Albania. More than a single country in Europe does not go so many myths, fears and conjectures. The first time I saw Albania from the top of a mountain in Macedonia, I imagined Muslims with wild eyes sitting in bunkers in ambush, with Kalashnikov over his shoulder, and even felt a chill running down my back. And then my Macedonian friend offered to ride through Albania to the sea and promised me exceptional beauty and safety. Surprisingly, it turned out that way. Albania is a completely distinctive and self-sufficient country with incredible nature. For a long time she was the most closed country in Europe, during which time many legends were born about her.

 

 

 

Today, the crime rate in Albania is much lower than in other European cities. I never had a shadow of doubt before leaving home late alone, especially in coastal cities. Albanians are tolerant of all religions – churches and mosques here are adjacent to each other. Locals are very patriotic, they call themselves skippers, and their country Skipper – a country of eagles and are very hospitable. Once, having broken a wheel near the village and turned to the first people who came across for help, despite the language barrier, we were invited to the house for a vacation, and after the owner’s son spent half a day with us until we were again with four whole wheels and, in addition to “Thank you,” he couldn’t deliver anything.

Today, Albanians have visa-free entry to Europe, build new roads, houses, cafes and restaurants, destroy bunkers – a legacy of the era of Khoja.

 

 

Not everything is still established, transport links with the country and within the country is a sore point, despite new roads being actively built. Many mountainous areas are in disrepair. The south of the country and the coast develop much faster than the rest of the territory, but every year Albania changes, it becomes more convenient and understandable for visiting tourists. In Albania, I always have the feeling that life around is being built and is actively transforming.

 

 

A variety of food, archaeological and nature reserves, incredible nature – the Albanian Alps, two seas at once – the Adriatic and Ionian, lakes and rivers and hospitable Albanians who are delighted with the guests, make Albania truly worth exploring and traveling through it.

How to get there

By plane

 

In Albania, there is one operating international airport named after Mother Teresa, located 17 km from the capital of Albania, Tirana.

 

Touristic Regions

 

 

Adriatic coast. From the Vlora to the very border with Montenegro stretches the sandy beaches of the Adriatic. The sea is shallow at the entrance and warms up quickly, which is especially good for families with children. To the north of Durres there are few places with tourist infrastructure, but to the south you can find options for every taste.

 

The Ionian coast, the so-called Albanian Riviera, from Vlora to the border with Greece. There are rocky beaches, the sea and mountains are adjacent, and the color of water is all shades of blue and green. Small cozy towns and various attractions. Albanians themselves spend their holidays here, and the coast is actively developing.

 

The southeastern part of the country, including the coast of Lake Ohrid . The influence of neighboring Greece is felt right up to the lake. Many Christians live here, grow olive trees and delicious figs, beautiful nature and many ancient monuments. It’s good to travel to these places by car, as, indeed, throughout Albania.

 

• Kruja is a small town located on the top of Sari Saltiki Mountain near Tirana. Albanians love and revere Kruja, there is a fortress and a museum of the national hero Skanderbeg. In Kruja, it’s very calm, people are unhurried, and beautiful views open from observation platforms.

 

 

• Berat. It is called the city of “thousands of windows” or “white city”. The historic center of Berat, along with the fortress, where people still live, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are many museums, including the Onufri Museum, which is most interesting to visit. Here you should try homemade dogwood brandy.

 

 

• Saranda is the pearl of the Albanian Riviera. A city located opposite the Greek island of Corfu. The clear sea and many attractions around. Butrinti Archaeological Museum-Reserve, Blue Eye Nature Reserve, and the most beautiful beaches of Albania in the town of Ksamil are half an hour away by car from Saranda.

 

 

• Vlora – the city itself will not impress, but it is here that the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet and you can track how the color of the water and the seabed change. Vlora is an excellent base for visiting attractions in the area, for example, the Llogara Nature Reserve or Illyrian Apollonia.

 

 

The islands

 

 

On the largest summers, cafes are built and open airs are held. You can get on a free shuttle boat from the beach in the town of Ksamil, not far from Saranda, as well as on a rented catamaran or even swim.

 

 

Another island of Albania is Sazan. The island is part of the Vlora region. Previously, it housed a military base, which Sazan formally considered to this day. In 2015, the Albanian government announced big plans related to changing the status of the island and its improvement for tourists. While on Sazan there is no drinking water and it is closed to the public.

 

 

Top Attractions

Butrint is an archaeological museum in the south of the country. Surprisingly well-preserved building of the ancient Greeks, Romans, the construction of the Byzantine period, surrounded by beautiful nature.

 

 

2. The Blue Eye is a karst spring that spills deep from the ground. The Blue Eye is located in a large nature reserve near Saranda.

 

3. Apollonia Illyria is a once ancient Greek port in Illyria. Aristotle wrote about her, in her honor the asteroid 358 Apollonia was named. Apollonia is located near the town of Fier . For a visit it is better to choose a non-hot day, since most of the excavations are located in the open air and the scorching sun.

 

4. Berat. The White City, whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the territory of the fortress of Berat, as many centuries ago, people still live. Here are unique museums and ancient churches.

 

5. Well-preserved ancient fortresses are found throughout Albania. One of the most interesting to visit is the Rozafa fortress in Shkodra, a city on the border with Montenegro, built by the Illyrians in the 3rd century BC.

 

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