Albania Favorites

  University Kristal
by JLBG
 
  • University Kristal
      University Kristal
    by JLBG
  • University Kristal
      University Kristal
    by JLBG
  • Half bird’s eye view on Korcë
      Half bird’s eye view on Korcë
    by JLBG
  • Older buildings
      Older buildings
    by JLBG
  • A green city
      A green city
    by JLBG
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

RESCUED ! V.T. CRUISER IN TROUBLE !

by DAO

OK. So I was driving down a main road in an Albanian city dodging huge potholes – as you do – when I suddenly had to swerve to avoid some cows. BAMMM! Yes I had driven V.T.Cruiser into a huge car killing hole. It was either that or hit the closest cow who would have also destroyed the car. I knew the second I drove on something was wrong. The cows just looked at me and just walked off.My tyre was partially flat and it had an awkward feeling to the steering. So using my knowledge of Albanian (not a word) I made hand gestures to the guy at the petrol garage. He made hand symbols back to go up the road.Up the road was another garage and their hand symbols indicated going across the road to a sort of concrete bunker and they began to shout at someone. A little man appeared and I explained my problem, mostly with my hands. The little man ran a tyre repair shop! Off came the badly dented...

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Sheep

by JLBG

Sheep are everywhere, on the road as well as grazing on the land. When driving, beware of sheep!The first photo, taken in 1988, shows a sight that few of us have ever seen at home, a shephardess spinning while keeping the sheep.The second and the third photo show that in 1988, you could find very often flocks of sheep on the road. In 2005, we have not driven enough in Albania to know what is the situation. I guess that with the increase of the number of cars, they do not feel as much at home on the road! In 2008 ad 2009 we have found on several occasions sheep on the road, but far less than in 1988.The fourth photo (1988) shows that even in a state driven agriculture, sheep have a distinctive mark : some have three strips while others have a round. Were they privately owned or were they belonging to two different state farms, I do not know.Thank you Jiking to remind me that even in a...

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Kala (castle) Rozafa

by michwladlip

Rozafa castle with Skodra lake are important tourist attraction there,it sit on rocky hill and has great view from the main road,and you have a great view from the castle's walls to all around directions,especially to Skodra city,and to place were Buna Drini and Kiri rivers meet .

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Gjirokaster

by michwladlip

When in Gjirokaster it worth to visit their castle that seat on hill ,so you could see all town and Drino river valley ,there was also exhibition of weaponry of 2 world war Italian and German,and also Anglia's,and even one American military plane that was shoot down ,as spy aircraft on the cold war times. You enjoy strolling in old Gjirokaster streets with Ottoman stile homes,or seating in cafe and seeping cap of strong coffee .

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City of Thousand windows

by michwladlip

Visit old part of Berat city, stroll on narrow street ,see the homes sticking one to another on hills ,and you could see just their windows ,and on evening on promenade along river Osum,were all cafes are filed by locals , see the Mosques and Orthodox churches,and of course visit the Berat castle, with his great views on all directions.

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Kruja

by michwladlip

Visit the Kruja's castle ,you see the old walls dated of the 5-6 centuries AD. Then continue to old bazaar that exist on same place from 15 century,there you could buy several souvenirs ,silver jewels,rugs ,carpets.

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tirana capital of albania

by hanspeter_W.

Tirana is the capital of Albania. It enjoys a beautiful setting between the ranges of Dajti mountain from one side and the coastal plains on the other one. Relatively a new city Tirana. was founded in 1614 by Sulejmen Pashe Bargjini, feudal lord of that time from this region.and proclamated capital in 1920. However the area has been inhabited as early back as the Neolitic period. The ruins of the castle of first century A.D. which is likely to be the castle mentioned with the name Tirkan by Byzantine historian Procop (VI century) have been unreathed in the foot of Dajti mountain.Still rapidly growing Tirana is a busy commercial and administrative center with several comfortable hotels, restaurants, discos, pubs as well as modern facilities for conventions and conferences. http://www.tourismalbania.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=59

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Skype Phone calls

by mjbcoffee

Another idea:There are Internet Cafes all over the country and most all of them have Skype already loaded on the computers. The cost is usually 100 Leke ($1) an hour. If you have a Skype account you can add money and call anywhere. For example: To call the states from Albania it is only $.02 a minute. You can also send text messages through Skype to cell phones. This is how I communicate with friends and family when I travel. It works great!

River Buna

by JLBG

Albania has a lot of rivers. This one should be the Buna, that flows in Shkodër. Downstream to Shkodër, it makes the border with Montenegro, where it is called Bojana. It finally reaches the sea 15 km south to Ulqin/Ulcinj at Ada Bojana (look at my page)

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Watch your wallet

by tds0711

Albania was a wonderful country. It is one of those countries that, if you go, you will find something that you like. I happened to really enjoy the beach. However, there were alot of pick pockets among the people there. I watched two different groups of young people search through peoples stuff. The first time I stopped them but the second group actually was caught by the owners of the bag so all was good. There are quite a few YOUNG children that beg for change while you walk the street brousing shops. DO NOT GIVE THEM A DIME!!! I gave one little girl, who had her baby brother in tow, a small amount of change and soon she was crying and begging me to give her more. What a racket!!! If you REALLY watch, you can see them take the change back to a large group of kids who put it in an empty water jug which is about half full of change. Its crazy!!! I did have a good time though. Albania is...

Top 3 Hotels in Albania

Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers  Tirana

 4 Reviews and 70 Opinions  Having spent approximately 5 months in the Sheraton-Tirana, I know the "ins" and the "outs" of the... 

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Hotel Berati  Berat

 3 Opinions

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Grand Hotel Europa  Shkoder

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The Place

Reviews and photos of Albania attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Albania sightseeing.

Experience Albania
 

Questions and Answers

Drugness profile photo

Q:  Hello all I'm planning to visit Albania in 2012 and i need every bit of advice going. There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of... 

cachaseiro profile photo

A: I have been to Albania several times over the years and i would say you should try and make a visit to Berat aswell as Girokaster. These places are very scenic places... 

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