7 Issues To Know Earlier than Touring To Albania

Written by By Maria from NorthernAlbania.com

Generally dubbed as “Europe’s forgotten nation”, Albania has remained underneath the radar for a lot of, normally as a result of unfavorable, deceptive stereotypes.

Generally known as ‘Shqiperia’ within the Albanian language, this nation holds a number of the most gorgeous and various nature in all of Europe. There’s intense historical past, unimaginable meals, and a wealthy, cultural heritage to study whereas visiting Albania.

It’s additionally known as the “land of Eagles” – you possibly can simply acknowledge the Albanian flag by the double-headed eagle. In the identical regard, for those who meet Albanians and ask them about their heritage, they’ll make the eagle image with their fingers to show their cultural pleasure.

Prime Ideas For Visiting Albania

After living in Albania for nearly two years, I need to provide the greatest inside suggestions for visiting this attractive, however quirky Balkan nation.

Albania continues to be pulling itself from the grips of current communism whereas coping with ongoing authorities corruption. Touring isn’t probably the most simple since issues change quickly and another way from how most are used to in Western nations. There was fairly a little bit of progress to make issues simpler for vacationers.

Listed here are 7 up-to-date suggestions you could know earlier than visiting Albania.

It’s Tough To Journey Quick

One of many largest errors I see vacationers making is that they assume Albania is just like different locations they’ve visited. That is merely not the case. It’s not doable to journey Albania rapidly, however that’s additionally the great thing about it. This is because of many components just like the slower tempo of life, infrastructure, and geography.

Albania follows the standard Mediterranean way of life, which implies issues function slower. This implies you possibly can’t squeeze as a lot right into a day. Albanians wish to take their time to take pleasure in an extended espresso, afternoon naps, and naturally lengthy, social meal occasions.

Infrastructure in Albania continues to be creating. The current surge in tourism has helped get the wheels transferring however corruption within the authorities concurrently places the brakes on. In the meantime, locals adapt one of the best they’ll. When visiting, it’s vital to maintain this in thoughts, so you possibly can decrease expectations and have an open thoughts.

Geography performs an enormous position in making issues slower. Albania is a really mountainous nation, making touring round extra time-consuming. There are many superb canyons, waterfalls, sizzling springs, historic ruins, and castles to go to, however they’re deep in rural areas. Plus, most issues aren’t well-known or ‘found’ so typically discovering these cool locations takes a little bit of time exploring.

Strive To Hike In Different Areas

Climbing is without doubt one of the greatest methods to see Albania, particularly since sights truly require you to hike to them. The ‘Albanian Alps’ in northern Albania are identified for being a mountain climbing paradise.

Sadly, most vacationers go to solely two explicit cities within the Albanian Alps as a result of that’s what huge bloggers go to and suggest of their guides. Often known as the Accursed Mountains, this vary covers a big space so there’s tons extra to find. I’d encourage you to take a look at alternatives to Theth village, particularly since your tourism cash can do a world of fine for households in different villages. Plus, it should assist to curb the over-tourism situation that Theth is beginning to face.

Studying About Albania’s Historical past Is Essential

A part of Albania’s more moderen historical past, contains nearly half a century of the communist dictator, Enver Hoxha, making life for the Albanian individuals very troublesome.

Whereas within the capital of Tirana, ensure that to pay a go to to a number of the museums. The Home Of Leaves museum particularly exhibits how Hoxha’s authorities spied on the Albanian individuals by means of issues like listening units, checking mail correspondence, and even commissioning residents to be informants. At the moment, anyone could possibly be an informant – your husband, spouse, brother, sister, or good friend, which created quite a lot of mistrust amongst individuals. The ‘punishment’ from Hoxha’s authorities was excessive, in the meantime, they confirmed propaganda to the skin world making it look like life in Albania was good.

I’d extremely suggest the Home Of Leaves museum to study this stuff, particularly since it’s arrange within the authentic constructing the place this surveillance occurred. Bunk’Artwork 2 and the Nationwide Historic Museum are different nice locations to study extra.

Accessibility Can Be An Difficulty (Particularly In The Off Season)

Although most guests in the summertime months, Albania has been rising in reputation so tourism is choosing up and turning into yr round. Many journey guides advise you primarily based on experiences from visiting throughout heat climate.

Winter means fewer buses and a few locations can’t be reached.

Albania is sort of various with 6 totally different climates. Theth Nationwide Park is within the subarctic local weather, so even in April, it won’t be accessible as a result of snow and unsafe street situations. Equally, the southern city of Korce will be onerous to entry as a result of climate. Throughout these occasions, buses gained’t be as frequent so it’s vital to totally verify the ‘low season’ bus schedule earlier than departing. If there are just one or two buses per week to a spot, you might go with out realizing it and be caught there for some time.

At the least, by taking the bus, you don’t have to find out about driving on unfamiliar roads in unknown situations, for the reason that native drivers know what to anticipate. Earlier than renting a automobile, ensure that to talk with locals about street situations to your desired locations. Even in one of the best of situations, there are numerous roads not appropriate for normal ‘metropolis’ vehicles. So to keep away from paying for damages, get an acceptable car if you wish to take rural roads.

Pssst – Driving wasn’t permitted for most people throughout communism. This significantly restricted street growth and upkeep for half of the 1900s. That is largely why you’ll discover poor street situations these days, and in addition loopy driving practices.

Think about Albanian Riviera Options

Simply probably the most visited area is the Albanian Riviera. With a number of the greatest seashores in Europe, the attractive stretch of shoreline has risen in reputation at an alarming fee. This has triggered quite a lot of unsustainable tourism, with little to no rules.

Throughout communism, Albanians had been stored in horrible circumstances and even now, there should not many alternatives to pursue. This has pressured a big portion of Albanians to go away and search higher training and wages elsewhere. Many who stay see this tourism burst as a approach to pull them and their household from struggling. Since that is condensed a lot in a single space of the nation, it has created some points.

Visiting the Albanian Riviera continues to be great, I’d extremely suggest it. Remember that will probably be extraordinarily congested and overpriced in July and August. It’s additionally not the top all, be all of Albania. There are such a lot of different nice locations that might do with the inflow of vacationer income.

Listed here are a couple of swimming alternate options:

• Go to some seashores north of the Riviera like Rana E Hedhun Beach (Thrown Sand Albania) or the Cape of Rodon.
• Cool off within the mountains – swimming at Prekal Canyon (close to Shkoder) or Syri i Ciklopit (Cyclops Eye close to Tirana), white-water rafting close to Berat, visiting Nivica waterfalls and canyon.
• Discover the thermal sizzling spring close to Permet (temperature can range, however normally it’s heat, not sizzling) – one of the best time to go to is in colder months.

What To Know About The Ingesting Water

There’s quite a lot of conflicting details about whether or not you possibly can drink the water in Albania. The primary situation that retains vacationers and locals alike from ingesting the water just isn’t bacterial. This can be a frequent situation within the likes of Asia so many vacationers assume that when locals say you shouldn’t drink the water it’s the identical cause. 90% of the time that isn’t the case.

Water high quality within the Balkans can vary from superb to horrible inside 30 minutes of driving or much less. That is primarily as a result of the water coming from the mountains is nice for ingesting. Once you go nearer to the ocean or *most* cities, the water is over-treated, which means that the chemical compounds are very harsh in your physique.

Some individuals get abdomen aches straight away and a few get it after per week or a month. Both manner, it’s not good whether or not you’re feeling it instantly or not as a result of the surplus chemical compounds can truly dehydrate you the extra you drink, and who is aware of what different points.

Many vacationers have advised me they boiled their faucet water, so that they didn’t have to spend the cash on shopping for it – besides boiling solely helps with killing micro organism. It doesn’t take away the extreme quantity of chemical compounds.

To economize and plastic, you should buy a big 5L or 8L for 100 lek or 10L for 200 lek.

Generally visited areas:

• Tirana – it’s suggested to purchase water
• Shkoder – water comes from the mountains so it’s okay to drink, verify the person constructing although
• Seaside cities (Sarande, Himare, Vlore, Shengjin, and many others.) – it’s suggested to purchase water

When unsure, ask the locals. They are going to be updated on the ingesting water requirements. Extra importantly, ask somebody from the place you might be staying. Even when water high quality is nice within the space, if the constructing is previous, the pipes may be contaminating the water for ingesting.

The one time you would possibly run right into a bacterial situation is if you’re within the mountains and the water supply degree is low – nevertheless it’s not frequent. What do I imply by this? If you’re mountain climbing within the extraordinarily sizzling months of July, August, or September, water ranges are decrease than regular which implies there’s a larger threat of micro organism from the bodily backside of the water supply. This was my private expertise staying at a guesthouse in Valbona in September. Myself and different hikers had been getting sick due to the water, whereas locals weren’t as a result of they had been used to the water.

Staring Tradition

As foreigners, you would possibly discover some issues that appear uncommon or ‘quirky’. One in every of these is that Albania has an intense staring tradition. It might probably take a bit to regulate to the staring, particularly since in different places, impolite conduct usually follows somebody staring. In Albania, it’s seen as a traditional approach to assess somebody and it’s not interpreted as impolite by any means.

Although it’s frequent amongst all ages, the older generations are identified for lengthy stares. This may do with rising up underneath the Hoxha dictatorship – not with the ability to belief these round you and being lower off from any international affect. There are lots of older Albanians which have by no means met foreigners earlier than, so the staring is out of curiosity, not malice.

For girls, it’s vital to notice that guys will stare, however gained’t do the rest. It’s not frequent for guys to strategy you or comply with you. They could say the Albanian equal of “OMG” to their good friend for those who stroll by a restaurant however that’s about it. In contrast with my expertise dwelling within the US and Western Europe, I really feel far more respect and security. I’ve traveled throughout Albania on my own and by no means felt unsafe. Albanians of all ages have helped me, like discovering the correct bus cease, gone with me to purchase medication, given me instructions, let me use their telephone hotspot, and a lot extra!

Last Ideas

I hope the following tips provide help to plan your go to and make you extra assured in touring to Albania. Although there are some vital issues to recollect, the entire great issues about Albania actually outshine the small negatives. It’s a fantastic place to discover and chill out, particularly for those who’re in search of a chill, Mediterranean getaway.

Creator’s bio: Initially from the US, Maria has been dwelling overseas for the final 5+ years in Scotland, Eire, and now Albania. After falling in love with the Balkan area of Europe, she based Northern Albania, the place she relies full-time. Observe Maria on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Additional studying

I printed many articles about Albania that you simply would possibly discover helpful when planning your journey there. Listed here are a few of them:

If you’re in search of articles a couple of particular vacation spot – take a look at the map with all of the articles I’ve printed (and their areas).

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• I’ve included a couple of helpful hyperlinks of companies and merchandise I personally like and use so you possibly can plan your personal journey to Albania too. They’re usually affiliate hyperlinks. This implies I’ll get a small fee for those who e book/buy something by means of my hyperlinks, at no further prices for you. Thanks!

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