Guide To Albania

While planning your trip to Albania, there are several things to keep in mind some of which may not be found in your Albania tourist guide. Here are some practical information you better remember if you want to make your Albanian experience as pleasant as possible.

1. Language

Albanians, of course, speak Albanian language. It is a language isolate which means that there is no way to understand the word they are saying if you do not speak Albanian. In the southern region you can also hear Greek. Italian is the most commonly spoken second language, while English is relatively rare outside larger towns.

2. Water and Food Safety

It is recommendable to drink only bottled water while in Albania. Food safety is not a cause of concern but if having any doubts, eat thoroughly cooked meals and you will be just fine.

3. Currency and Credit Cards

Albania is a cash economy which means that cash is preferred method of payment. The Albanian currency is the lek but Euros and US Dollars are often accepted as well. ATMs are found throughout Tirana and larger towns, while credit cards are generally accepted only at major hotels, larger stores and exclusive restaurants. Travelers’ checks are rarely accepted but they can be changed at banks in larger towns.

200 lek = €1.4

4. Safety and Crime

Safety has improved significantly over the recent years although crime still represents a major problem in the country. However, foreigners are not targets of crime and you have nothing to worry about it if following the usual safety precautions. There are occasional reports about blood feuds in the mountainous areas but they are becoming increasingly rare and do not pose any risk to tourists.

5. Traffic Infrastructure and Road Conditions

Traffic infrastructure is still poorly developed, especially in compare to the rest of Europe and the country still has not completed all the planned highways. Be especially cautious when driving on minor roads and keep in mind that ignoring traffic signs is very common.

"The Nation's Highway" - A New Highway Connecting Albania to Kosovo

6. People

The Albanian people are very hospitable and friendly. According to the CIA factbook, about 70% of the Albanian population is Muslim but Albania does not have a history of religious extremism, while most people declare themselves either as atheists or agnostics. You will not see burkas in Albania.

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Albania is located in southeastern Europe and borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece. It can be reached via the land, air and sea. Europeans as well as citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and some other countries do not need visa to enter the country. You need only a passport that is valid for at least six months but all travelers who enter Albania without visa may be charged a fee up to 10 Euros at the entry. You are allowed to stay in Albania for 90 days if entering without a visa.

Albania has one international airport – Mother Theresa International Airport which is about 15 minutes from the Albanian capital of Tirana. It is served by many European airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, Alitalia and many others including low cost carriers from most larger European cities. You can get to Tirana from the airport by a bus or taxi.

Albanian Airlines

It is also possible to get in Albania by a bus from all the neighboring countries and Bulgaria and Turkey in 1 to 22 hours depending from where you departure. If you travel by car, you can enter through one of the major border crossings. From Greece, you can enter Albania at Kakavia/Ktismata, Krystallopigi/Kapshticë and Sagiada/Qafë Botë. Border crossings with Montenegro are at Sukobin/Muriqan, Bozhaj/Hani i Hotit and Gusinje/Vermosh. You can also enter Albania at four major crossing with Macedonia and six with Kosovo. Make sure that you have your International Motor Insurance Card valid for Albania and Vehicle Registration.

Mother Teresa Airport - Tirana, Albania

Another way to enter Albania is by boat from Italy to Durrës or Vlorë and from Corfu (Greece) to Sarandë. It is not possible to get in or out from the country by train. Trains do operate within the country but the service is limited. For that reason the best way to get around Albania is by a bus or better yet by a car. The roads in Albania are not comparable with other European countries, especially minor roads. They are being fixed and upgraded intensively but fifty years of communist regime and isolation have left their mark on the transport infrastructure. If you intend to drive around Albania on your own, make sure that you take a good road map along your guide to Albania.

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Albania is not that small but with a good Albania travel guide and a car, you can visit all its top attractions in few days only but it is crucial to start your Albanian tour either on the southern or northern tip of the country. A few day trip is, of course, not enough to truly experience the country’s beauty but enough to visit its prime attractions and perhaps spent a day or two on its beautiful coast as well.

If you enter Albania from Greece, you do not have to drive far to reach one of the country’s greatest treasures – Butrint National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Albania’s most important archaeological sites. Butrint is famous for splendid ancient Greek and Roman ruins which include a Roman amphitheater, public baths, early Christian basilicas and many other structures that reveal its rich history. A reconstructed castle on the top of the acropolis hill houses objects that were excavated on the site.

Less than 50 kilometers north of Butrint is another UNESCO World Heritage Site – Gjirokastër or Gjirokastra marked by remarkably well preserved Ottoman architecture. Most of its buildings (which are still inhabited) date to the 17th and 18th centuries. The town is also known as the birthplace of the Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha.

Butrint

About 120 kilometers further north is another astonishing town – Berat that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well for its splendid architecture, most notably well preserved citadel from the 13th century, a number of Byzantine churches from the 13th century and mosques from the 14th century.

Tirana, the capital of Albania is situated somewhere in the middle of the country and is worth visiting as well. Some of the most popular tourist destinations in Tirana include Et’hem Bey Mosque and the nearby Clock Tower of Tirana, Enver Hoxha Mausoleum, National History Museum, Tanners’ Bridge, Petrela Castle and Skenderbeg Square.

The city of Shkodër is one of the oldest towns in Albania and home to a lovely Mes Bridge across the Kir River and spectacular ruins of the Rozafa castle. It is located on the Shkodër Lake (on the border with Montenegro), a popular summer destination for both the locals and tourists.

Mes Bridge

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