GETTING THERE
Arriving by plane
There are weekly flights to Tirana from Germany with Lufthansa (LH) and Germanwings (4U) in cooperation with other airlines, including Austrian Airlines (AU) and Alitalia (AZ).
Flight times
Frankfurt – Tirana: 3 hours 40 (with a stopover); Vienna – Tirana: 1 hour 35; Zurich – Tirana: 3 hours 45 minutes (with a stopover).
Departure fee
€ 10 exit fee.
Arrival by car
Albania can be reached by land via Macedonia (Ohrid, Quafe Thane, Pogradec) and Greece (Lake Prespa, Kapshticë, Korçë and Ioannina, Kakavijë, Gjirokastër). Due to the politically tense situation, the road connections between Albania and Kosovo should be avoided.
Bus: There are bus connections from Tirana to Istanbul, Sofia and Athens.
Car:Entry with your own car is not necessarily recommended. Although there are guarded parking spaces in Tirana (parking fee is charged), the risk of burglary or theft is also high during the day. If you are entering the country with your own car, comprehensive insurance is strongly recommended. Gasoline quality can occasionally be a problem. Unleaded fuel is now also available inland, but as a precaution should be refueled in larger cities.
Arriving by train
There are currently no international rail connections.
Arrival by ship
The main ports are Durrës, Vlora and Shen Gjini.
From Durrës there are ferry connections to Italy (Bari 9 hours, Brindisi and Trieste 23 hours and Ancona 16 hours) (Internet: http://www.cemar.it/dest/traghetti_albania.htm). There is also a catamaran connection between Durrës and Bari (travel time: 4 hours) (Internet: www.venezialines.com). There are other ferry connections between Vlora and Brindisi (travel time: 6-8 hours) (Internet: www.agoudimos-lines.com and www.skenderbeglines.com). Saranda offers crossings with the hovercraft (travel time: 30 min.) As well as with the ferry (travel time: 90 min.) To Corfu. In Corfu there are ticket offices for the Finikas ferry lines
and Albkorfuz.
ON THE GO
On the way by car / bus
Of around 18,000 km, around 7,450 km are main roads. Much of it is paved, but is in poor condition. All-wheel drive vehicles are particularly recommended for back roads. Motorways are being planned, and existing roads are increasingly being expanded. Pedestrians, animals, cyclists, ox carts, horse-drawn carts and land vehicles use the road alike. Visitors should drive extremely carefully. There is no breakdown assistance. The gasoline quality is problematic.
Bus: Still the main form of transport in Albania. From Tirana the main routes (Durrës, Shkodra, Peshkopia, Korça, Gjirokastra, Saranda) are used daily or several times a day by private bus companies.
Taxiscan be found in front of international hotels or in Tirana at the central taxi stand on Sheshi (“square”) Avni Rustemi.
Rental cars and representative vehicles are available in Tirana from rental companies, including internationally known ones. A private chauffeur with a car is the most comfortable and most reliable alternative, which can be booked with good tour operators before the trip to Albania.
Traffic regulations:Strict speed limits, depending on the vehicle type and type of road as well as within built-up areas. Petrol stations cannot be found everywhere in the interior. It should be noted that vehicles with foreign license plates are often stopped by the police. Driving at night and on routes with little traffic should be avoided. Right-hand traffic.
Documentation: International or national driver’s license and international green insurance card required.
Traveling in the city
In the larger cities there are bus networks that are cheap but mostly overcrowded.
On the go by train
The route network of the Albanian railway – single-track, diesel-operated, in poor condition and mostly overcrowded – connects Tirana and Shkodra, Vlora, Fier, Ballsh and Pogradec.
On the way by ship
A fast passenger ferry connects Durrës and Vlora.
MONEY
Currency
1 lek. Currency abbreviation: ALL (ISO code). Banknotes are available in values of 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 Lek;
Coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Lek. In addition to the official means of payment, the lek, euros and US $ are sometimes accepted as means of payment.
Credit cards
Can only be used to a limited extent. MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express are accepted, but only in larger hotels and some banks. Withdrawals from ATMs in larger cities are no problem. Details from the issuer of the respective credit card.
ATMs
EC / Maestro card / Sparcard Cash
withdrawal is possible in larger cities with an EC card (Maestro) and PIN number if the Maestro symbol is available at the ATM.
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-2.30 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
The import of foreign currencies is unlimited; Declaration obligation. Export is limited to US $ 5000 or the amount declared upon entry. The import and export of the local currency is prohibited.
Currency Exchange
You can exchange money at the official rate in the banks. The exchange in exchange offices in the larger hotels is more convenient, but the exchange rate is a bit worse. You can get a better rate from the legal money changers on the street, who can usually be found near banks. It should be noted here that counterfeit money is often in circulation.
According to youremailverifier, cash is still the most important means of payment in Albania. Only small amounts should be changed as needed. In addition to the official means of payment, the lek, foreign currencies (preferably US dollars) are mostly accepted. It is advisable to take small sorts of foreign currency with you, because change is often missing even in the airport, when collecting entry and exit fees, in exchange offices, taxis, etc.