Albania is a cheap country, the people are very friendly, the landscapes range from mountains to crystal-clear beaches, it has a rich history, and cities that seem to be taken from a movie. There are plenty of reasons to visit the country. However, it is important to remember that Albania has only been a “free” country since the 1990s and, for this reason, it has some particular characteristics that may not coincide with the typical image we have of European countries.
- Car or bus are the best ways to travel around the country
Due to the lack of a good public transport network, the car is often the most practical and recommended means of transportation. In fact, this was the option I ended up choosing due to the flexibility it allowed me to have to visit Albania. Nevertheless, it is also possible to choose to travel by public transport. These essentially consist of buses and small vans, as the train network leaves much to be desired.
- It requires being an experienced driver and adopting careful driving
Generally, the roads in Albania are in good condition. During my trip, the only exception I found was a stretch of road that connects Shkodër to Komani. However, Albanians are known for their somewhat frantic driving. There is a lot of impatience in traffic, honking for anything and everything. Driving in Albania is, therefore, a real adventure!
It is also important to mention that in some cases we must drive especially carefully. It is not uncommon to find pedestrians on the highway or expressway, or motorcycle drivers without helmets on the road. Therefore, to avoid serious accidents, I recommend extra caution when driving.
- Cash is (still) king
When planning my trip to Albania, I read on several blogs that most restaurants (and often even hotels) do not accept card payments. Although this turned out to be less true than I expected, many places have a sign at the entrance saying “cash only”. Therefore, I highly recommend always carrying some cash with you, as you may easily find yourself in a situation where you cannot use a card.
- Euros are accepted, but beware of the exchange rate
Due to Albania’s proximity to Eurozone countries, the euro currency is widely accepted in Albania. However, in these cases, they usually inform you of the exchange rate. And the truth is that paying in euros rarely pays off. So, always check the exchange rate at that moment to ensure you don’t end up losing out.
- Prices are low
For a tourist coming from other European countries, it is easy to consider Albania a cheap country, especially regarding accommodation and meals. Easily, a meal in an average restaurant costs 6 euros per person and a night in a room with a private bathroom costs about 15 euros per person. Of course, there are higher (and lower) values, always depending on the experience we seek. However, it is undeniable that Albania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe.
- It is a safe country
I read on some websites that it was not always safe to travel in Albania. However, my experience was quite positive. I never felt unsafe (even at night) and I often walked with my camera and phone visible. However, it is important to emphasize that I took, as I always do on all my trips, the usual precautions. Anyway, there are two areas that are indeed not recommended to visit in Albania (area near the border with Kosovo and Lazarat). However, I have no experience in these two places, so I merely alert to some tips I saw online.
- Communication is easy
The language in Albania is Albanian, a language that cannot be compared with any other. Thus, besides basic expressions, it will not be easy to try to speak Albanian. But this is not a problem, as the population generally expresses themselves very well in English! And, in some cases, you can even find Albanians who speak Italian, since the country was once occupied by Italy.
- Choose the airport wisely
The only airport in Albania with good international connections is located in Tirana, the capital of the country. This is an excellent starting point for those who want to take a road trip through the country, as it is located relatively in the middle. However, if you only intend to visit the beach area (which I do not recommend, as the country is much more than its beaches) or the southern area, it may make sense to fly to Corfu, Greece, and then take a ferry to Sarandë.
- There are various religions in the country
Although the majority of inhabitants in Albania are Muslims, it is common to find people of various religions. In fact, this is visible in the number of Orthodox and Catholic churches we come across, alongside the mosques in the cities.
- Prepare for hundreds of bunkers
What is not lacking throughout Albania are bunkers. Yes, you read it right! Albania was under a dictatorial regime in which dictator Enver Hoxha lived obsessed that he would be the victim of a nuclear attack. Thus, he ordered the construction of over 100,000 bunkers throughout the country. The truth is that the much-feared nuclear attack never happened, and now the bunkers are abandoned. Two of the largest bunkers of the regime are exceptions, built in Tirana, and can be visited in the museum inside.
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