Albania is a land of contrasts. Here you will find both high mountains with rushing rivers and the beautiful Albanian Riviera. There are old towns with churches and mosques, but also modern buildings that shoot up everywhere. Albanian cuisine is characterized by Italian and Greek food culture.
See trips to Albania
Residents: 3 mill.
Capital: Tirana
Language: Albanian
the Catholic nun mother Teresa, who helped the poor in the slums of Calcutta, came from Albania?
Albania’s domestic name is Shqipëria? That means the Land of the Eagles.
Albanian nature
According to top-medical-schools, Albania is located in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic Sea. The country borders Montenegro and Kosovo to the north, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. The country is mountainous (the highest mountain is Korab at 2,764 mi east), with lowlands along the coast. There are more rivers, the longest being the Drin. Albania has a rich bird life, more than 300 species breed or occur regularly in the country. The mild winter climate attracts migratory birds along the coast.
History of Albania
Albania has throughout the ages been at the intersection of various great powers, languages and religions. Greeks and Romans, Goths and Byzantines, Serbs and Bulgarians, Sicilians and Venetians, Turks, Italians and Germans have all conquered the area for shorter or longer periods.
During World War I, Albania was neutral, but was still occupied in various rounds, and after the end of the war, the victorious powers discussed how the country should be divided. The greatest influence was given to Italy , which for a few years kept troops in the country. However, the Albanians revolted in 1920. After several years of internal fighting, Ahmed Bey Zogu, a clan chief from the north, was able to take power. He ruled dictatorially and in 1928 proclaimed himself King Zog I. Under him, Albania became increasingly dependent on fascist Italy. When Albania was occupied by Mussolini’s troops in the spring of 1939, the country was de facto an Italian colony. Zog fled abroad with the Treasury.
In September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies. The Italian occupation forces were replaced by Germans, but by then a partisan army had already begun the fight against the invaders. The partisans were led by Enver Hoxha, leader of the 1941 Albanian Communist Party. On March 14, 1946, the country was proclaimed the People’s Republic of Albania and a constitution was adopted.
Enver Hoxha ruled the country until his death in 1985. Five years later, the Communist Party collapsed, but the road to democracy has not been easy. Albania is still one of Europe’s poorest countries, but the reforms in the country have been so successful that the country has had to conclude a so-called stabilization and association agreement with the EU, a first step towards membership. Albania, together with Croatia , became a full member of NATO in April 2009.
Traveling in Albania
Although the country is one of the poorest in Europe, it is a safe country to travel in. The population is generally friendly and accommodating. The infrastructure has improved significantly in recent years.
Facts about Albania
Below you will find practical information in connection with your trip to Albania. Read about tips, internet and tempo and tone, among other things.
- Language: Albanian
- Capital: Tirana
- Population: 3 mill.
- Religion: Muslim and Albanian Orthodox
- Currency: Albanian play
- Surface: 28 748 km2
Worth knowing
Time difference
There is no time difference between Albania and Sweden.
Transport in Albania
The buses we travel with in Albania have the highest possible standard and air conditioning whenever possible.
Price level in Albania
The price level in Albania is considerably lower than in Sweden and the prices for a meal are very reasonable.
Currency and credit cards
The currency in Albania is Albanian play (ALL). Play can not be exchanged outside Albania. Bring a certain amount in euros that you can exchange locally. There are ATMs in the larger cities and Visa and MasterCard can be used in larger hotels, restaurants and shops.
Tip
In Albania, it is common to tip 10-15 percent to people in the service industry and taxi drivers.
Electricity
In Albania you have 230 volts and the sockets are of European standard as in Sweden.
Telephone and internet
Albania’s international country code is +355. Feel free to ask your Swedish operator about call prices in Austria and how much it costs to connect via mobile. Most hotels have internet access and there are a lot of internet cafes in the larger cities.
Drinking water and hygiene
Hotels and larger restaurants have modern toilets. And in rural areas, the standard may well be more primitive. Bring your own toilet paper or a package of wet wipes and possibly. hand disinfection. Then you can do without water if such is lacking.
You should not drink tap water. Instead, buy bottled water.
Smoking
In Albania, smoking is prohibited in public buildings and on public transport. The smoking ban is checked with a considerable sum in fines in case of violation of the law.
Tact and tone
When visiting and churches and other religious buildings, it is expected that shoulders and knees are covered. Photography is not allowed in religious buildings. If necessary, ask the tour guide.
Climate and weather in Albania
Here you can read about the weather in Albania and see the average temperature of Tirana.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | CHRISTMAS | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
| Tirana | ||||||||||||
| Daytime temperature | 11 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 27 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 16 | 13 |
| Night temperature | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 135 | 150 | 130 | 115 | 120 | 85 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 105 | 210 | 175 |
Albania has a mild and temperate climate with cold, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The hinterland is usually colder and rainier than the coastal areas.
