What to do in Theth with kids? Far away from the busy world surrounded by the peaks of the Albanian Alps lies the mountain village of Theth. Thethi as the locals call the village is located in the Theth National Park where you can take various walks with the family. In Theth it seems as if time has stood still, a small fairy tale just 15 kilometers away with the border of Montenegro. The village has retained its traditional character and offers an authentic glimpse of village life in the Albanian Alps. Although Theth consists of only a few houses, it is recommended to stay here for at least 1 or 2 nights. A beautiful village which is very nice to visit with kids. In this blog, we list all the information you need to have a fun stay in Theth with kids.
Best travel time Theth with kids
The best travel time to visit Theth with kids is from late May to October. Theth has a temperate continental climate with precipitation throughout the year. The average temperature in Theth is around 21 degrees with summer temperatures around 30 degrees. In the winter months, Theth is often inaccessible due to heavy snowfall.
Therefore, it is recommended to visit Theth during the period from late May to October. Then it is summer at this time in Theth. The months of July and August are the busiest months in terms of tourism in this village because of the international vacations, and then the prices of accommodations in the village also go up.
Transportation to and in Theth
You can best reach Theth from the city of Shkodër, but you can also travel to Theth with kids from Tirana. Previously, the last stretch to Theth was only a road of sand, so you could reach Theth only with a 4×4 car. Today there is a paved road making Theth easy to reach by any car.
So the best way to visit Theth is by car. From Tirana to Theth, the distance is 167 km and will take you about 4.5 hours to reach Theth. The distance from Shköder to Theth is 73 km and this will take you 2.5 to 3 hours. Arriving in Albania by plane, most tourists land at Tirana airport.
In Tirana you can very easily rent a car and thus visit the rest of this beautiful country. For more information on renting a car in Tirana with Sunny Cars, take a look here.
Mini buses also depart from Shkodër to Theth. You can book these online but also your guesthouse/hotel in Shköder or your guesthouse in Theth can arrange this for you. The mini buses leave in front of the Rozafa hotel in Shkoder and you pay 1000 lek for this (10 euros per person). The drive takes about 3 hours from Shköder.
There is also still the possibility of booking an organized tour to Theth from Shkodër. You can arrange this online or through your accommodation in Shkodër. For an organized tour from Shkodër to Teth, take a look here.
Family-friendly activities Theth
#1 Kisha e Thethit
Kisha e Thethit is a beautiful church in Theth which was built in 1892 and this church is the icon of the village. Located in the middle of an open meadow surrounded by the mountain peaks, the church is one of the main tourist attractions in the village. A very photogenic church and you can have a nice rest in the meadow around the church with a beautiful view.
You can also visit the church inside, but keep in mind that it is still an official place for locals. Inside the church, you have several paintings you can view with kids themed on the history and culture of the village.
#2 Exploring the village
Local life in Theth is still very traditional and you can really see the authentic village life of Albania here. Local people still live according to ancient traditions and customs. You will also frequently see farmers and animals such as cows and goats grazing on the hills. The people are very hospitable and will gladly help you on your way.
This was evident when we lost our way and a woman came running out of her house to show us the way. The people open the doors of their houses and rent them out as guesthouses for tourists who want to visit Theth. This is also an important source of income for the population as is agriculture and animal husbandry.
In the village itself you will find a long street that runs past the cottages, restaurants and river. It’s fun to explore the village of Theth with kids, take a dip in the river or stop at one of the village’s restaurants.
#3 Zipline
In Theth there is also a zipline which is 1200 meters long. As you float through the air, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding area. This zipline allows two people to leave side by side at the same time, and it’s great fun to do with your kid. The ride costs about 20 euros, so there is a price tag, but then you can explore the area in a spectacular way.
Theti Zipline has a very austere website, which only has a phone number and an email address for the organization, which you can use to make a reservation for the zipline in advance. It’s open from 9 a.m. in the morning until 8 p.m. in the evening, so generally it won’t be fully booked and you can still book for the zipline on the day.
#4 Hike to the waterfall
Just a 45-minute walk from Theth is the Grunasi waterfall. This is a very convenient hike to do in the Theth area with kids. So you reach the 25-meter-high waterfall after a 45-minute hike that goes over rocky trails and along the river, before entering the forest. The last part of this hike to the waterfall is a bit of a climb, but then you will arrive at this beautiful waterfall.
Here you can enjoy the view, have a picnic or take a dip with the kids. This is the hike that we ourselves as a family also wanted to do, but unfortunately we could not go because it thundered very hard that day. Therefore, I would recommend staying 2 nights in Theth with the family, because should you have bad weather one day you can still do the hike the next day.
#5 Hike to the Blue Eye
Another hike you can take in the Theth area with the family is the hike to the Blue Eye. From Theth, this hike takes 6 hours, so this hike is not recommended with (young) kids from Theth, but you can shorten this hike quite a bit. You then drive to the village of Nderlysaj and park the car here.
From here, the walk to the Blue Eye is still about 45 minutes, which is obviously a lot more manageable with kids. The Blue Eye is a beautiful pool set in a limestone rock with a small waterfall. There is also a restaurant at the Blue Eye and you can also possibly enter the water here (if the water is not too cold).
Family-friendly restaurant Theth
You can eat and drink in Theth with kids just fine. The city has several nice family-friendly restaurants. We ate at some of these restaurants with the family and below we list the best family-friendly restaurants in Theth.
Kompleksi Zorgji: This is a restaurant and guesthouse with traditional and organic food where you can sit inside and outside with the kids. There is also a small playground next to the outdoor terrace making the restaurant very suitable for (young) kids.
Bujtina Zici: this guesthouse and also restaurant is a bit more remote. You have a beautiful view of the area at this family-friendly restaurant and there are plenty of dishes on the menu such as meat dishes and pastas as well as fries and traditional Albanian dishes. We especially liked the pasta. Breakfast (if you stay here) is also very extensive and varied.
Thethi Paradise Restaurant: this is a restaurant with a beautiful view with several traditional dishes on the menu. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner here and the staff is very friendly. The menu is very extensive with a variety of meat and fish dishes but you also have vegetarian and gluten-free options with fresh ingredients at this family-friendly restaurant in Theth.
Family-friendly hotel Theth
You can stay in Theth with kids just fine. You have plenty of family-friendly accommodations you can book in Theth with the family. We list the family-friendly accommodations in Theth that are best rated by families with kids. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Guesthouse Freskia
Middle class accommodation: Kulla e Sadri Lukes
Luxury accommodation: Hotel Jezerca Theth
For the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Theth, take a look here.
