For this New Year's Eve we have two departures to Albania on 28 and 29 December: one designed for fans of trekking and another with a more cultural focus, exploring classical Albania and Macedonia. Below are the details of this second option, with an improved itinerary to make the most of each day and reduce time spent travelling.
We will welcome the New Year in one of the Balkans’ most beautiful places.
New Year in Albania 2026: from Tirana to Skopje in a small group
New Year is a good chance to discover Albania away from peak season, spending a week exploring its history, cities and heritage. For New Year 2026, we offer an 8-day small-group trip through Albania and North Macedonia, with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona, arrival in Tirana, departure from Skopje and a Spanish-speaking guide throughout.
The idea is simple: make the most of the days. Instead of a loop back to Tirana, we cross Albania from north to south and continue to North Macedonia. Arriving in Tirana and departing from Skopje, we link Berat, Gjirokastër, Butrint, Korçë, Ohrid and Tetovo.
And we see out the year in Gjirokastra.
Albania✔️ Departures 28, 29 DEC 2026
✔️ Price from 1140€
A New Year trip to Albania and Macedonia designed to make the most of the days
Albania is a familiar destination for us. We have explored it for years, know its corners and adapt our routes as the country evolves, according to what works and what is worth including.
For New Year’s Eve 2026, the itinerary is better than ever:
The main change is a one-way route: we fly to Tirana, explore Albania, cross into North Macedonia and return from Skopje. It may look like a logistical detail on the map, but it makes a difference on an eight-day trip.
Continuing forward instead of returning to Tirana gives us time for Ohrid, Tetovo and Skopje, adding a second country without excessive driving.
A comprehensive yet coherent itinerary: each day leads naturally to the next stop.
New Year's Eve in Gjirokastra
If we had to choose somewhere on this route for New Year’s Eve, it would be Gjirokastra. Its old town climbs beneath a huge fortress, preserving some of the country’s most interesting Ottoman architecture. Stone streets, old houses and a small bazaar form the setting for our two-night stay.
And here we will also celebrate New Year's Eve in Albania.
New Year’s Eve dinner takes place in a private room at the group’s hotel, with a full meal and live music. It is a relaxed group celebration with no dress code, so there is no need to pack formal evening wear.
As Madrid and Barcelona leave on different days, the route is organized for both groups to spend the New Year's Eve in Gjirokastra.
Tirana, Berat and Gjirokastra: understand Albania before continuing to travel.
We will start in Tirana, a capital that explains much of contemporary Albania.
Skanderbeg Square, the former residential district of Blloku and Bunk’Art 1 reveal different stages of the country’s recent history, particularly the communist decades.
Then we set off for Berat.
Berat deserves more than a photograph of its façades. We visit the still-inhabited citadel, Onufri Museum and historic Mangalem and Gorica districts, and share coffee with our hostess in a local home.
Berat and Gjirokastra are jointly inscribed as World Heritage for their historical architecture and for the exceptional state of conservation of their urban centers.
Between them we will also visit Apollonia, an ancient city founded by the Greeks and later integrated into the Roman world.
Rather than simply ticking off monuments, these early days reveal Albania’s different layers: the classical world, Ottoman heritage, religious coexistence, communism and a society transformed in recent decades.
Butrint: more than two thousand years of history beside the Mediterranean
From Gjirokastër, we head down to the coast to visit Butrint and Saranda.
Butrinto is one of the great archaeological sites of Albania. Different civilizations passed through this place and today the remains of the Greek colony, the Roman city, the Byzantine period and later stages coexist. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1992.
We visit the ancient theatre, walls and Temple of Asclepius before returning towards Saranda and climbing to Lekursi Castle.
Then we will return to Gjirokastra to continue the next day towards the interior of the country.
Përmet and Korça: another Albania
One of the aspects we like about this route is that it is not limited to Tirana and the best known places on the coast.
After Gjirokastër, we travel to Përmet and Korçë through a much less visited part of the country.
Korça has a distinct identity and long cultural tradition. We explore its centre, Orthodox heritage and old bazaar before our last night in Albania.
The next day we'll cross the border.
And there the journey changes again.
From Albania to North Macedonia: Saint Naum, Elshani and Ohrid
We enter North Macedonia beside Lake Ohrid, stopping first at St Naum Monastery.
We continue to Elshani, a small lakeside village, for lunch at a farmhouse. It is the kind of stop that looks secondary on paper but becomes a favourite memory: sitting around a table, tasting local food and swapping monuments for everyday life for a few hours.
In the afternoon we'll get to Ohrid.
The city and lake form part of a UNESCO-listed area recognised for its cultural and natural value. Ohrid preserves an exceptional religious heritage and is one of North Macedonia's historic centres.
We will explore its old town and some churches, ending with a boat trip on the lake.
In eight days, we travel from Tirana and Albania’s contemporary history to one of the Balkans’ great cultural landscapes.
Tetovo and Skopje: we end up where other trips have to turn around
This is probably the part that best explains why we designed the trip like this.
From Ohrid we don't go back to Tirana.
We continue to Tetovo, where we will visit the Painted Mosque, and then continue to Skopje.
North Macedonia’s capital differs greatly from Tirana. Its old bazaar, Stone Bridge, fortress, historic neighbourhoods and recent urban changes make a fitting end to the route.
We start in one Balkan capital and finish in another, crossing two countries by land.
The next day we go to Skopje airport and fly straight home.
No extra days spent retracing our steps.
Small group travel to Albania: size does matter
We organise this Albania trip in a small group of no more than 16 travellers.
It's not just a matter of etiquette.
A group this size makes travel easier, allows smaller vehicles and keeps visits flexible. Above all, it changes the relationship between guide and travellers.
And in Albania this seems particularly important to us.
A good guide does more than tell you when the vehicle leaves. They help you understand a country whose recent history is complex: isolation under communism, relations between religious communities, the influence of the Ottoman world and the enormous changes Albania has undergone since the 1990s.
That is why the Spanish-speaking guides we work with are a fundamental part of our trips to Albania and Macedonia.
We know them and have worked in the destination for years. A good itinerary can be transformed by the person explaining it and accompanying the group.
Feedback from previous editions is clear: the guide, driver, group size and well-used itinerary repeatedly rank among the most valued aspects.
Albania for New Year from Madrid
The New Year trip to Albania from Madrid departs on 28 December 2026.
We fly directly from Madrid to Tirana, then follow the complete route through Albania and North Macedonia to Skopje.
The return will also be direct, Skopje–Madrid, on January 4, 2027.
It is eight days of travel and seven nights, celebrating December 31 in Gjirokastra.
Albania from Madrid for New Year
Small group travel | Sebi Serra
Albania at New Year from Barcelona
The New Year departure to Albania from Barcelona is on 29 December 2026.
In this case, we take a direct morning flight from Barcelona to Tirana, then follow the same route through Berat, Gjirokastër, Butrint, Korçë and Ohrid to Skopje.
The direct return Skopje–Barcelona will be on January 5, 2027.
The groups in Madrid and Barcelona operate independently and both celebrate New Year's Eve in Gjirokastra. The scheduled flights are direct and the fare includes a checked bag of up to 20 kg and a personal item.
Albania from Barcelona at New Year
Albania Christmas | Blanca Lorza
What does our New Year trip to Albania and Macedonia include?
When comparing organised Albania trips, look beyond the headline price.
Our trip currently starts at €1,140 per person plus air taxes for the first places, depending on final group size.
The price includes direct flights from Madrid or Barcelona, checked baggage, transport throughout the tour, hotels, specified breakfasts, an accompanying Spanish-speaking guide throughout, itinerary visits and entrance fees, lunch at a rural house in Elshani, a special New Year’s Eve dinner and travel assistance insurance.
We have worked to keep the price competitive while preserving a rich travel experience.
We prefer that the difference is in the route, in what is visited and in the people accompanying the group.
Why travel to Albania in December?
Travelling to Albania in December differs from visiting in summer.
This cultural route is designed specifically for winter, when cities, heritage, archaeology and small local experiences are the focus.
Without summer crowds, Berat, Gjirokastër and Butrint can be enjoyed at a different pace.
It will be cold: we are travelling in the Balkans between December and January, so suitable clothing is essential. The itinerary therefore avoids relying on a succession of weather-dependent outdoor activities.
It is a journey to walk through cities, enter fortresses, museums, houses and monasteries; sit around a table; listen to the guide and keep moving forward.
Is this trip for me?
Probably, if you want to use the New Year holidays for a comprehensive cultural trip, rather than simply spend three nights away celebrating New Year’s Eve.
Also if you enjoy group travel but prefer to avoid the main tourist circuits, value a good Spanish-speaking guide and want to discover Albania beyond Tirana.
There is no need for hiking experience or special physical condition. This edition is 100% cultural.
Nor do we need to know the Balkans beforehand.
That's what this is about.
Frequently asked questions about our New Year trip to Albania
How long is the New Year trip to Albania?
The route lasts 8 days through Albania and North Macedonia, starting in Tirana and ending in Skopje.
Is this a small group trip?
Yes. We travel in small groups of up to 16 people, with each departure confirmed once its minimum group size is reached.
Is there a New Year's Eve trip to Albania from Madrid?
Yes. We depart from Madrid on 28 December 2026 with a direct flight to Tirana and return directly from Skopje on 4 January 2027.
Is there a departure from Barcelona?
Yes. The Barcelona departure is on 29 December 2026, with a direct flight to Tirana and return from Skopje to Barcelona on 5 January.
Where is New Year’s Eve celebrated?
We celebrate New Year’s Eve in Gjirokastër, where the group stays two nights. Dinner is in a private hotel room, with live music and no special dress code.
Does the trip have a Spanish-speaking guide?
Yes. A local Spanish-speaking guide accompanies the entire route.
Is it a hiking trip?
No. The New Year 2026 trip is a cultural route with no scheduled trekking days, though we will still enjoy time in nature.
What places do we visit?
The route passes through Tirana, Berat, Apollonia, Gjirokastra, Butrinto, Saranda, Përmet, Korça, San Naum, Elshani, Ohrid, Tetovo and Skopje.
Are the flights direct?
Yes. The scheduled flights from Madrid and Barcelona are direct: outbound to Tirana and back from Skopje.
How much does it cost to visit Albania at New Year?
The published price currently starts at 1.140 € per person plus fees, depending on the first available places and final group size.
Albania and Macedonia: a different New Year’s Eve
There are many ways to end the year.
Our route lands in Tirana, explores Albania, celebrates New Year’s Eve among Gjirokastra’s stone houses, then continues to Lake Ohrid and Skopje.
Two countries, two capitals and eight days without retracing your steps.
A small-group cultural route with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona and excellent guides who know the country well.
Sometimes improving a trip means making everything fit together.