Albania Travel Tips General Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area
27,398 sq km (11,100 sq miles).

Population
3,141,000 (UN estimate 2002).

Population Density
109.3 per sq km.

Capital
Tirana.
Population: 519,720 (2001).

Government
Democratic Republic since 1991.
Head of State: President Alfred Moisiu since 2002.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Fatos Nano since 2002.
Gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.

Language
The official language is Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect). Some Albanians also speak Italian and English. Greek is widely spoken in the Gjirokastra and Saranda districts in south Albania.

Religion
Three religions coexist in Albania: Islam, Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The majority of the population is Muslim.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available to major towns. Country code: 355. Outgoing international code: 00. City codes: Tirana 42, Durresi 52, Elbasan 545, Shkodra 224, Gjirokastra 726, Korça 824, Kavaja 574. For other regions, international connections are made through the nearest city.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900/1800 networks. Coverage is limited to main towns and coastal areas. Main network operators are Albanian Mobile Communications
Internet
Main ISPs include Adanet and Albania Online. Internet cafes exist in most towns.

Telegram/fax
These services are offered in post offices and major hotels.

Post
All mail to and from Albania is subject to delays. Letters can be sent recorded delivery to avoid loss. There are DHL offices in Tirana and Durres, offering services between Albania and other countries. The postal and telecommunications systems are undergoing extensive modernization. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1400 and Sat 0800-1300.

Press
There are now about 400 newspapers and periodicals, many of which are independent. The main newspapers are published daily. Rilindja Demokratike, the organ of the ruling Democratic Party, has a circulation of 50,000. English-language newspapers published in Albania include the Albanian Daily News. Some Albanian newspapers contain a few pages in English; these include Gazeta Shqiptare. Foreign newspapers are on sale in main towns.

Radio
BBC World Service and Voice of America can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Public Holidays

Jan 1 2005:   New Year’s Day.
Jan 21:   Greater Bairam (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Mar 25:   Good Friday.
Mar 28:   Easter Monday.
May 1:   May Day.
Nov 3-5:   Lesser Bairam (End of Ramadan).
Nov 28:   Independence and Liberation Day.
Dec 25:   Christmas Day.
Jan 1 2006:   New Year’s Day.
Jan 10-13:   Greater Bairam (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Apr 14:   Good Friday.
Apr 17:   Easter Monday.
May 1:   May Day.
Oct 22-24:   Lesser Bairam (End of Ramadan).
Nov 28:   Independence and Liberation Day.
Dec 25:   Christmas Day.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Lesser Bairam (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Lesser Bairam itself. Lesser Bairam and Greater Bairam (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Special Events
For information about special events in 2005, contact the Embassy (see General Info section). Annual events in Tirana include: Marie Kraja (Opera Festival), Fall in Tirana Festival and the Days of New Music Festival.