Albania: Travelling

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service: Visa Application Forms of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Visa HQ
List of Albanian Embassies abroad

For Further Information

Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.

Organising Your Trip

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Tirana - Rinas (TIA)	12 km / 8 miles	ALL 2000-3000 - €20-30 / 30-45 min	ALL 150-300	-	Available

Major airlines

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Adria Airways	Low cost		Yes
Albania airways	National		Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical: Albania has a very rich history. Many civilizations have occupied the country down the years and there are many archeological sites such as the Greek city of Apollonia or the city of Durres, an ancient Greek city located 30 km from Tirana.
Cultural: There are some museums, and traditional events such as the Tomor festival which takes place on the Mount of the same name, or the folk festival of Gjirokastër.
Nature: The country has some exceptional sites such as the Saulk region. Lake Prespa and Lake Ohrid are magnificent protected sites.
Religious: Religious diversity makes Albania a country with a wealth of religious buildings.
Beach: The beaches of Golem and Kavaja are renowned for their beauty.
Shopping: Albania is known for its crafts and you can find many bazaars and markets which sell typical craft goods.

Top Highlights in the Main Cities
National Historical Museum
Sali Shijaku House
Mount Dajti
Petrella Castle
Biloku District
Rinia Park
Tirana Mosque
Skanderbeg Monument

Top Highlights of the Country
Kalaja Fortress
Lake Prespa
Gjirokastër
Berat
Izaz Bej Mirahori Mosque
Mount Tomor
Apollonia
Lake Ohrid
Durres
Korçë

Tourism Organisations: Tourism Office

Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions: Albania does not have the means to evacuate medical cases rapidly, so it is essential, before any tourist or family trip to Albania, to take out an insurance for "repatriation on medical grounds" and to take with you medicines useful for any treatment: even if Albania has some excellent doctors, there is a general lack of means (especially medicines and medical equipment, including in most hospitals).
Officially there is no rabies in Albania where you can come across, however, many stray dogs sometimes in packs. Even if these animals are not systematically aggressive, you should be careful and take every precaution before arriving in the country, where there is no anti-rabies vaccine to be found.
Cases of viral hepatitis are frequent. You should never drink tap water. Gastro-enteritis is particularly rife in summer.
Long and very frequent power and water cuts, in winter and in summer, cause considerable inconvenience, especially in terms of hygiene, and make it necessary to take extra care with food.
Vaccination against yellow fever is required for persons coming from affected areas (certain countries in Africa and South America). Other recommended vaccinations are: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, tetanus and typhoid.
International Hospitals: Albanian doctors are excellent, but the country lacks medical means (infrastructures, medicines). It is therefore recommended that you take out a repatriation insurance and take some medicines with you.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions: Foreign travel advice on Albania
For Further Information on Safety Conditions: Foreign Affairs Canada Advice to Travelers

Emergency Numbers

Firemen	18
Police	19
Emergency services	17

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference: It is %T:%M %A In Tirana (GMT+1 in winter, GMT+2 in summer)
Summer Time Period: Summer time from March to October

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate: The climate is Mediterranean in the coastal areas and on the plains; it is harsher in the interior of the country. Winters are mild and rainy on the coastal plains and are severe at altitude. Rainfall is high (1 000 to 1 500mm per year), the flow of humid air meeting the colder Continental air mass, especially during winter, which is the rainy season. The best time to visit Albania is from June to September.
Hotel reservation websites: Albanian weather forecasts on line.

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

Eating

Food Specialties: Albanian food is typical of the Balkans, with Turkish, Greek and Italian influences. On every menu: byrek (baked or fried filled pastry), kofte (meatballs), chiche kebab. Albanian specialties are fërgesë tirane, a plate of fried meat, liver, eggs and tomatoes, and tavë kosi or tavë elbasani, grilled mutton with a yoghurt sauce. Fish based specialties are Koran, a trout from Lake Ohrid, and Shkodra carp. In summer tarator is eaten, a cold soup of yoghurt and cucumber.

Popular desserts are: oshaf, with figs and ewe's milk; cakes soaked in honey and glacé fruits or reçel. Holiday dishes are often presented with a stuffed sheep's head. The favorite dish in the south is kukurec (stuffed sheep's intestines). Western breakfasts are served in hotels, but the Albanian breakfast of pilaf (rice) or paça (tripe soup) is not to everyone's taste.
Drinks: All bars and restaurants serve Albanian drinks such as raki, local red and white wines and liqueurs. Albanian brandy, with its characteristic aroma, is very popular. Many imported drinks are also available: Austrian beer, Macedonian wine and Greek Ouzo. Turkish coffee (kafe Turke) is very popular in Albania, but you can also drink Italian espressos (ekspres).
Dietary Restrictions: Pork. Tap water.

Paying

Domestic Currency: Albanian Lek
ISO Code: ALL
To Obtain Domestic Currency: It is easy to find small currency exchange office. Note that changing money on the street is now forbidden by law.
Possible Means of Payment: There are a growing number of ATMs, but this number is still relatively limited, except in the center of the largest cities. When using credit cards, which are often refused in restaurants and shops, the amount of commission may be considered to be quite high.

Speaking

Official Language: Albanian
Other Languages Spoken: Greek, Vlach, Romani
Business Language: Albanian.

Useful Resources

To Find a Job: World Job

Any Comment About This Content? Report It to Us.