Tirana

The official currency is the Albanian lek (ALL). Euros are widely accepted in tourist areas but at a poor rate. Best option: street exchange offices (Exchange) in the center – rates are usually better than banks or ATMs. ATMs charge a flat fee of 500–800 ALL (€5–8) per withdrawal. Visa/Mastercard works in most restaurants and hotels downtown, but small cafés and furgons are cash only.

Blloku is the most convenient area for tourists: bars, restaurants, 10-minute walk to the center. It used to be the closed-off quarter for the communist elite; now it's the main nightlife zone. Tregu Cam is a calmer option, right next to Skanderbeg Square. New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri) offers a colorful food market and restaurants. Avoid the outskirts: Don Bosko, Kamëz, Kombinat – nothing for tourists there and less safe.

The center and Blloku are safe even at night, with regular police patrols. The main issues are pickpocketing in crowds and taxi overcharging. Use apps (inDriver, Speed Taxi) instead of hailing cabs on the street. Tap water is not recommended – buy bottled.

Luna Bus shuttle – 400 ALL (€4), runs every 30–60 minutes, takes 25–30 minutes to the center. Taxi – 2,000–2,500 ALL (€20–25), book via an app to avoid overpaying. Uber does not operate in Albania.

Roaming in Albania is expensive – the country isn't part of the EU roaming zone yet. The airport sells Vodafone SIM cards (tourist pack ~€25 for 100 GB), but the same deal costs ~€15 in the city. You can also buy an eSIM in advance and connect as soon as you land.

Kruja (1 hour by car) – Skanderbeg's castle and the old bazaar. Durres (40 minutes) – Roman amphitheater and beaches. Berat (2.5 hours) – UNESCO city-museum with a fortress. Mount Dajt – a cable car ride from Tirana's outskirts (1,500 ALL round trip), with restaurants and hiking trails at the top.

Byrek (savory pastry) for breakfast – 50–100 ALL (€0.5–1). Lunch at a local restaurant – 800–1,500 ALL (€8–15). Dinner for two with wine at a nice spot in Blloku – 4,000–6,000 ALL (€40–60). Macchiato at a café – 80–100 ALL. The food market (New Bazaar) is cheaper than supermarkets.

Russian citizens can enter visa-free during the summer season (April–October). Outside this period, check current regulations. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure date. We recommend getting travel insurance – healthcare in Albania is basic, and serious cases may require evacuation.

Day 1: Skanderbeg Square, National Historical Museum, Et'hem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, Bunk'Art 2, stroll through Blloku. Day 2: cable car to Mount Dajt, Pyramid of Tirana (recently renovated, you can climb to the top), Grand Park with the artificial lake. If time allows – Bunk'Art 1 on the city outskirts (Hoxha's bunker, much larger than Bunk'Art 2).

Central Tirana is compact – most attractions are within walking distance. City bus – 40 ALL (€0.4), but routes are confusing and schedules are vague. Taxi via app – 500–1,000 ALL around the city. For trips outside the city – buses from the south/north bus terminal or car rental.