The best beaches of the Albanian Riviera. Post scriptum. About the beaches of Albania

Albania is a hidden gem in the Mediterranean. Rest on the clean beaches of the Adriatic, the tiny capital of Tirana, the most beautiful nature and cultural attractions, and also a generous cuisine. Everything about Albania from the Subtleties of tourism: maps, tours, photos and reviews of tourists.

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The most poorly studied Balkan country by the general tourist community, Albania is comfortably located near the gentle waves of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, surrounded by its coastal neighbors, which are more popular with vacationers - Greece and Montenegro. For many years, Albania has remained isolated from the world, which is why most know sadly little about its wealthy cultural heritage And beautiful nature with picturesque canyons and beautiful clean beaches. Local population hospitable in a Balkan way, which is expressed in plentiful and tasty food, more than reasonable prices on tours and a respectful, if not loving, attitude towards anyone who showed an interest in their modest country.

No wonder the slogan of the National Tourism Office reads: "Albania - new love in the Mediterranean." In a word, they are waiting for us there, which means we have to go!

Regions and resorts of Albania

Time difference with Moscow

− 2 hours summer −1 hour

with Kaliningrad

with Samara

with Yekaterinburg

with Omsk

with Krasnoyarsk

with Irkutsk

with Yakutsk

with Vladivostok

with Severo-Kurilsk

with Kamchatka

Climate

In Albania soft mediterranean climate with fairly hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. average temperature July on the coast +28...+32 °С, January - +8...+10 °С. High summer temperatures on the coast are easily tolerated due to the constantly blowing Mediterranean breeze. The tourist season lasts from May to September, but it is also comfortable to be outdoors in April and October. There are about 300 sunny days in a year. In early spring And late autumn it's raining. In the mountains of Albania, the climate is much colder - in winter the temperature can drop to -20 ° C, and there is snow above 1000 m for most of the year.

Visa and customs

Every year during the summer period, citizens of the Russian Federation can enter Albania without a visa for up to 90 days. For the rest of the year, a visa and medical insurance are required for the entire duration of the trip.

It is allowed to import any items for personal use into Albania, including jewelry, photo and video equipment. Import local currency is strictly prohibited, but you can take a foreign one with you without restrictions. Tobacco, alcoholic beverages and perfumes are allowed across the border in reasonable quantities: up to 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco), up to 1 liter of strong alcohol, up to 2 liters of wine, from perfumes - a maximum of 50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of eau de toilette.

Pets will not be allowed in without a veterinary passport, a microchip and a certificate of vaccination against rabies.

It is forbidden to import weapons and explosives, drugs, pornography and any materials that offend national dignity. For the export of products made of precious metals, ancient coins and scrolls, antiques and art objects, you must present a document confirming the purchase. Antiquities - even stones from archaeological excavations - cannot leave the country: they will have to be content with copies of ancient artifacts sold everywhere.

How to get to Albania

Albania has 5 airports, but international flights accepts only one - them. Mother Teresa, 11 km northwest of Tirana. There are no direct flights from Russia, but you can easily get there with transfers. The cheapest tickets from Moscow are offered " Aegean Airlines»: from 100 EUR one way, departure from Domodedovo, docking in Athens, travel time - from 5 hours 45 minutes. The same carrier has routes with two transfers in tandem with Olympic Air: from 180 EUR one way, almost a day on the road with stops in Thessaloniki and Athens. Prices on the page are for July 2018.

Pegasus Airlines flies from Domodedovo via Istanbul for 200 EUR in one direction and 6 hours, Pobeda and Turkish Airlines - from Vnukovo with a similar connection for 210 EUR and 22.5 hours. The fastest flights are with Air Serbia: exactly 5 hours from Sheremetyevo via Belgrade, tickets - from 325 EUR one way.

Police - 19, fire service - 18, ambulance - 17.

Albanian beaches

The climate of Albania is subtropical Mediterranean, ideal for a beach holiday. Summer is dry, hot, sunny - you just need to stock up on SPF products and choose a shore to your liking: on the Ionian Sea, the beaches are mostly rocky, popular with athletes and party-goers, on the Adriatic - sandy, suitable for families with children. Almost all are free, well maintained, not too crowded and very picturesque.

One of the most famous resorts Ionian coast - Saranda, the beginning of the "floral Riviera". There are several pebble beaches within the city, the water in the bay is clean, there is a pedestrian promenade with cafes and souvenir shops nearby, the infrastructure is developed - there are amenities, sunbeds, and scooter rentals.

Nearby is the town of Ksamil with a bulk sandy beach and a dazzling blue sea - many wealthy Albanians build summer cottages here. Of the amenities, however, only sun loungers and umbrellas, but the shore is girded with a necklace of tiny uninhabited islets, which are easy to swim on your own or on a catamaran.

Dermi - luxury resort in the middle of a 5-kilometer beach stretching between the Karaburun peninsula and the monastery of St. Theodore. During the day you can ride catamarans and jet skis, in the evening you can dance at beach parties. Vlora is a resort boundary between two seas: there are sandy, pebbly and rocky areas, noisy and quiet, equipped and untouched by civilization.

A set of umbrella and sunbed costs an average of 300 ALL per day.

largest locality on the Adriatic coast - Durres, a boiling seaport. It is better not to swim within the city, but in the suburbs, for example, in Cherret, the water is clean, the sand is well-groomed, there are no crowds, the air is saturated with the aromas of pines. The coast of Shengjin is also landscaped, framed by coniferous forests.

Not far from Tirana, Lalzit Bay splashes - warm, clear waters wash the coast of soft white sand. And Pogradec stands on Lake Ohrid, in all respects reminiscent of the sea: the shore is sandy, the water is clear, the bottom is flat - expanse for kids and their parents.

The best photos of Albania

Diving

Albania is not as popular a dive destination as, for example, neighboring Italy and Greece, but this is a plus: there are few people, the water is clean and transparent, the prices are quite adequate. Most right time for diving - the period from May to September, but if you wish, you can dive at least all spring, summer and autumn.

The water temperature in summer is +23 ... +26 ° С, visibility in most locations is 10-15 m, the main beauties lurk at a depth of 20-30 m, some wrecks - even at 50 m. There are no strong currents, along the coast there are sites for both experienced divers and beginners. For the latter, by the way, there are several schools teaching in all popular destinations with the issuance of official certificates.

Among the underwater treasures of Albania - numerous caves, reefs and wrecks. The picturesque Cape Kepi Rodonit near Shengjin, the waters of Himara sparkling in the sun, tiny islands off the coast of Ksamil - everywhere you can watch marine life, study the details of the sandy or rocky bottom.

Most popular place for fans of snorkeling, scuba diving and freediving - the coast of Saranda: it is there that the Italian cargo ship, which sank during the Second World War, and the 70-meter Albanian minesweeper rest. Off the coast of Vlora, the car ferry "Antonio" was flooded, not far from Ksamil - an impressive Chinese frigate. And in the national marine park"Karaburun-Sazan" is inhabited by sharks, sea turtles, dolphins and monk seals.

shopping

You can’t call Albania a shopaholic’s paradise, but you can definitely find a couple of pleasant souvenirs. It is enough to look at local markets and colorful shops bursting with all sorts of ethnics. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the products of artisans: wooden and bone figurines, woven and knitted napkins, dishes, copper and silver jewelry.

The most original knickknack is an ashtray in the form of a bunker: concrete structures similar to mushrooms and designed for one person are dug into the ground all over the country - the dictator Hoxha was obsessed with a threat from the outside and built 700 thousand mini-fortresses for his citizens.

The home collection of alcohol should be replenished with the prestigious award-winning Korcha beer, Skanderbeg cognac and rakija vodka, reminiscent of either Georgian chacha or Arabic arak. From edible souvenirs we recommend olives from Vlore, olive oil and fragrant spices from the south.

In Albania, they sell really high-quality Christmas decorations: handmade from thin glass, painted with traditional patterns, worth 120-4000 ALL. Even more status gifts are luxurious carpets produced since the 16th century (real ones - 16,000-30,000 ALL), National costumes(price similar) and fine jewelry. But copies of ancient works, sold everywhere, are inexpensive - from 3500 ALL.

Most Albanian shops are open from 9:00 to 18:00, but tourist-oriented outlets are open longer and receive visitors even on weekends.

In Tirana, there are full-fledged shopping malls with clothes of international brands: for example, Tirana East Gate is one of the largest shopping centers in the Balkans. Famous in Kruja old market with some of the lowest prices in the country. And the end of February is the time of grandiose sales: discounts reach 70-85%!

Cuisine and restaurants of Albania

400 years of Ottoman rule were not in vain: Albanian cuisine is based on Turkish traditions. Rewritten in a new way, combined with Italian and Greek subjects in a very unusual gastronomic mix. In the north they prefer fish and vegetables, in the central regions - meat, in the south - seafood and vegetable products. All this is generously seasoned with fragrant spices.

Favorite breakfast - wheat or corn bread with butter, cheese or jam mixed with yogurt, tea or coffee. For lunch, you should try the lamb “tave kozi”, stewed until soft and baked in a mixture of eggs and Greek yogurt, or homemade sausages “chebapi” made from ground beef and lamb. Seafood dishes are good for dinner: sea bass with tomatoes, brodetto soup with crab, risotto with all sorts of additives that recently plied the coastal waters.

In Albania, there are cozy family restaurants with authentic cuisine and numerous eateries with European, Italian, South American menus. A snack in fast food costs 500-750 ALL per person, a 3-course lunch in an average-level institution - 1100-1800 ALL for two, dinner in a good restaurant with wine - from 2500 ALL for two.

From vegetables, boiled and canned corn is popular, from soups - cold "tarator" on kefir, from farm products - sheep's milk, the basis for tender cheese. The best snack for beer is fried meatballs "kefte". For dessert, you can take cannoli puff pastry from Sicily, caramel cream, kabuni rice pudding with sugar syrup, cinnamon and cloves, or the famous baklava. And from drinks it is obligatory to taste “bosa” from water, sugar and flour, wheat and corn.

Guides in Albania

Entertainment and attractions in Albania

Successive rulers, wars and truces, thaws and revolutions left timeless traces on Albanian soil. More precisely, sights: ancient amphitheaters and forums, medieval castles and fortresses, solemn mosques and monumental bridges.

starting point - main square Tirana with government offices, a monument to the hero of the nation Skanderbeg (in honor of him, in fact, the square is named), the Efem Bey Mosque, symbolizing religious freedom, and a clock tower with observation deck. The largest Catholic church in the country - Cathedral St. Paul's with stained glass windows depicting Mother Teresa and John Paul II.

You can see Tirana in all its glory from Mount Dayti, 26 km east of the capital.

The Pyramid, a witness to the era of the dictator Hoxha, reminds of the sad past, and the ultra-modern Congress Palace returns to the present day. The fortress of Justinian dates back to the 14th century, the stone Tobacco-bridge with three arches dates back to the 17th-18th centuries. You can scroll through the rest of the pages of Albanian history at the National Historical (off. site in English) and the Archaeological Museums.

In Saranda, it is worth seeing the Butrint Museum-Reserve - ancient city founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC. e., with an amphitheater, a baptistery, a cathedral and other monuments of great empires. In Durres, the oldest amphitheater in the Balkans flaunts: bloody battles were in full swing there already in the 1-2 centuries. The city itself began with a citadel founded in the 5th century by the Byzantine ruler Anastasius. The Fatih Mosque with a strict minaret was erected in honor of the Turkish conquering sultan, and only a few elegant columns remained from the Byzantine forum and the rotunda.

In the Venetian Tower, towering above the citadel of Durres, a trendy bar is now open.

In Shkodra, the Rozafa fortress on an impregnable rock, the Lead Mosque (liquid lead as a binder solution, many domes and not a single minaret) and Orthodox Church Christmas. Above Vlora, the Muradiye mosque rises, reminiscent of the temples of Istanbul, and in the vicinity are the ruins of the ancient port of Apollonia. In Pogradets, the neo-Byzantine Resurrection Church, a snow-white mosque and the ruins of a citadel are noteworthy, in Gjirokastra - a powerful fort with a weapons museum and the Palorto quarter with colorful buildings, and in Korca - the Museum of Education in the building of the first Albanian school.

Holidays and events

Albanians celebrate the New Year with the whole world on January 1-2: textbook fireworks, parties and feasts - everything is as it should be. The same dates fall on the Calendar - the symbolic boundary of winter: once round loaves were baked in honor of him and all misfortunes were “burned” in ritual bonfires. Catholic Christmas December 25 is also included in national holidays: kids are waiting for gifts, the air is saturated with anticipation of a miracle.

January 11 - Day of the Republic, proclaimed after the expulsion of the Germans by the forces of the National Liberation Army. October 19 - Mother Teresa's Day: it was then that the legendary native of Albania was canonized. November 28 - Flag Day: red, like the blood of patriots, with a black double-headed eagle in the middle. And on November 29, the country celebrates the liberation from the fascist troops.

On December 5-6, St. Nicholas of the Winter is celebrated: fasting must be observed during the day, so the feast with the obligatory fried lamb begins late at night.

Albania celebrates Muslim and Christian holidays: Navruz, Kurban-Bayram, Uraza-Bayram, Good Friday, Easter, Orthodox Christmas. Several times a year cultural and sport events: in Tirana, opera and jazz festivals, in Gjirokastra once every five years - a folklore festival with concerts, fairs and dance shows, and in mountainous areas- a large-scale climbing festival.

Post scriptum. On the beaches of Albania. March 4th, 2012

The last topic about Albania that I did not touch on is the coast. Albania goes to Adriatic Sea, and although its resorts are not as famous as Greek or Croatian ones, the water in the sea and the sand on the beach in Albania are no different from other countries. Under the cut, I have collected several photos of different Albanian beaches.

The beaches of the south of Albania are traditionally valued higher than the north of the country.

Many Albanian cities are located on the sea, but not all of them are suitable for seaside holidays. City of Durres ( Durres), Albania's largest coastal city, is part of its seaport. Families from Kosovo actively go to Durres on vacation, since this city is located closer to Kosovo than the others. The year before last, a new high-speed highway from Pristina to Durres was built, which reduced travel time from 8 to 4 hours. The water in Durres is very dirty, which is connected with the port and not only with it. A few years ago in Durrës there was a waste leak into the sea. From sewage, many vacationers have earned skin diseases. I would not recommend going to Durres.

Dhermi beach.
Quality Albanian beaches are located in the south of the country. To the south of Vlora, the first beaches suitable for recreation begin. The cities of Dhermi and Himare are great places to stay. Dhermi is a favorite city of the Albanian elite, and vacations here are more expensive than in other cities of the Albanian Riviera.

One of the beaches in the south of Albania, near the city of Himara.
The largest city in the south of Albania - Saranda (Sarandё), is also located on the sea. There are several within the city limits pebbly beaches. The water in the bay of Saranda is clean, it is quite possible to swim here.

Saranda beach is located within the city.
A pedestrian promenade runs along the entire coast of Saranda Bay. There are many restaurants and souvenir shops here. Day trips from Corfu also come to Saranda.

Saranda is one of the few cities in Albania ready for tourists. Here you can rent a scooter and eat ice cream.

Modern housing is being actively built in Saranda. Most of the apartments in new buildings are rented out only during the season. The rest of the year the city sleeps.
Due to the large number of tourists, it is easy to rent a room in Saranda. In the evening the city does not die out. All life moves from the beach to the promenade. Here you can eat, buy an unnecessary souvenir or jump on a trampoline.

Souvenirs are sold on the Saranda embankment.

Saranda does not sleep at night.
The pinnacle of the Albanian Riviera is the small town of Ksamil, located a few kilometers south of Saranda. The city was formed artificially in 1966. Since then, it has grown significantly.

Ksamil beach.
Many Albanians dream of having a house here. Some of them made their dream come true by building a house without permits. the state is fighting illegal construction not in word but in deed. Illegal houses are destroyed by bulldozers. Passing by bus, you can often see destroyed concrete "boxes" - this is the very illegal construction that the hands of law enforcement agencies got to. There are especially many such houses in Ksamil.

An example of the struggle of the state with lawlessness.
The beach in Ksamil is sandy, but bulk. natural beaches Albania is covered with pebbles, not sand. The water in Ksamil is amazingly blue, just like in a swimming pool!

The beaches of Ksamil, despite the artificial origin, are considered the best in Albania.
The beach in Ksamil is famous for a group of uninhabited islands located at a swim distance from the coast. The islands can be reached by swimming or by catamaran. The beach in Ksamil looks like Maldives at least for those who weren't there.

You can swim to the island in the photo above on your own in 10 minutes or rent a catamaran. The bottom is shallow here.
Ksamil has no promenade and no restaurants. In Ksamil there is only a beach.

The main square of Ksamil. The bus stops here on the way from Saranda to Butrint and back.
In Albania there is a big problem with catering. I was able to eat delicious food just once. The rest of the time they brought me dry bread, uncooked fish, lettuce chopped into large chunks, and lasagne drenched in a thick layer of ketchup. Fans of culinary holidays in Albania have nothing to look for.

Most of the natural Albanian coastline not seaworthy as pictured above in Butrint Bay.
In any case, Albania is not the country where you need to go on vacation with children or with your grandmother. Albania was created for fans of hiking conditions and seekers of inconvenience. It’s great here if you don’t expect free alcohol and an entertainment show program after dinner from your vacation.

How to get to Albanian beaches and how, in general, to move around Albania, I described in

A country of mystery, "a new love in the Mediterranean" ... No wonder they say so. Dva and Adriatic), ancient cities under the protection of UNESCO, amazingly beautiful virgin nature, excellent cuisine, friendly, hospitable people. Meet Albania. Rest on the sea in this country is still a novelty for Russian tourists. But travelers from Western Europe fully appreciated the developing infrastructure in Albania. After all, prices here are much lower than in neighboring Croatia, Macedonia or Montenegro. Not to mention Greece or Italy. What do Russian tourists write about in Albania? What resorts of this country are worth visiting? What to see and what to try? Read about all this in our article.

Where is Albania located. Visa and currency

This country has long been closed to foreigners. Therefore, now, with great interest, curious tourists are striving to taste Albania. new edge. Russian vacationers say that traveling to this country is a bit like a trip in a time machine. You can feel like Caucasian resort, but ... somewhere in the 1990s. Of course, there are no gang fights in Albania and everything is pretty nice. Local residents try very hard to ensure that tourists have the most best experience about country. But our tourists still have a lot of prejudices about this region in the west of the Balkan Peninsula.

What exactly is the Republic of Albania? Rest on the sea, exciting excursions to ancient cities, hiking in the mountains, gastronomic tours - all this is now quite accessible to foreigners. For Russians in the summer and in September-October, a visa is not needed. You can stay in the country for ninety days, but only between June 1st and October 31st. Upon entry, you must declare that the purpose of visiting the Republic of Albania is to rest at sea. At other times of the year, tourists from Russia require a visa. national currency Albania is lek. It contains one hundred kindarok. The ratio with the Russian ruble pleases: there are fifty kopecks in one lek. But locals often accept US dollars and euros for settlement.

Climate in Albania

Nature gave this Balkan country about three hundred sunny days a year. Moreover, it rains mainly in the first half of spring and in November. If we talk about beach holiday in Albania, reviews claim that the peak tourist season falls (however, as elsewhere in these latitudes) in the summer months. Although it is comfortable to sunbathe and swim in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas from the end of April until the first half of October. On the coast in July, the water temperature is +22 ... +25 degrees, and the air fluctuates between +28 ... +32 °С. In January (the coldest month of the year) it does not fall below + 8 °C. Summer heat is easily tolerated: after all, the Mediterranean mistral is constantly blowing from the sea. Mountains are another matter. There the climate is more severe, and in winter the temperature at a height of a thousand meters drops to -20 °C. The Albanian Alps are high mountains, and snow lies on their peaks for about half a year. Although there are very few ski resorts in the country. Best holiday in Albania at sea - reviews of tourists on this issue are the same - in September. And without that low prices fall even more. But the temperature of water and air remains high. Albanian September is quite a summer month.

Territory

Seventy percent consists of picturesque mountains covered with forests. If you are interested in the beach and the sea, then you should choose one of coastal resorts Albania. These are Saranda, Durres, Shkodra, Vlora or Fier. Each of them, in addition to wonderful beaches And warm sea, the tourist will find for himself a lot of interesting and informative. In Durres, for example, there is a Roman amphitheater, the ruins of a Byzantine fortress and a Venetian tower. Many cities of the country were built before our era. But if you are interested in a sightseeing holiday in Albania, the reviews advise you not to miss Berat in any case. In this open-air museum, the Orthodox and Muslim worlds meet, separated by a river. The capital of the country, Tirana, is a piece of Turkey frozen in time, there are so many ancient mosques and houses in the Ottoman style in the city. lovers medieval castles Scandeberg, Kruje and Petrela are waiting.

Ecological holidays in Albania: reviews of tourists

The virgin nature of this country attracts many travelers. Tourists are advised to go on independent or group excursions to the Tomor Mountains (and at the same time visit Bektash) or the Albanian Alps. The canyons of Skrapara or the river Valbona will leave a lasting impression. Special place Among the natural attractions of Albania is the national reserve "Lure". Lake Ohrid is business card countries. If you are in Tirana and have some time to relax in Albania, tourist reviews advise you to go to picturesque mountain Give it. It is located in the vicinity of the capital. Ecotourism is beginning to develop in coastal villages. Residents of the former fishing villages are happy to take vacationers. Beaches, ancient castles or archaeological parks, beautiful mountains, delicious authentic food from the farmer's subsidiary farm - this is the whole of Albania. Rest on the sea here never comes to the fore. The main thing was and remains the amazing uniqueness of the country. All tourists unanimously repeat: even the laziest travelers cannot resist the charm of the Balkan republic and leave the seal pastime for the sake of excursions.

Ionian Albania: holidays by the sea

Photos of the beaches of this Balkan country will make you cast aside all doubts. Holidays in Albania are cheaper than in neighboring Croatia, and surrounding nature- cleaner. Is it worth it in this case to follow the well-trodden path of many thousands of tourists? After all, you can get a quality vacation for little money and feel almost like a pioneer. The beaches of Albania stretch for four hundred and twenty-seven kilometers. They are mostly sandy, although those who like to warm the bones on pebbles will also find nice coast. The Riviera of Flowers stretches from Saranda to Vlore. This is the Albanian coast of the Ionian Sea. There are many coves here, which were harbors back in ancient times. The local elite prefers the Riviera of Flowers, where the most popular beaches are Diviak, Golemi, Durres, Leger, Velipoe. Pebble coasts are located in the vicinity of Vlora. Albanian resorts such as Saranda (which is opposite the Greek island of Corfu), Dhermi and Himara are popular here. The coast abounds with rocks, the sea is deep here. Reviews recommend this Riviera to snorkelers and divers.

Adriatic coast

This area starts from Lalzit Bay near the border with Montenegro and extends south to the resort of Vlora. Golden sandy beaches Albanian Adriatic are great for children's recreation. The coast is a set of braids with shallow sea and gentle descent. Pine forests often grow near the beaches, so a pleasant stay here can be combined with recovery: coniferous trees contain a lot of useful phytoncides. Most famous resorts Albania on the Adriatic coast is Dermi, Shengjin, Durres, Kuna. Reviews find it difficult to answer the question of which of the two seas is better and on which beach the water is cleaner. Everyone agrees that for comfort, you should turn to five-star chain hotels. They often have private beach, the improvement of which meets European standards. The longest is Durrem. It's fifteen kilometers of sand. The most elegant reviews called the Saint-John beach near the Leger resort.

Saranda

Reviews recommend this resort to lovers of peace and languid bliss. Although inquisitive and active tourists there is also something to do here. Nearby is ancient city Butrint sung by Plutarch. Saranda is a destination for gastronomic tours. Grilled meat and seafood are served here. But the main attraction of Saranda is a beach holiday. Ksamil Beach (Albania) is located ten kilometers from the resort and is the southernmost village in the country. The only disadvantage, according to travelers, is its remoteness from international airport Tirana - 250 km or five hours on the road! However, the rest of the beach is excellent. White sand, against which the water seems endlessly azure. The notorious "Bounty" commercial could also be filmed at Ksamil Beach. There are several mini-hotels here, but the choice of accommodation is more in neighboring Saranda.

What to try in Albania

Shopping is best done in the Republic of Albania. Seaside holidays are recommended to be combined with a tasting of local delicacies. Local kitchen was influenced by the Turks, Greeks and Italians. From drinks, you should try Skanderberg cognac and brandy - grape vodka. Of the wines, reviews recommend Aquila Liquori, Cobo, Luani and Gjergj Kastrioti.

Albania, where beach holidays are quite developed, is still a Muslim country. The patriarchal way of life is still preserved here. Therefore, you need to be polite and tolerant of the customs of the people you came to visit. Ladies should not sunbathe topless. This is fraught not only with conflict, but also with a large fine. You can take pictures of local residents only with their consent. Reviews note that Albanians are very fond of children, so it is good form to praise the child. But making compliments to local girls and women is not recommended.

Quite recently, our compatriots knew very little about Albania. Basically, knowledge about the country hung on its geographical position. Nevertheless, this state is located in the heart of Europe, on Balkan Peninsula and borders with Montenegro, Greece, Macedonia and Kosovo. A few resorts in the country can offer relaxation on the shores of clean and beautiful seas, Ionian and Adriatic. It was because of the long isolation that the world was unaware of the culture and history of the state of Shkoder (that is the name of the country in Albanian). And even though the tourism sector is just beginning to develop here, Albania may well surprise tourists now with its nature, long clean beaches, huge mountain ranges(in the east of the country) and insanely beautiful mountain rivers. Many experts in the field of tourism foresee the rapid development of the tourism service sector in the country, since its territory has absolutely everything for an excellent holiday for people, if not from all over, then from all over Europe. Her advantage geographical position allow you to get here by car from any European state in 2-3 days, and the flight by plane does not take more than three hours.

The locals are very hospitable and a bit rustic. People in small towns are not spoiled by the attention and money of tourists and are ready to provide services for a fee that compares favorably with the prices of neighboring countries. Here, every tourist is given a lot of attention, pampered with delicious food, pleasant... read more

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Albania weather map:

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Prices for holidays in Durres. June 2014.

tour cost

The tour to Albania included flights, transfers and accommodation. Flight to Tivat (Montenegro), transfer to Albania, accommodation in apartments near Durres on the territory hotel complex almost on the seashore. The tour was purchased for 10 days, for 3 people (2 adults and 1 child 14 years old) and cost $1,050. Meals were not included. Visas to Albania are not needed, which is also a big advantage over the rest of Europe. The agency made a decent discount, due to the fact that this direction is new and not fully understood. And we, as lovers of interesting, new and, most importantly, budget holiday this was a very good option. The group to Albania was not very large (3 families), a small number of our compatriots were already resting on the date of our arrival. Moving to Albania took about 4 hours, but the organizers tried to make this train interesting and not tiring: on the way to Durres, our guide (an Albanian who studied in Dnepropetrovsk) conducted an introductory tour: starting from Montenegro, on the way to our place of residence with small stops and photo opportunities. Those. for the laziest travelers, Albania could be seen on the way from the airport and back.

We can say that we were provided with at least two free excursions: with detailed stories and excursions into the history of the country, in the correct Russian language with bright Albanian humor (the guide also turns out to be a former KVN - shchik).

We traveled around the country on our own, by minibuses and buses, the route to Durres and the capital, Tirana, was not very far from our hotel (15 minutes on foot). The fare is quite affordable, the minibus is about 2 dollars per one to Durres and about 5x to Tirana. Paid to enter only one place. In Tirana, they visited the museum and the remains of the ancient colliseum, they also visited the caves with frescoes.

Food and products

Prices last year were very democratic: lunch in a cafe - 10-15 dollars, if with wine and beer - about 20-25 dollars (for 3 people). Prices in supermarkets are affordable, goods are often Greek and Italian. For example, 0.5 kg of delicious Greek olives in vacuum packaging - $ 2.5, 1 kg of Albanian coffee beans - $ 9 (brought with you). In total, they spent about $350 on food and groceries. At the same time, they bought many different goodies to take with them to treat their relatives.

Friendly people. And not a big flurry of tourists. You should definitely visit this wonderful great location. Very colorful places. Which will not leave anyone indifferent.

And resort Albanian cities are also ordered by our compatriots. The reasons for the growing popularity are as old as the world: attractive hotel prices, luxurious Mediterranean nature, short flights and clean beaches. If you add hearty Balkan cuisine and traditional hospitality, a beach holiday in Albania is quite capable of becoming a dream of a person who is tired of the gray variety of working days.

Where to go to sunbathe?

The coast of Albania stretches along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas for more than 360 kilometers. Local beaches are covered with clean sand or small pebbles and you can choose where it is better to sunbathe, depending on your preferences and wishes:

The Albanian Riviera of flowers is called the coast of the Ionian Sea from to. You can stay on the beaches of Golemi, Lezhe or Velipoje not only in a hotel, but also in an old villa where rooms for tourists are rented.
The Adriatic is more suitable for families with children. Clear sea, soft sand and a gentle entrance to the water guarantee travelers the resorts of Dhermi and Lezhi.

Most of the beaches in Albania are still "wild" and sun loungers, umbrellas and changing rooms can only be found on those that belong to big hotels.
When choosing where to stay for a beach holiday in Albania, you should study the reviews of tourists. Hotels without stars on the facade may not live up to expectations, and therefore it is better to pay a little more without risking comfort.

Weather features of a beach holiday in Albania

In the photo, Albanian beaches usually look very beautiful. The Adriatic Sea is called the bluest in the world, and there are more than three hundred sunny days a year. The climate in the local resorts is typical Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers. Bathing season for Albanian beaches starts already in the first days of May, when the air warms up to +25°С, and the water - up to +22°С.
The height of summer brings heat, the thermometers tend to rise above +30°C, but the winds from the sea help to feel quite comfortable even for those who do not like the heat. Swimming and sunbathing on the beaches of Albanian resorts is quite possible until the last days of October, although the most persistent dive into the sea in November as well.

Adriatic coast

Albanian adriatic coast starts at the border with and continues to the bay of Vlora. The beaches here are located in small bays, which in ancient times served as harbors for ships.
The resort of Vlorë is very small, but its the cleanest beaches known far beyond the borders of the country. In terms of tourism infrastructure, Vlora is one of the most developed resorts. Even a five-star hotel has been built here, and budget "three rubles" are distinguished by affordable prices and a decent level of service. The beaches are landscaped, and the coniferous groves surrounding them give the air a special pleasant aroma.
The port city is separated from Tirana only 30 km and it is especially convenient to get here from the international capital airport. The beaches of the resort cannot boast of perfect cleanliness due to the proximity of the port, but the choice of hotels here impresses even those who have been to world-class resorts.
The fishing village of Shengjin attracts gourmets with a hearty menu of restaurants where products are supplied by local farmers, and mountain landscapes that delight the eyes of vacationers.
healing air, white sand and good hotels are the advantages of the Lalzit Bay resort.

Ionian landscapes

The beach holiday season in Albania on the Ionian Sea always starts a couple of weeks earlier than in other resorts in the country due to the southern latitudes. The local shores are indented by rocky bays, and the mountains come close to the sea. Divers and climbers love to relax on the Ionian beaches. At their service are rental points for jet skis and catamarans, showers, changing rooms and umbrellas with sunbeds.
The popular resort of Saranda is located just opposite the Greek one. Fans of antiquity can make an excursion to the archaeological reserve, and gourmets can enjoy the menu of seaside restaurants, which is based on pasta with seafood.
The attraction of Dhermi is the Cave of Pirates, and the infrastructure of this resort attracts even very wealthy tourists to a beach holiday in Albania.
southernmost Albanian resort Ksamil spread over the territory national park Butrint. Clean secluded beaches and scattered in coastal waters await guests. tiny islands where you can do perfect diving.