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The Republic of Albania is a Balkan nation on the Adriatic coast. It borders Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Greece, and faces Italy across the Strait of Otranto. Its population is 2.8 million, and the official language is Albanian.
Climate in Albania
Albania has a Mediterranean climate. Average winter temperatures range from +8 to +10°C. Summer temperatures sit between +26 and +32°C. In the mountains, winter temperatures can be considerably lower. Sea breezes make the summer heat easy to handle, and the country enjoys more than three hundred sunny days a year. Summer rain is rare, and the tourist season runs from May to early October.
Economy and Tourism in Albania
If you're after undiscovered travel routes, Albania is well worth the trip. After decades of trying to build communism, the country's economy was in poor shape by the late 1990s. Where it once relied heavily on agriculture, in recent years the authorities have pushed hard for economic reform, and tourism has gradually become one of the leading sectors of the economy.
Touring Albania has real advantages: prices are noticeably lower than in neighbouring Greece or Montenegro, locals are famously hospitable, and service standards match the rest of Europe. Albania is also known for its excellent Balkan-Mediterranean cuisine and fine wines.
The capital, Tirana, has plenty of sights, including the National History Museum, the Clock Tower and the Opera House. The heart of the city is Skanderbeg Square, named after Albania's national hero, who led the resistance against the Ottoman Empire.
Lake Shkodër is well worth a visit — it's the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, rich in plant and animal life. The best way to explore it is by boat, since the lake has islands home to beautiful churches with crypts. Albania in general has no shortage of gorgeous lakes and mountain springs. Take the Blue Eye Spring (Syri i Kaltër) — its beauty is otherworldly. Look down into the spring and it really does seem to gaze back at you like a blue eye, though the water itself is icy cold.
The best-known resort in Albania is rightly considered to be Ksamil. Its beaches are pristine, the water is clear and blue, and just offshore sit a handful of tiny islands you can easily swim out to. The scenery is every bit as good as the Caribbean.
Not far from the city of Shkodër stands the famous Rozafa Castle, dating back to the 3rd century BC — a favourite pilgrimage spot for locals and visitors alike. The city of Berat also has its own hilltop castle, along with an ethnographic museum where you can learn about the everyday life of Albanians through different periods of history.
Visa Requirements for Albania
Whether you need a visa for Albania depends on your nationality — check the rules for your passport before you book. Whatever your nationality, on arrival you'll need a passport valid for at least another six months and a return ticket.
Currency in Albania
The currency of Albania is the Albanian lek (ALL), with an exchange rate of roughly 110 lek to the dollar. Dollars and euros are accepted almost everywhere, and exchange points are on every corner.
Good to Know Before You Go
Taxi drivers have been known to quote 2-3 times the going rate, so keep an eye on the fare. If locals see you paying in dollars or euros, prices can jump noticeably, especially with street vendors, so it's best to change your money into lek straight away. Travel insurance is well worth having, just in case — and border officials may ask to see proof of it.
