Balkanology  ::  Explore Southeast Europe

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

• 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.

• The Butrint Foundation

  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.

• 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.

• Outdoor Albania

  This organisation offers excursions to some of Albania's hard-to-reach mountain areas.

Transport and Practicalities

• 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.

• 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.

• Tirrenia Navigazione

  Ferries from Durrës to Bar.

• Ionian Cruises

  This company operates ferries from Corfu to Saranda, and (in season) to Himara - see the "Lines" section of the site for timetables.

• Albanian Airlines

• Albania-Hotel

  One of the few sites where you can make online reservations for hotels in Albania.

From the Travel Pages

• Tirana: a city struggling to reach year zero

  The Independent, 28 February 2010

• Remote Albania mountains now drawing the tourists (Theth)

  Reuters, 14 August 2009

• 2009's backpacking secret is Albania

  The Observer, 26 April 2009

• This valley needs you! (Volunteering in Thethi)

  The Guardian, 7 March 2009

• Charmed by Tirana

  The Independent, 13 September 2008

• Albania comes alive (Mainly about Tirana)

  The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 August 2008

• Albania: once and future glories

  The Telegraph, 19 March 2008

• Trying to paint over the cracks (Tirana)

  The Telegraph, 11 November 2006

• Wild Albania: Coming in from the Cold (Southern Albania)

  The Independent, 01 October 2006

• In Albania, a capital full of contradictions

  The New York Times, 09 July 2006

• Albania steps in from the cold (Tirana)

  The Observer, 09 April 2006

• Albania's capital gets a new coat

  The New York Times (requires free registration), 14 August 2005

• Secret Europe (Saranda)

  The Guardian, 19 March 2005

• Albania's Unexpected Rewards

  The New York Times (requires free registration), 02 May 2004

Background

• Tirana Times

  Albania's weekly English language newspaper.

• 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.