Traveling to Albania means exploring one of the most underrated European countries. Albania has it all: beautiful nature, dramatic mountain views, delicious food, historic cities, and relaxing seaside towns with hidden bays for swimming. Additionally, traveling to Albania is very affordable compared to other European countries.
In this blog post, we will provide you with all the necessary information you need before traveling to Albania. We’ll cover topics such as the best time to visit, getting around in Albania, safety concerns, budgeting for your trip, and more.
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1. When is the best time for traveling to Albania?
Albania has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with dry and hot summers, as well as mild and wet winters. While peak season in July and August will guarantee you endless sunshine, it is also the busiest and most expensive time of year.
For a more enjoyable experience with fewer crowds, we recommend traveling during the shoulder seasons April to June and September to October. During these months, you can still enjoy plenty of sunshine, spend time at the beaches, explore the historic towns and villages, and even go hiking in the Albanian Alps.
2. How safe is Albania?
We don’t want to romanticize Albania too much. You will definitely see a lot of poverty in Albania, unfinished buildings, stray animals and unfortunately many rubbish bins that are left overflowing for days. Seeing all this made us feel a little bit worried at first.
However, we never felt unsafe or unwelcome in any part of Albania. All travelers we met along the way shared our opinion. Albania is generally a safe travel destination for all types of travelers, including solo female travelers. Incidents targeting tourists are rare, although petty crimes can occur. Following basic safety guidelines such as keeping your valuables secure and avoiding walking alone at night is advisable.
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We only experienced one unpleasant situation when some bored teenage boys tried to take our drone down by throwing stones at it. We were way too far in the air that anything could have happened and simply landed our drone and left.
It is also important to note that tap water is not recommended for drinking. When visiting remote places like the Albanian Alps, be sure to carry enough bottled water.
3. How to communicate in Albania?
The official language of Albania is Albanian, known as Shqip in the local language. It is unlike any other language you might have heard before. Although it is quite unique, we noticed a few similarities to the Italian language. In many parts of Albania, basic knowledge of Italian proved more useful than English, as some people, including those in the tourism industry, didn’t speak English fluently.
You might come across Albanians who shake their head to say yes and nod to say no. This can put you in quite confusing situations, especially because not all Albanians communicate this way. Learning a few basic words in Albanian can greatly enhance communication. We are sure the Albanian people will appreciate your effort.
4. How to get around in Albania
By car:
Contrary to certain warnings, we found renting a car in Albania to be a flexible and convenient option. The road conditions were better than expected, and the driving style was not as challenging as rumored. (Personally, we find the Italian way of driving way more challenging and nerve-racking.) There are a few exceptions like the road to Lake Koman and the last few meters to our guesthouse in Theth, where the roads were in pretty bad condition.
However, it is essential to remain alert due to pedestrians, animals, and occasional poor road conditions. The Traffic Police have increased checkpoints to improve road safety, so it is crucial to follow speed limits, regardless of what the locals around you might be doing.
Speed limits:
40 km/h (25 mph) within built-up areas
80 km/h (50 mph) outside built-up areas
90 km/h (56 mph) on expressways
110 km/h (68 mph) on freeways
Parking was very easy. We always found free or paid parking spots and made sure that our hotels had a car park included. Bring some LEK with you to pay the guard if you choose to park in a paid parking area.
By taxi:
There is no such thing as Uber in Albania. However, there are a few taxi apps that you can try:
By bus/Furgon: There is no rail system in Albania, so if you’re planning on traveling through Albania without a car, you will need to learn how the bus system works. Traveling by bus is possible, but you need to bring a lot of patience. The timetables for public transport are often not updated, and the buses run late.
The best advice we can give you is to ask your hotel for exact information about the bus schedules. Please don’t make the mistake of relying on the last bus of the day, as it can happen that you get stranded.
Furgons:
If you like to take a bus in Albania, most of the time, you need to be looking for a mini-bus, a furgon. You will see the final destination written on a piece of cardboard behind the front window. The van will pick you up at unmarked locations along the road or at a town square. Don’t hesitate to ask the locals for help if you can’t find the bus stop right away. Also, make sure you speak to the driver before departure to let him know where you want to go and when you want to get off the bus again. They’ll usually drop you off at any point you like that is along the way.
Buses/coaches:
Besides the furgons, there are also traditional buses in Albania that usually run for longer routes. You can check Gjirafa Autobus, to see the timetable for many buses, but don’t rely on this too much. Always make sure to come early to the bus station in case you don’t find it right away and be prepared for delays. A lot of the time, the official bus station does not look official at all but more like a big car park. The buses will have a sign behind the front window telling you their destination. Probably, you will be approached by some locals who try to fill the buses with people, and they will help you find the right bus.
5. How to get a SIM card in Albania?
You can buy a SIM card at a Vodafone store at Tirana International Airport or at one of the stores in the major cities in Albania. A SIM card will cost around 4 Euros, and then you can choose a package of your choice for internet, national and international minutes, and more. The Wi-Fi coverage in big cities is pretty good, while it is not great in remote places like the Albanian Alps or the eastern part of Albania.
6. How to pay in Albania?
The official currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek. Currently, 1 euro is around 115 Albanian LEK, and 1 USD is around 109 LEK.
Always bring cash with you. Euros are accepted in many places, but it is better to have the Albanian currency, LEK, with you. Make sure to withdraw enough cash at the beginning of your trip, as we didn’t find it very easy to find ATMs in remote places. You won’t be able to exchange your foreign currency for LEK while still at home, as the Albanian LEK is a closed currency. For withdrawing money, Visa or Mastercard work very well, but American Express is not accepted in many places.
7. How much money do you need in Albania?
Compared to other European countries, Albania is considered an affordable holiday destination and a perfect destination for low-budget travelers.
Average costs for a double room in a hotel: 25 – 60 €
A full meal with drinks in a restaurant for one person: 5-8 €
Gasoline: around 1.90 € per liter
Sightseeing: around 2-5 € per attraction
Together, we paid around 1,150 Euros for 10 days in Albania (including gas for 5,000 km).
8. What are the Albanians like?
This was the best part of our trip! We have never met more welcoming people than the Albanians! Although we had some communication issues, people were kind, friendly, and welcoming. We have so many amusing and heartwarming memories of the days we spent in Albania.
One time, we got lost in the streets of Shkoder while looking for our hotel. We nearly got stuck with our car in the narrow streets of Shkoder (definitely our own fault here) and simply could not find the parking lot of our hotel. At some point, we were so desperate for help that we stopped in the middle of a roundabout and asked a police officer for help. He didn’t know any English but pulled over another driver who spoke English and asked him to translate (the look on his face was hilarious).
Another time, we helped two travelers we met on the road find an apartment on very short notice in the middle of the night and we were pleasantly surprised by the kindness and willingness to help of the Albanians.
Don’t be afraid to ask for directions or for help. There will always be someone around who is willing to lend a helping hand! 🙂
9. How eco-friendly is Albania?
If you’re trying to travel as eco-friendly as possible, make sure to bring everything you need from home. We have to admit that Albania is not an eco-friendly travel destination. Albania has a huge problem with trash, and plastic is being used for everything. You need to buy water in plastic bottles as you cannot drink the tap water.
10. What places not to miss when traveling to Albania?
By now, you should have a solid overview of everything you need to know to plan your trip to Albania. There is just one question left: Where to go and what to see when in Albania? Luckily, we have created an itinerary for 10 days in Albania you can check:
