Albania

General

Capital:

Tirana (population 602 000)

Area:

28,748 km ²

Population:

2.9 million

Voltage:

Travel adapter not required. Frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations due to network congestion.

Subsistence

Hotel Accommodation

In Tirana, some upscale hotels standards are in place. Price guidance for self-catering accommodation, per day, given in single / double

• Dorint Rogner Europa Park, from about 152/170 €
  Boulevardier Deshmoret e Kombit
  Fax: (00 355 4) 223 50 50
• Tirana International Hotel, from about 106/130 €
  Skanderbeg Square 8
  Fax: (00 355 4) 223 41 88
• Sheraton Tirana Hotel & Tower Sheshi Italia
• Fax: (00355 4) 227 47 11

There are a number of smaller private hotels with good middle-class standard.

Money & Cash

Albania is not part of the EURO-Zone.

Currency

Monetary unit: Lek (LEK)
1 lek = 100 Qindarka. (In practice, the Qindarka have no meaning anymore, the prices are shown in all LDCs) at the current exchange rate information, please contact the following currency converter or at your bank. More info: www.oanda.com

Currency Regulations

Amounts of money in the value or worth of more than ALL 1,000.000, – are required to declare at customs. It is advisable to take U.S. dollars or Euro notes in small denominations. Money exchange is easily possible. amounts may be executed until the amount declared on entry.

Withdraw cash / cashless payment

International Credit Cards: Yes – will (clarify when booking) accepted in major hotels and some banks. Otherwise, cash is the most common method of payment. ATM: Yes – available in larger cities.Cash withdrawal with credit cards and on some machines with the Maestro sign with the debit card (and PIN). traveler’s checks: Yes – in € or U.S. $ but will not be accepted as payment and can only be exchanged in Tirana.

Climate and Seasons

Climate

. Albania has a typical Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild wet winters
, the climate in the mountainous inland is more continental-type and in summer it is warm in winter and sometimes very cold.

Best time

The best months for Albania are April, May and June and September and October.

Clothing

Albania needs to be generally the same clothes as in the rest of Europe. During the summer months, light, easily washable summer clothes, for staying in the mountains and woolens (nights are cool).Otherwise, according to the season should also be taken along warmer clothing. Rain protection is required.

Fuel

The quality of gasoline (diesel / diesel €; super unleaded / pa plumb gasoline) is often problematic (water impurity, impurity). It should therefore be refueled only at larger petrol stations.

Toll & Vignette

For a foreign registered car with less than 1 +4 seats daily fall? 1.00, day 6 to 1 +8 seats? 4.00, with more than 1 +8 seats? 8.00 / day road tax on.

Attractions

Tirana

The capital of Albania is situated at the foot of Mount Dajti. In the center of Et’hem Bey Mosque, built in 1789 is on display. Also worth seeing is the 35 meter high clock tower is from 1830. The museums are sometimes closed, the archaeological collections are worth seeing. The best overview of this center of the country has one of the heroes cemetery.

Berat

Berat is one of the oldest cities in the country and was inhabited as early as the second century BC by the Romans under the name Antipatrea. The impressive castle is built on a hill and contains within the walls of an entire neighborhood with many surviving monuments and churches. Here you will find the Onufri Museum, which houses the famous icons of Albania. The picturesque old town is connected by a bridge siebenbögige with the other districts.

Gjorakastër

The old town dates from the 18th and 19 Century and is protected as a museum city. In mid-2005 it was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. The narrow streets and the bazaar were restored. From the castle you have a beautiful view over the city. Every 4 to 5 years is held here, the National Folk Music Festival, occur in the music groups from across the Albanian-speaking world.

Krujë

Krujë Perched at the edge of a 600 m high mountain range right on the Adriatic. The “Balcony of the Adriatic” was the seat of the national hero Skanderbeg, who was here to defend against invading Ottomans.

Pogradec

Pogradec, which lies on the edge of Lake Ohrid is one of the main tourist centers of the country. Well worth a visit especially during the spring bloom, which is beautiful.

Shkoder

Shkodra (Scutari), which lies on the shore of a lake, is located very close to the border with Montenegro. The oldest city in Albania is dominated by the castle Rozafa. Northeast of Shkodra is the medieval bridge Mesi.