| Cab home from Weeze Airport | €170,00 | Only the return trip |
| Total: | €2.977,42 |
Staying in Albania: What Do Accommodations Cost?
Good news: staying in Albania is still very affordable compared to most of Europe. For €40 to €80 per night you often get a spacious family room, usually with breakfast included. We stayed in all kinds of places, from a cozy guesthouse in a mountain village to a hotel with a pool by the sea.
Be aware that with the rapid growth of tourism, the nicest accommodations get booked up fast, especially in summer. In places like Theth or the Shala River, where options are limited, booking late can really mess up your route. Want a kid-friendly hotel with a pool or a special location? Book in advance. We ourselves usually use Booking.com to find fine, affordable hotels and guesthouses. Lately, we also regularly check Trip.com: surprisingly, this provider is often just a bit cheaper than other platforms.
👉 Read more: Our 3-Week Albania Road Trip With Kids, Including All the Hotels We Stayed At.
| Accommodation | Cost | Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Vila Ferdinand, Tirana | €130,88 | 2 |
| Berati Castle Hotel, Berat | €130,00 | 2 |
| Rose Garden Hotel, Gjirokaster | €420,00 | 3 |
| Ionian Hotel, Ksamil | €300,00 | 3 |
| Toni Retzo Rooms, Himarë | €390,00 | 3 |
| Hotel Panorama, Kruje | €107,41 | 1 |
| Bujtina e Muriqit, Shkodër | €46,80 | 1 |
| Molla Guest House, Theth | €169,20 | 2 |
| Hotel Hasmegaj, Mjede | €55,00 | 1 |
| Guesthouse Zgiboza, Koman | €200,00 | 2 |
| MK Hotel, Tirana | €154,99 | 1 |
| Total: | €2.104,28 |
Excursions and Activities: Family Costs
Albania is full of activities for families, from boat trips and horse riding to exploring ruins and hiking in the mountains. Many are affordable, but costs add up quickly if you want to do several. For example, we paid €250 for a private boat trip in Himarë and €100 for horse riding in Shkodër.
You can keep it as cheap or expensive as you want. Many sights, like castles or mountain villages, are free or just a few euros entry. But organized tours can get pricey when you’re traveling with kids.
👉 Money-saving tip: some tours are easier and cheaper to compare and book in advance via GetYourGuide. Think of popular outings like a boat trip to Pigeon Cave, a day trip to the Shala River or rafting in the Osumi Canyon.
Want to know all the activities we did during our 3-week roundtrip? Then check out our extensive article about our tour of Albania with kids.
| Activity | Cost | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Private boat trip Himarë | €250,00 | 4 hours including cave swimming |
| Boat trip to Shala River (return) | €25,00 | Per person |
| Horseback riding Shkodër | €100,00 | Incl. pony rides children |
| Other (beach beds, entrance, etc) | €150,00 | Rated |
| Total: | €525,00 |
Food, drink & other expenses in Albania
Eating out in Albania is generally cheap. For €20-€30 you can enjoy a full meal for four. A main dish usually costs €5-€8, and an ice cream is under €1.
Still, costs can add up over three weeks’ time. Especially if you eat out several times a day, buy something on the go regularly or end up on a sidewalk cafe frequently during the hot summer months. And believe us, with temperatures of 35 degrees or more, that happens naturally. Also, beach beds on the coast are often expensive, count on €25 to €30 per day and tips or spontaneous expenses add up anyway.
It also matters a lot where you eat. In a popular place like Ksamil, you can easily pay double what you spend at a trendy beach club by the sea if you just look for a restaurant in the village.
👉 Savings tip: are you staying in an accommodation with a refrigerator or kitchen? Then you can easily fix your own breakfast or lunch. Snacks, fruit and water are also much cheaper at supermarkets than at the beach.
| Category | Cost | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Food & drink | €1.400,00 | Restaurants, drinks, snacks, ice creams, etc. |
| Other | €50,00 | Souvenirs |
| Total: | €1.450,00 |
Is Albania Still a Cheap Travel Destination?
Overall: yes. But Albania is changing. On the coast especially we noticed big price differences compared to inland. In hotspots like Ksamil, high tourist prices are becoming the norm. You can pay €30 a day for two sunbeds and a parasol, and in trendy restaurants prices are similar to Southern Europe.
While in the mountains or lesser-known places you can still eat out for €5 to €10 per person. Accommodations are also generally cheap, especially if you book at guesthouses.
The biggest expense for us was car rental (€1,137) and flights (€1,519). Flights are especially pricey during the summer vacations, and car rental prices in Albania are higher than in, say, Spain or Greece. Gasoline costs on average about €1.70 per liter.
Tips to Save Money in Albania
- Avoid peak season
In July and August, prices for airline tickets, accommodations and rental cars rise significantly. If you travel in May, June or September, it is not only quieter, but also cheaper. - Book your rental car on time
Due to rapidly growing tourism, demand exceeds supply, especially in summer. Rental cars often sell out early, and last-minute booking = higher prices. Compare in advance through platforms such as DiscoverCars, Rentalcars or Sunny Cars. - Choose guesthouses instead of hotels
You often pay less and breakfast is usually included. Especially in mountain villages or inland, this is a fine and economical option for families. - Avoid expensive beach beds
On the coast in high season, you can easily pay €25-€30 a day for two beds and an umbrella. Where possible, it is more economical to bring your own towel or beach mat. Note that in many places this is not allowed (such as in Ksamil). - Eat where the locals eat
Restaurants for tourists (especially by the sea) are often twice as expensive. In the village itself or at local grill restaurants you eat for a fraction of the price and often at least as delicious. - Cook or lunch yourself whenever possible
If your accommodation has a refrigerator or kitchen, you can easily make something yourself. Especially fix breakfast and lunch yourself saves a lot of money. - Beware of roaming charges
With Vodafone, you can just use your bundle in Albania. Do you have another provider? Then buy an inexpensive eSIM via Airalo. Otherwise, you might get an unexpectedly high phone bill when you return home. - Download offline maps in advance via Google Maps
This way you avoid using a lot of mobile data while on the road. Especially useful if you don’t have unlimited internet or depend on a local sim or eSIM.
Conclusion: what are the costs of touring Albania with children?
For three weeks of traveling around Albania with two young children, we paid just over €7,000. Is that cheap? Compared to Western Europe for sure. But Albania is no longer a secret, and you notice that especially on the coast. Fortunately, there is still plenty of affordable accommodation to be found, if you know where to look.
👉 Want to know what our route looked like? Then also check out: Our 3-week road trip through Albania with kids
Plan your trip to Albania with children
Accommodation in Albania
👉 Check out the nicest hotels and guesthouses on Booking.com
Car rental in Albania
👉 Compare prices at DiscoverCars, Rentalcars or Sunny Cars
Looking for hiking trails or tours?
👉 Check out the offer on GetYourGuide for hikes, transfers and day trips
More inspiration for your trip?
👉 Read our article: Our 3-week tour of Albania with kids
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