Albania. A lot of useful and interesting information about the country. Tirana. The reborn capital of Albania Which country does Albania belong to?

Albania is a colorful country unspoiled by mass tourism. A holiday on the shores of two seas at once, the Ionian and the Adriatic, will cost 2 times cheaper than a holiday in Bulgaria, and the emotions and impressions you will experience cannot be compared with anything else. The nature here is “photoshopped” by the skies: citrus orchards and olive plantations, wild canyons and valleys cut by colorful lakes. The Ottoman Empire will remind itself of itself in ancient fortresses. And delicious food will be the icing on the cake, low prices and hospitable Albanians.

about country

Albania or Shqiperia is a puzzle of Southern Europe and the entire Balkan Peninsula.

The Iron Curtain collapsed back in 1985 with the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha. The Republic has opened its doors to foreigners. Got rid of the communist trail. Introduced entry restrictions for tourists and entered the list of candidates for EU membership. But for mysterious reasons, Albania still lurks in the shadow of its popular neighbors Montenegro, Greece, North Macedonia and disputed Kosovo.

But in vain. Here every foreigner is a welcome guest, and not just a wanderer passing by, of which there are millions.

Ask for directions and they will show you by the hand. Take a ride in an Albanian minibus and the question of where to have dinner will disappear by itself. And this feeling of need, sometimes even of fatherly care, is priceless.

What you should know about Albania:

capital - Tirana;

total territory - 28,748 km. sq.;

form of government - parliamentary republic;

language of communication - Albanian;

religion - a secular state, formally 60% are Muslims, about 30% are Christians;

monetary unit - Lek (ALL);

summer 2019 (from April 1 to October 31) Russian tourists could enter the country without a visa, the rest of the time - with Albanian or Schengen visas.

The administrative division is very simple. The republic has 12 kyrks (regions). The largest of them are Tirana, Elbasan, Shkoder, Fier, Durres and Korça.

It is often not Albania's sins that are attributed to it. For example, the state was never part of Yugoslavia. Accordingly, it never participated in the Balkan “showdowns”. And after the Second World War it was not seen in any military conflict.

Myths about drug dealers scurrying through the dilapidated streets of Shkodra are also just myths. The crime rate here is lower than in Russia and any EU country.

Albanians are a simple, honest, friendly and leisurely people. Religion is treated calmly. Short shorts, a deep neckline, loose hair - this is exactly what a modern Albanian woman looks like.

Despite the fact that city streets cannot be called clean, Albanians themselves are neat and clean. Even an elderly and very poor grandfather is always in an ironed shirt, polished shoes, perfumed and combed.

Climate

Divided into two zones. In the mountains, which cover 70% of the territory, the climate is continental. Summer is humid (+ 18), winter is snowy and frosty (- 10, - 15).

On the coast there is a Mediterranean zone. Dry, hot summers with average July values ​​of + 25, + 30 degrees Celsius.

Official swimming season lasts from May to September. Unofficial - until the end of October. In Saranda, the thermometer remains consistently + 18 even in November, and the water temperature during this period can reach + 20.

Winter is warm and rainy. The January air temperature in Vlora is + 10 degrees, in Saranda + 8.

What to see in Albania

The skipper begins in the capital. Even if you think that you won’t find anything interesting here, go! See Tirana with your own eyes. Open your heart to her. And she will certainly reciprocate your feelings.

Tirana

This is a dark-haired girl from the past in an embroidered dress with a bright ribbon instead of a belt.

A city in which the rhythm and pulsation are slow. The province where the tallest building has 25 floors. Where gray, boring houses are painted in all the colors of the rainbow, because it’s more fun to live that way.

Near National Hero Skanderbeg Square, find the Efem Bey Mosque, built by the great-grandson of Pasha Suleiman, the Cathedral of the Resurrection and the Museum of Secret Surveillance (House of Leaves). “Breathe” that first impression. Feel the closeness of such different cultures. Tickets to the House of Leaves are sold at the museum box office. Entrance price 700 Lek, children under 8 years old free.

Another important attraction of the republic is a 5-minute walk away - the BunkArt 2 bunker. Recently, the capital city government has been trying to get rid of bunkers, of which there are 700,000. So hurry up, they will soon become a real curiosity.

Capture the sunny capital in your memory at the observation deck of the panoramic restaurant at TID Tower. Finding it won't be difficult. This is the tallest building in the city of non-standard appearance: the base is narrower than the top. When you get bored of taking photos, go down to the tomb of Kaplan Pasha.

Find the Tanners' Bridge, the Palace of Congresses, Mother Teresa Square (by the way, they are of Albanian origin), the monument to Ismail Qemali, who is often confused with Lenin, and take a walk around national park Daiti on the outskirts.

Beaches and resorts

The beaches in Albania are in no way inferior to Croatian or Montenegrin ones, and holidays on Albanian Riviera(from Vlora to Ksamil) will cost several times less.

The Adriatic is a sandy coastline with a gentle slope and crystal clear water. Best beaches: Lying, Kawaii, Durres, Golem and St. John.

Vlora is an atypical resort. Let's start with the fact that this is the first capital of independent Albania, so there is something to see besides the sea. Secondly, the waters of the two seas meet here. Well, and thirdly, sandy fluffiness alternates with rocky bays - variety...

After Vlora - romance! Rocky cliffs and picturesque lagoons, aquamarine water, white and fine sand, more developed infrastructure, oysters at the price of pollock, olive and citrus plantations. The best of the best: the lost village of Dhermi, the beaches of Himara, Borshch, Potami, Livadia, Palase, Saranda and Ksamil.

What else to do in Albania

See ancient sunken ships, underwater Posidonia meadows, caves and reefs in the Karaburun-Sazan Marine Reserve.

Arrange an unforgettable trek in the Albanian Alps. Yes, imagine, it has its own Alps - national park Valbona. 8,000 hectares of visual beauty are located 20 km from the town of Bayram Tsurri. You can only get here by car, but it’s worth it: gorges reminiscent of fjords, authentic villages, mountain lakes.

Travel to Berat - a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. A thousand windows look out onto the embankment. Cows graze not far from the shore. Children are frolicking. Look higher - this is a 12th century fortress. And no, this is not a museum piece. Ordinary people still live in it to this day.

Near Berat, on the Spirag mountain range, a huge Enver inscription was once carved in honor of the dictator. In 1992, the Communist Party was outlawed, and the inscription was changed to Never. Symbolic, sad, but inspiring. The dictatorship will never be repeated.

Continues the UNESCO list of Gjirokastra - the birthplace of Enver Hoxha and Mecca Ottoman Empire. Literally a city (gyro) around a (kastro) fortress. And there is a lot to see in the fortress: a tomb, artillery weapons, an Italian tank and a war museum. Entrance ticket 200 ALL.

30 km from Saranda are the ancient ruins of Butrint, dating back to the 6th century BC. Ticket price is 700 ALL.

Be sure to go to Lake Ohrid (also under UNESCO protection). Deep blue azure spilled over the border with North Macedonia. Here you forget about time. Silence. Fantastic landscapes and you.

Be sure to take a ride along the road near the Logara mountain pass, try lamb in yoghurt, tarator soup, šendetli, beef stew (farges), rakia vodka, Skanderbeg cognac, mussels, lobster, oysters and, of course, coffee.

Communications and Internet in Albania

Communications are not that simple. Wi-Fi points are available in hotels, internet cafes and large restaurants. On the beaches, in the mountains, remote populated areas there are problems with this.

There are only 2 providers:

Albtelecom. You can view the tariffs and choose a place to purchase a SIM card on the official website. 1 GB for 7 days will cost you 300 Lek, 2 GB for one month - 500 Lek.

A flight with Aegean from Domodedovo with a transfer in Athens costs about 200 euros round trip. You will spend 5 hours 20 minutes on the road. Airserbia flies from Sheremetyevo with transfers in Belgrade or Athens. Ticket price is from 100 to 150 € one way. From Vnukovo for 150 € in the direction of Tirana, Pobeda offers a flight with an independent connection in Bergamo, Italy.

A ferry runs between the Greek island of Corfu and the Albanian Saranda. In summer they depart at 7:30, 11:45, 13:00 and 19:00. The journey takes half an hour, and the fare is 1,500 rubles. You can buy from the directferries website.

Last changes: 10/18/2019

Public transport

In Albania public transport- a big headache for a foreigner. There is no system or structure. Nobody sticks to the schedule.

A bus that leaves 3 hours before the scheduled time is an Albanian reality. But these are not all surprises. Transport can leave and arrive in a completely different place than where it should. Therefore, as soon as you get to the right one, go up to the driver and ask where he will arrive and where he will go back from.

Features of moving around the country:

• Look for a spontaneous bus station in Tirana on Skanderbeg Square.

  IN major cities Focus on ticket sales counters. This is where the current and accurate timetable is.

  All intercity buses and minibuses only run until 2 pm.

  In the evening, not only intercity communications die out, but also urban transport.

  Most tourists travel by hitchhiking or in a rented car.

As for the railway, it performs only a formal function. Most of The railway track is currently undergoing reconstruction.

Trains run rarely, slowly (40 km/h) and according to rules that only they understand. You can wait half a day and not go in the intended direction.

All tickets can be purchased either at the ticket office on site or from the driver.

Conditional schedule of intercity transport.

Last changes: 10/18/2019

Traveling through the country of eagles by car

If you decide to travel around Albania to personal car, don’t forget your driver’s license, vehicle registration certificate and green insurance. The latter should cover not only the Schengen countries, but also Albania.

The roads are free. The quality of coverage greatly depends on the distance. The closer to Greece, the better.

Features of Albanian roads:

Fuel up at network gas stations; here gasoline is not mixed with anything that burns.

Payment for fuel in cash. It can be in euros, it can be in Leki. Cards are not accepted.

There are few traffic lights, signs and signs. Sometimes you go by feel.

Driving culture is low. They can stop in the middle of the road in the second row and start talking on Skype.

The turn signals don't turn on at all. They easily exceed the speed limit and pretend that the markings do not exist.

Violations that will not be forgiven: crossing a double solid line, driving while intoxicated and not fastening seat belts (passengers in the back are required to wear seat belts).

Formally, the speed in the city should be no more than 40 km/h, but everyone drives 60 km/h.

You can rent a car directly at the airport or on the Rentalcars.com aggregator. The rental price per day starts from 20 euros.

Last changes: 10/18/2019

The country is happily adopting the Spanish tradition of taking a siesta. From 1 pm to 4 or 5 pm, many cafes, small shops and souvenir shops are closed.

There is no point in taking a credit card here. Cards are only valid in large hypermarkets and hotels.

It is better to exchange currency at a bank. Albanians are very scattered. IN exchange offices they may inadvertently "cheat". And they do this not out of malice. It just happened that way.

Albanian establishments operate as they please. The rule of a strict schedule does not apply here either. If you hand over something for repair and the repairman answers “tomorrow”, this does not mean tomorrow at all. Tomorrow could happen in two days, a week or two.

Travel on a local minibus will cost about 300 ALL. If you find that you cannot pay the fare, tell the driver. And don't rush to leave the car. It is quite possible that they will take you there for free, out of the kindness of their hearts.

It's easy to find a taxi by its yellow coloring. Formally, taxi drivers drive according to the meter. But no one canceled the auction. The price of travel will drop, you just have to start bargaining.

It is easier to get acquainted with Albanian culture and traditions by communicating with local residents. Just a couple of phrases will instantly win over any person:

Enter 112 into contacts emergency help, 127 ambulance health care, 128 firefighters, 129 police, 126 highway patrol.

Last changes: 10/18/2019
On central square the capital, named after the great Albanian warrior Skanderbeg, has a monument to the commander, surrounded by government buildings of Italian architecture. On the right is the dome of the new Orthodox church. The reconstruction of the square is being carried out with the sponsorship of the Bank of Kuwait, which is financing the construction of Albania's largest mosque in the capital.

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. Railway connects Tirana with the port of Durres.

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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, General of the Ottoman Empire Suleiman Pasha Barjini, founder modern capital 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 most tall building 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 take a panoramic shot of the capital, I took the elevator to observation deck hotel. 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. Except 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, 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 management of Hochtief AirPort (Germany) for twenty years, which constructed a new building passenger terminal and modernization of the entire airport 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. The Palace of Culture appeared on the site of the Turkish bazaar, Historical building Parliament 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.


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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.


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


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Garden on the roof of a building



Basic moments

Albania is located off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Strait of Otranto, 75 km wide, separates Albania from Italy. Albania borders Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece. Area - 28.7 thousand km². The population of Albania is about 3.4 million people. The capital is the city of Tirana.

Albania gained its independence in 1912, before which it was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. During World War II, from 1939 to 1944, the country was occupied by Italy. From 1944 to 1992, Albania was ruled by the communist Albanian Party of Labor, which pursued a policy of artificially isolating the country from the outside world. The consequences of this are still felt today: the standard of living in Albania is one of the lowest in Europe.

Albania is a single-ethnic country, Albanians make up 97% of the population. They are descendants of the ancient population of the Balkans - the Illyrians and Thracians. Official language country - Albanian is not similar to any of the European languages. Most Albanians are Sunni Muslims.

Along the Albanian coast of the Adriatic stretches a narrow, hilly plain. In the south, east and north it is framed by high peaked mountain ranges covered with forest. The highest point in the country is Mount Corabi (2764 m). In the north of Albania, on the border with Yugoslavia, rises the North Albanian Alps. Albania partially owns three large lakes- Ohrid, Shkoder (Skadar) and Prespa. The largest rivers in the country are Drin and Mati.

The climate in Albania is Mediterranean, with dry, hot summers (24-25 °C) and mild, rainy winters (8-9 °C). There is snow in the mountains for several months in winter. The main natural attractions of Albania are mountains cut through by deep narrow valleys and picturesque lakes, primarily Ohrid. Monuments of ancient Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman architecture, and fragments of Byzantine fresco painting have been preserved in Albania. The largest cities in the country include Tirana, Durres, Shkodra, Vlora, Korca, Elbasan.

Geographical data

Except coastline, then it should be recognized that all the borders of Albania were drawn artificially. They were mainly determined at the conference of ambassadors of the great powers in London (1912-1913). During the First World War, Albania was occupied by Italian, Serbian, Greek and French troops, but in 1921 the victorious states largely confirmed the previously established borders. The borders were drawn in such a way as to separate the territories of compact residence of Albanians from neighboring peoples - Serbs, Montenegrins and Greeks, while trying to take into account the interests of all parties as much as possible and, if possible, to use the most noticeable elements of the relief when drawing borders. At the same time, the lake region of western Macedonia was divided between three states - Albania, Greece and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

The division of the lake region between the three states was carried out in such a way that each side received its share of the lowlands adjacent to the lakes. Such an artificial division, of course, influenced the passage of borders in the northern and south direction from the lakes. The northward boundary follows the ridge line to the east, but is approximately 16 to 32 km from the watershed. Albanian border at far north and northeast - where it passes through mountainous regions - is carried out in such a way that it connects the most high points relief and follows the line of mountain ranges through the almost impassable Northern Albanian Alps (locally called Bjeshkët e Namunës). Along the section of the northwestern border between the highlands and the Adriatic, natural boundaries are largely absent, with the exception of Lake Shkoder and a section of the Buna River to the south of it.

To the south and southwest of the lake district towards the Ionian Sea, Albania's southeastern border does not follow landforms, but directly intersects several mountain ranges.

As a result of such drawing of borders, a fairly significant part of the Albanian population found itself outside the borders of the national state, which subsequently led to numerous conflicts between the large Albanian diaspora and the authorities of the states of residence.

Attractions

The capital of Albania - Tirana - beckons you to take a leisurely stroll along the central streets and get acquainted with its sights. You should start with Skenderberg Square, where the monument with the same name is located.

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

The best views of Tirana can be seen, oddly enough, from the Cemetery of Martyrs.

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

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

In the vicinity of Shkoder, visit the Lead Mosque and Rozafa Fortress.

In the south of the country, in the valley of the Drin River, is the city of Gjirokastra. Here it is worth getting acquainted with the Bazaar Mosque, as well as visiting the citadel, dating back to the 14th century, which towers over the city. Now it functions as a Weapons Museum. In the lower part of the city you can visit the ancient Turkish baths.

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

In Durres, the Venetian Towers and Ahmet Zog's Palace also deserve attention.

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 most clean places in the country.

There are no historical sights here, but tourists are offered to visit several museums. For example, the Museum of Medieval Art, as well as the 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 of Mangalem with its unique architecture. In the city there are very interesting churches of the Holy Trinity and Evangelists to explore.

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!

Kitchen

The national cuisine of Albania is very diverse. Traditional dishes here are a mixture of Balkan traditions and European cooking features. A good climate creates the most favorable conditions for growing a variety of vegetables and fruits, without which, naturally, 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 some Albanian ones meat dishes, which you should definitely try if you come here: tav elbuasani - meat baked with yogurt; Fergesa Tirane - 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. Baklava and pudding are often prepared using 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. Among alcohols, local rakia and herbal tuning “Fernet” are especially held in high esteem.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Albania is not yet as good as we would like. Local hotels in last years do not reach the European level, the 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 of the cities 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 the 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.

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

There is a small secluded beach near Dhermi 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 are Durres (one of the largest Albanian beaches) and St. 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 located in Durres and Saranda.

Shopping

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, national musical instruments self made local artisans. Rakia, the local vodka, is often brought from Albania.

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.

The situation with by rail 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. Telephones from which you can call outside the country are only available on the streets major cities. You can also make an international call from your hotel or post office.

IN big cities and tourist centers have internet cafes.

Major Russian mobile operators offer roaming in 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

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 beneficial to do things here tourism business or the service sector. 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.

Useful information for tourists about Albania, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Albania, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Albania.

Information about Albania

• Capital: Tirana
• Territory: about 28.74 thousand square meters. km.
• Country code: +355
• Domain: .al
• Network: 220V
• Time: Moscow: -2 hours
• A visa is required to enter

Geography of Albania

The Republic of Albania is 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.

Popular cities and resorts




State

State structure

The government system is a democratic republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The highest legislative body is parliament (unicameral People's Assembly).

Language

Official language: Albanian

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

Many residents understand Greek, Italian and some Slavic languages.

Religion

Albania is the only one European country which has a Muslim majority. Sunni Muslims (70%), Christians (Greek Orthodox Church - 20%, Catholics - 10%) and representatives of other faiths.

Currency

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 national currency.

Albania Map




Popular attractions

Tourism in Albania

Popular hotels




Albanian cuisine

Historical and geographical features, the convenience of the coastline, the favorable climate, and 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, Ancient Rome.

Many dishes were introduced by the Byzantines, Venetians, and Arabs. As in neighboring Italy, here you can taste 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, corn is used to produce flour for national dish"target".

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 best resorts peace.

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...

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.

Office hours

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

Medicine

The level of medicine in Albania is low. There is a constant shortage of basic medical supplies.

Safety

You should always take security measures against pickpockets, especially in crowded areas or on transport. It is worth noting that crime still exists, especially theft, so you should be especially careful and not openly display passports, currency, photographic and video equipment, which are objects of high interest for local criminals.

LANGUAGE OF ALBANIA

Albanian has two main forms - Tosk and Ghegian dialects.

RELIGION OF ALBANIA

Sunni Muslims - 70%, Orthodox (Greek Orthodox Church) - 20%, Catholics - 10%. From 1967 to 1990, Albania was the only country in the world where atheism was officially proclaimed at the state level, many churches were converted into theaters and cultural centers. It is now the only European country with a Muslim majority.

GEOGRAPHY OF ALBANIA

The country is located in southeastern Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. In the north and north-west it borders with Serbia and Montenegro, in the east - with the Republic of Macedonia, in the south-east and south - with Greece. The western border is washed by the Adriatic, the southwestern - by the Ionian seas. Much of the country has mountainous and elevated terrain, with deep, fertile valleys. The country has several large lakes, stretching along the borders with Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Greece. One of them - Ohrid - is the deepest in the Balkans (294 m). Albania is one of the smallest countries in Europe - total area the country is about 28.74 thousand square meters. km.

CLIMATE OF ALBANIA

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 windward western slopes mountains At altitudes above 1000 meters in mountainous areas, snow cover lasts for several months. Best time to visit the country - 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 can be quite favorable.

POLITICAL STATE OF ALBANIA

The government system is a democratic republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The highest legislative body is parliament (unicameral People's Assembly). The political situation in the country is quite complicated, Albania is involved in the conflict in Kosovo, there is a fairly large number of independent armed formations on the country’s territory, and the economic situation is quite difficult.

CURRENCY OF ALBANIA

Lek. US dollars and the German mark are freely circulated along with the national currency. Currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices, and there is also a free market for convertible currency, which usually operates on the street in front of post offices or the State Bank. Transactions on the street are considered legally legal. Cash is preferred in all cases, credit cards are not accepted, and the use of traveler's checks is also extremely limited. Some large banks They exchange American dollar travel checks into cash without commission, but this is rather an exception. Tipping is required almost everywhere, in restaurants - 10%.

ALBANIA TIME

It is 2 hours behind Moscow.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF ALBANIA

Albania has a number of spectacular natural sites that attract the attention of the traveler - rocky peaks and picturesque mountains, overgrown with dense forest, beautiful beaches under the warm Mediterranean sun and the azure blue waters of the Adriatic. The country's coastlines are magnificent and could seriously compete with Croatia and Italy. In addition to the beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania has a range of historical attractions to offer, the country's architecture is a frivolous mixture of religions, styles, cultures and landscapes, from monuments of the ancient Greek period to Muslim minarets, from idyllic mountain resorts, many of which were founded by the Romans, to monasteries of all faiths. Relics of one of Europe's longest dictatorships are surrounded by citrus orchards, olive groves and vineyards. Dilapidated factories stand next to breathtaking mosques, ornate Greek orthodox churches may be just steps away from pompous Stalinist-style palaces of culture.

Tirana, the capital of Albania since 1920, is compact and pleasant to explore on foot. Most excursions in Tirana begin from the large open square of Skanderberg in the city center, bounded on the east by the heights of Mount Dajiti (1612 m), the nearby market is also worth a detailed study - it is unlikely that anywhere else in Europe you will be able to visit a real oriental bazaar with all its attributes (including, attention!!, a large number of market pickpockets).

National Museum History is the largest and best museum in Albania, you will find it next to the 15-storey 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. On south side The building contains the entrance to the National Library, and opposite it is the dome and minaret of the Etem Mei Mosque, built in 1793, one of the most expressive buildings in the city, and near the mosque is the Tirana Clock Tower, built in 1830.

Along the embankment of the Lana River, south of the capital, rise the white marble walls of the former Enver Hoxha Museum, which is sometimes used as a center for various exhibitions and in the future will turn into the largest discotheque in Europe. Further south, on Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard, is the state-of-the-art Congress Palace and Archaeological Museum, which has a fantastic selection of exhibits from prehistoric times to the medieval period.

Tirana's attractions also include the Museum of National Culture, the Museum of Natural History and an excellent art gallery. The city of Shkoder (or Shkodra, and 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 Drina rivers merge. The city is graced by the imposing Sheikh Zamil Abdullah Al-Zamil Mosque, and next to it is the Muzoe Popullo ("Public Museum"), which has an impressive collection of historical photographs, including those showing the country's recent "socialist" past, and also has an impressive archaeological collection. located in lower floors. Shkodra was previously also the most influential Catholic city in Albania, and the impressive Franciscan church on Rruga Ndre Mjeda is now again one of the main Christian churches countries. The legendary Rozafa Fortress is 2 km away. southwest of Shkodra, near the southern tip of Lake Skodar. Below the fortress lies the multi-domed Lead Mosque, the only mosque in the city that escaped destruction during the Cultural Revolution of the 60s.

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 Drina River. The city was well known as a large shopping mall already by the 13th century, but the Turkish occupation, which began in 1417, led to its decline. However, by the 17th century the city flourished 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 a weapons museum. The buildings of the Ethnographic Museum and the old Turkish baths are located 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.

In Durres (Duraccio in Italian), 38 km. west of Tirana, there is an interesting ancient city founded in 627 BC. e. by the Greeks. 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. Roman ruins and fortifications adorn this major industrial city and trading port, Albania's second largest city. Most excursions start from the Archaeological Museum, which overlooks the embankment near the port. Behind the museum are the walls of a 6th-century Byzantine city built after the Visigoth invasion in 481 AD. e., reinforced by round Venetian towers in the 14th century. Roman Amphitheater, built between the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. e., still looks quite impressive, and stands on a constantly sunlit hillside inside the fortress walls. The old palace of King Ahmet Zog is located to the west of the amphitheater, and in front of it stands a statue of the country's founder, Skanderberg, and, in sharp dissonance, huge radar dishes installed by the Italian army. When you're in the city center, don't miss the Roman Baths behind the Teatro Alexandre Moisu in the central square.

Kukes, 100 km. northeast of Tirana, lies above the high bank of the picturesque mountain lake Fierza, just below the top of the almost bald Mount Galiki (2486 m.). Old city formerly stood at the confluence of two rivers, the White Drina and the Black Drina, flowing from Lake Ohrid, but in 1962 the city was moved to its modern location when the government built a hydroelectric dam and the river flooded its location. Now this 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.

Berat, located 122 km. southeast of Tirana, it is Albania's second most important museum city after Gjirokastra, and is sometimes called the "city of a thousand windows" due to the many windows in its red-tiled buildings, as if specially oriented "to the sun" to the rays were reflected in the glass. Along the ridge that runs above the city, above a rugged gorge, lies a 14th-century citadel that protected small Greek Orthodox churches such as the Cathedral of Our Lady, as well as the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Church of the Evangelists. On the slope below the citadel lies Mangalem, the old Muslim quarter, and a stone bridge of seven arched spans leads to Gorika, the Christian quarter. The city has several fine mosques - the Lead Mosque, the Royal Mosque, the Bachelor's Mosque and the Alveti Tekke ("lesser shrine") where Islamic dervish sects were located. Korca, 179 km. southeast of Tirana, main city Eastern style, located on a high (869 m.) plateau near the Greek border, south of Lake Ohrid. This is the largest carpet-making center in Albania, founded by the Greeks. The city's excellent museums include Muzeu i Artet Mesjetar Shqiptar (Museum of Albanian Medieval Art), Muzeu Historik and Muzeu i Arsimit Kombetar (Museum of Education). Many of the old town's buildings were destroyed by earthquakes in 1931 and 1960, which toppled minarets and destroyed many ancient churches, but some of the colorful buildings of old Korca survived, including a 15th-century mosque in the bazaar area, west of the Ilirija Hotel.

The ancient ruins of Butrint lie almost on the country's southern border with Greece, 160 km away. 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. Nevertheless, local residents proudly continue to consider themselves descendants of the glory of Troy. For many centuries since the time of the ancient Greeks, Butrint has been fortified trading city with its own acropolis, the ruins of which can still be visited, baths and rest houses for the nobility. Somewhat below the acropolis, in the thick of the forest, is a theater dating back to the 3rd century BC. e. Nearby are public baths with geometric mosaics, and a little deeper in the forest is a wall from the 6th century BC. e. with Greek inscriptions and a baptistery decorated with colorful mosaics of animals and birds. Nearby, a large area is occupied by a triangular fortress built by the military leader Ali Pasha Tepelena in 19th century. The Ionian coast of the country, especially the "Riviera of Flowers" from Vlore to Saranda, has the most beautiful seashores in this country. Albania has six National Parks, 24 nature reserves and natural monuments, but the protection of all these areas is carried out mainly on paper.

ENTRY RULES OF ALBANIA

Citizens of the EU, Australia, USA, Canada and several other countries do not require a visa. A visa can be obtained either at the consular department of the embassy or when crossing the border by paying the price equivalent to the cost of a visa for Albanians to your country (or 30 - 75 US dollars depending on the length of stay in the country).

ALBANIA CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

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