Balkanology :: Explore Southeast EuropeDisclaimer: These pages are not actively maintained, and some of the practical information on the site is out of date. I am working on a new version of the site that will focus more on my photos and memories of travel in Southeast Europe, and less on practical details that too easily become obsolete. In the meantime, please treat the information here with caution.
Albania :: Links
The sites listed on this page are specifically about Albania. Many of the more general sites listed in the Overview of the Balkans are also useful for planning a trip to Albania.
Travel Information
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Albania - In Your Pocket
It's not easy to find information about Albania on the Web, so the Tirana city guide from the ever-reliable folks at In Your Pocket is particularly welcome. There is also a guide to Shkodra, with some useful practical information about transport connections in northern Albania, including the scenic ferry route from Koman to Fierze. Coverage of Korça and Pogradec has recently been added.
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National Tourist Organisation of Albania
This site has improved a lot in the last year or so - there are still quite a few links leading to empty pages, but if you persevere you'll find a number of interesting suggestions for places to visit and activites to enjoy.
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Butrint
The Butrint Foundation's excellent site should whet your appetite for a visit to the National Park, with detailed descriptions and photos of the Roman ruins. I particularly like the pages on "Walks around Butrint" in the "Beyond Butrint" section - following the four trails outlined here (and in the leaflets available at the ticket office) adds a lot to the experience of a visiting the area.
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Balkans Peace Park Project
The aim of this project is to create a cross-border park in the remote mountainous area where Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro come together.
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Outdoor Albania
This organisation offers excursions to some of Albania's hard-to-reach mountain areas.
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InfoAlb
Information about Albania's tourist attractions in English and Slovak. Includes some interesting photo galleries.
Transport and Practicalities
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Albania Minibus Schedules
Formal bus stations and printed or online timetables are almost unknown in Albania, so getting hold of timetable information can be tricky. This page is a very useful list of bus and furgon (minibus) routes and timetables. Naturally it is entirely unofficial, but it's very useful for getting a reasonable idea of frequencies and departure points on particular routes. The page is editable, so if you have been in Albania recently you can contribute with up to date information.
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Albania Railways
Timetable details for the rather limited rail network. The home page (when the site is functional, i.e. only some of the time) features a picture of a high-speed train. You probably won't be surprised to hear that real Albanian trains don't actually look like this.
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Tirrenia Navigazione
Agoudimos LinesFerries from Durrës to Bari and Vlora to Brindisi respectively.
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Ionian Cruises
This company operates ferries from Corfu to Saranda, and (in season) to Himara - see the "Lines" section of the site for timetables.
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Tirana International Airport
Find out about the small but growing range of flights to Tirana at this site.
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Albanian Airlines
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Albania-Hotel
One of the few sites where you can make online reservations for hotels in Albania.
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Travel-Tirana.com
Run by the same team as Outdoor Albania (see above), this website offers accommodation booking and activities in the capital.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Entry requirements for foreign visitors.
From the Travel Pages
A Balkan country sheds its secret past
Seattle Times, 17 July 2010Tirana: a city struggling to reach year zero
The Independent, 28 February 2010Remote Albania mountains now drawing the tourists (Theth)
Reuters, 14 August 20092009's backpacking secret is Albania
The Observer, 26 April 2009This valley needs you! (Volunteering in Thethi)
The Guardian, 7 March 2009Albania is heavenly for history buffs
The Times, 20 September 2008Charmed by Tirana
The Independent, 13 September 2008Albania comes alive (Mainly about Tirana)
The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 August 2008The beaches are clean. And they're almost empty! (Saranda and Butrint)
The Independent, 15 June 2008Albania offers melange of weirdness and charm (Berati)
San Francisco Chronicle, 01 June 2008Albania: once and future glories
The Telegraph, 19 March 2008Trying to paint over the cracks (Tirana)
The Telegraph, 11 November 2006Wild Albania: Coming in from the Cold (Southern Albania)
The Independent, 01 October 2006In Albania, a capital full of contradictions
The New York Times, 09 July 2006Albania: Europe's last secret (Tirana and central Albania)
The Times, 15 April 2006Greece and the Balkans all in a day (a day trip from Corfu to southern Albania)
The Times, 15 April 2006Albania steps in from the cold (Tirana)
The Observer, 09 April 2006Albania's capital gets a new coat
The New York Times (requires free registration), 14 August 2005Secret Europe (Saranda)
The Guardian, 19 March 2005Albania's Unexpected Rewards
The New York Times (requires free registration), 02 May 2004Albania: on the wild side (Walking in the Southeast)
The Independent, 12 February 2003
Background
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Tirana Times
Albania's weekly English language newspaper.
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Albanian Literature in translation
Robert Elsie's collection of translations of Albanian writing from the 16th century to the present day, and of folktales and legends. There are linked sites about the language and history of Albania.