Collections · 25 places

Open in winter

What is worth the trip between December and February, on a coast that mostly shuts and in mountains that close their roads.

How this list is built

Selected where at least two of December, January and February are rated ok or better. The Alps are absent by their own grids rather than by editorial choice, and the pelicans at Karavasta are here because their season runs January to June.

In this list · January verdict alongside

• Shkodërok · Rozafa without a queue, and wet.
• Beratok · The castle to yourself; bring cash for the gate.
• Gjirokastërok · Moody stone town, almost empty.
• Butrintok · Open, empty, and often wet underfoot.
• Llogara Passok · Open, clear and empty; ice possible at the top.
• Tiranaok · Museums and café season; wet outside.
• Rozafa Castleok · Empty ramparts and a wet climb.
• Krujëok · Cold and clear on the ridge, and empty.
• Apolloniaok · Open, empty, and muddy underfoot.
• Ardenica Monasteryok · Cold and quiet, and the painted interior is the point.
• Korçëok · Cold and snowy, and the food is the reason to be here.
• Vlorëok · A working city in winter, and the Llogara road stays open.
• Gjirokastër Castleok · Cold stone and an empty terrace.
• Blue Eye of Sarandëok · Full flow after the winter rain, and nobody here.
• Përmetok · Cold in the valley, and the baths are the reason to be here.
• Bënjë Thermal Bathsok · Cold air and hot water, which is the right combination; the track in is the risk.
• Pogradecok · Cold on the lake and the promenade is empty.
• Voskopojëok · Snow on the plateau; the churches are shut more often than not.
• Porto Palermook · The fortress is open on winter hours; the swim is not on.
• Divjakë-Karavastabest · The pelicans begin building nests on the island.
• Peshkopibest · A 43 °C soak makes sense in a north-eastern January.
• Byllisok · Cold and muddy at 490 m, and the hill is yours.
• Hadrianopolisok · Cold on the valley floor and wet underfoot.
• Libohovëok · Cold and wet in the valley, and the castle is a silhouette.
• Dardhëbest · Snow at 1,250 m, and the one month of the year this village is the point.