Albania

From Imakoopedia

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Quick Facts
Capital	Tirana
Government	emerging democracy
Currency	lek (ALL)
Area	total: 28,748 sq km water: 1,350 sq km land: 27,398 sq km
Population	3,544,841 (July 2002 est.)
Language	Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Religion	Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Albania is in Eastern Europe. It borders on Greece, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro.

Map of Albania

Table of contents

4.1 By plane
4.2 By bus
4.3 By boat

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Cities

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Understand

In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents.

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Get in

Many European and U.S. nationals can enter Albania without obtaining a visa. But you'll have to pay an entry fee of 10 € (or $). Sometimes you'll have to pay an exit fee of the same amount, too.

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By plane

Tirana has its own airport. It is served by numerous European flag carriers, plus low-cost airline Volareweb (http://www.volareweb.com), which flies from Bari,Italy from €19 one-way.

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By bus

You can reach Tirana by coach from Istanbul,Turkey (20hr, €35 one-way), Athens,Greece (16hr, €30) and Sofia,Bulgaria (13hr, €25).

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By boat

Ferries to Durres arrive from Bari (9h, €50) and Ancona (19h, €70). A high-speed service operates from Bari (3h, €60).

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Get around

The transport system is somewhat chaotic. Turn up the night before at the bus station to check departure times, and turn up well before time on the day. The street conditions and driving habits in the capital, Tirana, are very dangerous to people used to well-paved streets. Drive extremely carefully because there are many pot-holes. Get a good map of Albania because you often won't find any direction signs. Even if you ask for directions, don't rely on the answer.

Travelling by car you'll have to pay 1 € each day for using Albanian highways.

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