Albania operates on the lek, divided into 100 qindarka. The Central Bank of Albania issues currency. ATMs exist in Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Shkodër, and other cities. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants in urban centers. Rural areas and small businesses require cash. Exchange offices operate in cities and at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza. The official government visa portal is e-albania.al, which handles applications and provides entry requirements.
Citizens of the European Union, United States, Canada, Australia, and numerous other countries enter without visa for stays up to 90 days within 180 days. Requirements change, so verify current status at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before travel. Travelers cross land borders with Montenegro at Han i Hotit, with Kosovo at Morinë and Vermicë, with North Macedonia at Qafë Thanë and Tushemisht, and with Greece at Kakavijë and Kapshticë. Tirana International Airport connects to European hubs. Durrës port receives ferries from Bari, Ancona, and Brindisi in Italy.
Public hospitals operate in Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Shkodër, and other cities. The University Hospital Center Mother Teresa in Tirana is the largest facility. Private clinics exist in major cities. Travel insurance covering medical evacuation is standard advice for non-residents. Pharmacies sell common medications. Tap water in Tirana and major cities comes from treatment plants, though bottled water is widely available. Rural water sources vary.
The Albanian language belongs to its own branch of Indo-European, with no closely related languages. Tosk dialect dominates the south, Gheg the north. Standard Albanian, based on Tosk, is official. English speakers work in tourism businesses along the coast and in Tirana. Italian is understood in coastal areas due to television reception and historical ties. Greek speakers exist in southern regions near the border.
Temperatures on the coast average 9°C in January and 28°C in July. Tirana, inland at 110 meters elevation, averages 6°C in January and 24°C in July. The northern mountains see winter temperatures below freezing, with snow from November through March. Valbonë Valley and Theth receive substantial snowfall. Rainfall is heavier on the coast, with Durrës receiving approximately 1,000mm annually. The interior is drier. June through September brings the warmest weather and least rain on the coast. The Adriatic and Ionian seas reach swimming temperatures from May through October.
Buses connect cities, operated by private companies with varying schedules and vehicle conditions. Furgons, privately operated minivans, run between towns when full. No passenger rail service currently operates, though the government discusses reconstruction plans. Car rental agencies exist in Tirana and at the airport. The SH8 highway runs along the coast from Shkodër to Sarandë. The SH1 connects Tirana to Kosovo. Roads in mountain regions, including routes to Theth and Valbonë, are unpaved and narrow, requiring four-wheel drive and experience. The ferry across Lake Koman operates between Koman and Fierzë.
Budget guesthouse beds cost 10 to 20 euros. Mid-range hotels range from 30 to 60 euros. Meals at casual restaurants cost 5 to 10 euros. Local buses charge 1 to 5 euros depending on distance. Fuel prices align with European averages, currently near 1.70 euros per liter. Entrance to Butrint costs 700 lek for adults. Berat Castle has no admission charge. Private tour guides in Tirana charge 40 to 80 euros for day services.
Greece shares the southern border at 282 kilometers. The Prespa lakes region lies at the tripoint of Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia. Corfu sits 2 kilometers from the Albanian coast at the Strait of Corfu. North Macedonia shares 181 kilometers of border, with Lake Ohrid divided between the countries. The city of Ohrid in North Macedonia is 30 kilometers from Pogradec in Albania. Kosovo shares 112 kilometers of border in the northeast. Montenegro shares 186 kilometers of border, including Lake Shkodër.
The Balkans as a geographic and cultural designation includes Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Greece, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria, and often Romania. Ottoman rule lasted in Albania from the 15th century until 1912. This period left architectural and cultural marks visible in cities like Gjirokastër and Berat. The Adriatic coast connects Albania with Italy across a strait 72 kilometers wide at its narrowest point between Karaburun Peninsula and Salento. Italian influence persists in architecture, language comprehension, and cuisine along the coast. The Albanian diaspora in Italy, Greece, and the United States maintains economic and cultural connections.