Albania: Travelling

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Maps of Urban Networks

Tibco Spotfire
UT Library on line

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

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Recommendation

The north east of the country, Bajram Curri /Tropoja, is a very sensitive sector as far as organized crime is concerned, and, in addition, it is difficult to access without a 4X4 vehicle. In the region of Shkodër, in the north, traffic to Montenegro meets no major difficulty on the Shkodër-Podgorica highway through the Hani i Hotit crossing point, as well as when going in the direction of Ulcinj by the Muriqan crossing point.

Airlines

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

Travelling By Yourself

Recommendation

The global condition of the road network still leaves a lot to be desired, even if some parts of the North-South main highways are now of reasonable quality. You must exercise extreme care. Never trust the distances in kilometers to give you an idea of the time a journey will take. You should always ask how long it will take, specifying that you want the most pessimistic estimate. Road signs are often random, or non-existent.

 

Road accidents are one of the main causes of death in Albania, for drivers and pedestrians. You absolutely must travel by day all over Albania, essentially because of the bad condition of road infrastructures or the cars themselves, which are often dilapidated. The north east of the country, Bajram Curri /Tropoja, is a very sensitive sector as far as organized crime is concerned, and, in addition, it is difficult to access without a 4X4 vehicle.

In the region of Shkodër, in the north, traffic to Montenegro meets no major difficulty on the Shkodër-Podgorica highway through the Hani i Hotit crossing point, as well as when going in the direction of Ulcinj by the Muriqan crossing point.

Road Maps

Road map of Albania

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.

Tourism Organisations

Tourism Office

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

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