Albania, the Land of Eagles
About Albania.
Albania, or as it is called “the land of eagles”. It has become an important tourist destination, with hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world coming every year. Albania has an enchanting array of landscapes. That's where the picturesque beaches along the Albanian Riviera.
In addition to mountains such as the Albanian Alps, the Pindus mountain range, hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and forests. All this made it a unique and unique tourist destination.
Albania has an impressive collection of historical monuments, with ancient Greek and Roman temples and fortresses, medieval baths and much more. It is worth noting that Albania is one of the safest countries in the world and its people are very friendly.
Albania is considered one of the inexpensive tourist destinations, where you can spend a week in it and move between its most important cities at the lowest costs.
This is unlike most other tourist destinations in Eastern Europe.
General information about Albania
Where is Albania located?
The Republic of Albania is located in the western Balkan region, with an area of 28,748 km². It is bordered by Montenegro to the north, Kosovo and Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south, and its coasts overlook the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. The length of these coasts is about 400 km . Albania is characterized by its rugged mountainous terrain, which constitutes about 70% of the country’s area, while the rest is fertile plain lands that can be cultivated.
Albania has been a member of the United Nations since 1955. It also became a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 1992. It is a member of many regional and international organizations and is currently seeking to join the European Union.
Albania celebrates its National Day on November 28 of each year on the occasion of its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 AD by its founder Mr. Ismail Kamali.
Albania enjoys a Mediterranean climate, where coastal areas have mild, humid weather in winter and hot, dry weather in summer, while areas located on the Alpine mountain ranges and foothills have a very cold continental climate with snowfall in winter and mild in summer, and rainfall rates in the lands range Low from 1,000 mm to more than 1,500 mm annually, with increased precipitation in the north of the country.
Despite a lot of rain, Albania enjoys a lot of sunshine, and is the second country in Europe after Spain in terms of the annual average of the number of days that the sun shines, and the climate is generally pleasant and suitable for all outdoor activities.
Lakes:
There are 4 large lakes in Albania, each of which has its own distinctive characteristics and aesthetic character.
- Lake Shkodra (located on the border between Albania and Montenegro)
- Lake Verza (located in northeastern Albania)
- Lake Ohrid (located on the border between Albania and Macedonia)
- Lake Prespa (located on the border between Albania, Greece and Macedonia)
Rivers:
Albania enjoys abundant water resources, and there are many rivers and waterways, the most important of which are:
- Drini River with a length of 285 km
- Semani River, with a length of 281 km
- The Vjosa River is 272 km long
- Shkumbini River with a length of 182 km
- The Mat River is 115 km long
- Buna River, which is 44 km long
Albanian community
Population
Albania has a population of about 3 million people, and an estimated population density of about 113 people per square kilometer. The population is growing at 0.73% per year. The average age for females is 75 years and 69 years for males
The Albanian ethnicity represents the vast majority of the population, and there are some other ethnic minorities, namely:
- Greek minority
- Gypsy minority
- Fellach minority (originally Romanian)
- Montenegrin minority
- Macedonian minority
Tirana is the country’s capital and largest city in Albania, with a population of about 800,000.
Religion
Albania enjoys a state of harmony and peaceful coexistence between people of different religious beliefs. The proportion of Muslims is more than 70% of the total population, while the proportion of Orthodox Christians is about 20%, and the Catholics make up the rest. It is worth noting that in 1967 – the period that witnessed the violence and tyranny of the communist era and totalitarian rule – the practice of religious rites was banned throughout Albania, but after the fall of communism in the early nineties of the twentieth century Albanians returned to practicing religious rites freely
Culture and heritage
Despite the small area of the Republic of Albania and its small population, it is rich in its historical, cultural and civilizational heritage. The ruins and ruins of Roman and Greek temples still bear witness to the influence of the Albanian civilization on the civilizations of neighboring countries, in addition to ancient churches and monasteries that are replete with manuscripts and Christian icons, as they abound in Albania. Historic castles and Islamic monuments dating back to the Ottoman era, which spanned for about five centuries. Albanians are proud of their culture and cultural heritage, and they make a great effort to preserve the cultural and folklore heritage of each region, which is distinguished from other regions in terms of instruments, musical tones, dances, and clothing.
Albania has an opera house that presents musical and artistic performances to its patrons. There are also many art theaters and cinemas in major cities. As for the cinema industry, it flourished during the communist era, but declined in the recent period due to the lack of interest of successive governments in this sector.
General tips and advice for travelers to the Republic of Albania
- Verify the validity of passports.
- Commitment to the local laws and regulations in force in the Republic of Albania, adherence to travel conditions and international aviation regulations, and not carrying prohibited items.
- Keep official documents of passports, airline tickets and valuable personal belongings in safe places.
- Not to mortgage the passport or identity card to any party in any way.
- In the event that servants and escorts are accompanied, the sponsor must inquire about visas and the procedures followed in this regard.
- It is preferable not to carry valuables while traveling.
- Paying attention to children in gatherings and markets.
Best time to travel to Albania
Albania is one of the tourist destinations that allows you to enjoy a unique and unforgettable adventure, so you need to know what is the ideal time for it. Albania has a very diverse weather, with three main climatic zones: the warm Mediterranean coast, the continental fringes of the interior, and the cooler mountains of the northeast. It is new to note that:
Summer (July/August): is the peak tourist season in Albania, and it is the perfect time to spend a fun summer vacation, on its charming beaches on the Mediterranean. Despite the high temperature, you can go to the mountain peaks to feel the improvement in the temperature, and enjoy waterfalls, hiking, exciting water sports, and more.
Spring (April/June): It is a good season to visit Albania, as the weather is nice in the coastal areas and also in the mountains. You can enjoy the harmony of the beaches, go exploring important sites such as the famous Albanian Riviera, and attend one-of-a-kind concerts.
Autumn (September/October): It is an ideal month to visit Albania, explore the country in the fresh air, visit castles and UNESCO sites and admire the splendor of the architecture.
Winter season (from November to March): It is the low season for tourism in Albania, but it is characterized by huge discounts. This is where it is very cold, but also you can do many winter tourism activities, attend festivals, Albanian Christmas and many other activities.
One of the best times to visit is in the fall and spring because of the wonderful weather suitable for tourism
The ideal period for tourism in Albania
The ideal duration for a pleasant tourist holiday in Albania is two weeks. This is so that you will have enough time to see some wonderful areas, and enjoy all the exciting recreational activities that you can do in Albania.
While spending one week in Albania can be a bit short, but if that week is all you have, then you should visit charming Tirana and one or two other tourist cities, as it is easy to navigate Albania.
How much does tourism cost in Albania?
Albania is one of the cheapest tourist destinations in Europe, where you can enjoy spending two special weeks in this wonderful country at a very low cost unlike any other tourist destination.
You can engage in all the fun activities at low costs, in addition to paying entrance fees to museums etc., as well as moving between cities and the Albanian Alps, as well as eating great Albanian food, all with a very small budget. The total budget may be around 400 USD, for a pleasant tourist vacation in Albania.
Visa regime for foreign citizens
Visa regulations
The visa regime for foreign citizens in the Republic of Albania is provided by Law No. 108/13 “On foreigners” and by the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 569, dated 03.10.2018, on some additions and amendments to the Decision no. 513/13 of the Council of Ministers “On the definition of the criteria of procedures and documentation for entry, stay and treatment of foreigners in the Republic of Albania”, amended.
Can enter Albania without visa:
- a) Foreign citizens who have a valid, multiple-entry Schengen visa, which has been previously used in one of the Schengen states, or foreign citizens who have a valid permit of stay in one of the Schengen states;
- b) Foreign citizens who have a valid, multiple-entry US or UK visa, which has been previously used in the respective country of issuance, or have valid permit of stay in the US or UK.
- c) Foreign citizens from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, India, Qatar, Oman, Russia, Thailand, can enter in Albania without visa,for short term stay, with the passport document, from 01 May until 30 September.
ç) “Foreign citizens who are members of the family of EU nationals, when they travel with a spouse who is an EU citizen, and beside the valid passport, they also have another document (residence permit), where their status is quoted as “family member”.
- d) Foreign citizens who have a 10 year residence permit, issued by the competent authority of the United Arab Emirates, valid not less than one year from the moment of entry.
Type “C” visa gives to the holder the right to enter and stay in the Republic of Albania for 90 days within 180 days starting from the date of first entry. 2. Type “C” visa may be single, two or multiple entry visa. The period of validity may not exceed 5 years
Type “D” visa is issued to an alien intending to reside in the Republic of Albania more than 90 days within 180 days and if visa is required for these aliens in order for them to be provided with residence permit. Type “D” visa is valid for one year, with a validity period of stay of 90 days, for single, two or multiple entries entitling the holder to apply for residence permit after entry into the Republic of Albania
As attached please find the visa regulation table for foreigners:
Visa regime for foreign citizens
All foreign citizens from countries that are not included in the table are required to have a visa before travelling to Albania. They can apply for a visa in the Albanian embassy that is geographically closest to their country of origin or residency
For the required documents and the online application please check the link below:
Transport in Albania
Commuting in Albania is done by many ways, including:
Furgons: The most popular means of transportation in Albania, these are privately owned and unlicensed minibuses. You travel to smaller villages and on the most popular routes. You can tell the driver to get off where you want.
Buses: Buses operate on the most popular and longest routes, such as traveling from Seranda to Tirana. They have approximate schedules, and usually stops where parks like it when it’s not crowded.
Take a taxi: You can take a taxi to move around in Albania, and you can also go hiking and go to the place you want to reach safely.
Food and drinks in Albania
Food in Albania is one of the main reasons and attractions in Albania. This is because Albanian foods taste delicious and fresh. You can eat it in the finest restaurants as well as from the street food delicacies.
There are many wonderful Albanian foods that you can try in the Land of the Eagles, including: “Berik, birek with spinach, tavo kosi, fried kashkaval, baklava, trellis, grilled meatballs, Albanian kofta, grilled vegetables and many more.” This is in addition to the excellent fresh seafood, as Albania is located on the Mediterranean Sea, do not miss the delicious food and the charming views along the length of the coast from the terraces of the restaurants.
Rent a car in Albania
Driving in Albania is very easy and driving direction is on the right. You should familiarize yourself with the rules of driving in Albania before traveling, in order not to get into any problems or troubles. Also, you should also make sure that you have an International Driving Permit, as it is a must to drive in Albania.
There are many car rental companies in Albania and you have to choose the best one among them, as well as choose the best car. It is worth noting that car rental in Albania is very cheap, so make a reservation before you travel to benefit from the best offers.
Touristic monuments
Albania has become a favorite tourist destination for European, Arab and other nationalities not only because of the country’s diverse landscape, but also thanks to its rich cultural and historical legacy.
Albania occupies a privileged geographical position in the Balkan Peninsula, and by virtue of its location, Albania has been affected by different civilizations and cultures, and the effects of the Romans, Greeks and Ottomans are still present to this day.
Albania enjoys many areas and tourist attractions, the most prominent of which are the following:
Historical archaeological sites
The most important archaeological sites are located in the following regions: Berat, Gjirokastra, Kroia, Apollonia, Butrint, Bogradets, Korcha and Shkodra.
The archaeological sites of Berat, Gjirokastra and Butrint are on the UNESCO World Heritage
List of enchanting beaches
- Adriatic coast.
(Doris / Golem / Mali Robot / Yali / Schengen / Folly Boya)
- Ionian coast.
(Saranda / Flora / Therme / Founo-yale / Ixamil / Himara / Chibaruo / Porsche)
Rural and mountain tourism.
The nature in Albania is still in its pristine state, which is why tourists are well accepted for rural and mountain tourism.
- Mountainous regions of the Korcha region.
- The shores of Lake Ohrid.
- The shores of Lake Prespa.
- Albanian Alpine Mountains (located in the northern part of Albania) natural parks.
- Albania has many parks and nature reserves that are rich in amazing diversity of animals and plants. In the bosom of pristine nature; Visitors have rare opportunities that are not repeated anywhere else to witness the manifestations of natural life.
- Mount Daiti, which is located near the city of Tirana.
- Loura National Park.
- Vir Drenova National Park near the city of Korca.
- Valbona Valley (near Bayram Tsuri in the northeast of the country).
- Dvika National Park near Lake Kravasta.
- Lugara Heights near the city of Vlora.
- Mount Tomori, which is one of the highest mountains in Albania, and is located near the city of Berat.
- Hotova National Park, near the city of Permit.
- Zal Guzhai National Park, near the city of Borrell.
- Shtama National Park, near the city of Kruia.
- Butrint National Park near Saranda, southern Albania.
- Prespa National Park, which is located on the shores of Lake Prespa.
- Thethi National Park, which is located in the north of the country.
Museums
The cities of Albania are full of museums, and they are distributed as follows
Tirana city
National History Museum
Archaeological Museum
Natural Science Museum
National Museum of Art
Flora City
Independence Museum
City of Croia
National Museum of National Hero Jerji Kastriot (Skandar Beg)
National Heritage Museum
Durres city
Archaeological Museum
Museum of Anthropology
Roman theater in the city center of Durres
Berat
The National Museum “It is called Onofre”
National Heritage Museum
Korcha
National Museum of Medieval Arts
National Education Museum
Gjirokastra
Castle Museum
Museum of Anthropology
Shkodra City
History Museum
Rozafa Castle Museum
National Portrait Gallery “Marubi”
Bishkobe city
Historical Museum of Debra
Lega City
The National Museum of the Monument to the Tomb of the National Hero Iskandar Beg