A public holiday can close offices, fill flights and change opening hours. Knowing the Albanian calendar helps you choose dates that work for both your treatment and your travel.
Albania’s fixed public holidays include 1 and 2 January, 14 March (Summer Day), 22 March (Nevruz), 1 May, 5 September, 28 and 29 November (Independence and Liberation Day), 8 December and 25 December. Catholic and Orthodox Easter and the two Eids also count, on dates that change each year. When a holiday falls at the weekend, the following Monday is normally a day off. Clinics set their own hours, so confirm your appointment dates with the clinic before booking flights.
Dental trips are planned around appointments, not sightseeing. Most treatments need several sessions over a few days, and implant plans usually involve two visits some months apart. A public holiday in the middle of a stay can shift an appointment, and holiday weekends can make flights between Albania and Italy, the UK or Germany busier and more expensive, especially around Christmas, New Year and the end of November when many Albanians living abroad travel home.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 January | New Year |
| 14 March | Summer Day (Dita e Verës), celebrated especially in Elbasan |
| 22 March | Nevruz |
| 1 May | International Workers’ Day |
| 5 September | Mother Teresa Day |
| 28 November | Independence Day (Flag Day) |
| 29 November | Liberation Day |
| 8 December | National Youth Day |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
Albania officially celebrates the festivals of its main faiths, so several holidays move:
Check the exact dates for the year you are travelling. The government sometimes also announces an extra day off to bridge a holiday and a weekend, usually at short notice.
28 and 29 November sit side by side, and together with a weekend they can create a long holiday. Tirana is festive, with flags everywhere and events in the centre, which can be a lovely time to visit. It also means some businesses close and travel is busier. If your treatment falls close to these dates, agree the appointment days with the clinic first and book flights afterwards.
Late December and early January are popular for dental trips because many people have time off work. They are also popular with Albanians coming home for the holidays, so flights fill early. Plan the dates with your clinic well ahead, and remember that 1 and 2 January are both public holidays.
Our treatment timeline shows how many days each kind of treatment usually needs, and the travel tips cover flights from Italy, Spain, the UK and the USA.
Send a photo and we will come back with a written plan, the number of trips and days, and a quote before you book a flight.