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Albania PDF
Albania
Earth (/en/Earth) : Europe (/en/Europe) : Balkans (/en/Balkans) : Albania
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Location
(/en/File:Albania_in_its_region.svg)
Flag
en/File:Flag_of_Albania.svg)
Quick Facts
Tirana
(/en/Tirana)
Developing
Democracy
Lek (ALL)
28,748km²
3,600,523
(July 2007
est.)
Albanian
(There are
two dialects:
Gheg and
Tosk)
Muslim
56.7%,
Roman
Catholic
10%,
Orthodox
6.8%,
atheist
2.5%,
Bektashi (a
Sufi order)
2.1%, other
5.7%,
unspecified
16.2%
cal_systems) 230V/50Hz
(European
plug)
t_of_country_calling_codes) +355
.al
zones) UTC +1
Albania
(http://www.albania.al/)
(Albanian: Shqipëria) is a small
country in the Balkans
(/en/Balkans). It shares
borders with Greece
(/en/Greece), the Republic of
Macedonia
(/en/Republic_of_Macedonia),
Kosovo (/en/Kosovo), and
Montenegro
(/en/Montenegro).
Understand
While most people in Albania
are Muslims, there are also
many large religious
minorities. As in other western
states, the idea of religious
tolerance is so normal as to be
completely uninteresting,
differences of ideology will
more often be political.
Recent History
Climate
With its coastline facing the
Adriatic and Ionian seas, its
highlands backed upon the
elevated Balkan landmass, and
the entire country lying at a
latitude subject to a variety of
weather patterns during the
winter and summer seasons,
Albania has a high number of
climatic regions for so small an
area. The coastal lowlands
have typically Mediterranean
weather, whereas the
highlands have a
Mediterranean continental
climate. In both the lowlands
and the interior, the weather
varies markedly from north to
south.
Regions
(/en/File:Albania_Regions_ma
p.png)
Map of Albania with regions colour-
coded
Coastal Albania
(/en/Coastal_Albania)
the long narrow strip of
between about 10 and 30km
wide along the whole of the
Albanian coast, bordering
both the Adriatic Sea and
Ionian Sea
Northeastern Albania
(/en/Northeastern_Albania)
the inland region to the north
of the Shkumbin River,
bordering Montenegro,
Kosovo and Macedonia.
Southeastern Albania
(/en/Southeastern_Albania)
the inland region to the
south of the Shkumbin River
bordering Macedonia and
Greece, and including the
great border lakes, Lake
Ohrid and Lake Prespa.
Cities
Tirana (/en/Tirana) (Tiranë)
— the capital. Trees and
mountains surround the city.
Mount Dajt is a popular tourist
site with a great view of the
city.
Berat (/en/Berat) —
Thought to be one of the
oldest towns in Albania, it is a
new member of the UNESCO
World Heritage List. Berat has
long been known as the "city
of 1001 windows" because of
its unique Ottoman/Albanian
architecture. It has a well-
preserved castle with residents
still living inside its protective
walls.
Gjirokastër (/en/Gjirokast
%C3%ABr) — Another
UNESCO city located in the
south and known for its unique
Ottoman period architecture.
There is a large castle on the
hill in the middle of the city
which served as a jail for many
generations. A military
museum and art gallery are
now located inside. Gjirokastër
is also the birthplace of former
communist leader Enver Hoxha
and Albania's most
internationally famous author,
Ismail Kadare. Their homes
now serve as museums.
Korce (/en/Korce) (Korça) —
Located in southeast Albania,
several miles from the Greek
border, this city is full of life
during the summer, when you
can find couples and families
strolling through the city's
main park, Parku Rinia. You
can hike to the top of the
beautiful mountain Moravia
and view the city and its
surrounding landscape. Don't
miss the Korca Brewery,
famous throughout Albania,
which sponsors a week-long
beer festival every August. Also
see the old houses and the
Bazaar dating in the late 15th
century and burned 3 times.
most of the buildings are
rebuilt in the 19th and 20th
century.
Kruje (/en/Kruje) (Krujë) —
Ancient city of the national
hero Skanderbeg, Kruje
consists of beautiful
mountains. Skanderbeg's
castle is now a museum. Kruje
also contains an old style
bazaar with shops selling
traditional goods amid
cobblestone streets.
Pogradec (/en/Pogradec) —
Although overshadowed by its
glitzy neighbors on the
Macedonian side of the lake,
the town of Pogradec has been
experiencing a revival recently.
Sarandë (/en/Sarand
%C3%AB) — A city in
southern Albania known for its
unforgettable beaches and
colorful spring blooms
Shkodra (/en/Shkodra) —
The biggest town in northern
Albania. The "Migjeni" theater
is located here. The first
cycling race and the first
football match in Albania were
held here, and the first
photograph was developed
here (by Marubi). The Rozafa
Castle is a major tourist
attraction here, as is The Great
Cathedral, the Ebu Beker
Mosque, etc.
Vlorë (/en/Vlor%C3%AB) —
A lively seaside city with nice
beaches in the southern part of
the town. Passenger ferries to
and from Italy dock here.
Erseke (Erseke) — A city
hidden within the Gramozi
Mountain range, Erseke is
located in the southeast region
of Albania. It surrounding
natural beauty is what
separates it from the other
city, while also having old
Albanian villages surrounding
it.
Librazhd (/en/Librazhd)
(Librazhd)- A small town, but
with a beautiful countryside.
'The Red Mountains' is an
attraction for every tourist. It
is a UNESCO heritage in
tentative. there are located
beautiful villages such as
Stebleva with 200-year old
houses.A very funny way to go
to Librazhd (/en/Librazhd) is
by train from Elbasan.
Lushnje (/wiki
/en/index.php?title=Lushnje&
action=edit&redlink=1)
(Lushnje)-.
Other Destinations
Albanian Alps
(/en/Albanian_Alps) — This
mountainous complex in the
north of the country forms the
border between Albania and
Montenegro. Rich in rainfall,
sheep, bare rocks and scenic
views, it is one of the places in
Albania you should see.
Albanian Riviera
(/en/Albanian_Riviera) —
Featuring crystal-clear waters,
unspoiled beaches and
picturesque villages, this is the
Mediterranean coastline as it
once was.
Dhërmi (/en/Dh
%C3%ABrmi) — One of the
finest of the many beaches
along the coastal road
between Vlore and Saranda,
and perfect for camping
Butrint (/en/Butrint) — The
largest archaeological site
from Hellenic-era Albania, it
lies on the coast in the
southernmost tip of the
country near the Greek border.
Minibuses are available from
Saranda.
Bylis — The second largest
archaeological site from
Roman-era Albania
Durres (/en/Durres) —
Albania's main port of entry is
also one of its most ancient
cities. The town's ancient
amphitheatre is the biggest in
the Balkans.
Llogara National Park
(/en/Llogara_National_Park)—
The park covers an area of
1,010 hectares (2,500 acres)
and protects the forests on the
north side of the Llogara Pass
between a height from 470 to
2,018 m (1,542 to 6,621 ft)
above sea level and only a 16
km ride from the nearest
beach.
Lura National Park
(/en/Lura_National_Park) — A
1,280 hectare national park
with high mountains, big
meadows and glacial lakes.
Tomorr — A mountain ridge
in southern Albania, not far
from Berat (/en/Berat). This
part of the country is formed
by parallel mountain ridges (up
to around 2000-2500m)
separated by valleys. Although
the ridges are not very long,
they offer a few days of hiking
with enormous scenic beauty
and fantastic panoramic views.
Tomorri is one of the most
known ridges with a Bektash
monastery and chapel on the
very top. A beautiful waterfall
called Sotira Waterfall was
recently discovered near
Tomorri and is definitely worth
a visit.
Moscopole - Moscopole or
Voskopoje, is a village near
Korca. It has 7 churches dating
in the early 18th century. The
most famous are St. Nicholas
(1721) and St. Vasili (1719).
(/en/File:Valbona_valley.jpg)
Valbona river in Tropoja
(/en/File:Skrapar.jpg)
One of the canyons in Skrapar
Ksamil (/en/Ksamil) — An
absolute gem on the edge of
the Butrint national park, this
is a coastal town
encompassing three
spectacular islands.
Shëngjin (/en/Sh
%C3%ABngjin) — A growing
beach town in northwest
Albania known for its curative
beach sand and Adriatic Sea
views
Get in
(/en/File:Muriqan.jpg)
Albania-Montenegro shared border
crossing at Muriqan/Sukobin
Visas
Nationals of the United States
(/en/United_States) may enter
Albania visa-free for up to one
year. US passport cards may
also be used for entry in lieu of
a passport if arriving by air.
Nationals of Bahrain
(/en/Bahrain), Belarus
(/en/Belarus), China
(/en/China) (PRC), Oman
(/en/Oman), Qatar
(/en/Qatar), Russia
(/en/Russia), Saudi Arabia
(/en/Saudi_Arabia) and
Thailand (/en/Thailand) are
temporarily exempt from
obtaining visas until the 31st
of October 2018.
By plane
By train )
By bus )
You can reach Tirana by coach
from
Istanbul (/en/Istanbul),
Turkey (/en/Turkey) (20h, €35
one-way)
Athens (/en/Athens), Greece
(/en/Greece) (9h, €30-35)
Sofia (/en/Sofia), Bulgaria
(/en/Bulgaria) (22h, €25)
Tetovo (/en/Tetovo),
Republic of Macedonia
(/en/Republic_of_Macedonia)
(6h, €15)
Prishtina (/en/Prishtina),
Kosovo (/en/Kosovo) (4h,
€10-15 )
Istanbul (/en/Istanbul),
Turkey (/en/Turkey)
Thessaloniki
(/en/Thessaloniki), Greece
(/en/Greece)
Athens (/en/Athens), Greece
(/en/Greece)
Larisa (/en/Larisa), Greece
(/en/Greece)
Ohrid (/en/Ohrid), Republic
of Macedonia
(/en/Republic_of_Macedonia)
By boat
By yacht
By car )
Podgorica (/en/Podgorica),
Montenegro (/en/Montenegro)
Ohrid (/en/Ohrid) ,
Macedonia
(/en/Republic_of_Macedonia)
Prizren (/en/Prizren),
Kosovo (/en/Kosovo)
Thessaloniki
(/en/Thessaloniki), Greece
(/en/Greece)
Ioannina (/en/Ioannina),
Greece (/en/Greece)
(/en/File:Gjirokaster-
Kakavie.jpg)
The new road between Kakavije
(Greece) and Gjirokastra
Borders
By taxi
Get around
By bus
(/en/File:Tirana-Furgon-
Departures.jpeg)
Tirana Furgon Departures
(/en/File:Tirana-Bus-
Departures.jpeg)
Tirana Bus Departures
By train
The Vlorë-Saranda
(/en/Saranda) mountain road
is a very nice ride. It is a
typical Mediterranean road,
and offers an amazing view of
the sea from the mountains.
By bicycle
Hitchhiking
See
There are many things to do in
Albania. Many roads are paved;
however they are very windy
The coastline
(/en/Coastal_Albania) is
always a place to go, with its
clear turquoise seas, and its
many islands cast upon it, like
in Ksamil, Vlore and Saranda,
the southern most coastal city
in Albania. Note that the
coastline stretching to the
north from Vlore (/en/Vlore) to
the Montenegrin border is flat
and contains sand beaches.
This is the hub of mass tourism
in Albania. You can visit
seaside towns such as
Shengjin, Durres and Vlore and
enjoy the curative sands of
Velipoje. To the south of Vlore,
the Albanian Riviera is made
up of rocky or gravel like
shores with spectacular
turquoise waters. The area
contains mainly wooden villa
complexes, bed and
breakfasts, camping sites, and
family owned hotels as
accommodation facilities.
Llogara Pass is a mountain
pass located at the start of the
Riviera near Llogara National
Park which offers a majestic
view of the riviera from above.
Nearby is found Cesar's Pass,
the place where Julius Cesar is
said to have passed in his
pursuit of Pompey.
(/en/File:Ksamili_beach.jpg)
Beautiful and quiet beach at Ksamili
(/en/File:Golem_Beach.jpg)
Golem beach south of Durres along the
western lowland
Do
There are plenty of things to
do in Albania. The Albanian
seaside is perfect for those
who prefer a relaxing holiday.
The beautiful beaches of the
Ionian and Adriatic seas, great
Mediterranean climate and
some delicious, freshly-caught
seafood make for a great
holiday.
Talk
Albanian
(/en/Albanian_phrasebook) is
the official language. Other
useful languages include
Italian (/en/Italian), which is
often viewed as the de facto
second language and is spoken
mainly in the western part of
the country (which received
Italian TV and radio broadcast
stations until the bandwidth
was occupied by local Albanian
stations). English is widely
understood in Tirana and to a
lesser extent in cities
frequented by tourists. In the
southernmost areas of the
country, you might also
encounter minority speakers of
the Greek (/en/Greek)
language.
Lek
Currency Amount
Conversion
Euro 1 136.8
As of June 2016
Eat
Restaurants are very easy to
find. Albania, like the Balkans
in general, has a primarily
Turkish influence in its cuisine.
This influence stems from over
400 years of Ottoman rule in
the region. Recent influences
after the fall of communism in
the early 1990's have been
from Italy and Western Europe
in general. Most of what is
available in neighbouring
countries such as Greece and
Italy will be available in
Albania, particularly in the
larger cities.
(/en/File:Ushqim_Tradicional.j
pg)
A table with Albanian traditional food
Drink
The legal drinking/purchasing
age of alcoholic beverages is
18.
Sleep
Inside the cities, hotels are
abundant and prices per night
start as low as €15. Hotels are
usually clean and their staff in
major cities generally speak
English and/or Italian
(/en/Italian).
Work
Stay safe
Take the usual precautions.
Foreigners are generally not
targeted by the local crime
scene, though pickpocketings
do occur.
Traditions
Cope
Electricity
Contact
You can buy a local sim card
for ALL600 (Vodafone). You
need to provide ID (passport,
or ID card for EU/EFTA
citizens) and give an address
in Albania. Though you may
need to find a storefront (as
opposed to Vodafone cards
readily available from street
vendors) Eagle cards work well
and have very good coverage.
Eagle is the mobile branch of
the government owned
AlbTelecom. As a result, Eagle
cards offer significant savings
when calling land based
phones in Albania. Being the
"Government" carrier, be
prepared for a bit more
formality when getting one of
these cards. You will still need
your travel document, but you
will also need to sign several
forms.
Get out
You can go from Shkoder in
northern Albania to Ulcinj in
Montenegro by taxi or van.
Fares can be negotiated
between €15 and €20, and the
trip takes between 1 and 2
hours. There are also three
scheduled buses a day. From
Ulcinj, you can take buses to
some of the main cities in
Montenegro, including Bar,
Budva, Kotor and Podgorica.
You can leave by plane from
Rinas International Airport.
You can go to Greece by
Gjirokaster at the border
crossing at Kavavi. You can
leave for Italy from Durres or
Vlora. From Saranda, you can
go to Corfu, Greece. You can
go to Kosovo from Kukes on
the new highway. There are
also border crossings into
Macedonia.
Studying in Albania
You can go to Shkoder in
northern Albania and study the
Albanian language. There are
language courses for foreign
students to learn
Albanian,offered in English,
Italian, French, German and
Spanish. There are many
universities in Tirana, as well
as in Korca, Gjirokaster,
Elbasan, Berat, Kukes, Shkoder,
Durres etc too.
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This article contains content from
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Main_Page)'s Albania
(http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Albania) article. View that
page's revision history
(http://en.wikipedia.org
/w/index.php?title=
%7B%7B#urlencode:Albania
%7D%7D&action=history) for the
list of authors.