Transport in Albania
Encyclopedia
Transport in Albania has been rather undeveloped during the Communist period (between 1945 and 1990), after which the country has had to make significant investment into transport infrastructure.
, occupying forces opened up new road sections mainly in the mountainous areas of the country. In King Zog's period, further road construction took place. The total length of Albania's roads more than doubled in the first three decades after World War II
, and by the 1980s almost all of the country's remote mountain areas were connected, at least by dirt roads, with the capital city of Tirana
and ports on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea
. Private ownership was not allowed and the only vehicles circulating were trucks, agricultural and government vehicles, buses, motorcycles, and bicycles. The country's roads, however, were generally narrow, poorly marked, pocked with holes, and in the early 1990s often crowded with pedestrians and people riding mules, bicycles, and horse-drawn carts.
. After the collapse of Communism, the network fell into disregard.
construction companies signed a protocol with the Albanian government in July 1990 to build a 200 kilometer road across the southern part of the country, extending from the Albanian-Greek border to Durrës
. The project was scheduled to last four years and cost US$500 million. Despite the poor quality of Albania's roads, most of the country's freight was conveyed over them in a fleet of about 15,000 trucks. According to official figures, in 1987 Albania's roadways carried about 66 percent of the country's total freight tonnage.
In 1991 the Albanian government lifted the decades-old ban on private-vehicle ownership. In the early 1990s car imports numbered about 1,500 per month. Traffic in the capital remained light, but traffic lights and other control devices were urgently needed to deal with the multiplying number of privately owned cars. Albanian entrepreneurs also imported used Greek buses and started carrying passengers on intercity routes that did not exist or had been poorly serviced during the communist era.
The population is known for owning a large fleet of Mercedes Benz vehicles stemming from their durability on the inherited roads, the rough rural roads where half of the population resides, personal preferences, and the cheap price for buying used ones. Albania is probably one of the few, if not the only country in Europe
where vehicles imported from the United States
, and from left hand traffic jurisdictions (for example the United Kingdom
) can be found on the streets without any modifications brought from expats living abroad.
Since the beginning of the transition, foreign donors have funded no less than ten urban transport plans and studies for Tirana, prepared mainly by foreign consultants (in some cases invited by the City, in others hired directly by the donor organization). In most cases, the principal recommendation of these studies was to strengthen the public transport sector.
country comparison to the world: 118
Since the fall of communism
, Albania is gradually upgrading its main roadways to acceptable standards. Compared to the 1990s, road infrastructure has significantly improved, however national roads are partially up to European standards being under continuous reconstruction. Albania has only one motorway, the A1 stretching from Rreshen to Kalimash along SH30. Some roadways lack standards to be considered motorways such as unfinished overpass
es, roundabouts on highways, uncontrolled access points, some inadequate entrance and exit ramps, and very narrow or lack of emergency lanes. Furthermore unclear road signage, lack of lighting
at night, indiscriminate usage of highways by agricultural and animal driven vehicles, and poor driver/pedestrian discipline make for a challenging driving. Rural segments are in bad conditions while national roads suffer from the above handicaps. On recent years as construction work is underway on major roadways, extra caution and patience is required from motorists.Inconveniences such as detours
, sudden stops, and abrupt ends to paved surfaces with little prior notice can be expected. In recent years, traffic fatalities have increased especially during holiday periods as traffic flow doubles mainly with expats returning home. Some experts attribute the increase to the use of alcohol, excessive speed, unqualified drivers, and unaccustomed users of Albanian roads such are expats. Police patrols have been deployed and speed radars
installed on major roadways. Albanian drivers are prone to using visual and acoustic aids such as headlight flashing
, constant use of high beams at night, and honking on a regular basis. Daytime running lamps must be turned on outside urban areas.
In Albania, roads are generally classified as follows:
Major cities are linked with first class national roads called (Superstradë). There is a double carriageway (Autostradë) connecting the port city of Durrës
with Tirana
, Vlorë
, and Kukës
. The major priority at present is the completion of the Tirana-Elbasan Motorway (2x2) including the construction of a tunnel. Similarly, another major project, Durrës-Kukes Motorway (A1)
involved the construction of a 5.6 km tunnel. The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia
and Greece
(known as Rruga e Arbërit) passing north east of Tirana to current SH6. The third priority is the construction of the Southern Axis of Albania that would pass across the central and southern part of the country; it is sometimes referred to as Boshti i Jugut. It is unclear whether the envisioned Adriatic-Ionian motorway connecting Croatia
with Greece
along the Adriatic and Ionian
coasts will pass through the Southern Axis or current SH4 Road.
When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors. In October 2010, prime minister Sali Berisha
announced plans to build several major highways. In 2010, the Albanian government received 50 million Euros from the EBRD for the reconstruction of rural roads. The latter have been lagging behind in the post-communist road reconstruction campaigns.
but did not ratify the AGR (European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries) treaty. As such, Albania is the only country in Europe not being part of the E-road network
. For orientation purposes, the following routes only formally pass through the country. Thus information in parentheses is tentative:
transport is also available. Tirana
, the capital city does not have a central bus station
. Thus, minibuses and buses depart from various places around the city. Prices can be negotiated with the driver before departing. A similar situation is also observed in other towns.
Total: 447 km
country comparison to the world: 120
Standard gauge: 447 km gauge (2006)
Railway links with neighbouring countries:
Greece
- noMacedonia
- noKosovo
- noMontenegro
- yes (freight service only)
Albania's main seaports are Durrës
, Vlorë
, Sarandë
, and Shëngjin
. By 1983 there was regular ferry, freight, and passenger services from Durrës to Trieste
, Italy
. In 1988 ferry service was established between Sarandë and the Greek island of Corfu
. A regular lake ferry linked the Macedonian
town of Ohrid
with Pogradec
. The estimated total displacement of Albania's merchant fleet was 56,000 tons in 1986. The limited capacity of the wharves at Durrës caused severe bottlenecks in the distribution of foreign food aid in 1991. As of 2011, the Port of Durres
is undergoing major renovations.
Ferry services within Albania are:
The construction of 1.2 billion dollar AMBO pipeline
will begin in 2007. This will connect the port of Burgas in Bulgaria with the port of Vlora in Albania. It is expected to ship 750000 barrels (119,240,471.3 l) to 1000000 barrels (158,987,295 l) of crude oil each day.
country comparison to the world: 91
was the first non-communist airline to fly into Albania. By 1991 Tirana
had air links with many major European cities, including Paris
, Rome
, Zürich
, Vienna
, and Budapest
. Tirana was served by a small airport, Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, located twenty-eight kilometers from the capital at the village of Rinas
. Albania had no regular domestic air service. A Franco-Albanian joint venture launched Albania's first private airline, Ada Air
, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and Bari
, Italy
, and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.
As of 2007 Albania has only one international airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. In December 2007 it served over 1 million passengers and had 43 landings and takeoffs per day.
country comparison to the world: 164
A number of regional airports have been renovated but cannot become functional for civil flights as per the over 20 years monopoly over Albanian airspace that holds Tirana International Airport's shareholder company since 2005. Negotiations have been ongoing to revise the contract terms and open airports for both domestic and external flights earlier than the above time frame.
Kukes Airport is expected to open in early 2008, making this the second civilian airport in Albania. A local news paper announced on March 16, 2007 that the Italian government would help rebuild the airport in Gjirokaster
. The airport would be dual functional, both a civilian and military airport. The first phase of construction is expected to start in September 2007. Currently there are two feasibility studies being conducted for airports in Vlora and Korca. The plan for Saranda airport was completed however there is no known investor willing to put in money at the time.
Gjader/Gramsh
Kucova
Kukes
Tirana/Rinas
History
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, occupying forces opened up new road sections mainly in the mountainous areas of the country. In King Zog's period, further road construction took place. The total length of Albania's roads more than doubled in the first three decades after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and by the 1980s almost all of the country's remote mountain areas were connected, at least by dirt roads, with the capital city of Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
and ports on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
. Private ownership was not allowed and the only vehicles circulating were trucks, agricultural and government vehicles, buses, motorcycles, and bicycles. The country's roads, however, were generally narrow, poorly marked, pocked with holes, and in the early 1990s often crowded with pedestrians and people riding mules, bicycles, and horse-drawn carts.
Railway
After 1947, a significant infrastructure undertaking was the construction of the country's rail network as Albania was considered as the only state in Europe not to have standard rail service. By 1987, 677 km of railway were constructed in total linking the main urban and industrial centers for the first time since the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the collapse of Communism, the network fell into disregard.
After Communism
Central government funding of local road maintenance effectively ended in 1991, and the breakdown of repair vehicles because of a lack of spare parts threatened to close access to some remote areas. A group of GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
construction companies signed a protocol with the Albanian government in July 1990 to build a 200 kilometer road across the southern part of the country, extending from the Albanian-Greek border to Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
. The project was scheduled to last four years and cost US$500 million. Despite the poor quality of Albania's roads, most of the country's freight was conveyed over them in a fleet of about 15,000 trucks. According to official figures, in 1987 Albania's roadways carried about 66 percent of the country's total freight tonnage.
In 1991 the Albanian government lifted the decades-old ban on private-vehicle ownership. In the early 1990s car imports numbered about 1,500 per month. Traffic in the capital remained light, but traffic lights and other control devices were urgently needed to deal with the multiplying number of privately owned cars. Albanian entrepreneurs also imported used Greek buses and started carrying passengers on intercity routes that did not exist or had been poorly serviced during the communist era.
The population is known for owning a large fleet of Mercedes Benz vehicles stemming from their durability on the inherited roads, the rough rural roads where half of the population resides, personal preferences, and the cheap price for buying used ones. Albania is probably one of the few, if not the only country in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
where vehicles imported from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and from left hand traffic jurisdictions (for example the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) can be found on the streets without any modifications brought from expats living abroad.
Since the beginning of the transition, foreign donors have funded no less than ten urban transport plans and studies for Tirana, prepared mainly by foreign consultants (in some cases invited by the City, in others hired directly by the donor organization). In most cases, the principal recommendation of these studies was to strengthen the public transport sector.
Highways
- Total: 18,000 km
- Paved: 12,920 km
- Unpaved: 5,080 km (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Since the fall of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, Albania is gradually upgrading its main roadways to acceptable standards. Compared to the 1990s, road infrastructure has significantly improved, however national roads are partially up to European standards being under continuous reconstruction. Albania has only one motorway, the A1 stretching from Rreshen to Kalimash along SH30. Some roadways lack standards to be considered motorways such as unfinished overpass
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
es, roundabouts on highways, uncontrolled access points, some inadequate entrance and exit ramps, and very narrow or lack of emergency lanes. Furthermore unclear road signage, lack of lighting
Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
at night, indiscriminate usage of highways by agricultural and animal driven vehicles, and poor driver/pedestrian discipline make for a challenging driving. Rural segments are in bad conditions while national roads suffer from the above handicaps. On recent years as construction work is underway on major roadways, extra caution and patience is required from motorists.Inconveniences such as detours
Detours
Detours has been praised by music critics and her fans, scoring a 75 on the website Metacritic. Many deem this album as marking Crow's return to prominence, linking the tracks to her original sound as heard on The Globe Sessions.-Track listing:...
, sudden stops, and abrupt ends to paved surfaces with little prior notice can be expected. In recent years, traffic fatalities have increased especially during holiday periods as traffic flow doubles mainly with expats returning home. Some experts attribute the increase to the use of alcohol, excessive speed, unqualified drivers, and unaccustomed users of Albanian roads such are expats. Police patrols have been deployed and speed radars
Radar gun
A radar speed gun is a small doppler radar unit used to measure the speed of moving objects, including vehicles, pitched baseballs, runners and other moving objects. Radar speed guns may be hand-held, vehicle-mounted or static...
installed on major roadways. Albanian drivers are prone to using visual and acoustic aids such as headlight flashing
Headlight flashing
Headlight flashing refers to the act of either briefly switching on the headlights of a car, or of momentarily switching between a headlight's high beams and low beams, in an effort to communicate with another driver or drivers...
, constant use of high beams at night, and honking on a regular basis. Daytime running lamps must be turned on outside urban areas.
In Albania, roads are generally classified as follows:
- Rrugë : The lowest level of road type found in urban and rural areas. These segments are marked with a "Rr #" on a blue field or as "Rruga" on a white field in urban areas.
- Superstradë: Single carriageway (1x1) marked with "SH #" on a blue field.
- Autostradë: Double carriageway (2x2) usually marked with "A #" on a green field, though the "SH #" signage is also used.
Major cities are linked with first class national roads called (Superstradë). There is a double carriageway (Autostradë) connecting the port city of Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
with Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
, and Kukës
Kukës
Kukës is a town in Albania located at 42.09°N, 20.43°E in the district and county with the same name. It has a population of about 16,000 . The town is set among the mountains of northern Albania. It is famous for its role during the Kosovo conflict for taking in 450,000 refugees from Kosovo...
. The major priority at present is the completion of the Tirana-Elbasan Motorway (2x2) including the construction of a tunnel. Similarly, another major project, Durrës-Kukes Motorway (A1)
Albania-Kosovo Highway
The Albania-Kosovo Highway is a 4-lane highway being built between Albania and Kosovo...
involved the construction of a 5.6 km tunnel. The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(known as Rruga e Arbërit) passing north east of Tirana to current SH6. The third priority is the construction of the Southern Axis of Albania that would pass across the central and southern part of the country; it is sometimes referred to as Boshti i Jugut. It is unclear whether the envisioned Adriatic-Ionian motorway connecting Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
with Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
along the Adriatic and Ionian
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
coasts will pass through the Southern Axis or current SH4 Road.
When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors. In October 2010, prime minister Sali Berisha
Sali Berisha
Sali Ram Berisha is an Albanian politician and cardiologist, currently the Prime Minister of Albania and the leader of Democratic Party of Albania ....
announced plans to build several major highways. In 2010, the Albanian government received 50 million Euros from the EBRD for the reconstruction of rural roads. The latter have been lagging behind in the post-communist road reconstruction campaigns.
Major Routes
A1 MotorwayA1 motorway (Albania)The A1 motorway refers to the segment between the towns of Rrëshen and Kalimash in Northern Albania. It is part of the greater Albania-Kosovo Highway stretching in Albania, from the Adriatic port city of Durrës to the border town of Kukës with Kosovo. The preceding and following segments are...
(Rrëshen - Kalimash)- A2 MotorwayA2 motorway (Albania)The Albanian A2 is a central corridor from Tirana to Elbasan and connect Tirana so with the Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII. This stretch will have 21 viaducts and two tunnels, each with 2.3 kilometers in length. In the long run, a further construction of Berat in the south Albanian,...
(Tirana - Tepelena) planned - SH1 RoadNational Road 1 (Albania)Albanian National Road SH1 is part of the North-South Corridor which connects Hani i Hotit in the Albanian-Montenegrin border with Kakavija in the Albanian-Greek border thus forming part of the Adriatic-Ionian motorway. It forms the main road connection between the Albanian capital, Tirana and...
(Tirana - Hani i Hotit MNEMontenegroMontenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
) - SH2 RoadNational Road 2 (Albania)Albanian National Road SH2 is a highway in Albania linking the port city of Durrës with the metropolis and the capital of Albania, Tirana. SH2 was the first highway to be reconstructed in Albania following the end of communism in 1991.-Route:...
(Tirana - Durrës) - SH3 Road (Tirana - Elbasan - Pogradec - Korcë - Kapshticë GRGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) - SH4 Road (Durrës - Fier - Gjirokastër - Kakavijë GRGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) - SH5 Road (Shkodër - Pukë - Kukës RKSRepublic of KosovoKosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
) - SH6 Road (Milot - Bulqizë - Peshkopi)
- SH7 Road (Rrogozhinë - Elbasan)
- SH8 Road (Fier - Vlorë - Saranda)
- SH9 Road (Qafë Thanë/Kjafasan MK (FYROM)Republic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
- SH3) - SH30 Road (Milot - Rrëshen; Kalimash - Morinë RKSRepublic of KosovoKosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
) - SH52 Road (Vlorë - Fushë Krujë)
- SH72 Road (Lushnjë - Berat)
- SH75 Road (SH4 - Ersekë - Korcë)
As of 2011
- Fushë-KrujëFushë-KrujëFushë-Krujë is a city in the Krujë District in Albania. The city has gained a wider fame due to President George W. Bush's visit on Sunday, 10 June 2007. Fushe-Kruje was also the site of one of Skanderbeg's famous battles....
- MilotMilot, AlbaniaMilot is a municipality in the Kurbin District, Lezhë County, northwestern Albania.-History:In 7 September 1457 the Battle of Ujëbardha occurred in Milot. It was the Second Siege of Krujë when an Albanian army led by Skanderbeg broke the surrounding Ottoman army. The defeat was chronicled in...
, part of Durrës-Kukës CorridorAlbania-Kosovo HighwayThe Albania-Kosovo Highway is a 4-lane highway being built between Albania and Kosovo...
: Autostradë - LevanLevan, AlbaniaLevan is a municipality in the Fier District, Fier County, southwestern Albania....
- VlorëVlorëVlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
: Autostradë, part of European Corridor 8. (24.20 km) - LevanLevan, AlbaniaLevan is a municipality in the Fier District, Fier County, southwestern Albania....
- Tepelenë: Superstradë (70 km) - Shkodër - Hani i Hotit MNEMontenegroMontenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
: Superstradë, part of the Adriatic-Ionian-Highway (35 km) - DurrësDurrësDurrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
- RrogozhinëRrogozhinëRrogozhinë is a municipality in Kavajë District, Tirana County in Albania. The population currently is 28,758. The football club is KS Egnatia Rrogozhinë....
: Autostradë (35 km) - Qafë Thanë/Kjafasan FYROMRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
- PogradecPogradecPogradec is a city in southeastern Albania, situated on the shores of Ohrid lake. It is the capital of the District of Pogradec, in the County of Korçë, located at 40.87°N and 20.70°E with a population of around 30,000 . The total area of the district is 725 km². Pogradec alone occupies about...
: Superstradë - SH56 TiranaTiranaTirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
- Ndroq - TiranaTiranaTirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
- ElbasanElbasanElbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
: Autostradë - Saranda - ButrintButrintButrint was an ancient Greek and later Roman city in Epirus. In modern times it is an archeological site in Sarandë District, Albania, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë and close to the Greek border. It was known in antiquity as Βουθρωτόν Bouthroton or Βουθρώτιος Bouthrotios in Ancient Greek...
: Superstrade - BeratBeratBerat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
- ElbasanElbasanElbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
: Superstrade - Southwestern portion of Tirana's Big Ring: Autostrade
2006-2010
- MilotMilot, AlbaniaMilot is a municipality in the Kurbin District, Lezhë County, northwestern Albania.-History:In 7 September 1457 the Battle of Ujëbardha occurred in Milot. It was the Second Siege of Krujë when an Albanian army led by Skanderbeg broke the surrounding Ottoman army. The defeat was chronicled in...
- RrëshenRrëshenRrëshen is a small Albanian city and the administrative seat of the Mirditë District, in northern Albania. In 2001, it had a population of 9,240 people.-The City:...
- MorinëMorinëMorinë is a settlement in eastern Albania, on the border with Kosovo. The Kosovo side of the border is Vrbnica.Morinë is an important town on the highway that connects the Kosovan capital of Pristina to Albania and thus to the Adriatic Sea....
RKSRepublic of KosovoKosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
: Superstradë and Autostradë, part of the Albania-Kosovo HighwayAlbania-Kosovo HighwayThe Albania-Kosovo Highway is a 4-lane highway being built between Albania and Kosovo... - Saranda - Qafë Botë GRGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
: Superstradë - LibrazhdLibrazhdLibrazhd is a town in eastern Albania, capital of the Librazhd District. It has a population of approximately 9,998. Librazhd is the nearest town to the Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park...
- Qafë Thanë/Kjafasan FYROMRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
: Superstradë occasionally 3 lanes, part of European Corridor 8. - LushnjëLushnjëLushnjë or Lushnje is a city in Central-West Albania located at 40.95°N, 19.71°E. It is the center of the District of Lushnje in the County of Fier and has a population of about 54,813. The town was founded in late medieval times by a Turkish widow called Salushe. She built a rest stop on the...
- FierFierFieri is a city in southwest Albania, in the district and county of the same name. It is located at , and has a population of 82,297 . Fier is from the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Apollonia.-History :...
: Autostradë, part of European Corridor 8 (21.70 km) - Himara - Saranda: Superstradë
- KorçëKorçëKorçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
- Qafë Plloçë: Superstradë (29 km) - Tepelenë - GjirokastërGjirokastërGjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
: Superstradë - TiranaTiranaTirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
- KrujëKrujëKrujë is a town in north central Albania and the capital of the municipality and the Krujë District. It has a population of about 15,900. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is only 20 km from the capital of Albania, Tirana....
: Superstradë - Bajram CurriBajram CurriBajram Curri was an ethnic Albanian politician and activist within the Vilayet of Kosovo, Ottoman Empire. He is awarded the title Hero of Albania....
- MargegajMargegajMargegaj is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania. The Valbonë River valley and the village Valbonë are located in the municipality....
: Superstradë - Hani i Hotit MNEMontenegroMontenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
- Razëm: Rrugë - Koplik - Dedaj - Boge: Rruge
International Routes
In 2006, Albania joined the E-road cooperationInternational E-road network
The international E-road network is a numbering system for roads in Europe developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe . The network is numbered from E 1 up and its roads cross national borders...
but did not ratify the AGR (European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries) treaty. As such, Albania is the only country in Europe not being part of the E-road network
International E-road network
The international E-road network is a numbering system for roads in Europe developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe . The network is numbered from E 1 up and its roads cross national borders...
. For orientation purposes, the following routes only formally pass through the country. Thus information in parentheses is tentative:
-
E86European route E86European route E86 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Krystallopigi, Greece and ends in Gefyra, Greece.The road follows: Krystallopigi - Florina - Gefyra....
: (KorçaKorčaKorča is a village in the municipality of Hadžići, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
) - Kristalopigi – Flórina – Vévi – Géfira -
E762European route E762European route E 762 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and ends in Albania....
: SarajevoSarajevoSarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
– PodgoricaPodgoricaPodgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
– AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(Hani i Hotit - Shkodër - Tirana) -
E851European route E851European route E 851 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Petrovac, Montenegro, passes through northern Albania and ends in Pristina, Kosovo....
: PetrovacPetrovacPetrovac can refer to:* Petrovac , town and municipality in Serbia* Petrovac , town in municipality of Budva, Montenegro* Petrovac , municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina...
– AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(Muriqan - Shkodër - Pukë - Kukës OR Muriqan - Shkodër - Milot - Rrëshen - Kukës) – PrizrenPrizrenPrizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
– PristinaPristinaPristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district.... -
E852: OhridOhridOhrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
– AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(Qafë Thanë - Elbasan - Tirana) -
E853: IoanninaIoanninaIoannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
– AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(Kakavijë - Gjirokastër - Fier)
Minibuses
Public transport in Albania is mainly characterized by the use of furgons, the equivalent of minibuses, vans or shuttles, though busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
transport is also available. Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, the capital city does not have a central bus station
Bus station
A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
. Thus, minibuses and buses depart from various places around the city. Prices can be negotiated with the driver before departing. A similar situation is also observed in other towns.
Railways
country comparison to the world: 120
Standard gauge: 447 km gauge (2006)
Railway links with neighbouring countries:
Greece
Transport in Greece
Transport in Greece has undergone significant changes in the past two decades, vastly modernizing the country's infrastructure. Although ferry transport between islands remains the prominent method of transport between the nations islands, improvements to the road infrastructure, rail, urban...
- noMacedonia
Transport in the Republic of Macedonia
-Railways:total:standard gauge: 1.435-m gauge note:...
- noKosovo
Transport in Kosovo
Transport in Kosovo is complicated by political issues relating to international recognition. The Republic of Kosovo is one of the newest countries in the world, having declared independence in 2008 from Serbia. It is currently recognised as a sovereign state by 82 nations, of which 81 are members...
- noMontenegro
Transport in Montenegro
-Airports:Montenegro has two international airports, with their IATA Airport Codes:* Podgorica Airport - TGD* Tivat Airport - TIVPodgorica Airport has a new and modern terminal building, and Tivat Airport underwent terminal expansion and can now handle night landings.There are also airports at...
- yes (freight service only)
Waterways
- Total: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake ScutariLake ScutariLake Skadar, also called Lake Scutari and Lake Shkodër is a lake on the border of Montenegro with Albania, the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. It is named after the city of Shkodra in northern Albania .- Geography :...
, Ohër Lake, and Big Prespa Lake (1990)
Albania's main seaports are Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
, Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
, Sarandë
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
, and Shëngjin
Shëngjin
Shëngjin is a coastal town in the Lezha District, northwestern Albania. The town is home to one of Albania's entry ports, Port of Shëngjin....
. By 1983 there was regular ferry, freight, and passenger services from Durrës to Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In 1988 ferry service was established between Sarandë and the Greek island of Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
. A regular lake ferry linked the Macedonian
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
town of Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
with Pogradec
Pogradec
Pogradec is a city in southeastern Albania, situated on the shores of Ohrid lake. It is the capital of the District of Pogradec, in the County of Korçë, located at 40.87°N and 20.70°E with a population of around 30,000 . The total area of the district is 725 km². Pogradec alone occupies about...
. The estimated total displacement of Albania's merchant fleet was 56,000 tons in 1986. The limited capacity of the wharves at Durrës caused severe bottlenecks in the distribution of foreign food aid in 1991. As of 2011, the Port of Durres
Port of Durrës
The Port of Durrës or Durrës Harbor is a biggest port of Albania in the city of Durrës, Albania.It is an artificial basin that is formed between two moles, with a west-northwesterly oriented entrance approximately wide as it passes between the ends of the moles...
is undergoing major renovations.
Ferry services within Albania are:
- Lake Komani Ferry operates between Koman and Fierza in Northern Albania
- Butrint Cable Ferry crosses the Vivari Channel at ButrintButrintButrint was an ancient Greek and later Roman city in Epirus. In modern times it is an archeological site in Sarandë District, Albania, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë and close to the Greek border. It was known in antiquity as Βουθρωτόν Bouthroton or Βουθρώτιος Bouthrotios in Ancient Greek...
in Southern Albania
Pipelines
- Crude oil 207 km; natural gas 229 km (2008)
The construction of 1.2 billion dollar AMBO pipeline
AMBO pipeline
AMBO pipeline is a planned oil pipeline from the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Burgas via the Republic of Macedonia to the Albanian Adriatic port of Vlorë.-History:The pipeline was proposed already in 1993...
will begin in 2007. This will connect the port of Burgas in Bulgaria with the port of Vlora in Albania. It is expected to ship 750000 barrels (119,240,471.3 l) to 1000000 barrels (158,987,295 l) of crude oil each day.
Ports and Harbors
| Port |
County | Coordinates Geographic coordinate system A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on the Earth to be specified by a set of numbers. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represent vertical position, and two or three of the numbers represent horizontal position... |
External Link Hyperlink In computing, a hyperlink is a reference to data that the reader can directly follow, or that is followed automatically. A hyperlink points to a whole document or to a specific element within a document. Hypertext is text with hyperlinks... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Durrës Port of Durrës The Port of Durrës or Durrës Harbor is a biggest port of Albania in the city of Durrës, Albania.It is an artificial basin that is formed between two moles, with a west-northwesterly oriented entrance approximately wide as it passes between the ends of the moles... |
Durrës County Durrës County The County of Durrës is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Durrës and Krujë and its capital is Durrës. The city is 40 minutes away from Tirana by car. It has the largest sea port in Albania.... |
41°18′35"N 19°27′26"E | |
| Port of Sarandë Port of Sarandë The Port of Sarandë or Sarandë Harbor is a port of Albania in the city of Sarandë, Albania.-External links:*... |
Vlorë County Vlorë County The County of Vlorë is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Delvinë, Sarandë and Vlorë and its capital is Vlorë. As of January 1, 2010 the population of the Vlore District was estimated to be 211,773.... |
39°52′15"N 20°0′11"E | |
| Port of Shëngjin Port of Shëngjin The Port of Shëngjin or Shëngjin Harbor is a port of Albania in the city of Shëngjin, Albania.... |
Lezhë County Lezhë County Lezhë County is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Kurbin, Lezhë and Mirditë and its capital is Lezhë.Lezhë has a small western shoreline on the Adriatic Sea. On land, it borders the following counties:*Shkodër: north... |
41°48′20"N 19°35′35"E | |
| Port of Vlorë Port of Vlorë The Port of Vlorë or Vlora Harbor is a port of Albania in the city of Vlorë, Albania.... |
Vlorë County Vlorë County The County of Vlorë is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Delvinë, Sarandë and Vlorë and its capital is Vlorë. As of January 1, 2010 the population of the Vlore District was estimated to be 211,773.... |
40°27′1"N 19°29′0"E | |
| Marina of Orikum | Vlorë County Vlorë County The County of Vlorë is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Delvinë, Sarandë and Vlorë and its capital is Vlorë. As of January 1, 2010 the population of the Vlore District was estimated to be 211,773.... |
40°20′25"N 19°28′20"E | |
| Port of Himarë | Vlorë County Vlorë County The County of Vlorë is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Delvinë, Sarandë and Vlorë and its capital is Vlorë. As of January 1, 2010 the population of the Vlore District was estimated to be 211,773.... |
40°5′52"N 19°45′10"E |
Merchant Marine
- Total: 24
country comparison to the world: 91
Airways
In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece, opening the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, Olympic AirwaysOlympic Airlines
Olympic Airlines was the flag carrier airline of Greece, with its head office in Athens. It operated services to 37 domestic destinations and to 32 destinations world-wide. Its main base was at Athens International Airport, with hubs at Thessaloniki International Airport, "Macedonia" and Rhodes...
was the first non-communist airline to fly into Albania. By 1991 Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
had air links with many major European cities, including Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Tirana was served by a small airport, Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, located twenty-eight kilometers from the capital at the village of Rinas
Rinas
Rinas is a village in the county of Durrës, Albania, about 25 km Northwest of the capital, Tirana. It is the site of Tirana International Airport....
. Albania had no regular domestic air service. A Franco-Albanian joint venture launched Albania's first private airline, Ada Air
Ada Air
Ada Air Sh. p.k. was a regional airline based in Tirana, Albania. It operated scheduled services from Albania to Bari, Italy, and overnight freight services for DHL. Its main base was Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza...
, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.
As of 2007 Albania has only one international airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. In December 2007 it served over 1 million passengers and had 43 landings and takeoffs per day.
Airports
- Total: 8 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
A number of regional airports have been renovated but cannot become functional for civil flights as per the over 20 years monopoly over Albanian airspace that holds Tirana International Airport's shareholder company since 2005. Negotiations have been ongoing to revise the contract terms and open airports for both domestic and external flights earlier than the above time frame.
Kukes Airport is expected to open in early 2008, making this the second civilian airport in Albania. A local news paper announced on March 16, 2007 that the Italian government would help rebuild the airport in Gjirokaster
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
. The airport would be dual functional, both a civilian and military airport. The first phase of construction is expected to start in September 2007. Currently there are two feasibility studies being conducted for airports in Vlora and Korca. The plan for Saranda airport was completed however there is no known investor willing to put in money at the time.
Total paved runways
3Gjader/Gramsh
- RWY 16 APPR 151°/RWY 34 APPR 331° Length 2800 m x 60 m
- RWY 17 APPR 167°/RWY 35 APPR 347° Length 2200 m x 25 m
Kucova
- RWY 14 APPR 134°/RWY 32 APPR 314° Length 2840 m x 65 m
Kukes
- RWY 19 APPR 192°/RWY 01 APPR 012° Length 1800 m x 45 m
Tirana/Rinas
- RWY 18 APPR 176°/RWY 36 APPR 356° Length 2750 m x 45 m
Total unpaved runways
-
- total: 5 (2008)
- over 3,047 m: 1
- 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
- 914 to 1,523 m: 1
- under 914 m: 1
Government
Informational
- Transport in Albania by Lonely Planet
- Public transportation in Albania (timetables and maps)
- Driving in Albania by In Your Pocket City Guide
- Albanian Roads on Skyscrapercity Forum
- Albanian road system on Motorway-ExitLists.com
See also
- Vehicle registration plates of AlbaniaVehicle registration plates of AlbaniaIn Albania, vehicle registration plates are issued by the regional directorates of transport.-New format:A new format similar to the post-1994 Italian and post-2009 French plate designs has been introduced since 16 February 2011...
- Border crossings of AlbaniaBorder crossings of AlbaniaThe following list includes the border crossings of Albania, via air, sea, and land. Recently, some major border crossings have been reconstructed by the EU presence in Albania.-Sea border crossings:*Port of Shëngjin*Port of Durrës*Port of Vlorë*Port of Himarë...
- Tourism in AlbaniaTourism in AlbaniaTourism in Albania is characterized by the archaeological heritage inherited from Greek, Roman and Ottoman times, unspoiled beaches, challenging mountain ranges, Cold War artifacts, unique traditions, unequivocal hospitality, delicious traditional cuisine, and the wild and peculiar atmosphere of...