Albania
Republic of Albania
Southeast Europe · ALB
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Albania
Albania mixes Adriatic coastlines with Ottoman-era towns and mountain scenery at a pace that still feels under-visited in Europe. It is best approached as a focused loop that pairs one coastal base with one inland heritage or mountain stop.
Popular For
Things To See
- Tirana
- Berat
- Gjirokaster
- Butrint
- Albanian Riviera
- Theth
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Driving times can be longer than they look on the map, so keep the route tight.
- A coast-and-inland pairing is more rewarding than trying to reach every region on a first trip.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Albania.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Albania Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Albania.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Tirana
- Population
- 2,363,314
- Area
- 28,748 km²
- Region
- Southeast Europe
Languages
- Albanian
Currency
Albanian lek (L)
ALL
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
42.6
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 46.2
- Restaurants
- 43.5
- Rent
- 14.1
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Tirana (41.32°N, 19.82°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
50/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 45/100
- Lived safety
- 60/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.810
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.009
- 10-year change
- +0.017
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.963
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.107
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.755
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (4)
- 🌿
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Inscribed 2007
- 🏛️
Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra
Inscribed 2005
- 🏛️
Butrint
Inscribed 1992
- 🌍
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region
Inscribed 1979
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 23.6%
- Forest cover
- 28.8%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 4
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 8
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
44/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
83/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. Exercise increased caution in Albania due to crime. Country Summary: Law enforcement’s ability to protect and assist travelers is limited in some areas, especially in remote regions. There has been targeted violence associated with illicit drug networks and organized crime countrywide. Travelers should remain aware of their surroundings and the extent of police and emergency services in their area. Read the country information page for additional information to Albania. If you decide to travel to Albania: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Albania. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data