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Questions tagged [albania]

Questions about travel to and within the country of Albania in Southeast Europe.

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a former communist country in on the Adriatic Sea. It shares borders with to the northwest, to the northeast, to the east, to the south, the Ionian Sea to the southwest, and the Adriatic Sea to the west. It is less than 72 kilometers (45 miles) from across the sea.

Albanian has a 476 kilometer (296 mile) coast line with surrounding low lands. The remaining 70% of the country is covered in rugged mountains with limited access. The Lake of Shkodër, on the Albanian-Macedonian border is the largest lake in Southern Europe.

The capital city of Albania is Tirana. Other principle cities include Durrës, Korçë, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Vlorë and Kukës. There are two international airports, at Tirana () and Kukës (ICAO: ). There is limited train service between Tirana and Durrës; otherwise local transportation needs are mainly served by numerous bus companies.

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Creepy situation: I'm staying at a hotel, but my hosts disappeared a week ago and aren't responding – what should I do?

I'm a digital nomad staying at a hotel in Albania. The hotel is a three-story villa with a few studios, managed by private hosts—a man and a woman—who have been very kind. Initially, I booked a studio through booking.com for a few nights. After…
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Exchanging Albanian money into euros outside Albania

I found a small amount of Albanian lekë (can you say "leks" in English?) in my wallet from last summer's visit there. Is there any place in Helsinki where I can change those back into euros? Forex, at least, doesn't list the currency on their…
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No Albanian entry stamp received at the border. Would this cause issues for future visits?

I recently entered Albania with an EU passport, but I noticed that I received no entry stamp. As an EU citizen, was I supposed to receive an entry stamp? If I was, would this cause problems for me when trying to leave Albania, as they would not…
user49558
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Is the tapwater safe to drink in Albania generally and Shkodër specifically?

So I've arrived in Shkodër, Albania. If there are other tourists here they're all hiding. I don't have a guidebook and wikitravel doesn't tell me. Can I drink the water from the tap like in nearby Montenegro, or should I buy bottled water?
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Is it easier and/or cheaper to replace my lost tent in Albania or Greece?

When travel.SE was shiny and new I asked a very similar question which became a point of controversy but in the end it has remained open and thought to be on-topic under the circumstances. Sadly I left the tent I bought in Bulgaria in the van of…
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Podgorica, Montenegro to Tirana, Albania by public transport

Are there trains or buses between Podgorica, in Montenegro, and Tirana, in Albania? I am thinking of visiting Montenegro and Greece. I'd like to go straight, ideally by train. I read somewhere that the Greek national company does not run…
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Are there restaurants or cafes with Wi-Fi in Shkodër, Albania?

Here in Shkodër Albania my hotel doesn't have Wi-Fi and there aren't many tourists to ask. I can find lots of bar/cafes and lots of internet places with no coffee or food offered. But what I can't seem to find is a cozy place where I can have a meal…
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What is the most interesting route from Sofia, Bulgaria to northern Albania?

I'm trying to decide which route to take from Sofia Bulgaria, where I am now, to northern Albania, but I don't really have much idea what specific points of interest are along the way. I could just head from here to Skopje, Republic of Macedonia,…
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What is the official rule on Albanian roundabouts?

When entering roundabouts in Albania we have witnessed both vehicles on the roundabout giving way to entering vehicles, and vehicles entering the roundabout giving way to vehicles on the roundabout. In 90% of the European countries vehicles entering…
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Can Albania be considered secure?

Can Albania be considered secure? How secure is Albania (particularly in the mountains) compared to countries like Ukraine or Romania? What security issues should a traveller take into account, such as organized crime or landmines?
Cjxcz Odjcayrwl
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Opening times of the border between Greece and Albania

We are a family from Bulgaria, who are traveling by car from Greece to Albania. We would like to know what's working time on the Konispol/Sagiada border between Greece and Albania?
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Can I cross the Albania/Greece border on foot?

I intend to cross from Albania to Greece at the Konispol/Sagiada border crossing. I will be hitchhiking so I will sometimes be in a car, and sometimes on foot. Now I did walk across the Montenegro/Albania border but I know that it is not legal to…
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What's the fastest ferry to get from Italy to Albania?

I'm looking for the fastest ferry that travels from anywhere in Italy to anywhere in Albania. The ferry should have a regular schedule and should be in service in September 2015.
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How should I go about finding the Albanian national dish, tavë kosi?

I'm currently travelling in the Balkans and have previously had surprising difficulty finding the national dish in some countries. Here in Albania the national dish is tavë kosi, baked lamb and rice with yoghurt sauce, which to me sounds…
hippietrail
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Is it currently possible to drive from Durrës to Berat in Albania on the SH 4?

I'm intending to hitchhike from Durrës to Berat on the SH 4, which looks like the obvious route. But when I Google Maps for driving directions between these two cities it tells to drive back up to Tiranë first. Sometimes Google Maps has some…
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