Berat is on the Osum River in central Albania.

For the best experience in Berat, we recommend staying in the Old Town (the castle marker on the map below). The Mangalem neighborhood is home to many of the best traditional restaurants. It is also a short walk to the Gorica neighborhood, the main pedestrian street, and within walking distance of Berat Castle (if you don’t mind a little climb).

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The best month to visit Berat depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want the best weather, fewer crowds, or the best value? Following are our suggestions for each.

The best weather is a personal preference. We find the best weather for exploring a city is around 55° F and sunny. The weather in Berat during the summer can be very hot, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting in July or August.

Below is a chart showing the average high and low temperatures for each month so you can decide what is best for you.

The time of the year with good weather and fewer crowds is often called the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Berat is April to early June and September to October. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit. We spent the entire month of February in Berat. The weather was cool in the morning but warm up during the day. Importantly, some of the restaurants were closed for the season but many were still open.

November and March are good months to visit Berat for the best value and with fewer crowds. The weather during these months is cool in Berat and similar to our preferred temperature for walking most of the day.

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) is Albania’s only international airport. It is commonly known as Rinas International Airport, as it is located in the village of Rinas about 4 miles (6 km) from Tirana. TIA is approximately 1 hr 45 mins from Berat.

Central European Time (CET; UTC+ 1:00) and Central European Summer Time (CEST; UTC+ 2:00)

The lek is the currency of Albania.

Albanian is the official language of Albania. However, English is widely spoken in Shkoder.

Citizens from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia don’t need a visa to visit Albania if they stay one year or less. For more information on visa-free travel in Albania, check out our article on traveling visa-free.

Albania’s electrical outlets are Type F. Travelers from the United States will need an adapter. It’s the same adapter used for the rest of Europe.

Albania operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

We recommend a travel power strip with multiple USBs and standard plug-ins if you have many items to plug in. Using a power strip, you will only need one adapter to plug the strip into the wall.

Travelers will want a SIM card for Albania. You can get either a local SIM card or an eSIM card.

To get a local SIM card, you must find a local cellular service provider, often stand in line for assistance, show your passport, and complete some paperwork. The SIM cards work great, but purchasing them is somewhat inconvenient. This option is best if you need more than 5GB of data.

We use eSIMs exclusively because they can be purchased before arrival in a new country and activated when you hit a cell tower in the country. We use Airalo eSIMs. They work great, and I recommend them if you plan to use less than 5 GB of data during your stay or if you need internet immediately on arrival.

The lack of a train system in Albania makes rental cars necessary for most destinations. In addition to the major car rental companies found in the United States, Sixt and Europcar are common throughout Europe.  For a comparison of rental car offers from large international brands and smaller regional brands, we recommend Discover Cars.