If you have been hypnotised by the turquoise crystal clear waters splashed all over Tik Tok or the media hype that the Albanian Rivera is the ‘Maldives of Europe’, then you may be considering this corner of the world for your next getaway.
Discover South Albania
I read conflicting information before visiting the Albanian Riviera; some said it was super cheap and picture-perfect, while others felt deceived by viral videos showing construction sites. I found both to be true. How much you enjoy your holiday depends on what you know before you go. So read on to discover this dazzling destination with managed expectations.
Proin suscipit, ex non sodales aliquam, ante mauris laoreet felis, vitae fermentum ligula nibh ut ex. 1. Albania is safe
Perhaps it was the 2008 movie Taken, which pits Liam Neeson against Albanian human traffickers who abducted his daughter. Or the sensational news reports about the Albanian mafia across Europe. Or the ancient ethnic divisions in the region. Regardless, the country has developed a bad rap when it comes to safety.
It’s simply not true. Pickpocketing and petty theft aren’t common here, and many solo female travelers don’t find Albania any more dangerous than elsewhere in Europe (though precautions are unfortunately always necessary).
Some people will also tell you driving in Albania is unsafe, too. But the main highways are well-maintained and erratic drivers aren’t so bad as long as you have your eye on the road. One thing to avoid is buying illicit drugs along the Albanian Riviera, as that can put you dangerously close to the organized crime that Taken warned us about.
Entry is likely easy and visa-free
For nationals of more than 80 countries, a 90-day tourist visa won’t cost you a thing. When you land at Tirana International Airport, you’ll scan your passport and enter Albania without even speaking to a border security officer. For US nationals it gets even better: a free tourist visa allows you to stay for up to a year.
If you’re coming from Kosovo by land, the border is virtually nonexistent. Land borders with Montenegro and Greece, as well as the port you’ll enter after the ferry from Corfu, don’t have the snazzy passport-scanning technology. Still, you should be able to get through quickly enough if you’re a visitor from one of those visa-free countries.get, elementum sit amet ligula. Maecenas venenatis eros quis porta laoreet.
Bring euros, and tip 10%
Albania has been remarkably slow to adopt card payments, and paying with anything but the local currency (the Albanian lek) or euros is virtually impossible outside major cities. You’ll even be expected to pay cash for rental cars and gas. But while there you’ll find plenty of ATMs that dispense lek, they often charge a steep transaction fee (€6 / US$6.28 or more) and only supply large bills. So do yourself a favor and bring euros with you, then use them or exchange them for lek at shops around the city.
With that cash in hand, be nice and tip your servers 10% of the bill at any restaurant.
Open your mind (and palette) to Albanian food and wine
Like its fellow formerly Ottoman-occupied neighbors, Albanians salivate for savory grilled meats, flaky pastries and strong rakija (grape or plum brandy known also known as raki). The country is also developing as a wine destination, particularly around the central Albanian city of Berat.
Be sure to visit traditional zgara (barbecue restaurants) in Tirana’s Pazari i Ri (New Bazaar) and along Rr Kavaja to try qofta (round or log-shaped minced meatballs also known as kernacka), tarator (yogurt dip akin to tzatziki), burek (meat, cheese or spinach-stuffed filo pastry spelled byrek here) and tavë (a casserole with mixed cheese and liver). If you’re brave, sit down at a white-tablecloth restaurant and try kokë (sheep’s head either cooked and split, or served in paçe soup).
Along the Albanian Riviera, the food is similar to what you’ll find in Italy or Greece, with seafood pasta and Greek salad as popular menu items. The dishes tend to be delicious and much cheaper than at similar seaside restaurants in neighboring countries.
