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One of the most popular destinations in Europe It is Albania, increasingly fashionable in recent years, a land to be discovered where you can organize a trip between seaside resorts, archaeological sites, historic towns and natural landscapes of rare beauty.
A holidays in Albania It is an experience available to everyone, thanks to the fairly low exchange rates, with an extremely favorable monetary exchange rate. Here's everything you need to know visit albania, from places to see to the best times to travel.
What to visit in Albania: places to see absolutely
laAlbania It is a relatively small country, however it is an area rich in places to discover, being splendid. seaside location to charming historic towns and free natural spas. The discovery of Albania represents a complete immersion in Albanian culture, to visit unique destinations such as ancient city of berat, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the lively capital Tirana, the modern city of Durazzo, without forgetting the splendid landscapes of Saranda and Scutari.
What to see in Tirana, the capital of Albania
One of the main destinations is the capital of Albania, Tirana, a cosmopolitan city with numerous tourist attractions. The tour can start from Clock Tower, a true local symbol, built in 1820 and 35 meters high, continuing towards the futuristic Hoxha Pyramid, today an important youth cultural center. Of visit in tirana also the Secret Service Museum, Sigurimi, the Central Market, the beating heart of the Albanian city, the imposing National History Museum and the Et'hem Bey Mosque, stopping for lunch in the lively Blloku neighborhood.
Lake Skadar, on the border with Montenegro
Scutari is a historic city in Albania, located in the northern part of the country, not far from Montenegro. The main attraction is the beautiful. Skadar Lake, overlooking the city's homes, whose rivers run through the entire center creating a quite suggestive landscape. Don't miss a visit to Castillo de Rozafa, the great Abu Bakr Mosque, the 19th century English Clock Tower, the Migjeni Theater and the small but interesting Kuka Bear Historical Museum.
The city of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The city of Weight, located in the central part of the country, is one of the oldest areas of Albania, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to the strong historical value left by the Ottoman influence. Here Muslims and Christians coexist in perfect harmony, as can be seen from the historic center divided into two areas. One of the places to see is the Berat Castle, located at the top of a long climb, without leaving aside the neighborhoods of Mangalemi and Gorica, the Ethnographic museum, in addition to the numerous churches and mosques present throughout the area.
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The modern city of Durres
In spite of Durres Contemporary city, the periods of Byzantine and Roman influence have left several archaeological sites, creating a strong mix between past and modernity. The list of places to visit in Durres is really long, however you cannot miss them Venetian castle and tower, the Amphitheater considered one of the oldest in the Balkans, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman baths, the Orthodox Monastery of Shen Vlash, the Great mosque and the nearby Muslim prayer center of Fatih.
Holidays in Albania by the sea: where to go?
Albania not only means historic cities, churches, mosques and archaeological sites, in fact, the country today represents one of the most popular destinations for summer holidays, thanks to the numerous Albanian seaside resorts and its beautiful beaches. Among the places to go to the coast in Albania is Saranda, famous for its nightlife, excellent restaurants and some of the most evocative beaches of the Mediterranean, including the paradise beach of Pulebardha, Ksamil and the Three Islands area, near which the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint is also located.
Another wonderful place for sea lovers is Vlora, located on the stretch of the Adriatic coast within the Llogaraja Pass National Park, ideal for snorkeling and excursions. It is located near Lake Skadar. velips, a very long beach with equipped establishments and services, while in the Vlora area, on the southwest coast of Albania, is Himare, with picture-postcard beaches such as Livadhi, Potami and the splendid performance.
Those who want to book a beach holiday in Albania can also choose LUKOV, located less than 20 km from Saranda, famous for its lively nightlife and crystal clear waters, otherwise you can go to Cut, a town increasingly appreciated by European summer tourism. Not far behind are also Borsh, where the 7th century castle stands out on a wonderful stretch of coast approximately XNUMX km long, and Gjipe, with exclusive accommodation facilities and excellent services. Another spa is The skin, on the Adriatic coast, where the exceptional beaches of Palase and Drimadhes are located.
Road trip in Albania: the best car itineraries
One of the ways to discover this country is visit Albania by car, organizing a real road trip, to admire all the most fascinating places without compromises. The adventure can begin from the port of Durres for those arriving by boat, or from Tirana airport by taking a rental car. You can then continue north or south, depending on your preferences, as in each direction there are places worth visiting.
Among the best itineraries in the central part of the country is the Zona de Montaña de Dajti, suitable for short excursions and a cable car trip, while to the south you can reach the towns of Vlora, the splendid Orikum beach, continuing to Porto Palermo, Ksamil, Siri and Kalter, Pogradec and Gjirokastra, nicknamed the silver city. To the north, however, are destinations such as Scutari and Teth, where you can find waterfalls, lakes and extremely suggestive natural landscapes.
What to do in Albania with children
Albania is undoubtedly an appropriate destination for a trip with children, both because of its proximity to our country and because it is capable of offering many attractions for the little ones. Naturally, among the favorite destinations for a holiday with children are the coastal towns, many of them equipped to accommodate families, the best being The skin near Tirana and the area karaburun, with spectacular places to visit such as Grama Bay, the Slave Cave and Petrun with Duke John's Cave.
As well Ksamil e isole vicine They provide you with everything you need when traveling with children, otherwise you can choose the area around the Lake Ohrid, a cooler environment declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Those who prefer hiking can opt for the Valle de Valbona National Park, where you can take a ferry trip across Lake Koman or visit the archaeological site of Apollonia, easily accessible from Berat and Durres.
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What to eat in Albania: typical Albanian dishes
A holiday in Albania is a unique opportunity to try the traditional albanian cuisine, experiencing the typical flavors of this land, not far from Mediterranean food and wine. Absolutely worth a try koran fish, cooked on the grill and served with accompanying vegetables, or the meze, an appetizer composed of several plates of cheeses, olives and sauces. It is always very appreciated Tave Dheu, a meat served with artisan bread and ricotta, to be consumed inside the classic terracotta container.
Other dishes from the Albanian culinary tradition are pie, a very tasty salty puff pastry cake with meat and vegetables, the Baklava, a typical dessert quite common in all areas of Albania, the kadaif, another dessert that shows all the Turkish influence on Albanian food and wine and Dolma, an essential dish in Tirana restaurants, made with a meat filling inside a grape leaf topping. In smaller towns you can find two meat dishes, he Kukurec and he Kofte, always accompanied by potatoes and mixed vegetables.
Traveling to Albania: useful tips before you leave
Albania is currently not part of the European Union, in fact an official candidacy was presented some time ago and is still being evaluated. Therefore, the country has not adopted the euro, but, on the contrary, uses it. National currency, Lek, whose value is 122 lek for every euro. In several places you can find exchange officesHowever, they apply quite onerous commissions, so it is better to withdraw cash at ATMs, or if possible pay with a card, but it is important to keep in mind that the stores are not always equipped with POS terminals.
Although Albania is not part of the European Union, there is an international agreement, so it is possible to travel with it. italian identity card no problems, otherwise you can use your passport. Within the country it is possible drive with Italian license, but you need an authorized international insurance policy to travel abroad. As it is still a non-EU state, our health card is not accepted, so to avoid risks it is advisable to take out travel insurance, activating a medical expenses policy.
How much does a holiday in Albania cost: prices and directions?
One of the Advantages of traveling to Albania, which has made this tourist destination so popular, is the possibility of spending little by organizing a low-cost vacation. The prices are quite affordable, despite the progressive increase in rates due to the large number of tourists in recent years, who now flock to the country's beaches and tourist centers. Naturally the expense depends on your choicesIn fact, it is possible to book in luxury resorts and eat in renowned restaurants, increasing costs, or opt for less expensive structures.
In summer the rates are the highest of the year, so those who want to save should prefer the low season periods, May, June, September and October, avoiding July and August instead. Some services such as car rental and transportation cost the same as in Italy, while others are cheaper, including i restaurant meals, evenings at nightclubs and tickets to museums and archaeological sites. Hotels offer prices similar to Italian ones, at least in high season, otherwise prices drop significantly.
How to get to Albania: all travel options
The strong growth of tourism has caused a significant increase in transportation to this Balkan country; In fact, to get to Albania it is possible to choose from a wide range of different solutions. Obviously, the fastest and most comfortable means of transportation isplane, arriving at Tirana International Airport from the main Italian cities, alternatively there are two other airports available, one to the north nearby Kukes and the other to the south in the vicinity of Saranda. Flights are operated by several airlines, including Alitalia, Albawings and Blue Panorama.
Another widely used medium is ferry, to avoid having to rent a car once you arrive at the place, and at the same time enjoy the pleasure of a cruise through the Mediterranean. The crossing to the Port of Durres lasts 7 to 9 hours, with connections made by shipowners such as GNV, Adria Ferries and Ventouris Ferries. Finally you can also go to Albania auto, facing a journey of at least 12 hours through Slovenia, Montenegro and Croatia.
When to go to Albania: the best times to travel
Il albania climate It is similar to Italian, so it is typically Mediterranean, characterized by harsh winters and hot, muggy summers. He Best time It is certainly summer to travel, especially if you want to visit the coastal resorts, encountering high temperatures from June to September. If, in addition to the beaches, you want to organize a complete vacation, including mountain areas and historic cities, the most suitable seasons to go to Albania are spring and fall, when mild temperatures and little rainfall can be found.
