Albania form of government. Map of Albania with cities

Albania, a state located in the south-east of Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula.

Albania's borders lie next to countries such as Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, and Montenegro. Albania is separated from Italy by the Strait of Otranto, which is 75 kilometers wide. The capital is Tirana. Albania is washed by two seas, the Ionian and Adriatic. Albania is a beautiful country, which without a doubt can be called the pearl of the Mediterranean. Picturesque lakes, Shkoder, Presla, Lake Ohrid, are the attractions of this country, some of them are under UNESCO protection due to the fact that they have unique flora and fauna. About ¾ of the entire territory is occupied by mountains and plains.

Amazing nature and the opportunity to combine several types of recreation, both beach and active, attract more and more tourists to Albania every year.

Sights of Albania.

Albania is an amazing country, and while on vacation it is simply impossible not to see at least some of the wonderful places it has. Conventionally, all the sights of Albania can be divided into architectural, natural and cultural (museums). Tirana Castle, Durres Amphitheater, Rozafa Fortress, the Museum of Medieval Art and the National Historical Museum, as well as Mount Dite and the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park, the Blue Eye spring - this is just a small list of places that simply need to be visited in Albania.

Why is Albania attractive for tourists?

Albania is a small but very beautiful country, with its own history and interesting places. For beach lovers, the season in Albania opens from May and lasts until the end of September. It is during this period that tourists will be able to bask on the magnificent beaches, and even the July heat is tolerated quite favorably there, due to the light breeze. Due to the fact that Albania is washed by two seas at once (Ionian and Adriatic), tourists have the opportunity to spend their holidays on which of the beaches. For families vacationing with children, the Adriatic coast with sandy beaches is more suitable. The Ionian coast, as a rule, has pebble and small-pebble beaches, but the sea is distinguished by its amazing and unique beauty. Many tourists come to the Ionian Sea for diving. For tourists who prefer active holidays, Albania offers the following ways to spend it:

• Horseback riding, in almost every resort town, there are horse breeding centers, so it will not be difficult for tourists to book such an excursion and get a lot of unforgettable impressions;
• Mountaineering is an extreme form of recreation, but quite popular among tourists; it is better for an unprepared person to refrain from it;
• Cycling tourism, ideal for relaxation and sightseeing;
• Rafting, rafting down mountain rivers, of which there are quite a lot in Albania, will not leave any extreme sports enthusiast indifferent;
• Trekking, one of the areas of active recreation, is walking along the protected and unexplored routes of Albania.

When visiting Albania, note that in this country, nodding your head means a negative answer, while shaking your head from side to side means a positive answer. If you are offered coffee, do not refuse this drink, it is sacred and very loved by Albanians.

Tourists visiting Albania are advised to rent a car for a few days, this way they have the opportunity to visit as many sights and interesting places as possible in this small but such a beautiful country.

Have you decided to organize a holiday in Albania? Looking for the best Albania hotels, last minute tours, resorts and last minute tours? Are you interested in the weather in Albania, prices, cost of travel, do you need a visa to Albania and would a detailed map be useful? Would you like to see what Albania looks like in photos and videos? What excursions and attractions are in Albania? What are the stars and reviews of hotels in Albania?

Republic of Albania- a state in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the coast of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The Strait of Otranto separates Albania from Italy. In the north and east it borders with Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, in the southeast - with Greece.

Much of the country has mountainous and elevated terrain, with deep, fertile valleys. There are several large lakes throughout the country.

Albania Airport

Tirana Mother Teresa International Airport

Albania hotels 1 - 5 stars

Albania weather

Subtropical Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average temperature in July is from +24 C to +28 C, in January - +4 C in the north and up to +7 C in the south, the temperature greatly depends on the altitude.

Precipitation (600-800 mm per year) falls mainly in autumn and spring. In mountainous areas the climate is colder (frosts up to -20 C), annual precipitation increases from 900-1200 mm. in the east, up to 2000-2600 mm. and more on the windward western slopes of the mountains. At altitudes above 1000 meters in mountainous areas, snow cover lasts for several months.

The best time to visit the country is September. The warm season lasts from May to September (July is the warmest month, up to +38 C), but even in April and October weather conditions can be quite favorable.

Language of Albania

Official language: Albanian

There are two groups of Albanian dialects - Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south. The official language of Albania is based on the Tosk dialect, which is spoken by the majority of the country's population.

Many residents understand Greek, Italian and some Slavic languages.

Currency of Albania

International name: ALL

One lek is equal to 100 kindarks. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 lek of various modifications, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lek. There are banknotes of the same denomination from three different issues, differing from each other in appearance.

US dollars and euros are freely circulated along with the national currency.

Customs restrictions

The import and export of foreign currency is not legally limited; currency in amounts over 2,500 US dollars must be declared upon entry. The export of previously imported foreign currency is allowed for a year, national currency - no more than 3,000 lek.

The import of weapons, pornographic materials and drugs is strictly prohibited, although violations of these rules are often turned a blind eye by customs authorities.

The export of antiquities, including stones from archaeological excavations, is prohibited. Free export of copies of ancient works is allowed, which are sold everywhere.

Mains voltage

Tips

It is best to leave all tips (10%) and other additional payments after the service, if it was of acceptable quality. But it’s also not worth depriving service staff of tips - many of them work for meager wages, receiving their main income from tips.

In restaurants, tips are usually given directly to the waiter after paying the bill, rather than being left on the table. In a taxi, the easiest way is to simply round up the amount.

Kitchen

Historical and geographical features, convenient coastline, favorable climate, multiple interactions with neighboring peoples had a significant impact on the richness and diversity of Albanian cuisine. Thus, Albanians hold fish and seafood dishes in high esteem, many of which owe their appearance to ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

Many dishes were introduced by the Byzantines, Venetians, and Arabs. As in neighboring Italy, here you can try crab risotto or brodetto. From Yugoslav cuisine, Albanians borrowed dishes such as čevapčići, raznici, pilaf, and many types of moussaka.

Thanks to the warm climate, corn is grown in large quantities in Albania, which is used both boiled and canned to prepare a wide variety of dishes. In addition, flour for the national dish “Celje” is obtained from corn.

Sheep have been raised in the highlands of Albania for a long time. Not only meat is consumed, but also sheep's milk, which has healing properties. It is fermented, added to various dishes, and famous varieties of cheese are made from it.

Unfortunately, after World War II, the people of Albania were unlucky with the totalitarian communist regime established there, which had common features with the communist regime in North Korea, which led to the country's economic lag and impoverishment of the population. But when the consequences of these difficulties are finally overcome, Albania united with Kosovo will become one of the best resorts in the world.

Office hours

Banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 08.00 to 16.00.

National characteristics of Albania. Traditions

Albanians are one of the few peoples in the world who have the habit of confirming what is said not with a nod of the head, but with a sway from side to side. A negative gesture, accordingly, looks like our “yes”, that is, a nod of the head. In the capital and large cities this is no longer common, but in the provinces you can encounter such behavior everywhere, which often leads to many misunderstandings between local residents and tourists.

Just recently, it was even a stretch to call Albania a place attractive to tourists. Today everything has changed. Modern Albania attracts tourists with its magnificent nature, picturesque beaches on the shores of two seas, as well as unique attractions and hospitality of local residents!

Now tourism is successfully developing here, the infrastructure is expanding, more and more routes and tours are being developed for travelers... In general, if you are looking for new experiences, then you should definitely come here!

Climate and weather

The climate of the country can be described as Mediterranean. This means that there are fairly short and mild winters and hot, dry summers.

As for temperatures, in summer on the coast the air warms up to +25...+32 °C, and the water - up to +25 °C. In winter, the temperature here ranges from -10 °C to +8 °C - depending on the prevailing topography in a particular region.

During the year, an average of 800 to 2000 mm of precipitation falls here - again, depending on the region of the country. We can also distinguish the rainy seasons - early spring and late autumn.

Nature

Albania has access to two seas at once: Ionian and Adriatic. The west of the country is plains and lowlands, the rest of the territory is mountains. The highest height is mountains Korab: it is 2753 meters.

Albania has three of the deepest and largest lakes on the Balkan Peninsula: Skadar, Ohrid and Prespa.

There are also rivers here. The largest of them is Drin, flows in the north of Albania. Vegetation, although not very diverse, occupies a significant part of the territory: a third of the country is covered with forests. Rich fauna Albania. Brown bears, jackals, wolves, lynxes, forest cats, roe deer, deer and wild boar live here. Various waterfowl live on the coasts.

Mineral resources found here include oil, gas, chromium, copper, coal and nickel.

Attractions

Capital of Albania - Tirana- it beckons you to take a leisurely stroll along the central streets and get acquainted with its sights. It's worth starting with Skenderberg Square, on which the monument with the same name is located.

Also in Tirana it is worth visiting Museum of National Culture of Albania. Also, be sure to visit Natural History Museum and Art Gallery.

The best views of Tirana are, oddly enough, from Cemeteries martyr V.

When traveling around Albania, it is worth going to the ancient city Shkoder. Here you definitely need to pay attention Sheikh Zamil Mosque Abdullah Al-Zamil. Not far from it is Public Museum, which contains a magnificent collection of archaeological finds and unique photographs.

The city of Shkoder itself is located on the coast Skadar Lake, so there are a lot of fish restaurants here.

In the vicinity of Shkoder, visit Lead mosque And Rozafa fortress.

In the south of the country, in the valley Drin River, the city is located Gjirokaster. It's worth checking out here Bazaar Mosque, and also visit the citadel, dating back to the 14th century, which overlooks the city. Now it functions as Weapons museum. In the lower part of the city you can visit the ancient Turkish baths.

Rich in attractions and Durres. It was founded by the Greeks, and now the city is the second largest in the country. The heart of the city and its calling card is the impressive amphitheater. In addition, it is worth getting acquainted with the Roman ruins and fortifications, as well as visiting Archaeological Museum.

Other things worth noting in Durrës: Venetian towers and Ahmet Zog Palace.

Another Albanian city that attracts travelers is Korca. It is located on a high plateau, surrounded by picturesque vegetation. This area is considered one of the cleanest places in the country.

There are no historical sights here, but tourists are offered to visit several museums. For example, Museum of Medieval Art and Museum of Education.

In addition, Korça is home to a brewery famous for its beer festival, which it organizes annually in August.

Well, another city popular with tourists is Berat. It is famous for the fortress that was built here in the 14th century. Travelers will also be interested in the Muslim Quarter Mangalem with unique architecture. There are some very interesting things to see in the city Church of the Holy Trinity and Evangelists.

Berat will be remembered for a long time by one more detail: on its narrow streets there are many old houses with many windows. Because of this, it has long been called the “city of a thousand windows.” Maybe you will be lucky enough to see the sun reflecting in these many windows. A sight of indescribable beauty!

Nutrition

The national cuisine of Albania is very diverse. Traditional dishes here are a mixture of Balkan traditions and European cooking features. And a good climate creates the most favorable conditions for growing a variety of vegetables and fruits, without which, of course, local cuisine cannot do.

In all regions of the country, lamb or lamb is very popular, which is baked with lemon, spices and olive oil.

Here are a few Albanian meat dishes that you should definitely try if you come here: Tav Elbuasani- meat baked with yogurt; Fergesa Tirana— liver with tomatoes and eggs, which is cooked in a pot; burek- puff pastry pie filled with meat, spinach and cheese.

Local cuisine also includes seafood. Try Ohrid trout cooked with walnuts. This fish is found exclusively in Lake Ohrid.

Local residents also prepare tarator. This is a cold soup made from kefir or yogurt. You won't try anything like this anywhere else.

They prefer honey and nut sweets and fruits as desserts. Often prepared baklava And pudding based on figs and sheep's milk. Albanian ice cream akullore is also served for dessert.

The drink they drink here is coffee, which is distinguished by its strength. Local alcohol is held in special esteem rakija and herbal setting "Fernet".

Accommodation

Accommodation in Albania is not yet as good as we would like. In recent years, local hotels have not reached the European level; service leaves much to be desired.

Prices for a night's stay here start from 30 € per person. At the same time, when checking in, you should definitely make sure that everything in the room works properly.

In each city there are hotels of different star levels, but the largest selection is in Tirana, Durres, Berat, Shkoder.

There is one more nuance associated with local hotels: booking hotels here is very problematic, because they are not part of international booking systems. Tourists can only hope for luck, and this is especially true in the summer, which is the peak tourist season.

Entertainment and relaxation

Most Albanian beaches are sandy, but occasionally you can find pebble beaches. As a rule, the most comfortable beaches belong to large hotels. But the length of the beaches is pleasantly pleasing - more than 300 km! So there is enough space for all vacationers.

An excellent resort is "Riviera of Flowers". This is part of the Ionian Sea coast from Vlore to Saranda. The resort is a combination of small and very clean beaches and old mansions converted into hotels. There is also the freshest mountain air and a light sea breeze constantly blowing.

The most popular beaches of the Ionian coast among tourists are Velipoja, Durres, Golemi, Lezha and Divyaka.

The beaches on the Adriatic coast are perfect for a family holiday. The best resort of the Albanian Adriatic - Dhermi. It is famous for its crystal clear water, golden sandy beaches, picturesque nature and clean mountain air.

Not far from Dhermi there is a small secluded beach of incredible beauty. Finding the road to it is not so easy, but if you try hard, you can find a narrow path that leads to this amazing beach.

Two more beautiful beaches on this coast - Durres(one of the largest Albanian beaches) and Saint John(ideal for young couples).

Fans of active recreation can go mountaineering in the mountains of Albania, and people interested in speleology can explore the numerous caves.

Opera fans can visit the annual Mary Krai festival, which is held in the capital of Albania.

There are not many nightclubs here. Most of them are in Durres and Saranda.

Purchases

You always want to bring something back from a trip as a souvenir. And a trip to Albania, of course, will not be an exception. Souvenirs can be bought here in specialized stores or in city markets. What do tourists most often buy as a souvenir of this country? Usually these are various kinds of copper items, wooden pipes, colorful embroidery, and national musical instruments handmade by local artisans. Often brought from Albania rakia- local vodka.

Prices for all goods for foreigners are higher than for locals, but you can bargain almost everywhere.

Transport

Urban public transport in Albania consists of buses and minibuses with low fares, for which you need to pay directly to the driver.

As for intercity transport, there are buses and minibuses. True, there are certain nuances: you won’t find a bus station here. There is no schedule here either. In such a situation, only local residents can help you out.

The situation with railway transport in Albania leaves much to be desired. The country's trains are in poor condition, they travel extremely slowly, and there are no restrooms. It is also worth considering that there are only a few lines, and the intervals between trains are very long.

Since the country has access to two seas, many coastal cities have ports. The main one is in Durres: ferries to Italy go from here.

Cities also have taxis, which are easiest to find at hotels. It’s extremely difficult to hail a car in the middle of the street in the city: they don’t take an outstretched arm here. It is better to agree on the cost of the trip right away.

Another option for getting around the cities of Albania is renting a car. Renting a car is quite easy: to do this you need to have a driver's license and a credit card. True, rental is only possible in large cities, and it will cost you from $25 per day.

Connection

Albania has two mobile operators: Albanian Mobile Communications and Vodafone Albania. Mobile communications here are of fairly good quality. There are problems with landline telephone connections and Internet access. Telephone sets from which you can call outside the country are only available on the streets of large cities. You can also make an international call from your hotel or post office.

There are internet cafes in big cities and tourist centers.

Large Russian mobile operators offer roaming within Albania.

Safety

Today in Albania a tourist can feel completely safe. Still, as in any other country that is popular with tourists, caution is a good idea.

Firstly, you should avoid buying expensive things (phones, watches) from street vendors, as most often they are stolen.

Secondly, remember that the water here is quite clean, but it is still recommended to drink bottled water.

Before entering the country, you must be vaccinated against typhoid and polio.

To visit the country, medical insurance is required, since tourists here are provided with only first aid free of charge.

Business climate

The Albanian real estate market has become a profitable area for investment today. Construction is very cheap here, and housing prices are gradually starting to rise due to increased demand.

It is also profitable to start a tourism business or service industry here. The country is just beginning to gain popularity among tourists, so there are all the opportunities here, and most importantly, there is a need for the development of tourism infrastructure.

Real estate

The Albanian real estate market is very promising. And in recent years, Russians have begun to pay more and more attention to it.

Perhaps one of the most important advantages of the Albanian real estate market is low prices. They are much lower here than in neighboring countries. This also applies to those facilities located in resort towns.

Low prices are explained by the low price of land. In addition, there are quite a lot of agencies here that sell real estate directly from developers.

Albanian capitalTirana(610 thousand inhabitants, 2015) is the largest city, the main political, economic and cultural center of the country.

In Tirana, fragments of a Roman building with floor mosaics dating from the 3rd century have been discovered, as well as the ruins of a fortress built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 520. The year of development of Tirana is considered to be 1614, when Suleiman Pasha Bargini founded a mosque here, built Turkish baths, a bakery and several shops. The advantageous location at the intersection of trade routes contributed to the development of the city.

On February 8, 1920, by decision of the Albanian National Congress, Tirana was proclaimed the capital and seat of the government of Albania. From April 1939 to September 1943, Tirana was occupied by Italy, and in September 1943 by Germany. On November 17, 1944, the city was liberated from German troops by the National Liberation Army. On January 11, 1946, the People's Republic of Albania was proclaimed. In the 1950s, with the help of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, a number of modern enterprises, an opera house and some other cultural institutions were built in Tirana. The population of Tirana increased between 1955 and 1975. from 108 thousand to 200 thousand inhabitants.

A significant part of the country's production is concentrated in Tirana, enterprises of the textile, food, tobacco, footwear, metalworking and glass-ceramic industries. The railway connects Tirana with the port of Durres.

***
Until recently, one could experience the shock of visiting the Albanian capital with gloomy gray, peeling five-story buildings, buried in dirt and garbage, and the absence of traffic lights and signs with street names. Local drivers were ready to hit an unwary pedestrian. But everything changed in a fantastically short time. Today Tirana is a European, dynamically developing city with high-rise buildings, well-kept parks and boulevards.

Since 2000, the municipal government, led by Mayor Edi Rama, has carried out a “Return to Identity” campaign, including modernizing infrastructure and updating the dull “post-Soviet” appearance of Tirana. Residential neighborhoods, parks and gardens were given a “European” appearance, illegal buildings were demolished. The city has experienced radical changes.

Albanian public and political figure Edi Rama(born July 4, 1963, Tirana) from 2000 to 2011 was the mayor of Tirana, since 2005 the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, since 2013 Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Albania. By education and profession he is an artist; he studied in Paris. As mayor, he eliminated illegal buildings in the capital; at his suggestion, the facades of many buildings were repainted in characteristic, bright and colorful colors. Developed a project for landscaping and new infrastructure of the city. For his activities, he received the title of World Mayor 2004 in 2004, and in 2005 he was included in the list of European Heroes according to Time magazine, in a word, they were recognized as the Best Mayor of Europe.

Around the central square of Skanderbeg, one can judge from the architecture of the buildings the geopolitical zigzags in the history of the country. This building recalls the influence of Italy.

The Hadji Ethem Bey Mosque (behind the Skanerbeg monument) was built by the Turks in 1789-1823. Under the communists, the mosque was closed until 1991. A corner is visible on the left Albanian Opera House, a gift from the Soviet government to communist Albania. After the break in relations with the USSR in 1961, the building stood unfinished until the Albanians themselves completed the theater.

One of the modern symbols of the capital has become the 25-storey conical building Tirana International Development, or TID Tower, designed by a Belgian architectural bureau in 2011.
At the heart of the building is the tomb of the national hero, Ottoman general Suleiman Pasha Barjini, founder of the modern capital of Albania, Tirana. The high-rise building protects the tomb from the damaging effects of the environment. The building houses prestigious apartments, apartments and office space. The ground floors are occupied by shops and restaurants, and on the roof there is a panoramic restaurant.

TID Tower is the tallest building in Albania (85 meters). According to the master plan, nine more high-rise buildings will be built in the center of the capital around Skanderbeg Square.

Not far from the main square, next to the Taiwan shopping and entertainment center, there is Rinia Park.


Photo from the Internet

Rinia Park is a popular place among tourists who come on excursions to the capital. On the right is the 4-star Sky Hote with an observation deck offering panoramic views of Tirana.

To get a panoramic shot of the capital, I took the elevator to the hotel's observation deck. Imagine my surprise that the site was surrounded not only by a metal mesh, but also by plastic film, through which the photo was taken.

Another high-rise building under construction in the center of the capital near the Taiwan shopping and entertainment center

Tirana's new Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ was built as compensation for the old cathedral destroyed by communist authorities in 1967. On June 24, 2012, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania inaugurated the new cathedral, which had been under construction since 2004 according to the design of the American company Papadatos Partneriteti LLP Architects (New York), whose owners are Greek Orthodox who immigrated to the United States. In addition to the Cathedral, a chapel, a bell tower, the residence of the Holy Synod and a cultural center were erected.

Office of the largest foreign bank in Albania

The Lana mountain stream flows through the city center along a concrete channel, dividing the city into southern and northern parts.

Pedestrian boulevard

A symbol of renunciation of the past and isolation from the outside world for Tirana was the visit in 1992 of Mother Teresa (1910-1997), a nun who founded the Order of Sisters of Charity in Calcutta in 1948, a public figure, and a blessed Catholic Church. Albanian by origin, she finally received permission from the authorities and visited the grave of her mother and sister (during their lifetime, visits behind the Iron Curtain were prohibited). In memory of her, the Albanians named their largest and only international airport. In 2005, the airport came under the control of Hochtief AirPort (Germany) for twenty years, which constructed a new passenger terminal building and modernized the entire air terminal complex.

Tirana is gradually getting rid of the appearance of the capital of a totalitarian state. Each regime left its mark on the architecture of the capital. Before the proclamation of Tirana as the capital (1920), it was a Muslim town since the time of Suleiman Pasha, the founder of the city. In the 1920-1930s, the city began to be rebuilt in the “European style”, according to the plans of invited Austrian and Italian architects. During the occupation of Tirana by Italian and German fascists, Italian architects completed the construction of government buildings and laid out new streets. After the war, the city lived under the rule of Albanian communists. Until the 20th Congress of the CPSU, the country was guided by Stalin and the USSR, and subsequently, until 1978, by Maoist China. The city was filled with faceless block buildings and, together with the country, found itself behind a blank iron curtain. A ban was introduced on private business and private cars (repealed only in the 90s). At the same time, with the help of the USSR and other socialist states, large industrial enterprises (up to 80% of Albania's industry), educational and cultural institutions were built in Tirana and the country, and the country's first hydroelectric power station was built near the city. Lenin. A Palace of Culture appeared on the site of the Turkish bazaar, and the historical parliament building was converted into the Palace of Pioneers.

After the death of Enver Hoxha, a pyramidal memorial complex-museum of the leader was erected in the city in his honor in 1988. The International Cultural Center, popularly known as the “Pyramid”, is located here.


http://www.tiranatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/piramida_ditaveres.jpg

According to the municipal company "Return to Identity", the facades of many buildings were repainted in distinctive, bright and colorful colors. Opponents criticize that only the appearance of the buildings has been updated. But not all at once. To change the internal maintenance of buildings, citizens must have a decent salary.


http://world-tourism.com/upload/000/u4/132/0a7f19b3.jpg

An innovative approach to painting building facades includes drawings of laundry drying. Against this background, real linen on balconies looks most natural.


http://venividi.ru/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/16114/24037/img_23.jpg

Garden on the roof of a building

Albania is a mountainous country in the world, which lies in the west of the Balkan Peninsula on the Adriatic coast

sea ​​separating the country from Italy. Albania borders Serbia in the north and northeast, Montenegro in the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia in the east, and Greece in the southeast and south.

Albania is one of the smallest countries in Europe.

“Albania” means “eagle”. The country received this name because of the majestic eagles soaring over the high mountains and lakes of Albania. On the coastal plains, farmers grow corn, fruits and tobacco, and on the high mountain pastures they raise dairy cattle, sheep and goats.

Capital of Albania

The capital of Albania is Tirana, which was founded by the Turks in 1614. In 1920, the all-Albanian National Congress proclaimed Tirana the capital of independent Albania. Now the population of Tirana numbers more than 400 thousand people.

Climate and weather

The average air temperature in Albania is +15.9 C. In the coastal regions of Albania, the climate is subtropical Mediterranean, temperate. Summers are hot and dry (from +24 C to +28 C), and winters are mild and humid (from +4 C to +14 C). In the Alpine regions of Albania the climate is continental, with humid summers (up to +10 C) and cold winters (up to -12-20 C).

Sea in Albania

Albania is washed by the waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The total coastline is 362 km. On the Adriatic coast of Albania, near the ancient city of Lezha, founded in the 4th century BC, there is the beautiful Drina Bay.

Albania owns several small islands, but all of them are uninhabited. The largest of them is Sazani Island, which is located at the entrance to Vlora Bay. Its area is 5 km. sq.

The coasts of Albania and Italy are connected by the Strait of Otranto, which is 75 km wide. This strait separates the Adriatic and Ionian seas.

Rivers and lakes

Despite the fact that Albania is a small mountainous country, a large number of rivers flow through its territory. The largest of them are the Drin River (285 km) in the north of the country and the Seman River (281 km) in the south. Also worth highlighting are the rivers Vjosa (272 km), Mat (115 km), Shkumbin (181 km), and Bystritsa.

There are several large lakes in Albania - Ohrid, Skadar, Big Prespa and Small Prespa.

The area of ​​Lake Ohrid is 358 km. sq. Its average depth is 155 m, and its maximum is 288 m. Now Lake Ohrid is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This lake is even home to 2 species of trout.

Lake Skadar is located not only in Albania, but also in Montenegro. Its average area is 475 km. sq. In 2005, a state reserve was established in Albania on the territory of Lake Skadar.

Lakes Bolshaya Prespa and Malaya Prespa are located at an altitude of 853 meters above sea level.

Official language

The official language of Albania is Albanian, which is a branch of the Indo-European languages ​​and also a descendant of the Illyrian language. Modern Albanian has many borrowings from Greek, Italian, Latin, Turkish, and Slavic.

Religion

About 70% of Albania's population is Sunni Muslim. Another 20% of Albanians are Christians belonging to the Greek Catholic Church. The remaining 10% of Albanians are Catholics.

Emergency numbers

ambulance (17)

When you go on vacation to Albania, you MUST take the minimum set of necessary medications. Albanian medicine is not at the highest level.

fire protection (18)
police (19)
Road Administration (42 23600)
traffic police (42 34874).

Russian Embassy in Tirana: st. Donika Kastrioti, 2; tel. +355-4-225-60-40; fax +355-4-225-60-46;

Time in Albania

All Albania's territory belongs to the same time zone. The difference with Kyiv time is 1 hour. Those. if in Tirana, for example, 9:00 am, then in Kyiv - 10:00 am.

Visa

To enter Albania you need a visa. However, a valid Schengen visa is already a sufficient basis for entry. Visa-free entry into Albania is provided for the period from June 1 to October 31 (if you have a foreign passport).

Currency of Albania

Lek is the official currency of Albania. One lek (international designation: AL) is equivalent to 100 kindarks. In Albania, banknotes in the following denominations are used: 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 lek.

In addition, there are coins in circulation in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lek.

Albanians do not mind at all when tourists pay them in dollars or euros.

Never change currency “out of pocket”, no matter how attractive the exchange rate may be. Otherwise, you risk becoming a victim of scammers.

Customs restrictions

You cannot bring local currency (lek) into Albania. Foreign currency can be brought into Albania without any restrictions. You can take out up to 5 thousand dollars from Albania, or as much money as the tourist declared upon entering this country.

From Albania it is allowed to export 2 liters of wine, 1 liter of strong alcoholic drinks, up to 200 cigarettes, etc. per person. You are allowed to import any items for personal use into Albania, including jewelry, photographic and video equipment. Tobacco, alcoholic beverages and perfumes are allowed to be imported “in reasonable quantities.” It is prohibited to import weapons and explosives, drugs, pornography and any materials that may offend national dignity. To export items made of precious metals, ancient coins and scrolls, antiques and art objects, you must present a document confirming the purchase.

Tourist safety
Albania is a very calm country, and staying there does not require any special security measures. It is recommended to exercise household caution in crowded places and keep an eye on your bag and wallet. In general, Albanian society is quite conservative: the opinions of elders, especially men, must be respected and not enter into disputes on topics of religion or politics. It's also smarter to avoid controversial topics like gay marriage and polygamy. Don’t be surprised that even strangers exchange kisses on the cheeks here - these are local traditions. When you see a child, do not forget to compliment the parents (but it is better for girls and women to refrain from compliments). Running water is safe for health, but we still recommend drinking bottled water.

Transport of Albania

You can travel around the country by minibuses, buses and trains. Minibuses, called “vans” here, are the most popular form of transport. They are nine- and twelve-seater minibuses painted white and red, setting off when all the seats are occupied. Each city has one or more van stations. The greatest activity there is observed in the first half of the day; in the afternoon the activity noticeably subsides. Payment is made directly to the driver, prices are very low - about 300-500 ALL on popular routes.
Municipal buses are more convenient in terms of travel comfort and depart according to a schedule (which, however, is not so easy to find out). They also run mainly until 3-4 o'clock in the afternoon; it is better not to plan a trip for a later time.
You can travel between cities in Albania by train. The railway connection links Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, Pogradec, Vlora and Elbasan. The busiest traffic is between Tirana and Durres - up to six trains a day, running from 5:30 am until almost 8 pm. On other routes there are 1-2 trains per day. In general, Albanian trains cannot be classified as comfortable, but if you decide to take such a trip, you will be rewarded with stunningly picturesque views outside the window.

Rent a Car
Car rental is a relatively new trend in Albania. You can rent a car only in large cities; for this you will need an international license. There are still few local rental companies, but large European ones have already appeared: Hertz, Avis and Europcar, among others. If you are not a driving guru, it is recommended to entrust this to the locals, for example, by agreeing with the taxi driver on an hourly rate - the Albanian driving style is very chaotic, which, coupled with a large number of repaired and heavily winding roads, is unlikely to be enjoyable for an average driver.

Souvenirs/shopping

We advise tourists to go to the small town of Kruja, north of Tirana. In this ancient city (now its population is only 20 thousand people) you can buy the best Albanian souvenirs, jewelry and antiques. We recommend buying dolls, ashtrays, toys, olive oil, honey, tea, herbs, spices, alcoholic drinks, mugs, plates, T-shirts, Albanian flags, as well as CDs with Albanian folk music in Albania.

In the cities of Albania, and especially in Tirana, you will find a great variety of souvenir shops and markets offering local handicrafts, national crafts and small memorabilia. Popular Albanian souvenirs include wood carvings, ceramics, traditional embroidery, trays, copper items, pipes and national musical instruments. For drinks, pay attention to Raki grape vodka and local Skanderbeg cognac. Famous wine producers are Luani, Cobo, Aquila Liquori and Gjergj Kastrioti.

Office hours

In Albania, most shops are open from 9.00 to 18.00, and banks - from 08.00 to 16.00. Some stores are open on Saturdays and Sundays.

KITCHEN

Albanian cuisine is a motley mixture of ancient Illyrian traditions with Turkish, Greek and Slavic recipes.

Main dishes
The basis of all dishes is meat and vegetables. Here you can try quite traditional shish kebab, chofte meatballs and other familiar dishes. However, local chefs bring their own traditions to many of them.

Popular local dishes include "schumlek" (stewed meat with onions), "ferges" (stewed beef), "rosto-mi-salche-kozi" (roast beef in sour milk sauce), "tave-kozi" and "tave-elbasani". (lamb with yogurt), “kukurech” (sheep liver stuffed with vegetables and meat), “chomlek” (beef stew), stew with potatoes and vegetables “gyuvech”, “sarma” (a type of cabbage roll), “fargesa-tirana” ( a dish of fried meat, liver, eggs and tomatoes) and even a whole baked sheep's head (a holiday dish), as well as a variety of minced meat pies "romstek", grilled meat with vegetables and other typically Balkan dishes with an obvious Turkish "flavor". The meat is served with rice (“pilava”) and a variety of greens.

Fish also figures prominently in local cuisine, with trout and carp from Lake Ohrid and Lake Shkodër being favored. Sea fish, prepared quite traditionally, is usually an everyday dish.

In the summer, you should try cold “tarator” made from sour milk, cucumbers, grated walnuts and onions, as well as cold yoghurts and cucumber soup - an analogue of our okroshka.

Desserts and sweets
Dessert usually includes oshaf sweets, sweet rice cakes, various sheep's milk puddings, honey cakes and candied fruits. The local ice cream "akullore" has a very unique taste.

Beverages
Albanians drink both Turkish coffee ("cafe turke") and espresso ("cafe express"), and both are brewed stronger than in neighboring countries. Local wines are not particularly well known on the international market, but they taste quite good and are inexpensive, with white wine usually being slightly better than red. "Rakia" (grape brandy) is most often taken as an aperitif, local brandies, anise liqueur "ouzo", various fruit liqueurs and the herbal tincture "fernet" produced in Korça are of good quality. Imported drinks are sold everywhere, including Austrian beer, Macedonian wines and Greek ouzo. Many “local” beers, oddly enough, are also imported from Macedonia.

Tips

Most waiters in Albanian restaurants understand English and Italian. Tips for services in Albania are 10% of the bill.

Cities and resorts of Albania

The largest Albanian cities are Tirana, Durres, Vlora, Shkoder, Berat, Korca, Gjirokastra, and Elbasan. The main port of Albania is the city of Durres, which was founded long ago by the ancient Greeks.

Almost every coastal Albanian city is an excellent resort. Holidays on the Albanian Riviera (an area along the Ionian Sea in southern Albania) are cheaper than, for example, in Croatia. In addition, there are not many people on the Albanian Riviera, which is also an advantage. Albania has a number of spectacular natural sites that attract the attention of travelers - the country's landscape is rich in craggy peaks and picturesque mountains overgrown with dense forest, beautiful beaches under the warm Mediterranean sun and the azure blue waters of the Adriatic. In addition to the beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania has a range of historical attractions, the country's architecture is a motley mixture of many religions, styles and cultures, from ancient Greek monuments to Muslim minarets, from idyllic mountain resorts, many of which were founded by the Romans, to monasteries of all faiths. Relics of one of the most closed countries in Europe in the past are surrounded by citrus orchards, olive groves and vineyards. Dilapidated factories stand next to breathtaking mosques, beautiful Greek Orthodox churches can be a stone's throw from pompous Stalinist-style cultural palaces.

Tirana

Tirana, the capital of Albania since 1920 (the city was founded in 1614), is compact and pleasant to explore on foot. Most tours of Tirana start from the large Skanderbeg Square in the city center, bounded to the east by the heights of Mount Dajti (1612 m). The nearby market is also worth a detailed study - it is unlikely that anywhere else in Europe you will be able to find a real oriental bazaar with all its attributes (including pickpockets). The National History Museum is Albania's largest and richest museum, located next to the 15-story Tirana International Hotel, the tallest building in the country (a huge mosaic fresco covers the entire façade of the building). To the east of the hotel is the Palace of Culture, which has its own theater, restaurant, cafe and art galleries, and clearly stands out from the low-rise buildings of the capital with its “Soviet” architecture. Along the embankment of the Lana River, south of the capital, rise the white marble walls of the former Enver Museum Khoja (“Pyramid”), which is sometimes used as a center for various exhibitions and in the future will become an international Cultural Center (it is planned to house the largest disco in Europe). Tirana's attractions also include the Museum of National Culture, the Museum of Natural History and the beautiful Art Gallery.

Shkoder

The city of Shkoder (Shkodra, in Italian - Scutari) is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the traditional center of the cultural region of the "Ghegs". In 500 BC. e. the Illyrian fortress lying in its place already guarded the trade crossroads to the west of the city, where the Buna and Drin rivers merge. The city is graced by the imposing Sheikh Zamil Abdullah Al-Zamil Mosque, and next to it is the Museo Popullo ("Public Museum"), which has an impressive collection of historical photographs, including those showing the country's recent "socialist" past, and also has a rich archaeological collection , located on the lower floors. Shkodra was also formerly the most influential Catholic city in Albania, and the majestic Franciscan church on Ruga Ndre Mjeda is now again one of the country's main Christian churches. The legendary Rozafa Fortress is 2 km away. southwest of Shkoder, near the southern tip of the lake of the same name. Below the fortress lies the multi-domed Lead Mosque, the only mosque in the city that escaped destruction during the

Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster lies 120 km away. south of Tirana, this is a strikingly picturesque city-museum, spread out on the slopes of a mountain above the banks of the Drin River. The city was well known as a major trading center by the 13th century, but the Turkish occupation, which began in 1417, led to its decline. However, by the 17th century the city was thriving again, and was famous for its colorful bazaar, where they sold exquisite local embroidery, oriental silk and the famous Albanian white cheese. Above the Bazaar Mosque, located in the city center, stands the Memedhu Monument, erected in honor of the “renaissance” of Albanian education in the 20th century. The city is dominated by a gloomy 14th-century citadel, now the Museum of Arms. Also interesting are the Museum of the National Liberation Movement, the Ethnographic Museum, the Mekate Mosque and the old Turkish baths in the lower part of the city.

In Elbasan (54 km southeast of Tirana) the remains of Roman fortifications, a fortress of the 15th century AD, are still preserved. e., which now houses a museum. Also noteworthy are the Turkish baths (16th century), the Ethnographic Museum, the fortress walls of the era of Turkish rule, the Market Gate, the Royal Mosque (15th century), the Orthodox Church of St. Mary, the Catholic Cathedral and the Museum of Guerrilla Warfare.

Durres

In Durres (Duraccio in Italian), 38 km. west of Tirana, there is an interesting ancient city founded in 627 BC. e. by the Greeks. Roman ruins and fortifications abound in this main industrial city and commercial port of the country, Albania's second largest city. For many centuries it was the largest port on the Adriatic and the beginning of the famous Via Ignatia, which goes all the way to Constantinople. The ruins of Byzantine and Venetian fortresses are still preserved here; from the “Venetian Tower” in the harbor, the medieval city wall goes to the Amphitheater (1st-2nd centuries AD), on the territory of which an early Christian crypt with a wall mosaic of rare beauty was discovered.

Apollonia

12 km. from Fier (100 km south of Durres) lie the ruins of ancient Apollonia. The city was founded in 855 BC. e. Greeks and was an important city-state in the Mediterranean. The Amphitheater, the colonnade of shops of the Roman city center, the Odeon (II century BC), the portico (III century BC) with niches for statues, the “Mosaic House” with a fountain, the Bouleterion (I century AD), fragments of fortress walls (IV century AD), the monastery of St. Mary (XII century AD) with the Museum of Archeology and the Byzantine church. Not far from Apollonia, on the road to Durres, is the majestic monastery of Ardenika.

Kukes

Kukes, 100 km. northeast of Tirana, lies above the high shore of the picturesque mountain lake Fierza, just below the peak of Mount Galiki (2486 m.). The old town formerly stood at the confluence of two rivers, the White Drina and the Black Drina, flowing from Lake Ohrid, but in 1962 the town was moved to its modern location when the government built a hydroelectric dam and the river flooded its former location. Now it is a very pleasant place to spend a few days enjoying the clean mountain air and the beautiful scenery of the reservoir, sandwiched by steep mountain slopes, and the local Turismi Hotel is one of the most fashionable hotels, famous for one of the best restaurants in the country.

Butrint The ancient ruins of Butrint (1st millennium BC) lie almost on the southern border of the country with Greece, 160 km. south of Tirana, and are considered the pearl of the Adriatic coast. Virgil claimed that Butrint was built by the Trojans, but no evidence of this has yet been found, although the site has been studied in detail by archaeologists.

Berat The museum city of Berat (Berateto), located 122 km. southeast of Tirana, known in the 3rd century. BC e. Currently, such historical monuments are concentrated here as a fortress (XIV century) with many tiny churches, the Muslim quarter of Mangalem and the Christian quarter of Goritsa connected to it by a stone bridge of seven arched spans, the “Lead Mosque” (1555), the Royal Mosque (1512), Batchelors Mosque (Bachelors, 1827, today the Folk Art Museum is located here), Alveti-Tekke tomb ("small shrine", 1790), St. Michael's Church (16th century), the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God (1797) and the nearby Onufri Museum (named after the icon painter of the 16th century), the Church of the Holy Trinity (14th century), the Church of the Evangelists (16th century), the “White Hall” in which the first the independent government of Albania, the Museu i Luftes museum with a collection on the history of the city and the partisan movement, the Museum of Ethnography on the waterfront, as well as many old houses lining the narrow streets of the central part of the city.

Albania Hotels