Skiing in Albania by Rental Car: Dardhë, Bigëll and Korçë
By Klajdi Sharka ·
Albania's skiing is small: one lift-served slope at Bigëll above Dardhë, plus snowy villages like Voskopojë. How to drive there from Tirana Airport in winter, what the snow rules are and which car to rent.
Skiing in Albania is small and depends on the snow. The one lift-served slope we could confirm running in the last two winters is Bigëll, above the village of Dardhë near Korçë, in the south-east. Most visitors combine it with a snowy weekend in Dardhë or Voskopojë, and the simplest way to get there is to pick up a rental car at Tirana Airport and drive about three and a half hours east.
Where you can ski in Albania
- Bigëll, above Dardhë (Korçë). Two small lifts, a 500 m drag lift and a short beginner conveyor, and about 1.3 km of runs between roughly 1,590 m and 1,660 m. It runs on natural snow only, so it opens when there is enough snow, usually from late December to March. It is a good slope for beginners and children; experienced skiers will find it short.
- Voskopojë. A stone village about 20 km from Korçë, full of guesthouses in winter, with no ski lift. Some guesthouses point guests to natural slopes for sledging, cross-country or off-piste.
- The northern mountains. Guided backcountry trips, such as cat-skiing at Dobërdol in Tropojë, run from Kosovo with transfers included. They are not a self-drive destination, and the Theth road was closed by avalanches in February 2026.
Plans for a larger ski resort near Korçë have been announced several times since 2021, with no construction or opening date so far.
Driving from Tirana Airport to Dardhë
The fastest route follows the Tirana-Elbasan motorway through the Krrabë tunnel, then the road east and the new Qukës-Qafë Plloçë section that opened in September 2025. When that section closed for about eleven days after a rockslide in January 2026, traffic used the older road through Pogradec, which is longer. Times are without snow or stops; allow more on a winter day.
Snow, chains and winter tyres
Albania has no fixed-date winter tyre law. Instead, the road code lets the road authority order chains or winter tyres on a specific road when there is snow or ice. ARRSH, the national road authority, clears the roads to Dardhë and Voskopojë, but on snow days it can allow traffic only with chains or winter tyres: that is what happened on the Dardhë road on 10 January 2026. Before you set off, check the road notices on the ARRSH website (arrsh.gov.al). In an emergency, call 112.
If you plan to cross into Kosovo or North Macedonia, note that both have their own winter tyre rules from mid-November. A border crossing also has to be arranged when you book; see border crossings by car.
Which car to rent
- Choose an SUV for the extra ground clearance on snowy village roads.
- Ask us before you book about winter tyres and chains. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we confirm with the agency what the car has.
- Book at least 2 days. That is the minimum for most cars, and many cars get cheaper per day from 5 days.
- Winter prices are lower. In October 2026, a 5-day rental in mid-January started at €15 a day, and half the cars cost up to €28 a day. You pay a small part online to book and the rest at pickup.
Most people pick up at Tirana Airport and drive to Korçë. A few cars can be delivered to Korçë for a fee shown on the car; see car rental for Korçë.
When to go
Snow usually falls in the Korçë mountain villages from December to March, most often in January and February, but some winters have had little snow: in winter 2022/23 the slope had no visitors until well into January. Guesthouses in Voskopojë and Dardhë fill up from Christmas to mid-January, so book your bed early. For the rest of the year, see the best time to visit Albania.
Quick answers
Is there skiing in Albania?
Yes, on a small scale. The Bigëll slope above Dardhë, near Korçë, has two small lifts and about 1.3 km of runs, and opens when there is enough snow.
How do I get to Dardhë from Tirana Airport?
By car: about 175 km to Korçë, roughly 3.5 hours, then about 40 minutes up to Dardhë. Pick up a rental car at the airport and check the ARRSH road notices before you leave.
Do I need snow chains in Albania?
Not by a fixed-date law, but the road authority can make chains or winter tyres compulsory on a road during snow, as on the Dardhë road in January 2026. Ask us about chains and winter tyres before you book.