Language: The official language is Albanian but Greek is also spoken in many areas. English is not widely understood but is spoken in some of the hotels and restaurants.
Currency: Albanian currency is the Lek. There are numerous ATMs in
Tirana and main towns, as well as bureaux de change where Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are widely accepted for exchange. Although street money changers operate openly, they do so illegally. Credit cards are not as widely accepted as one would expect, except in a few of the most up-market hotels and restaurants. Travelers' cheques are
not accepted as payment by hotels or anywhere else but it is possible to cash them outside Tirana. Foreign currency can be changed in banks at exchange offices (kambim valutor). The most commonly accepted currencies are the US dollar and the euro. Banks are open only on weekdays from 8.30am to 2.30pm.
Time: Local time is GMT/UCT + 1 hour (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 Volts, 50Hz. Round pin attachment plugs and Shuko plugs and receptacles with side grounding contacts are in use. Voltage fluctuations are common.
Communications: The international access code for
Albania is +355. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (eg. 0044 for the
United Kingdom) and city codes are in use (eg. 04 for Tirana and 052 for
Durres). Internet cafes are widely available.
Vodafone and AMC are the two mobile phone companies, which have agreements with most other European companies. Travelers with European cell phones and roaming enabled should be able to use their cell phones in Albania.
Tourist OfficeAlbanian
Tourist Office, Tirana, Albania: +355 4 273 778 or info@albaniantourism.com
EmergencyAmbulance: 17; Fire: 18; Police: 19
Embassies
Embassy of the Republic of Albania,
Washington DC,
United States of America: (202) 223 4942.
Embassy of the Republic of Albania,
London, United Kingdom (also responsible for
Ireland): +44 (0)20 7828 8897.
Embassy of the Republic of Albania,
Ottawa,
Canada: (613) 236 4114.
Honorary
Consulate of Albania,
Johannesburg,
South Africa: +27 (0)11 465 3871.
Embassy of the Republic of Albania,
Beijing,
China (also responsible for
New Zealand): (86 10) 6532 1120.
Embassy of the United States of America, Tirana, Albania: +(355) 4 2247 285.
British Embassy, Tirana, Albania: (355) 4 223 4973.
Canadian Embassy,
Rome,
Italy (responsible for Albania): +39 06 854 441.
South
African Embassy, Rome, Italy (responsible for Albania): +39 06 852 541.
Irish Embassy,
Athens,
Greece (responsible for Albania): +30 210 723 2771.
