Albania Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
| Location | |
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| Flag | |
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| Quick Facts | |
| Capital | Tirana |
| Government | developing democracy |
| Currency | lek (ALL) |
| Area | 28,748 sq km |
| Population | 3,544,841 (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek |
| Religion | Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice |
| Electricity | 220V/50Hz (European plug) |
| Calling Code | +355 |
| Internet TLD | .al |
| Time Zone | UTC +1 |
Albania is a small country in Mediterranean Europe. It borders on Greece, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Contents |
Cities
Other destinations
- Butrint
- Gjirokastra
- (Pogradec)
Understand
In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multi-party democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents.
Today Albania is making progress by having the EU integration as its goal. Albania signed the SAA on June 2006, thus completing the first major step towards joining the EU.
In 2008 Albania is also expected to recieve a NATO membership invitation, together with Croatia and Macedonia (FYROM).
Electricity
Officially 220V 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travellers should pack an adapter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Albania.
Get in
![Sign at the Albanian - Macedonian border crossing on the southern shore of Lake Ohrid [Photo: Rolf Palmberg]](/en/Image:Albania_sign.jpg)
Most European and U.S. nationals can enter Albania without obtaining a visa but you'll have to pay an entry fee of €10. A while ago you would have been able to use dollars to pay this fee, but now the customs officials will only accept Euros. Sometimes you'll have to pay an exit fee of the same amount too. It's worth making sure you've got the €10 on you as the customs officers at Mother Teresa airport don't give change.
By plane
Tirana's "Mother Teresa" International Airport is located just 15 minutes away from the city. It is served by numerous European flag carriers such as British Airways, Alitalia, and the low cost carrier Germanwings.
The old terminal is small, but quite pleasant and modern. A new and larger terminal is currently in its final stages of construction. 'The building, planned to meet international standards, is due to be finished by Fall 2006 and is scheduled to be ready for operation from Spring 2007.'
At the airport exit there are numerous taxis 24/7 that can take you to the city. The taxi fee to the city center is 25 Euros. Taxi fees to other locations are posted on a placard just outside the exit doors.
By bus
You can reach Tirana by coach from Istanbul, Turkey (20hr, €35 one-way), Athens,Greece (16hr, €30), Sofia, Bulgaria (13hr, €25) and Tetovo, Macedonia
By boat
Ferries to Durrës arrive from Bari (9h, €50) and Ancona (19h, €70). A high-speed service operates from Bari (3h, €60). Flying Dolphins from Corfu to Agioi Saranda and Himara
Get around
By bus
Most people in Albania travel by private minibusses (called the "furgons") and they depart quite frequently to destinations around Albania. These furgons have no timetable (they depart when they are full). Also ask around for the directions and to where you can get these minibuses.
From Tirana, many furgons a day depart to Shkoder, Durres and Berat. Furgons departing to the south like Gjirokaster or Saranda tends to depart fairly early in the morning. These furgons are fairly comfortable and is quite a fast alternative to travel.
Busses are more comfortable and cheaper, but they are less frequent.
By train
Limited services operate between Tirana and Shkodra, Fier, Ballsh, Vlora and Pogradec. The train route from Lezhe to Shkodra has scenic beauty. The Tirana-Durres trains (and viceversa) depart up to 8 times a day.
By car
The streets between the important destinations have been recently repaved and fixed, and offer all the security measures one would expect on a highway. There are no fees for using the highways.
In the cities, and especially Tirana, many roads are being upgraded and fixed. Because of that, traveling by car inside the city will be slow.
A very nice ride is the Vlora-Saranda mountain road. It is a typical mediterranean road and offers an amazing view of the sea from the mountains.
By bicycle
The pot holes, driving standards and lack of places to stay in many villages and towns make Albania a challenging cycling destination, but a rewarding one. Often, asking around to see if you can stay in somebody's home / camp in their garden is the only option. Food and water are easily available in the frequent roadside cafes and bars.
Talk
Albanian is the official language. Other useful languges include Italian, English and Greek. go to Albanian phrasebook for help with the Albanian language.
Buy
The national currency is the lek (ALL). There are 102.21 lek to the US dollar (20 Jan 2006).
Be aware that some Albanians write prices with an extra zero; they are not trying to charge you 10 times the going rate, merely using the old currency.
Hundreds of new ATMs have been installed in most major cities. Use the Visa ATM Locator to find them. The ATMs accept most international VISA and Mastercard Credit/Debit cards.
Almost all convenience stores will NOT accept any other method of payment other than cash (currently in Albanian lek). However supermarkets, the better bookstores and the better boutique stores will accept Credit or Debit Cards. The most widely accepted cards are VISA, Mastercard, and Diner's Club.
Univers Shopping Center has an Euromax supermarket, and over 35 specialty stores. A free of charge bus travels every 15 minutes from the Skanderbeg square to the shopping center and back.
Eat
Restaurants are very frequent inside and outside the cities. The Albanian cuisine is influenced a lot by the Italian and Turkish ones.
Drink
Raki is the drink of choice in Albania; it is not uncommon to see men washing down breakfast with a few shots. Also the drinks include the home-made beers and wine produced from local grapes. Be sure to try some while there!
Sleep
Inside the cities hotels are abundant and prices per night start as low as 15 Euros. Hotels are usually clean and their staff speaks English and/or Italian.
Outside the cities the hotels are less frequent.
Cheap hotels reservation site: Albania-Hotel.com
Learn
Work
Stay safe
Take the usual precautions. Foreigners are not targeted by the local crime scene and since the opening of the border, no major incidents toward tourists have been reported.
Stay healthy
Its best to drink bottled water, but potted water is usually drinkable too.
Respect
The Albanians are very hospitable, much as were their ancient forefathers, the Ilyrians.
Contact
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