Post-communist bunkers, vast quantities of old Mercedes, seafood and wine.

From Albania came m.in. Mother Teresa.

Mediterranean climate in the eastern part of the country's continental. Average temperature: in January 7 ° C, in July 25 ° C, the temperature rarely below freezing.

In winter, cloudy, cool, rainy. Years of hot, dry.

March - June or September - December

Albania, with its cultural heritage, is attractive and open to all visitors. Located between the two major ancient civilizations, Greek and Roman, has a priceless treasure of cultural heritage. Survived many relics and monuments of architecture-trackimi ilirijsko peoples, Greeks, Romans and Byzantine culture. You can find them everywhere - in parks, archaeological sites, art galleries, photography and film archives, castles and fortresses, sacred relics, folk architecture and museums throughout the country.

In 1973 the country became the first atheist state.

Currently, Albania is a country of religious tolerance.

64% of the population are Muslims, Christians 29.8%, 5.3% and 0.7% of agnostics, atheists d,, / `s sacred, folk architecture and museums throughout the country.

- Albanian expressive style is characterized by being: the violent gestures, body language-rich, nod your head or threat index finger means "no"

- The role of women is limited to the performance of household duties. For centuries, they form characteristic embroideries for decoration of residential

- Men spend much time in cafes telling the humorous stories (mostly on the communist-era) and the legend of the heroic deeds of folk heroes. Season is a time for afternoon naps, walks and visits with friends.

- Is also a characteristic element of the label associated with the intake score. The ritual begins with the administration by the hostess snack consisting of a jam and Turkish coffee. Then a guest inquires about the health of individual family members, thereby rewanżuje a housewife. Only after this part of the official can go to normal conversations.

- Before entering the house of the Albanian should remove their shoes - the hostess will offer a pair of plastic sandals or tabs

- Greeting and farewell is done by handshake. Between friends adopted a habit of kissing on both cheeks - applies to both women and men.

Greek, Romanian, Romany, Slavic languages

Lack of accurate data. In English you can communicate in Tirana and more cities frequented by tourists.

98.7%

Most Albanians speak good Italian.

It is also useful j. German (many people in Albania have worked or still works in Germany), and Greek, especially in the southern part of the country.

The only document needed is a passport. On the territory of the country you can stay at one time to 30 days with the right to extend the stay to 90 days in a period of one year (extended stay in the police station).

Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand force entrance fee - EUR 1.

Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Poland

st. Alto 1

02-386 Warsaw

tel: (0-22) 824-14-27

fax: (0-22) 824-14-26

E-mail: alb@atos.warman.com.pl

Consul Office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 12:00 - 13:00

Embassy

Rruga e Durresit 123, Tirana

tel. (0-0355-4) 234-190;

Fax (0-0355-4) 233-364

E-mail: polemb@albaniaonline.net

There is no obligation meldunkowego

- Fee Airport (Flying) 10 EUR

- Charge for road use (for traveling by car) of 1EUR/doba

- Export of money is limited to 10 thousand. EUR / pers.

- Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand outbound rake - EUR 1

It is good to carry a small - customs officers at the airport did not seem to change.

Access to basic medical care is free for tourists. Lacking, however-especially in small towns, basic medical resources, ie,. dressings, antibiotics, disposable needles, etc.

In Tirana, you can find the few private clinics (one-time cost of the visit is about 20 - 40 EUR)

There is no obligation to carry personal insurance. There is also the Albanian insurance companies cooperating with Polish companies.

Ambulance: 17

- Advised not to drink tap water, which threatens the so-called. revenge Hoxha, which is manifested by analogy to the African revenge Pharaoh. Tourists are recommended to drink bottled water.

- Bath in Durres (Albania one of the lakes) may result in the occurrence of skin infections

As for crime - there is no greater risk, although better to avoid isolated places, especially at night.

In Tirana, as in most European capitals, there are more and more thefts. The greatest interest among pickpockets enjoy m.in. allowing passports to enter the European Union, foreign currency and all other electronic devices.

Possible natural hazards include: earthquakes, tsunamis (south-east coast), floods, droughts.

At the northern border with Kosovo, you can still find the land mines!

Lack of international conflicts

Police - 1919

Fire - 18

- Is widespread among Albanians weapons possession

- Poor state of roads in combination with the lack of skill of drivers and disregard for the rules is a significant hazard on the roads and the high number of accidents. Police did not substantially respond to traffic offenses (committed by Albanian citizens). Discouraged tourists driving after dark.

- Cars should not be left outside the guarded places (car parks can be found normally in hotels)

The main border crossings:

Ulcinj (Ulqini), Podgorica - Montenegro

Prizreni - Kosovo

Debar, Struga, Ohrid, Macedonia

Kastoria (Kosturi) and Ioannina - Greece

For the Albanian capital, you can fly from most European capitals.

The largest airport is Tirana them. Mother Teresa - located 17 km northwest of Tirana. At the airport there is m.in. a small duty free shop, ATM, souvenir and coffee shop.

Transportation from the airport by taxi will cost about. € 25.

Once per hour (from 8.00 to 19.00) from the airport to the center of Tirana bus-ticket costs 200 lek.

Plane of the Polish, having to change trains, lasts 4 - 8 hours.

There is no international calls.

Directions from: Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Macedonia and Kosovo.

With Italy and Slovenia ferries.

No-country flights.

Connection 477 km long railway connects Shkodër, Durres, Tirana, Elbasan, Podgradec, Vlorë.

Tirana - Pogradec, Korça ok. 5-8 EUR

Tirana - Durres ok. 2.5-4 EUR

Tirana - Shkoder, Berat ok. EUR 4-6

Cheap, quick and easily accessible call long-distance buses and minibuses.

There is no timetable minibus - depart, when busy is the last free space.

Buses are much more convenient and cheaper, run according to the agreed schedule.

Drivers apply:

- Right-hand traffic

- Charge for road use (1 euro / day stay)

- International driving license

- Third party insurance (green card). Accepted green card is issued by the Polish insurance companies.

- 50km/hw speed limit in built up areas and 80 km / h outside built-up areas.

- Taxi

- Ferry Komani - Fether (from the domestic water connection)

- Each of the major cities have Internet access, Internet cafes are widely

- Some hotels (especially in Tirana) offer guests the opportunity to use the Internet in the rooms.

(Wi-Fi rare)

- You have to reckon with the frequent congestion of internet connections.

Main Post Office in Tirana is open from Monday to Sunday 7.30 - 20.00.

Important documents should be sent by courier (DHL and Federal Express have offices in Tirana, soy and several other cities).

There is no authorized repair stations outside the Mercedes and Opel (Tirana), in which the quality of services is rather low. The nearest stations are located in Macedonia and Greece.

Condition of trains is bad, Albanians instead choose the most minibuses.

1 drug (ALL) = 100 quindarek

Banknotes: Lek 5000, 1000, 500, 200, 100;

Coins: Lek 100, 50, 20, 10, 5

In most places you can pay only in cash.

Only the larger hotels and travel agencies accept credit cards.

Bread: 1960-1970 medicines

Mineral water: 50 drugs

Coffee: 30 - 100 drugs

Postcard: 30 drugs

Cube butter: 100 drugs

Banana: 20 drugs

- Italian leather shoes

- Olive oil

- Hand-made ornaments and jewelry

No charge can be imported into Albania:

- 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / tobacco 250g

- 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of wine

- Eau de toilette 250 ml or 50 ml perfume

Preferably be adopted foreign currency is the U.S. dollar and the euro.

There is no possibility of an exchange of Albanian drugs outside the boundary of the country.

There are more and more ATMs, but their quantity is not sufficient, which is often a problem for tourists. Some ATMs are available only for holders of cards issued in Albania.

In almost every Albanian city has at least one hotel of international standard.

As you might expect, Tirana offers the largest selection of accommodation, from the most luxury, chain hotels, after a relatively cheap hostels.

A large number of hostels, unfortunately, very often below the standard of expectations.

Very few campsites and camping.

Private accommodation - we're chosen by tourists (clean, cheap, convenient)

In the hotels of high standard accommodation costs (1os/doba) is 70 - 400 euros.

Overnight in one of the many guest houses on the coast: 30 - 50 EUR (1os/doba)

Private Accommodation: min. 10EUR (1os/doba)

Stars do not always correspond to the actual standard of the hotel.

Cuisine of Albania is a typical Mediterranean cuisine, the prominent influence of Turkey.

Virtually all food is added to olive oil, is also popular cheese similar to Greek feta, and, as in Turkey, a thick yogurt.

In the coastal towns of typical dishes made from fish and seafood, and in the depths of the country - with the sheep and goatmeat

- Gyros: roast lamb, served with pita bread (spread in Europe as gyros)

- Qebap

- Gjyveç-dish with rice, peppers, vegetables and meat

- Qoftë - fried, round patties

- Baklava (sweet pastry puff pastry sandwiched with nuts and syrup)

- Revani (sweet pastry with syrup);

- Kadaif (baked pasta cake with nuts and syrup)

- Cancer - vodka made with grapes or other fruit.

- Wine

- Coffee (espresso or cappuccino)

In restaurants, generally 10%

The opening hours of the owner decides grocery stores, usually 8.00 - 21.00. In summer some shops are closed 12.00 - 16.00

Food is best to buy in the bazaars - it usually gives a guarantee of freshness.

In restaurants, there is no smoking ban.

The most attractive tourist regions are

Shkoder, Krujë, Tirana, Mamuras, Berat, Korçë.

Main Attraction:

1. Berat - "The City of Thousand Window" with a labyrinth of narrow streets, a citadel and numerous cerkiewkami;

2. Fortress Rozafa (Shkoder)

3. Tirana - Skanderbeg Square, museums, Ethem Bey mosque;

4. Ionian Coast;

5. Butrint - ancient ruins, including: the remains of city walls, an amphitheater, ruins of houses, Roman baths, baptistery

- Castle Rozafa

- Skanderbeg Square in Tirana

- Stronghold in Krujë

- Port of Durres and monuments: the remains of a Roman amphitheater and the ancient walls, the palace Zog I (the last king of Albania)

- Gjirokastra - "city of a thousand steps, old stone

- Ancient ruins in Albania Butrincie

- Apollonia - Greek Amphitheatre

Albania is known for high quality classical music. Opera, ballet and concerts are held throughout the year in Tirana, and to a lesser extent in other in other places.

Worth seeing:

- Landscapes around Lake Ohrydzkiego

- Mountain wilderness of northern Albania

- Beaches "Albanian Riviera"

- Near the coast Vlory

- Lura National Park - glacial lakes

Public Holidays:

1 and 2 January - New Year;

January 7 - Orthodox Christmas

March 14 - summer day;

May 1 - Labour Day;

Oct. 19 - the day of Mother Teresa;

November 28 - Independence Day;

Nov. 29 - Liberation Day;

Dec. 25 - Christmas Day;

In addition, the start and end of Ramadan - the so-called. Small and Large Bajram.

All offices are closed holidays. Stores usually open.

September 2009:

National Folk Festival in Gijrokastrze.

Since 1968. held every four years. Excellent opportunity to become acquainted with the Albanian culture.

International Film Festival in Tirana (Tirana Film Fest), held every year in late November and December.

Life goes on mainly in the capital, where most clubs are open until late at night.

An added attraction is live music, usually on weekends.

Outside Tirana clubs and discos are only in hotels.

Special attention should be on the poor drivers and poor road conditions.