Albania

Eat

250px|thumb|right|From upleft clockwise: Speca me djathë (pepper casserole), djathë furre me spec djegës (baked cheese with spicy pepper), tavë peshku koran (fish), hasude

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. Influences since the fall of communism in the early 1990s have been from Italy and Western Europe in general. Most of what is available in neighboring countries such as Greece and Italy will be available in Albania, particularly in the larger cities.

Sleep

Inside the cities, hotels are abundant and prices per night start as low as €15, hostels starting at around €8. Hotels are usually clean and their staff in major cities generally speak English and/or Italian.

Outside the big cities, hotels are less common, but in places like Gjirokastra can be excellent value (e.g., 1,000 lek). If, for any reason, you find nowhere to sleep, the Albanian people have always been known for their hospitality, and will treat you like royalty if you stay with them.

Stay safe

Albania is generally a safe place to visit but there are some safety precautions you have to take before visiting the country. In some Albanian cities like Berat there are no traffic lights and thus crossing on the road can be dangerous Avoid places that are deemed as slums and are sketchy, things like pickpocket can happen and also violence can occur, so avoid bringing valuables in those areas. Albania does have speed limits, but most people do not follow them. If you are driving on the highway, you have to pay extra attention to avoid car crashes . If you are not a good driver it is highly recommended that you take a bus.

Stay healthy

thumb|Mineral water at a restaurant

It's best to drink bottled water. Unboiled tap water should be avoided.

In summer, insect repellent should be used as mosquitos are very active especially near former swamps and along the Western lowland.

Be careful at the beaches because shards of glass and sea urchins are common on the sea floor.

Pharmacies and other stores are closed from about 12:00-16:00. Health clinics in small towns or village areas are not well equipped, so trips to nearby cities can be expected.

Many Albanians smoke cigarettes. The government has banned smoking in restaurants but this is not enfored.

Respect

Albanians are very hospitable. Even more so than the rest of the Balkans, elder males expect to be shown respect on account of their age. Men of the family have to be respected in particular. Shake hands with them and do not argue about topics such as religion and politics. Certain topics are strictly taboo, homosexuality being one. Don't speak about gay rights, no matter what. The situation changes a lot according to the location (village or city) and the people with whom you speak as well. In the hidden north, avoid topics that go beyond local understanding, but in Tirana you will find cosmopolitan people that are as open to new ideas as the citizens of Western Europe.

Sometimes, if you stay for a night or so at someone's house, don't be surprised if you see an AK-47 Kalashnikov hanging at the wall. It's pretty normal for Albanians to keep guns in the house.

Albania is mostly a secular country, although most of the population consider themselves either Muslim, the majority, or Christian. Ramadan does not close down street life, at least in Tirana, but you may still not want to break Islamic taboos without checking that it is OK in your current company.

Because of the Kosovo situation, there is a great deal of mistrust and resentment towards Serbia in Albania. Try to avoid being overly enthusiastic about Serbia, as it can quickly arouse negative sentiments among locals.

Go next

You can go from Shkoder in northern Albania to Ulcinj in Montenegro by taxi or vans. Fares can be negotiated between €15 and €20, it takes between 1 and 2 hours. There are buses leaving from Shkoder to other places in Montenegro (Podgorica, Budva and Kotor), departing at 10:00 or 13:20 From Ulcinj you can also take busses to other cities in Montenegro.

Crossing into North Macedonia at the border between Pogradec and Ohrid, North Macedonia is fairly straightforward. From Pogradec, one can take a taxi to the border - this will likely cost around €5 and take around 10 minutes. Once you get to the border, it is possible to walk into North Macedonia, but do not expect to find taxis on the other side of the border. Instead, hire a taxi on the Albanian side (€25, 40 minutes to Ohrid) or wait for the minibus that turns around at the border. This bus comes every few hours and is the same bus that services the Sveti Naum Monastery, which lies a few kilometers from the border. If the bus does not show up, your best option would be to head to monastery's parking lot a few kilometers distant to find the bus (check Google Earth first to get a fix on its location).

You can go to Kosovo from Kukës on the new highway. Travelling from Albania to Kosovo by car is a popular, scenic, and generally safe route that connects two culturally and historically linked countries. The most common route is Tirana to Pristina, which is around 260 km (160 miles), depending on the starting and…