A story about an independent trip to Albania. Guide to the beaches of Albania Albania where to go

Olya Shukaylo, 29 years old.

He has lived at the same address in Minsk all his life. In 2008, I visited Poland for the first time with a group of reenactors and realized that I loved to travel. In 2010, I fell in love with photography of Gdansk, but I couldn’t find a company and had to go alone. Having experienced the thrill of solo travel, he continues to do it whenever possible. Increasingly, people are asking the question: take a camera with you or make do with an iPhone.

Why Albania?

Albania is mysterious and unpopular. Even a little wild. Especially if you go there alone. Albania is a good choice if you are traveling through the Balkans, for example on the way from Macedonia to Montenegro or vice versa. It is also a country with an interesting history, rich nature and unusual architecture. Having enlisted the support of friends at the Central counter in the spirit of “They’ll cut out your kidneys there” or “Did you buy a burqa?”, I began to look for interesting places in Albania on Instagram. And I found so many of them that I will have to go there a second time. Although I admit, a couple of days before leaving, doubts crept in: should I go to Serbia instead of Albania? But the desire to send a postcard with the words “I did it!” turned out to be stronger.

It boasts an ideal climate for summer holidays, the hospitality of its residents, hearty and varied cuisine and magnificent nature. Some of its backwardness from the tourist-advanced powers of the region is more than compensated for by its untouched landscapes and perfectly clean sea. What else does a person who decides to devote his vacation to traveling to Albania need?

Important points

  • If you have citizenship and are going to go to Albanian beaches or take a walk along the old town from June 1 to October 31 inclusive, you will not need a visa for up to 90 days. Those wishing to fly to Albania at other times of the year will have to register at the country's consulate and pay a fee of 15 euros. Having a valid Schengen visa, a tourist can enter the country at any time.
  • Don't rely too much on credit cards in Albania. They are accepted for payment only in large hotels and expensive restaurants. You can find ATMs for withdrawing money from your card in almost any major locality in the country.
  • Do not delve into political and religious topics in conversations with Albanians. Citizens of the republic are still too conservative in such matters.

Choosing wings

Nightingales are not fed fables

Excellent Balkan cuisine, based on olives and homemade cheeses, fruits and vegetables, selected lamb and seafood, is the main advantage of Albanian catering. There are still few overly luxurious restaurants even in Tirana, but small cafes with homemade dishes and a cozy, comfortable atmosphere look much more authentic here.
The average bill for two for lunch with hot food and wine in a cafe in Albania is unlikely to exceed 20 euros. At the same time, the portions in local restaurants are so substantial that one salad or main course can easily be shared between two people.

Useful details

  • When finding out the price of a particular product, do not forget to ask whether it is indicated in the old or new system. Unscrupulous sellers may add an extra zero, taking advantage of tourists’ ignorance.
  • The majority of the country's population professes Islam, and therefore the rules of behavior in public places, the dress code adopted in such states and special politeness towards women and the elderly should be strictly observed.
  • Fines for not wearing a seat belt or talking on a mobile phone while driving in Albania are not too high and amount to no more than ten euros in European currency.
  • The price of one liter of gasoline fluctuates around 1.16 euros.
  • Intercity bus services between Albanian cities have a fairly stable schedule. Still, it is better not to plan trips in the evening - these are the flights that are most often cancelled.

The perfect trip to Albania

Washed by the Ionian and Adriatic seas, Albania is a country with a classic Mediterranean climate. Summers are dry and quite hot, and winters are mild and humid. At the height of July, the air temperature on the sea coast in Albania reaches +35°C, and in January it usually does not fall below +10°C. Sunbathing and swimming on the beaches of Albania, despite the heat, is quite comfortable, as sea breezes bring freshness and coolness.
Most precipitation falls in early spring and late autumn. There are at least three hundred sunny days a year.

– a country still little explored by tourists. It is located on the shores of the Ionian and Adriatic seas and the sun almost always shines here. Therefore, if you choose a beach holiday in Albania, where is it better to go? - this is the main question that will worry you.

The best Adriatic beaches

The Adriatic part of the Albanian coast starts from the border with Montenegro and extends to the Gulf of Vlora. This bay, sheltered from the wind, has several convenient beaches. There is something suitable here for tourists with different hobbies.

Cozy lagoons attract lovers of ecotourism; here you can observe Albanian nature and relax as a “savage”. The small fishing village of Shengjin is best suited for ecotourism. All conditions for tourists are created here, as close to natural as possible. You can go fishing by renting equipment and eat natural products. For tourists who prefer sightseeing holidays, trips to various historical places will be offered - museums and centuries-old fortresses will open their doors to them.

On the coast of Vlora there are comfortable beaches with a well-developed infrastructure - there are many bars, cafes and restaurants, and other entertainment places. All beaches are surrounded by beautiful pine forests. Here you can easily rent a room in one of the local hotels.

Another popular resort in Albania is Durres. It is located near the capital Tirana. There are many different entertainment venues and comfortable hotels. On the other hand, this city has a large port, which scares off many tourists.

Popular beaches of the Ionian coast

In this part of Albania the sea is much deeper than in the Adriatic part. Therefore, a holiday here is suitable for extreme sports enthusiasts. The beaches are mostly small pebbles, so it is not very convenient to relax with children. But the infrastructure is developed quite well - there are many entertainment venues, cafes and restaurants for every taste.

For tourists who prefer a calm and measured holiday, the town of Saranda is suitable. From the coast you can admire Corfu, and for entertainment, a trip to Butrint - the ruins of the ancient city - is perfect.

For a comfortable stay, head to Dhermi. Olives and citrus fruits are grown here, so you can enjoy fresh fruit. There are many comfortable hotels and expensive restaurants in Dhermi; the infrastructure of the town is constantly expanding.

Albania is the hidden gem of the Mediterranean. Relax on the clean beaches of the Adriatic, the tiny capital of Tirana, beautiful nature and cultural attractions, and also generous cuisine. Everything about Albania from the Subtleties of Tourism: maps, tours, photos and reviews of tourists.

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The most little-known Balkan country by the general tourist community, Albania is comfortably located on the gentle waves of the Adriatic and Ionian seas, surrounded by its coastal neighbors, more popular among vacationers - Greece and Montenegro. For many years, Albania remained isolated from the world, which is why most know disappointingly little about its rich cultural heritage and beautiful nature with picturesque canyons and beautiful clean beaches. The local population is hospitable in the Balkan way, which is expressed in plentiful and tasty food, more than reasonable prices for tours and a respectful, if not loving, attitude towards everyone who has shown interest in their modest country.

It is not for nothing that the slogan of the National Tourism Office says: “Albania - new love in the Mediterranean.” In a word, they are waiting for us there, which means we have to go!

Regions and resorts of Albania

Time difference from Moscow

− 1 hour in winter −2 hours

  • with Kaliningrad
  • with Samara
  • with Yekaterinburg
  • with Omsk
  • with Krasnoyarsk
  • with Irkutsk
  • with Yakutsk
  • with Vladivostok
  • from Severo-Kurilsk
  • with Kamchatka

Climate

Albania has a mild Mediterranean climate with fairly hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average temperature in July on the coast is +28...+32 °C, in January - +8...+10 °C. High summer temperatures on the coast are easily tolerated due to the constantly blowing Mediterranean breeze. The tourist season lasts from May to September, but it is also comfortable to be outdoors in April and October. There are about 300 sunny days a year. It rains in early spring and late autumn. In the mountains of Albania the climate is much colder - in winter the temperature can drop to −20 ° C, and above 1000 m there is snow for most of the year.

Maps of Albania

Visa and customs

Every year during the summer, citizens of the Russian Federation can enter Albania without a visa for up to 90 days. During the rest of the year, a visa and medical insurance are required for the entire duration of the trip.

You are allowed to import any items for personal use into Albania, including jewelry, photographic and video equipment. The import of local currency is strictly prohibited, but foreign currency can be taken with you without restrictions. Tobacco, alcoholic beverages and perfumes are allowed across the border in reasonable quantities: up to 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco), up to 1 liter of strong alcohol, up to 2 liters of wine, from perfumery - a maximum of 50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of eau de toilette.

Pets will not be allowed in without a veterinary passport, a microchip and a certificate of vaccination against rabies.

It is prohibited to import weapons and explosives, drugs, pornography and any materials that offend national dignity. To export items made of precious metals, ancient coins and scrolls, antiques and art objects, you must present a document confirming the purchase. Antiquities - even stones from archaeological excavations - cannot leave the country: you will have to be content with copies of ancient artifacts sold everywhere.

How to get to Albania

There are 5 airports in Albania, but only one accepts international flights - them. Mother Teresa 11 km northwest of Tirana. There are no direct flights from Russia, but you can get there without any problems with transfers. The cheapest tickets from Moscow are offered by Aegean Airlines: departure from Domodedovo, connection in Athens, travel time - from 5 hours 45 minutes. The same carrier has routes with two transfers in tandem with Olympic Air: almost a day on the road with stops in Thessaloniki and Athens.

Police - 19, fire service - 18, ambulance - 17.

Beaches of Albania

The climate of Albania is subtropical Mediterranean, ideal for a beach holiday. Summer is dry, hot, sunny - you just need to stock up on SPF products and choose a beach to your liking: on the Ionian Sea the beaches are mostly rocky, popular with athletes and party-goers, on the Adriatic they are sandy, suitable for families with children. Almost all of them are free, well-groomed, not too crowded and very picturesque.

One of the most famous resorts of the Ionian coast is Saranda, the beginning of the “flower Riviera”. There are several pebble beaches within the city, the water in the bay is clean, there is a pedestrian promenade with cafes and souvenir shops nearby, the infrastructure is developed - there are amenities, sun loungers, and scooter rentals.

Nearby is the town of Ksamil with a sandy beach and a dazzling blue sea - many wealthy Albanians build summer houses here. Of the amenities, however, there are only sun loungers and umbrellas, but the coast is surrounded by a necklace of tiny uninhabited islands, which are easy to swim to by yourself or on a catamaran.

Dhermi is an elite resort in the middle of a 5-kilometer beach, located between the Karaburun Peninsula and the Monastery of St. Theodore. During the day you can ride catamarans and jet skis, and in the evening you can dance at beach parties. Vlora is a resort border between two seas: there are sandy, pebble and rocky areas, noisy and quiet, equipped and untouched by civilization.

A set of umbrella and sun lounger costs an average of 300 ALL per day.

The largest population center on the Adriatic coast is Durres, a bustling seaport. It’s better not to swim within the city, but in the suburbs, for example, in Cerrete, the water is clean, the sand is well-groomed, there are no crowds, the air is saturated with the aromas of pine trees. The coast of Shengjin is also well-maintained, framed by coniferous forests.

Not far from Tirana, the Lalzit Bay splashes - warm, clear waters wash the coast of soft white sand. And Pogradec stands on Lake Ohrid, which in all respects resembles the sea: the shore is sandy, the water is clean, the bottom is flat - a haven for children and their parents.

The best photos of Albania

Diving

Albania is not as popular a diving destination as, for example, neighboring Italy and Greece, but this is a plus: there are few people, the water is clean and transparent, and the prices are quite reasonable. The most suitable time for diving is from May to September, but if you wish, you can dive throughout the spring, summer and autumn.

Water temperature in summer is +23...+26 °C, visibility in most locations is 10-15 m, the main beauty lies at a depth of 20-30 m, some wrecks are even at 50 m. There are no strong currents, there are some along the coast areas for both experienced divers and beginners. For the latter, by the way, there are several schools that teach in all popular areas and issue official certificates.

Albania's underwater treasures include numerous caves, reefs and rivers. The picturesque cape of Kepi Rhodonit near Shengjin, the sparkling waters of Himara in the sun, tiny islands off the coast of Ksamil - everywhere you can observe marine life, study the details of the sandy or rocky bottom.

The most popular place among fans of snorkeling, scuba diving and freediving is the coast of Saranda: it is there that an Italian cargo ship that sank during World War II and a 70-meter Albanian minesweeper rest. The Antonio car ferry was sunk off the coast of Vlora, and an impressive Chinese frigate was sunk near Ksamil. And in the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park there are sharks, sea turtles, dolphins and monk seals.

Shopping

Albania cannot be called a shopaholic's paradise, but you can definitely find a couple of nice souvenirs. Just look at the local markets and colorful shops, bursting with all kinds of ethnic goods. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the products of artisans: wooden and bone figurines, woven and knitted napkins, dishes, jewelry made of copper and silver.

The most original trinket is an ashtray in the form of a bunker: throughout the country, concrete structures similar to mushrooms and designed for one person are dug into the ground - dictator Hoxha was obsessed with the threat from the outside and built 700 thousand mini-fortresses for his citizens.

The home collection of alcohol should be replenished with prestigious award-winning Korca beer, Skanderbeg cognac and rakia vodka, reminiscent of either Georgian chacha or Arabic arak. For edible souvenirs, we recommend olives from Vlora, olive oil and aromatic spices from the south.

In Albania they sell truly high-quality Christmas tree decorations: handmade from thin glass, painted with traditional patterns, costing 120-4000 ALL. Even more status gifts are luxurious carpets produced since the 16th century (real ones cost 16,000-30,000 ALL), national costumes (the price is similar) and exquisite jewelry. But copies of ancient works, sold everywhere, are inexpensive - from 3500 ALL.

Most Albanian shops are open from 9:00 to 18:00, but tourist-oriented outlets are open longer and receive visitors even on weekends.

Tirana has full-fledged shopping malls with clothing from international brands: for example, Tirana East Gate is one of the largest shopping centers in the Balkans. Kruje is famous for its old market with perhaps the lowest prices in the country. And the end of February is the time of grand sales: discounts reach 70-85%!

Cuisine and restaurants of Albania

400 years of Ottoman rule were not in vain: Albanian cuisine is based on Turkish traditions. Rewritten in a new way, combined with Italian and Greek plots into a very unusual gastronomic mix. In the north they prefer fish and vegetables, in the central regions - meat, in the south - seafood and plant products. All this is generously seasoned with aromatic spices.

A favorite breakfast is wheat or corn bread with butter, cheese or jam, accompanied by yogurt, tea or coffee. For lunch, try the tave kozi lamb, braised until tender and baked in a mixture of eggs and Greek yoghurt, or the homemade chebapi sausages made from ground beef and lamb. Seafood dishes are good for dinner: sea bass with tomatoes, brodetto soup with crabs, risotto with all sorts of additives that recently roamed the coastal waters.

Albania has cozy family restaurants with authentic cuisine and numerous eateries with European, Italian, and South American menus. A fast food snack costs 500-750 ALL per person, a 3-course lunch in a mid-level establishment costs 1100-1800 ALL for two, dinner in a good restaurant with wine costs from 2500 ALL for two.

Boiled and canned corn is popular among vegetables, cold “tarator” with kefir is popular among soups, and sheep’s milk and the basis for soft cheese are among farm products. The best snack to go with beer is fried kefte meatballs. For dessert, you can take puff pastry cannoli from Sicily, caramel cream, cabuni rice pudding with sugar syrup, cinnamon and cloves, or the famous baklava. And among the drinks, a must-taste is “bose” made from water, sugar and flour, wheat and corn.

Guides in Albania

Entertainment and attractions of Albania

A succession of rulers, wars and truces, thaws and revolutions have left traces on Albanian soil that are timeless. More precisely, the sights: ancient amphitheaters and forums, medieval castles and fortresses, solemn mosques and monumental bridges.

The starting point is the main square of Tirana with government offices, a monument to the hero of the nation Skanderbeg (the square is named after him), the Ephem Bey mosque, symbolizing religious freedom, and a clock tower with an observation deck. The country's largest Catholic church is St. Paul's Cathedral, with stained glass windows depicting Mother Teresa and John Paul II.

You can see Tirana in all its glory from Mount Daiti, 26 km east of the capital.

The “Pyramid”, a witness to the era of dictator Hoxha, reminds of the sad past, and the ultra-modern Palace of Congress brings us back to the present day. Justinian's fortress dates back to the 14th century, the stone Tabak Bridge with three arches dates back to the 17th-18th centuries. You can scroll through the remaining pages of Albanian history at the National Historical (office site in English) and Archaeological Museums.

In Saranda, it is worth seeing the Butrint Museum-Reserve - an ancient city founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC. e., with an amphitheater, baptistery, cathedral and other monuments of great empires. In Durres there is the oldest amphitheater in the Balkans: bloody battles raged there already in the 1st and 2nd centuries. The city itself began with a citadel founded in the 5th century by the Byzantine ruler Anastasius. The Fatih Mosque with its austere minaret was erected in honor of the conquering Turkish sultan, and only a few elegant columns remained from the Byzantine Forum and rotunda.

The Venetian Tower, overlooking the citadel of Durres, now houses a trendy bar.

Notable in Shkoder are the Rozafa fortress on an impregnable rock, the Lead Mosque (liquid lead as a binding solution, many domes and not a single minaret) and the Orthodox Church of the Nativity. Above Vlora rises the Muradiye Mosque, reminiscent of the temples of Istanbul, and in the surrounding area are the ruins of the ancient port of Apollonia. In Pogradec, the neo-Byzantine Church of the Resurrection, the snow-white mosque and the ruins of the citadel are worthy of attention, in Gjirokastra - a powerful fort with a weapons museum and the Palorto quarter with colorful buildings, and in Korça - the Museum of Education in the building of the first Albanian school.

Holidays and Events

Albanians celebrate the New Year with the whole world on January 1-2: textbook fireworks, parties and feasts - everything as it should be. On these same dates, Kalendra falls - the symbolic turn of winter: once in his honor round loaves were baked and all misfortunes were “burned” in ritual bonfires. Catholic Christmas on December 25 is also considered a national holiday: children are waiting for gifts, the air is filled with anticipation of a miracle.

January 11 is Republic Day, proclaimed after the expulsion of the Germans by the forces of the National Liberation Army. October 19 is Mother Teresa's Day: it was then that the legendary native of Albania was beatified. November 28 is Flag Day: red, like the blood of patriots, with a black double-headed eagle in the middle. And on November 29, the country celebrates liberation from fascist troops.

On December 5-6, St. Nicholas of the Winter is honored: during the day one must fast, so the feast with the obligatory roast lamb begins late at night.

Muslim and Christian holidays are celebrated in Albania: Navruz, Kurban Bayram, Eid al-Adha, Good Friday, Easter, Orthodox Christmas. Cultural and sporting events take place several times a year: in Tirana there are opera and jazz festivals, in Gjirokaster, once every five years, there is a folklore festival with concerts, fairs and dance shows, and in the mountainous regions there is a large-scale rock climbing festival.

There will be no neat stories and beautiful pictures taken with a quadcopter during normal operating hours. Only the harsh reality and truth of life. Go.

For the second year now, the country has been incredibly popular among our citizens who prefer a budget holiday at sea, in the mountains, or just adventures without a specific goal.

Some people see this country as Euro-trash with garbage dumps, poverty, gypsies, beggars and street gangs. What else can you expect from people who have been led for decades by a maniacal paranoid with the habits of a dictator?

Others have found their Albanian paradise somewhere around Ksamil or Saranda and enjoy the warm sea, organic food and reasonable prices. Today it is the cheapest country for sea holidays in Europe.

Both will always find and get what they came for.

We didn't wait or look for anything. I was bursting with healthy curiosity and the opportunity to see another Europe. Moreover, it is located on Balkans, which we were going to go around the perimeter. We drove through the country from south to north through the Greek border high in the mountains (Kakavia checkpoint) and, having reached the border with Montenegro in the area of ​​Lake Shkoder, we sent further along route.

I will also write a review post on Tirana, article on Albanian attractions And . Now a little about everything - fresh impressions of the trip upon arrival. Perhaps somewhere it won’t coincide with what the travel agency “drawn” for you, but that’s how it is...

First "dislike"

The first emotion when crossing the Greek-Albanian border is so dark... and so interesting. Destroyed buildings, gray-black bare mountains without forest or greenery, ugly graffiti on abandoned buildings and protruding bunkers - sometimes in dozens standing just above the road. After half an hour of driving - a gypsy camp - hundreds of meters of gray barracks, scattered rags (or was it clothes?), strange people along the road with unkind faces.

This was all intensified by heavy rain and thunderstorms, as well as several hours of mountain serpentine before the coast appeared. The same mood was dictated by the first post on Facebook, it also became the last due to problems with reading the SD card, after which all the experienced ones decided that they didn’t like me and prepared to unfriend me. Don't rush, everything is fine.

Places you need to know

I haven’t seen anything like the one in Greek Halkidiki (Sithonia), when you can stop anywhere along a kilometer of coastline, catch some zen and shoot until you run out of space on your memory card. At least in the section from Saranda to Vlore. More precisely, there are beautiful places, one of them is in the photo, but in Albania you need to know the places - it’s not worth going to the country without information preparation.

About Albanian roads

On the section from the border with Greece almost to the city of Vlorë there is a hellish driving but incredibly beautiful mountain serpentine road. The road winds along the sea, going up and down, sometimes going into the mountains. After Vlora, a plain begins and something similar to a highway begins; from Tirana to Lake Shkoder there is a good quality road. Details about driving on Albanian roads there will also be material.

One hundred kilometers in the mountains will take more than three hours, and if with stops on steep cliffs overlooking the coast and mountains, it will take all of five hours. Take this into account when planning.

The quality of the roads is excellent, although not Croatia, of course. Mountain roads are extremely narrow, in places for one car. There are no tunnels. There are no gas stations in the mountains - you will have to go down to the cities or fill up a full tank before the trip. I didn't see this as such a big problem.

By Albania You can safely drive without a navigator, there are signs everywhere, even in remote places and villages. It’s difficult to get lost if you know the name of the locality you’re going to.

About drivers

In some places they are similar to those from Kyiv, only their “habits” are slightly different. Stopping in the middle of the road in front of you, without changing course or pulling over to the side of the road to talk with a familiar pedestrian, is the norm for everyone, without exception. Naturally, no displays of turns when changing lanes, turning or parking. 90% of Albanian drivers drive this way. This should not be considered a violation or a sign of disrespect - this is just such a driving style, the usual norm.

The cars on the streets are often used BMWs, Audis or Mercedes - in Albania, just like here, they like to show status. The percentage of new luxury cars is high, which is typical for corrupt developing countries. According to rumors, many of them are stolen, the percentage reaches 90.

Currency of Albania

The official currency of Albania is the Albanian lek, the exchange rate to the euro is end of 2018– 124 lek for 1 euro (has strengthened over the past year). Not everyone, even experienced travelers, knows about this currency, just as not everyone is first interested in the lek to euro exchange rate. This is a mistake that is often used at gas stations and markets. Read more about wiring in Albania.

About Albanian wiring

I already wrote on Facebook, but I’ll repeat it for those who don’t follow me.

You can joke all you want about Albanian dirty streets and beaches and not always European people, but the people who spent 40 years building bunkers on the orders of a crazy leader are now surviving as best they can.

One of the main connections for foreign guests is refueling. “Kastrati” – remember this name. It is at the gas stations of this network that business thrives on foreign suckers, especially those traveling in transit through Albania.

Gasoline is inexpensive, compared to Greece - only 1.20 euros. Payment cards seem to be theoretically accepted, but not everywhere. Out of five attempts, the card was accepted for payment only at the first gas station in the city of Dhërmi. But they willingly accept euros.

We drive up to the Kastrati gas station and ask - Credit card, visa? The guy in the sweatpants answered - only cash, euro OK. Okay, I’ll give you 50 euros, having previously calculated how much fuel the guy should fill in - a little more than 40 liters.

The dude pours 22 (!!!) liters and good-naturedly nods his head, OK? No, I say, let's keep pressing the gun and don't play around. He doesn’t understand English or pretends that he doesn’t understand, but he pulls the trigger and adds another 10 liters. He pulls the gun out of the tank and the same story again - OK? I calmly say, another 10 liters and it will be OK. The answer I received was refusal and mild aggression.

The game of cat and mouse was stopped by Tanya, who convincingly explained to the boy in a mixture of Russian, Albanian and English what would happen to him if he did not fill up to the required number on the meter. It worked :) Conclusion - the people are frail.

This, of course, is an isolated case - people are good, and the number of such marginalized people is no more than in post-Soviet countries. In addition, there are wires in many countries, so just control your actions and nothing bad will happen.

About tourism in Albania

With such a location, climate and generally decent cuisine, it would be strange not to develop tourism. Unexpectedly, at the end of the tourist season in Albania it turned out to be even more than in Greece or Croatia. There are many Serbs, Kosovars, Germans, Ukrainians and Moldovans, there are significantly fewer Russians than, for example, in neighboring Montenegro. I judge both by speech and by car license plates. There are no Chinese at all, even in season - this is according to the locals with whom we stayed for one night.

There are a lot of hotels, and in cities like Chimeras or Dhërmi (Zermi) The entire coastline is built up with them. There are hotels even where logically there shouldn’t be any - far from the sea and mountain routes, along boring highways and even secondary roads, 30-40 km away. from the capital.

Near cities Vlorë or Durres The coast is also lined with hotels - large chain hotels in the center, small 2*-3* and boutique hotels on the outskirts or in various secluded places. Moreover, the beaches near these cities are clay sand mixed with small stones. In this regard, many questions arose about why people who live in these hotels come here. Apparently it's a matter of price. I'll tell you about the prices below.

At the end of September in our hotel 3*, quite pleasant - with a large room for three, a balcony, free secure parking and breakfast, all the tables were occupied at breakfast, many were standing waiting for a seat!!! Interest in the country is at its peak; then everything depends on the Albanians themselves.

About prices in Albania

It is considered by many to be the cheapest holiday destination in Europe. We lived in small 3* hotel in Dherm i and guest house in Durres. Accommodation prices start from 5 euros for a double room, but it will be a bedbug with a view of a landfill, ruins or construction site. We paid 30 euros with breakfast in the first case and 18 euros for a guest house in Durres. Focus on this price range; for 25 euros you can find either a good hotel or a good apartment.

Eat at a restaurant by the sea– 20-25 euros for three. Lunch-dinner includes one dish - the portions are large, but they didn’t scare us, water, bread, a carafe of homemade wine. In simpler places without a view and without the sea - half the price. Local fast food is called burek - a bun with meat filling, costs less than a euro. Olives - 1 euro per 200 grams, olive oil - 4-5 euros per half liter, pomegranates - from 1 to 1.5 euros per kilogram, other fruits - less than one euro. In tourist places it is more expensive, but not much. Cigarettes cost one and a half euros. Locals think it's very cheap. I had to tell them how much our cigarettes cost - they were very surprised.

A large package of food in the supermarket cost us 15 euros, it included cheese, prosciutto, cookies, vegetables, fruits - good quality products, Albanians do not yet have money for “chemicals”, so everything can be considered organic.

In general, everything is about 1.7 times cheaper than in Montenegro, and 2.5 times cheaper than Croatia.

Gasoline - 1.20 euros (170 lek), there are many gas stations, avoid the Kastrati network - I wrote above why.

In general, prices are proportional to quality; the situation is approximately the same in our country.

About the capital of Albania - Tirana

The expectations were such that Tirana- this is something similar to the capital of Macedonia - Skopje, which remained at the top of my ranking as the strangest capital of Europe. IN Tirana everything turned out to be much more fun. A modern city with bars, street food, traffic jams, roads and a small amount of free parking in the center. This is the only city along the route in which I paid for parking - about 2 euros for three hours.

View in Tirana there is nothing special, except for the central square with a mosque and a library, a bunker converted into a museum and an unfinished pyramid - an abandoned place, similar to a mausoleum - obviously a heavy legacy of the past regime.

Beaches and sea in Albania

IN Albania Ionian Sea, which goes into Adriatic and both are part Mediterranean Sea, as is known. The sea is magnificent, and the colors will be brighter than the Aegean. Even in rainy weather it pleases with its rich emerald hue.

We weren't in tourist Ksamil is a famous natural park and tourist reserve near the Greek border. In all other places, the beaches raised more questions than approval. They are either clayey, or there is coarse sand mixed with stones, a lot of debris and algae. Beaches of Albania For now we say “no”, only as an additional point in the program of independent travel in Albania or a bonus. Although it is possible that garbage and uncollected algae are a consequence of the fact that the season is over.

IN Albania we hardly saw the cozy romantic rocky bays that we are used to Halkidiki, at least on the coastline from Saranda to Vlёra. The beaches are generally long and wide with hotels along the perimeter. From where we were, we more or less liked the beach and bay in the city of Himarë. Most beaches are made of pebbles. Due to the fact that the pebbles are poured on top of sand or clay, they slip a little and are not very pleasant to the touch.

Is it worth going on holiday to Albania?

IN Albania definitely worth going before it becomes like other European resorts. There are magnificent mountains, sea and nature in general. I wrote about the beaches above.

Conclusion - go exclusively and only for a beach holiday in Albania- a rather strange idea. Because the country was created for active travel by car. The number of off-the-beaten-track and truly interesting places is off the charts. In addition to beach locations like Ksamil, Saranda or Borsch There is Logara pass, Gjirokaster, Lake Koman, city ​​Kruje. In the north of Albania - Vermosh, Kelmendi, Tamare, Boge, Valbona And Theth. But sitting on the same beach, especially if it is not the best, you can go into a state of increasing depression and become alcohol dependent.

About Albanian cuisine

In short, it’s the same as in other Balkan countries, but cheaper. Many people consider products in markets to be organic. They say that Albanians do not use chemicals because they are poor. Our first experience try Albanian food happened in Dhermi, which was praised by many. In the restaurant on the terrace above the sea, neither the fried lamb, nor the veal, nor the chicken evoked any emotions. But in the mountains we came across a cool tavern without a name. The local house wine is also excellent - it tastes slightly fizzy and tastes like young wine. I didn’t order seafood - we ate enough in Greece. And the prices, yes, are lower than Greek and significantly lower than Croatian, but everything is just as simpler and worse as it is cheaper. In general, again, you need to know the places, as they say. We may have driven past them.

Definitely, a country in which it’s half a step from terrible to beautiful. There may be trash, abandonment, or construction near a beautiful beach or cliff. There are many strange buildings painted with monstrous graffiti, bunkers everywhere that were built to escape nuclear war. A beautiful pedestrian area with summer cafes in Shkodra borders the barracks of a gypsy camp on the shore of a mountain lake. In historical cities there is often construction and restoration - and this is absolutely normal and understandable. You should definitely go to Albania, but not for a beach holiday, but to rent a car and travel, travel, travel. And the beaches are like a light, pleasant addition to the emotions and experiences received.

It's a very, very fascinating country, actually. Especially if you don't expect Albania more than she can offer. We are planning to go again next year to get to know each other better, uniting with Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia.

Did we like Albania? In its own way, yes, but the more important thing is that we were interested in it. And upon returning, it became clear that Albania is love deferred in time. Until next season - wait for us to come to you, country of mountain eagles.