Albania is a country in South-Eastern Europe, in the West of the Balkan Peninsula, between the geographical coordinates: 39 16' latitude and 42 39' longitude.

Albania is almost midway between Equator and the North Pole, and covers a surface of 28.748 km2. The overall length of the borderline of the Republic of Albania is 1094 km; out of which 657-km is land-border, 316-km sea-border, 48-km river-border and 73 km lake-border.

The Republic of Albania, on the North borders with Montenegro and North-East with Kosovo, on the East with Macedonia, and in the South and South-East with Greece. On the West, Albania is washed by the Adriatic and Ionian seas.

The average altitude is 708 m, i.e. two times higher than that of Europe. Albania is included in the humid sub-tropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and it belongs to the Mediterranean climatic zone.

Albania Climate Coastal areas: Central Mediterranean, mild and wet winter, hot and dry summer. Alpine areas: Central Continental, cold and wild winter, wet summer.

Albania relieve Lowland – Western Albania, Plain – Eastern Albania, Alpine – Northern Albania, the Highest Peak – Korabi Mountain (2,753m)

Albania Population The population of Albania numbers 3,150,886. The vast majority of inhabitants are Albanian, with ethnic minorities representing only about 2% of the population. The minority population is comprised primarily of Greeks and Macedonians. (World Bank 2009).

Albania Capital City Tirana (since 1920)

Main Cities of Albania Durres, Vlora, Saranda, Shkodra, Berat, Korca, Gjirokastra, Elbasani,

Official Language - Albanian Albanian is an Indo-European language and it represents a separate branch of this family on the bases of its idiosyncrasy.

The Greek geographer, Ptholemeous, has witnessed the existence of Albanians and Albanian language in the second century AD. The name "Shqipëri" (Albania) replaced the "old" name "Arberi" (or Arbani) by the end of the XVII century, due to the new historical conditions created, and aimed at giving importance to the connection between the nation notion and the use of the Albanian language, which was by that time called "Shqip".

The Albanian language is also used (written & spoken) in the parts of Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia, where ethnic Albanians live.

Albania Political System Albania is Parliamentary Republic.

Flag description: The national flag of the Republic of Albania represents a black bicephalous eagle with open wings situated in the middle of a red background.

How to get there

Albania can be accessed by air through Mother Theresa International airport, situated 25 km northwest of the capital Tirana. There are different airline companies that operate in Albania and connect it through regular flights with the main European cities such as: Austrian Airlines, Belle Air, Lufthansa, Alitalia, British Airways, Adria Airways, Olympic Airways, Turkish Airlines etc.

By sea Albania can be accessed through its main ports:

• Durres port, connecting with Italian ports of Bari, Ancona and Trieste.

• Vlora port, connecting with Brindisi port.

• Saranda, connecting the Greek island of Corfừ

By land Albania can be accessible through:

• Montenegro (Murriqan and Han i Hotit border crossing points)

• Macedonia (Qafasan, Blata, Tushemisht, Gorice border crossing points)

• Kosovo (Morina, border crossing point)

• Greece (Kapshtica, Kakavija, Tri Urat, Qafe Boti border crossing points)

Visas

Citizens of following countries enter Albania without a visa          EU countries, Great Britain, Island, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Andorra, Argentina, Monaco, Vatican State, Singapore, Turkey, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia

Citizens of following countries enter Albania by obtaining a visa at any border-crossing-point by payment             Saudi Arabia, FYR Macedonia, Bahrain, Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Mata, Kuwait, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

Citizens that can enter Albania by obtaining a visa at the Albanian Embassies/Consulates in their respective or neighboring countries            

Any country not mentioned above

Note: Tourist groups, organized by Albanian travel agencies, obtain visa at the entry point.

Currency

Albanian LEK (ALL). The average exchange rate of the Albanian LEK (ALL) to the Euro and US dollar is approximately: 1 EUR = 140 ALL and 1 USD = 96 ALL (January 2013).

The following denominations are in circulation:

Banknotes: 5000, 1000, 500, 200, 100. Coins: 100, 50, 20, 10, 5.

Foreign exchange

Foreign currency can be exchanged at commercial bank, exchange offices, and main hotels provide exchange facilities for guests.

Customs

Duty-free allowance for adult visitors:

Spirits = 2 liters

Cigarettes = 400

Eau de perfume = 75 ml

International time

Albania is located in the same time zone as most of Eastern Europe countries. It uses the central European time GMT+1 hour. Summer daylight saving time is in effect from the last Saturday in March until the last Saturday in October (GMT + 2 hour).

Postal and Communication Services

Central post offices operate from morning till night, carrying out handling of letters, packages, payments etc.

Different express delivery companies operate in Albania, such as: DHL, UPS, TNT, FEDEX, ACS, YAPS, which provide very fast shipment delivery between Albania and other countries.

Public telephones: Call boxes, working by coins or phone cards, are present in main cities.

Mobile phones: AMC, VODAFONE, Eagle Mobile and Plus are the mobile telecommunication companies present in Albania. There services cover almost the whole country and internationally.

Internet Cafés are available in main cities (internet price/hour varies from 100 – 200 lek)

Banking

Branches of major banks (and ATM’s) are found in main cities.

Banking hours: Monday-Friday form 9.00 – 16.00. Saturday and Sunday closed.

Credit Cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa International.

Business hours

Offices: 8 am – 4 pm (Monday – Friday).

Shops: 8 am – 7 pm (Monday – Saturday). Many shops are opened also on Sundays.

Restaurants: 11 am – 12 pm (every day of the week).

Bars: 8 am – 12 pm (every day of the week). Some bars work non stop (24 hours).

Official Public holidays

NOTE: If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a public holiday.

Year 2013:

01 January – New Year

02 January – New Year

14 March – Summer Day

22 March – Sultan Novrus Day

08 April – Orthodox Easter/Catholic Easter

01 May – Labor Day

12 October – Lesser Ramadan Day

19 October – Mother Theresa Day

28 November – Independence Day

29 November – Liberation Day

20 December – Great Ramadan Day

25 December – Christmas Day

Road Regulation

Foreign visitors require an International driving license (or a valid driver’s license, with photograph, printed in English). Driving is done on the right side of the road like almost all European countries and seat belts are compulsory for both drivers and passengers.

Speed limits (unless otherwise indicated)

Urban areas: 40 km/hr

Rural areas: 60 km/hr

Freeways: 90 km/hr

Fuel

Fuel (gasoline) is available 24 hours a day in main urban areas. It is advisable to have cash as payment as international petrol cards or credit cards are not accepted. The average petrol price is around 190 Lek per liter.

Health Care and Medical services

In case of emergency, all foreign tourists get first aid and medical care free of charge. For non emergency services such as hospital recovery and medical consultations, tourists are required to pay, if no reciprocal Health Agreement exists between the respective countries.

A vaccination certificate for epidemic diseases is required to travelers arriving from infected or endemic areas.

Transportation

Main rent a car companies operating in Albania are: Albarent, Hertz, Avis, EuropCar, Sixt etc.

Buses: A cheap flat fare urban bus service operates within the main cities (30 lek). The main interurban bus service providers, linking the Albanian main cities, are private.

Minibus taxies: Interurban transport service is provided also by private minibuses. The ticket price is generally twice higher than the bus service.

Taxies: Generally taxies are parked near the railway stations and the main hotels and close to main cross roads. In Tirana radio taxi service is also available (phone: 04 2244444 or 0800 55555 FREE or 04 2222555).

Rail travel: There are 3 railway directions in Albania:

• Tirana – Shkoder (Vore – Mamurras – Laç – Milot – Lezhe - Shkoder)

• Tirana – Pogradec (Durres – Golem – Kavaje – Rrogozhine – Peqin – Elbasan – Librazhd – Perrenjas – Pogradec)

• Tirana – Vlore (Durres – Golem – Kavaje – Rrogozhine – Lushnje – Fier – Vlore)

Electricity

220 volt, 50 Hz.

Plug points: two or three pin plug (English plugs require additional adaptor plugs).

Restaurants

The traditional food is oriental one, similar to Turkish and Greek food. One can easily find Italian food in many restaurants.

Bars, Pubs, Nightclubs

Albanians drink a lot of coffee, and they spend considerable time in bars with friends. Italian espresso is widely offered, but one can ask also for a traditional coffee (called Turkish coffee). Filtered coffee is rarely offered.

Most pubs and nightclubs are entered freely (no cover charge). During weekends there is live music in pubs and nightclubs.

Tipping

Tipping is standard practice for satisfactory service:

Restaurants: 5 - 10%

Coffee shops: 20 – 50 lek

Taxi drivers: no tips

Note: Customers are not obliged to tip, but they are free and welcomed to do so if they like.

Local terminology

Albanian – English

Ku jam? – Where am I?

Ku është…? – Where is…?

Ku po shkoni? – Where are you going?

Rruga … – Street …

Bulevard – Boulevard

Monument – Monument

Muze – Museum

Qytet – City

Fshat – Village

Hotel – Hotel

Restorant – Restaurant

Posta – Post

Stacioni i autobuzave – bus stop

Majtas – On the left

Djathtas – On the right

Drejt – Straight ahead

Si jeni? – How are you?

Më falni! – Excuse me!

Faleminderit – Thank you!