Travel quotes
Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. Benjamin Disraeli
In America there are two classes of travel - first class, and with children. Robert Benchley
Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. Mason Cooley
The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." Daniel J. Boorstin
There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror. Orson Welles
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Albania : When and where to go ?
Click on a city for complete climate and weather tables
| Town | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Vlore |  | | |  |  | | | | | |  | |
| Tirana | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
Albania : Maps and Facts
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The climate is decidedly Mediterranean throughout the whole of the coastal area with hot summers tending towards heat waves. Winters are rainy but mild in temperature with very agreeable mid-seasons. |
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What to do in Albania
Only recently opened to tourism, Albania is, never the less, a welcoming country with untouched natural areas, protected wildlife and numerous archaeological riches from various civilisations.
The Capital, Tirana, with its colourfully painted buildings, merits a prolonged visit, especially the Skanderberg Place, around the Ethem Bey Mosque and the National History Museum. More to the north, at Krujë, you can visit the Skanderberg Museum or the Ethnographical Museum. A stroll around the bazaar will capture you with its picturesque atmosphere. To the east, Korçë possesses an excellent Medieval Art Museum or you could visit the Cathedral and there is also a 500 year old Mosque that is definitely worth a visit. The surrounding area has various old orthodox churches decorated with magnificent frescoes. Gjirokastër, in the centre of the country, has been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO due to its medieval houses with (flagstone) roofs, its cobbled streets and the 11th Century castle. There is also a weapons museum and an ethnographical museum. Close by, the town of Berat is another popular destination due to its white houses, its castle, Byzantine churches and the Onufri Museum. On the southern coast you will discover creeks and cliffs, with beaches in between that are for the most part deserted. Visit the Greek city of Apollonia, the Ardenica Monastery, the villages of Vunoi and Himara and of course Butrint, the old Greco-Roman city with its acropolis, theatre, baptistery mosaics and its fortifications. |
Albania : The basics
You can reach Tirana by plane via Austria or Italy.
You do not need a visa if you are coming from a country within the European Union. The currency used is the lek. You will not need to plan for a large budget: A reasonable double room will cost less than €50 and you can eat well for €5. Concerning health, avoid drinking tap water and watch out for gastro-enteritis which occurs frequently. Note: Water cuts and electricity blackouts are fairly frequent and can disturb your daily comfort. Be careful in the southern areas, they are susceptible to seismic disturbances. If you travel in the country’s interior, the bus is the best form of transport even if they are irregular and a little uncomfortable. Renting a car (preferably a 4 wheel drive) is obviously the best solution although the state of the roads is often bad, sometimes awful. |
Towns in Albania
Town of Albania, Vlore has just under 125,000 inhabitants.
Located in a bay on the Adriatic coast, the town is a resort and also the second largest port in the country, but also one of the oldest city in Albania, having been founded in the 6th century BC-C . Occupied by the Normans and then by the Venetians, it was known for its wine, olives, its precious metals, its silk factories.
It is accessible by plane from Tirana but also by boat from Brindisi in Italy. Built in the middle of a magnificent natural setting, you can visit now the Historical Museum, the Museum of Ethnography and Museum dedicated to the Albanian independence. Admire also the monument of the unknown soldier, the Christian Church Orthodox Catholic Church, the Mosque of Murad.
The Park Hotel is still developing and you will find quite easily seaside guest rooms at moderate prices.
The climate is Mediterranean, and you can explore the city all year, although the most enjoyable periods are spring and fall.
Capital of Albania, Tirana has over 700 000 inhabitants. The city underwent a Mediterranean climate with mild wet winters and dry summers and warm, modulated by a continental influence, sometimes resulting in colder winters.
It is served by an international airport. Founded in the 17th century the city grew in the 20th, and you can visit several places of interest: Tabakkane bridge dating from the Ottoman period, Skanderbeg Square with its fascist style buildings, the Clock Tower, Et'hem Bey Mosque built in the 18th century, the Pyramid, the Palace of Culture, among others.
Several museums are worth a detour: the Museum of Natural History, National History Museum or the Museum of Archaeology. Do not miss the bridge Tabakhev, with its architecture typical of 18th century, or the cemetery of the Martyrs that offers an incomparable view over the city. Nature lovers will enjoy a stroll along the banks of the Lana.
You can also feast on local cuisine without reckless spending, one of the many restaurants in the city, some with an excellent level.
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