Is Albania safe to travel?
Many travelers ask us questions concerning the safety of travel in Albania. Despite many positive travel experiences via the travel destination of Albania, the question still often arises: Is Albania safe to travel?
We would like to thoroughly address these questions and dispel any concerns about safety. Since questions of safety are often grounded in historical events, it is very important to put these events into context for the sake of travelers’ understanding. And due to the current world situation surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, questions of travel safety in Albania are becoming ever more prevalent. However, we would like to stress that our contribution here only deals with this in passing.
At the end of this article you will find links to travel and safety guidelines provided by a number of national representatives. There are severe travel restrictions globally, and so travel to Albania is currently not recommended.
Albania’s safety image
Albania’s beautiful landscapes and cultural riches have become increasingly well-known in western Europe. Did you know that Albania has a section of Adriatic coast in the north and a section of Ionian coast in the south? Saranda, Dhermi, and Ksamil are the hot spots of the Albanian Riviera in the summer months. The Albanian tourism board works constantly to improve infrastructure and safety. Despite these efforts, Albania’s image to outsiders is plagued with negative impressions.
Even today, Albania’s image is not what it should be, as the country is often thought of as a dangerous travel destination. But the opposite is actually true! Situated in the middle of the Balkans, Albania is often associated with the civil war in Yugoslavia. Actually, Albania was never a part of Yugoslavia.
This confusion is one reason for the common misgivings among travelers worldwide. The Albanian border town of Kukes played a significant humanitarian role during the Kosovo conflict. And the images circulated around the world!
A short excursion into hidden history
First founded in 1912, Albania was a staunchly Communist country after World War II, up until 1991. This kingdom of nature, located in the middle of Europe, was highly isolated for a long time. During this time, many Albanians learned to speak foreign languages, primarily Italian. Old radios were the only window to the outside world. Due to its geographic proximity to Italy, the country received primarily Italian media, which often comprised the only stream of information available. In fact, along the road from Otranto, the distance across the strait from Italy to Albania is only about 70km!
Traveling (especially coming in) during this era was strictly regulated by the Communist regime and was only possible under certain conditions. Exiting the country was reserved solely for Communist party leaders.
Today, hundreds of thousands of bunkers from the era of Enver Hoxha still exist. Scattered throughout the entire country, they were intended to resist any invasion. After the Communist regime collapsed, Albania stood on its own for quite a while. Dictatorship and planned (command) economy held the country back for decades, resulting in substantial emigration to Western Europe after the fall of the regime.
Politically motivated processes – communism in Albania 1944-1991 – is Albania safe to travel?
The Albanian turnaround – Lottery Uprising
After the fall of the Communist regime, a democratic system was established in Albania. But triggered by a fraudulent investment scheme, unrest broke out in Albania after several years of change. Many people lost their only possessions, and the country found itself in a state of anarchy.
The question: Is Albania safe for travel, was born at this time.
This brief phase in the spring of 1997 negatively influenced news reporting for years to come. But, largely unaffected, Albania recovered, and tourism has made considerable progress. Nevertheless, Albania’s image as a volatile country is still present in western Europe. No longer ask yourself with the question “Is Albania safe to travel?”…
Durres around the year 2000 – building boom after the state crisis
Are there unsafe areas in Albania?
No. Due to its long-standing isolation and rather small-town flair, petty crime is not prevalent. In larger cities like Tirana and Durres, instances of theft can occur but are rather uncommon. We recommend simply being aware of your surroundings, as usual. But some areas in Albania are so friendly and familiar that some people leave their homes and gardens open! In retrospect, many travelers wonder where the question “is Albania safe to travel?” ever came up!
How can I travel safely in Albania? Our recommendations
In a word, we should first say that Albania is a safe travel destination. The traffic is somewhat challenging for western Europeans, and so defensive, cautious driving is advised. Unfortunately, aggressive overtaking maneuvers and impatience in traffic are commonplace. And lighting conditions outside the cities do not correspond to Western European standards. So we advise that you avoid driving at night whenever possible. Is Albania safe for travel? Yes, but unfortunately this does not apply to the transport sector! This is also a reason why we particularly recommend a guided group tour for first-time travelers.
And please be aware of the following topic of stray animals. Albania, along with a number of NGO’s, has been trying for years to relocate these stray animals away from public areas. The first substantial improvements have been observed in the cities and metropolitan areas. But this additional traffic risk persists, especially at night.
The second danger involves rabies, which has not yet been eradicated throughout the entire Balkan region, including Albania. Thus, we recommend avoiding all contact with wild animals. We also recommend that you get a medical consultation ahead of time, particularly for longer individual trips in Albania.
Travel and safety advisories from several national representatives
- Germany (only German)
- Switzerland (only German)
- USA
- Sweden (only Swedish)
- Holland – for Dutch/ here for English
- France (only French)
We at THROUGH ALBANIA constantly stay up-to-date on safety and infrastructure developments, in order to offer our guests a safe, unique travel experience. Please take note of our safety tips to ensure as safe a visit as possible.
Is Albania safe to travel? We hope to have answered this question for you.
We look forward to your questions and feedback!
