Go in September, not August

How this list is built

Selected by each page's own twelve-month grid: September rated best, August rated avoid or closed. Nothing here is an opinion about the shoulder season; it is where this site's own verdicts disagree by two full grades.

In this list · September verdict alongside

• Ksamilbest · Sea 24°C and the crowd gone. The month to come.
• Butrintbest · Warm and clear, and the coaches thin out.
• Rozafa Castlebest · Clear air over the lake and the crowd gone.
• Krujëbest · Warm and clear, and the groups thin out.
• Durrësbest · Sea 24°C and the beach back to a manageable size.
• Bovilla Lakebest · Warm again, and clear back down to the city.
• Apolloniabest · Warm and clear, with the light back.
• Dhërmibest · Sea 24°C, the crowd gone, and the best month here.
• Gjirokastër Castlebest · Ideal walking weather on the ramparts.
• Blue Eye of Sarandëbest · Warm and clear, and the crowd thins out.
• Qeparobest · Sea about 24 °C and the traffic gone.
• Linbest · The other good month: warm water, quiet village.
• Shëngjinbest · Warm sea, empty sand, and the dunes at their best.
• Byllisbest · The heat breaks and the site is at its best.
• Hadrianopolisbest · The heat goes and the site comes back.
• Libohovëbest · The heat lets go and the valley comes back.
• Velipojëbest · The quiet answer: warm water, empty sand, the estuary to yourself.
• Tepelenëbest · The heat lets go and the confluence comes back.
• Kepi i Rodonitbest · Warm sea, empty sand, and the light along the walls.
• The Durrës amphitheatrebest · The sea is still warm and the city has emptied.
• Kaninë Castlebest · The heat goes and the view comes back.
• Lëkurësi Castlebest · The town empties and the light is at its best.
• Mount Dajtibest · The heat breaks and the air over the plain clears.
• Gamti Mountainbest · Comfortable again, and the view is at its clearest.
• The Llogara pass trailsbest · The heat breaks and the forest is quiet again.
• Karaburun peninsula traversebest · The heat eases and the sea stays calm.
• The Gjipe canyon walkbest · Warm sea, cooler air, and the day trippers thin out.
• Lengarica canyonbest · The heat drops and the water is still low.
• The Pëllumbas cavebest · The heat breaks and the walk comes back.