Capital: Tirana
Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)
Telephone services: Country Code: 355
Outgoing Code: 00
Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 24445, Fire – 23333, Ambulance – 22235
Tourist information: Albturist (Travel Agency) c/o Regent Holidays (UK) limited, 15 John Street, Bristol BS1 2HR Tel: (01179) 211 711, Fax: (01179) 254 866.
Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.
Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain, Canada, the USA, EU countries (except nationals of Greece who do require a visa). Nationals of Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or next aircraft.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Hepatitis A and B, Rabies.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Lek (Lk) = 100 qindarka
Banks offer the best rate of exchange.
CC: MasterCard and EuroCard are accepted by banks and several tourist hotels. AMEX is not accepted.
TC: Accepted by some banks.
MasterCard and EuroCard are accepted in banks and some hotels. Travellers cheques will be cashed by some banks. U.S. dollars are preferred.
ATM availability: Unavailable.
Cost of living: Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, although it’s economy is improving. Visitors will be charged a far higher rate for services and goods than locals.
Languages: Albanian. In the South Greek is spoken. Italian may also be spoken.
Weather: Warm and dry periods occur between Jun – Sept. Cool and wet between Oct – May. Best time to visit is May – June and mid Sept.
Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz.
Post: Subject to delays and may take up to 2 months. Send recorded delivery to avoid loss.
Transport: RAIL: mainly single track, dilapidated and overcrowded. ROAD: Most are in poor condition. BUS: The major form of transportation in Albania. TAXIS: Can be found in the capital in front of the main hotels.
Special information: EXTREME RISK In view of the volatile situation we recommend against all travel to Albania. Apart from safety considerations accommodation is extremely difficult to obtain. The crime rate in Albania has always been high and it is steadily rising. Foreign visitors and their vehicles are an attractive target for criminals. Visitors should not overtly display valuables. Avoid remote areas especially at night. It is greatly appreciated if you attempt to speak Albanian. More specific advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Officer.