Albania: A Travel Guide to the European Country
Serbia and Montenegro are hilly nations in Europe, while Albania is one of the smallest countries in Europe. The people that live there are said to be descended from ancient Illyrians.
Culture
Especially in metropolitan areas, the culture of Albania is heavily affected by that of the Greeks of the mainland; nodding one’s head indicates a negative response, whereas shaking one’s head indicates a positive response. Handshakes are preferable when greeting someone, while the term Shoku (Comrade) was once used, but has since been forgotten in modern times.
Here, people dress in a more casual manner. Swimsuits are intended for use on the beach; otherwise, it is assumed that ladies will not wear in a revealing manner. It is customary to address someone with the prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs.) before their name, and it is usually a good idea to bring presents while visiting someone, however flowers are not widely accepted.
In addition to coffee, raki, and sweets are offered to the visitors. Smokers need not be concerned, but they should avoid areas where they notice signs of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit (Ndalohet pirja e duhanit).
Traveling within the country is possible.
Buses with reasonable prices run between the major cities in the nation, and taxis are another option that give service to some of the country’s most exclusive hotels.
Dajti Mountain and the Dajti Ekspres Cable Car provide an exciting 15-minute journey via Dajt Oark to Tirana, which passes through the Dajt Oark National Park.
The trip is approximately 4.2 kilometres in length, and the ride costs €6.5. Alpha Yachting offers a crewed boat service, which is considered a luxury in and of itself. Tirana Bank is the finest location to withdraw money since it accepts Visa cards and so is the most convenient.
Getting Something to Eat
Restaurants are not always adequately heated, so dress warmly if you want to dine out late at night during the colder months of the year. Foreigners are subjected to higher prices than natives. Foreigners will face higher admission fees as well as higher prices for any product, therefore it’s best not to make your nationality known when walking along the street.
Observation of the Environment
If you adore canoeing, this is the ideal location for you to be. In the vicinity of Tirana, you may go kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, and camping in addition to enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
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Accommodation
If you’re looking for a 5-Star experience, check into The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is conveniently located in the heart of a retail and entertainment district. There are around 151 rooms and 56 suites available. As a result, in addition to the comfort, one may shop at the same time here for convenience.
Hotel Mondial is another another establishment that offers all of the latest amenities. Aside from being an excellent example of traditional architecture, it is also positioned 1000 metres away from the city.
How to Get There
Traveling by air is one of the most convenient and convenient modes of transportation. albaniaairlines.com Albanian Airlines is the country’s national airline, which operates in conjunction with Tyrolean Airways and offers service to practically all major European destinations. The Mother Teresa International Airport is located 16 miles (26 kilometres) from the city.
To travel to the city centre, a tourist bus runs every three hours and takes around 30 minutes to reach the destination. Taxis are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tourists can take advantage of the duty-free shops, bank, restaurants, and car rental services available at the airport while they wait for their transportation service.
All foreign nationals are subject to a $10 USD departure tax upon their departure from the United States. For information on flight schedules and special offers, visit www.flyalbanian.com.
If you want to travel by sea, you can take advantage of the ferry services provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. Durres (which has ferry connections to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (which has ferry connections to Bari and Brindisi), Saranda (which has a connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (which has a connection to Corfu), and Shen Gjini (which has a connection to Ancona) are the main ports (has ferry connection to Bari).
For more information, visit the websites www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com respectively.
Another option is to take the bus. Buses leave from Istanbul, Athens, and Sofia, among other cities. With the bus services that are available, internal passengers have a plethora of options. If you are travelling by car, there is a road network that will take you to the Kosovo region, but it is too dangerous to use because of the political tensions in the region.
Passages are available at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and Kakavija, among other locations. If one becomes fatigued, one can rest in hotels or other specified spaces. For local passengers, there is a network of 18,000 kilometers of roads, of which only 7450 kilometers are important routes. A 2138-kilometer length of these highways is in bad condition and includes potholes, and drivers should use extreme caution when traveling on these routes to ensure their safety.
The posted speed limit should be rigorously adhered to on highways as well as in urban areas. Driving at night should be avoided if at all possible due to the lack of street lights on the road, with the exception of those in metropolitan areas. The right-hand side of the road should be used for driving. Because there are a limited number of gas stations in the countryside, it is recommended that travellers fill their gas tanks completely when passing through urban areas.
Additionally, because there is no national recovery system in place, travellers should be prepared in case of an emergency or breakdown. It is vital to have the proper documentation with you, such as an International Driving Permit and a national driving licence.
Items that are exempt from duty
The following are examples of things that can be brought into the country without incurring customs duties:
- 1 litre of distilled spirits or 2 litres of red wine
- 250ml of eau de toilette (toilet spray)
- 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco (whichever is more).
- A 50ml bottle of perfume
Items That Are Prohibited
Firearms, drugs, and ammunition are among the items that are forbidden from being carried. It is necessary to get special export approval for precious metals, literature, antiquities, works of art, and other items of national or historic significance.
