What should you take care of before your trip?

Since Albania is not a member of the European Union and the EHIC is not valid there, it is worth arranging travel insurance. For the same reason, the prices of phone connections and data transmission are very high. The cheapest solution is to buy a card from a local operator after arrival or purchase a special tariff. When using public WiFi, it is worth turning on a VPN service, which will unblock access to censored websites and protect you from hackers.

The average temperature in Albania ranges from 14 to 18 degrees. The lowland and coastal parts of the country have as many as 300 sunny days a year. Summers are very hot, so the most recommended months are May and September. For skiing, it is best to visit neighboring Macedonia or Kosovo.

The Land of Fortifications—what must you visit?

Albania is a country of bunkers built during the rule of communist dictator Enver Hoxha. There are an average of six bunkers per square kilometer, and there are more than 750,000 throughout the country. Most of the bunkers. Many of them have now been converted into cafés or museums.

To attract visitors, the Cold War military island of Sazan was transformed into a tourist attraction. The base is still technically operational; the island contains numerous bunkers and tunnels intended to ensure survival in the event of a nuclear attack. The island may prove to be a very interesting destination not only for history buffs and military enthusiasts.

Sazan is a charming place full of pristine beaches and beautiful hills with interesting amphibian and bird species, especially eagles. The country's name in Albanian means precisely “eagle.” Albania's red flag features a black two-headed eagle, with 25 feathers symbolizing 25 years of fighting the Turks during Byzantine times.

Prices in Albania

Albania's currency is the lek, worth the equivalent of 3–4 Polish groszy. Euros are also widely accepted. A meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs around 500 lek, or just under PLN 18. Coffee prices start at 4 zlotys, while domestic beer starts at 6 zlotys. The most popular dishes cost: moussaka, around 400 lek (PLN 15); Sufllaki kebab, around 150–250 lek (PLN 5–9); a bun with minced-meat patties called qofta, 150–250 lek (PLN 5–9); Burek, a pastry resembling filo and French pastry, usually filled with meat and white cheese, served as a savory dish—50–150 lek (PLN 2–6).

Public transportation is cheaper than in Poland; a bus ticket in Tirana costs around PLN 1.40. Petrol, and consequently taxis, are more expensive. The average salary is 44,183.83 lek, or PLN 1,577.57, while the cost of renting an apartment in the Albanian capital is half that in Warsaw.