Albania is a country situated in the south east of geographical Europe. It is just a hop over the water from Italy and Greece but we know relatively little about this mysterious country. There are so many reasons to visit Albania; fascinating cities, spectacular countryside and friendly locals, to name but a few. If you are already planning a trip to this fabulous country, you may be thinking, “What do I need to know before going to Albania?” We are here to help! We are sharing all of our most useful, practical tips for visiting Albania.
Practical Tips for Visiting Albania
Weather
Albania is beautiful all year round and has very seasonal weather. Definitely something to consider when researching practical tips for visiting Albania The summer is scorching hot, reaching temperatures into the 40s, and there is a thick covering of snow during the winter months. Spring and autumn are mostly mild and less extreme and this is probably the best time to visit. Albania is not yet a popular tourist destination so there is not really a peak season.
Flights
Direct flights to Tirana, the capital city, are available from most countries in Europe. From London to Tirana the flight takes about 3 hours non stop and is offered by several airlines. Tirana International Airport (TIA) is one of the most convenient entry points. The airport taxis are the easiest way to get to the centre of Tirana taking 20-25 mins and costing $20-$25.
The port of Sarandë is another great starting point. After flying to Corfu, Greece, you can catch a ferry from Corfu to Sarandë in the south of the country. This will take roughly 30 mins, costs around $25 each way and drops you close to the centre of the town.
Visas
Visas are not necessary for anyone travelling from EU countries. For those out with the EU, check this link http://albania.al/visa-procedures/
Practical Tips for Visiting Albania – Albanian Currency
Practical tips for visiting Albania should definitely involve some financial advice. Our top tip? Make sure you take cash! The local currency is Albanian Lek and 100Lek equates to around 0.90USD. Not many currency exchange centres will hold Albanian Lek so you may have to order it in advance. Most larger shops and restaurants in the cities will accept cards and there are ATMs around, however, it is still mainly a cash based society.
Mobile Phones and WIFI
Albania is not in the EU so there will be roaming charges. These will vary depending on your network provider. We found there to be some WIFI around but you couldn’t rely on it. However, almost all Hotels, Air BnBs, Hostels and shopping malls will have some kind of WIFI. Downloading maps and taking screenshots while using WIFI was how we got around it. If you are there for longer it might be worth getting an Albanian SIM.
Check HERE to see where you can find free WIFI hotspots in Tirana.
Safety in Albania
This is a common concern for people considering visiting so we have included it in our practical tips for visiting Albania advice. Thanks to some recent movies, Albania has a reputation for being full of gangs who kidnap, murder and steal. The country’s latest tourist campaign has even used the slogan “Be taken by Albania”. However, the towns and cities are generally very safe. Petty crime exists but no more than in any other city.
The most dangerous thing about Albania is the driving. If you are brave enough to hire a car you must take out full insurance and avoid busy areas. The roads in rural areas are sometimes no more than dirt tracks so plan your route carefully. There are many stray dogs in the cities. Most are friendly and will approach you for attention or food. Just be aware that they are not treated for rabies or fleas.
Language
Many Albanians in the cities speak a little English but it is useful to learn a few phrases in Albanian. It is certainly not an easy language for English speakers but any attempt is greatly appreciated by the locals. Here are a few words to try out:
Hello Tungjatjeta (toon-jah-TYEH-tah)
Please Ju lutem (yoo LOO-tehm)
Thank you Faleminderit (fah-lehm-meen-DEH-reet)
Yes Po (poh)
No Jo (yoh)
Goodbye Mirupafshim (meer-oo-PAHF-sheem)
Practical Tips for Visiting Albania – Public Transport
As far as practical tips for visiting Albania go, this is a biggy. Buses are the most common mode of public transport around Albania. Most are mini buses or “furgons” which are cramped, sporadic (not much of a timetable) and so very hot in the summer. They definitely predate air con. On the plus side, they are cheap, serve most areas well and are definitely a good way to experience real Albanian life. If using the buses, just ask a local for information. We found most people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Albanian Food
Albanian food might not be world famous but it’s certainly worth a try. Traditional meals involve a lot of meat but there are more and more vegetarian options opening up (Ejona restaurant in Blloku, Tirana, has a few good vegetarian dishes). Tavë Kosi is a traditional lamb dish with rice that is baked with yogurt and eggs, Qofte is the Albanian version of meatballs, usually made from lamb mince. Spinach and cheese Byrek is my personal favourite and can be found almost anywhere around the country, and around the Balkans in different forms. You can read more about byrek HERE. In Tirana there are many great pizza places, coffee shops and ice cream parlours which is probably due to the close proximity to Italy.
Raki is the traditional alcoholic drink, similar to a fruit brandy, and not to be consumed in vast quantities! Don’t drink the tap water, go for bottled.
Practical Tips for Visiting Albania – Religion
Around 70% of Albanians identify as Muslim. However, the dress code and eating and drinking habits are not observed as they might be in stricter Muslim countries. In the summer it is acceptable to wear shorts and t-shirt and alcohol is VERY readily available. Of course, if visiting a mosque you should cover your body and, ladies, we need to wear a headscarf. Albania is exceptionally tolerant of different religions. This might stem from the communist years when atheism was strongly promoted.
Shopping
There are a few good shopping malls in Tirana. The biggest of these being Toptani Mall which has around 100 stores, bars and restaurants and is right in the centre of the city. Pazari i Ri is one of the largest markets for meat, fish, vegetables and fruit trade in town. Some of the best Albanian souvenirs to bring home are handmade rugs, a bottle of Raki, Albanian coffee and anything with the Albanian flag on it.
History
A very brief history – Albania became an independent state in the early 20th century after hundreds of years of Ottoman rule. Since then, the country has been occupied by the Italians from 1939 – ‘43, the Germans from 1943 – ‘44 and later became a Communist State until the late 1980s when the Eastern Bloc capitulated. This dramatic timeline provides an unusual and intriguing charm to the country which is evident throughout its architecture, culture and people.
What to do in Albania
Now that you have all the practical tips for visiting Albania, what are you waiting for? There are so many amazing places to discover in Albania. If you are only going for a short time it is difficult to select just a few. If you will be based in Tirana, check out our blog, “7 of the Best Things to do in Tirana”, HERE
You can take a longer trip out of the city to Lake Shkoder, by the Montenegrin border, or a shorter bus ride to the beach and visit the Port of Durres.
There are fabulous hiking trails through the Accursed Mountains in the North of the country, most notably the Theth to Valbona trail.
If you are staying in Saranda, Butrint National park, the town of Gjirokaster and the Blue eye natural spring are all worth visiting. Read about the legend of the Blue Eye and how to get there by bus HERE and find out about Butrint and how to get the bus there in this blog HERE.
Montenegro is also within driving distance from Tirana. Click HERE to find out how we took the bus from Tirana to Podgorica and what to do there.
Practical Tips for Visiting Albania
Albania is a captivating country with a diverse culture, fascinating history and spectacular countryside. It is quite different to Western countries so take the time to explore and discover one of Europe’s best kept secrets. Our Practical Tips for Visiting Albania aims to help you make the most of your visit.
More Info
Have these practical tips for visiting Albania inspired you? Why not start with the capital Tirana?
Have you visited Albania? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
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Practical Tips for Visiting Albania
So much helpful info that will come in handy whenever I get to visit Albania. It looks so beautiful!
I’ve been wanting to travel to Albania for so long! I’m saving this post for my next trip. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Albania looks so interesting, it is still on our bucket list :))
I really didn’t know much about Albania before reading your post! Thanks for all the info! Also your photos are gorgeous!
I have always been so intrigued by Albania! I honestly didn’t know that much about it until reading your post. It’s great to see that its safe and no where near as dangerous as some movies and people made it out to be.
Loving your posts on Albania series! And this post in particular is really detailed and informative for first time travellers, because, like you say, Albania is not the most popular tourist country. The post totally took me back to my memories in Albania. I have been twice there now, and felt absolutely safe all through my travel.
Awesome post! Albania has never been on the list as such, but now it is! I love how the tourism board has taken the reputation Albania has from the film industry and used it to their advantage. Absolute genius!
I am delighted to hear that the driving is still crazy in Albania! I visited about 15 years ago and really enjoyed it – great food! looks like it is even more beautiful now
This is such a useful guide, thanks so much for sharing! I can’t wait to visit Albania soon!
Yes, loads! Start with the Theth to Valbonë hiking route in the Accursed Mountains. You won’t be disappointed!
Albania looks gorgeous! The countryside looks lush and scenic. We’d love to visit, explore Tirana and perhaps do some hiking. I’d love to learn more about Albanian food.
Becoming more and more intrigued with the entire Balkan area and have been lured by Albania’s natural beauty. Your entire site is a must have guide!
Great post! After all my travels, Albania is still one of the top three countries I’ve ever visited. I absolutely love the food (so much that I taught myself how to make qofte and byrek) and the language is so unique. The religious tolerance is indeed incredible and regarding safety, I felt so much safer there than in many Western European countries.
When I went to Albania last time, I took an unofficial taxi (an airport employee giving us a ride on his way back to Tirana) to the city. He charged 2,000, which I just realized from your post is an extremely good price! The honesty of the Albanian people keeps amazing me.
This is a really useful guide, thank you! So much I haven’t thought of. I really want to go to Albania and hopefully within the next couple of years it will be possible. I’ll keep your post for future reference.
Great tips! I would love to visit Albania soon! Any good hiking there?
This brings back great memories of Albania! Though I only spent a few days there, I really want to go back. I loved the byrek!
Albania looks like a wonderful and beautiful place to visit. I’ve heard such great things about it and after reading your post I’d like to visit even more. I’ve seen photos of the beaches there and those look amazing too!
I have never visited Albania, but these tips will definitely be helpful when I decide to plan a trip there. Thank you for sharing!
Haven’t been to Albania yet so these tips will come in handy!
I have been wanting to visit Albania for quite some time now. Hopefully soon. Great post. Thank you for sharing!
I had no idea Albania is so beautiful! I am from The Balkans heheh
Beautifully written and in great detail! I enjoyed reading this! These kind of articles are my go to when im deciding on a destination!
What a beautifully written and thorough guide! I loved the Balkans and I hope to get someday soon.
Looks like a wonderful place to visit! These are great tips. I had no idea the summers got so hot there!
These photos are gorgeous – even the fat people one! – and honestly, unexpected. Albania, you’ve made it on my list! 🙂
Would so love to see this beautiful country- great tips ! Thanks for sharing
Valerie
Albania sounds delightful. I actually didn’t really know much about it so this was really helpful. I haven’t visited anywhere in Southern Europe yet, but this gives me some great ideas for when I do
I would really love to do some hikinga nd explore more off-beat destinations in Albania when I eventually visit. Thans for providing such useful tips and information! x
Albania looks so wonderful! Thank you for the tips!
Hi Diana, yes Social distancing on the buses would be very difficult. And a car would be very useful to explore the countryside. I hope you have an amazing time. Let me know how you get on! And if you need any info, just shout ☺️
Thanks for reading! I totally fell in love with Albania. There is so much to see, there are very few tourists and the locals are so friendly. I’d highly recommend it!
Hi Katy,
I’m traveling to Albania this month. I’ve found a lot of useful information in your blog.
I appreciate your thoughts about driving in Albania. I normally use public transport when I’m traveling but I am considering renting a car.
I just thought it would be better to rent a car because it is safer now than traveling in busy buses or vans.
At the same time, I’m not used to driving abroad.
Your blogs about how to get to the Blue Eye and Podgorica are also very useful. I will use them soon for my travels in the Balkan.
Thanks for these great blogs!
Diana
Love this post! Thank you for detailing everything – makes planning easier
I really think Albania is one of those places most people don’t consider travelling to, but my goodness, it’s absolutely stunning! The Tirana Mosque actually made me open my mouth in awe haha! Adding this to my list. It looks a lot quieter than other places in Europe which would be ideal for me! Thanks for the inspo!!
It’s spectacular! Let me know when you book ☺️
I’m a little bit obsessed with visiting Albania at the moment. Scenery looks amazing.
I love Albania and can’t wait to get back! These are excellent tips… Thank you!
Haha I know right!? I think I’ve finally nailed “thank you” too. For some reason people find my attempts amusing…🤔😆
Tirana Mosque looks so beautiful. This was a really informative post, thank you. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know much about Albania before reading this. Now I want to find out more!
Great post! I’m a little bit fascinated by Albania and its history and culture. I just cannot get my head around the language! The only word I “learned” is “thank you” – I didn’t realise even “hello” was so complicated!! Haha.
I’ve never thought about visiting Albania before, it looks like a really interesting country! Thanks for the heads up about driving, usually renting a car is great but I’ll give this a miss if I visit!
I hope you do! It’s really a fantastic country and so beautiful.
I have never thought of visiting Albania. Your lovely photos has changed my mind!
I have recently seen a documentary about Albania and would love to do some hiking there. Thanks for sharing your tips.
What a great guide to visiting Albania for the first time. It looks like a beautiful country.