National holidays
| January 1 – 2 | New Year’s Day |
| March 14 | Summer Day |
| March 22 | Nevrouz day |
| --- | Easter Monday |
| --- | Orthodox Easter Monday |
| May 1 | Labour Day |
| October 19 | Day of Beatification of Mother Teresa |
| --- | Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| --- | Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) |
| November 28 | Independence Day |
| November 29 | Liberation Day |
| December 8 | National Youth Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
Albania is a small Mediterranean country once known as the world’s most closed-off and controlled countries. Today, it welcomes visitors to relish in country’s rich cultural traditions and heritage.
Numerous beaches, snow-covered mountains, pristine river valleys, fabled warm hospitality of the Albanians make you feel at home. Rich cultural heritage throughout the country enables you to explore Illyrian and medieval castles, Byzantine monasteries, Ottoman cities.
The Albanian language is one of the oldest living languages in the world. Albanian cuisine offers a blend of Mediterranean and Oriental flavours in its many traditional dishes. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites include Butrint and historic centres of Berat and Gjirokastra. The list of national parks is a longer one, Butrint, Mount Dajti, Divjake-Karavasta being just a few of them.
In the country whose shores are washed by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas visitors can explore its ancient past and watch the present dynamic development in action.
National holidays
| January 1 – 2 | New Year’s Day |
| March 14 | Summer Day |
| March 22 | Nevrouz day |
| --- | Easter Monday |
| --- | Orthodox Easter Monday |
| May 1 | Labour Day |
| October 19 | Day of Beatification of Mother Teresa |
| --- | Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| --- | Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) |
| November 28 | Independence Day |
| November 29 | Liberation Day |
| December 8 | National Youth Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
Electricity
The plug of choice is 220 Volts, AC, 50 Hz, two-pin socket supply.
Money
The Albanian currency is the lek (plural lekë). The exchange rate is pretty stable at: €1 = 137 lek, £1 = 160 lek, US$1 = 104 lek (July 2013). Banknotes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 lek, while there are coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lek. Although hotels and some other businesses quote prices in euros or dollars, payment is mostly required in lek.
Credit cards
Larger cities will take credit cards, especially MasterCard and Visa but make sure to have enough change when travelling to smaller towns and countryside.
Religion
The most common religions practised in Albania are Islam and Christianity.
Safety
In Albania you are more likely to be overwhelmed with hospitality since besa, meaning the well-being of honoured guests, is a tradition that has been honoured since the Illyrian times. Still, the best advice may be to employ your common sense and stay alert.
Smoking
Smoking is officially prohibited in restaurants, bars and offices, but Albanians generally enjoy sitting in clouds of smoke.
Visas
Citizens of the EU, most other European countries, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan can enter Albania without a visa. Other travellers need to get a visa from an Albanian embassy or consulate abroad before travelling to Albania..
Highlights
Tirana
Tirana became Albania's capital in 1920. The city has many public institutions, public and private universities and is a centre of political, economic and cultural life. The fall of communism resulted in economic growth and it also opened the country to the world. Today, Tirana is the major industrial and financial centre of Albania.
Butrint
Butrint was inhabited since prehistoric times and has seen the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians during its development. It was abandoned in the late Middle Ages but the ruins still display each period and rule. The area around Butrint is one of the most important areas of biodiversity in Albania, and is declared National park. Since 1992 it is on the UNESCO's list of protected world heritage monuments.
Berat
Berat is located in central Albania. With its castles, Byzantine churches and several mosques, it witnesses the coexistence of different religious and cultural communities throughout the centuries. Because of its unique and rich architecture, in 1961, was declared the Albanian ''Museum City'', and is also under UNESCO protection.
Gjirokastra
Gjirokastra in southern Albania is best known for two-storey houses from the 17th century, a bazaar, a mosque and two churches from the 18th century. Besides being called ''town museum'' because it has over 20 museums, it also earned the name ''stone city'' due to many houses that feature a distinctive local style. It was not until 2005 that Gjirokastra was registered in UNESCO.
Kruje
Kruje is located 20 km from Tirana, and was inhabited in 2nd century by the Illyrian tribe Albani. It was once the capital of Albania. Since 1982, Skanderbeg's cult has its own official centre- National Museum in Kruja and was built on the ruins of the former medieval fortress in which Skanderberg himself dwelt for 25 years. Museums Kruje consist of the Museum of Skanderbeg, located near Fort Krujë, and National Ethnographic Museum.
Apollonia
Apolonia was founded in 588 BCE by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth, on a site initially occupied by Illyrian tribes. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania and has a status of the Archaeological Park. Apolonia, the most visited place in Albania, was once an important maritime port.
Scanderbeg cognac
Skanderbeg is Albanian's greatest historical figure, a symbol of national unity and resistance to foreign invaders. Skanderbeg's famous helmet, decorated with goat head and horns, which is a part of the Albanian coat of arms, to Albanians represents a royal crown. Albania is well known for its Scanderbeg cognac, unique in flavour and aroma.
