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Language:
The National language in speaking and writing in Albania is Albanian language (part of the Indo-European family). In Albania about 50% of population communicate in Italian, English, and Greek language.

Monetary Unit & Exchange:
Monetary Unit Albanian is LEK-ALL. Banknotes come in denomination of: 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 Lek,and in coins of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Lek.Currency exchange are: 1 Euro - 120 Lek, 1 USD - 100
Lek, 1 GBP - 175 Lek, and 1 CHF - 77 Lek.

Climate & Clothing:
Albania has a Mediterranean climate . Albania is characterized by hot dry summers, bright sunny days and generally mild winters with abundant rainfalls. The period from June to September is warm while from 0ctober to may it is cool and wet.
Clothing: Light clothing in summer and warm clothing in winter is required. In spring and autumn, summer clothing will be OK, but evening will be cooler.

Religions:
There are three official religions in Albania: Muslim, Orthodox and Catholic, which cohabit in
full harmony.

International Telephone Code;
The international Telephone code is +355 . From foreings cities to make a call in Albania is
Important to put first the prefix than the number .Ex:+35542223577.

Electricity:
The electric voltage which is used in Alnania is 220 V, 50Hz.

Public transport:
A cheap flat fare urban bus service operates within the main cities. This service operates in Tirana, Elbasan, Shkodra, Durres, Vlora, Fieri Korca, Pogradec,Saranda, Gjirokastra Berat.

Gastronomy & Drinks:
Gastronomy: Besides the restaurants in tourist hotels, private restaurants offer rich menus of high quality food and services. The most dominant cuisine except the traditional food is Italian, French, Turkish, Greece etc. There are also some delicious Albanian Specialties. Each region has
its characteristic specialty .
Drinks: In all bars and restaurants one can find brandy produced in Albania such as Raki ,red and
white wines and different Liquors. Albanian cognac is also distinguished for its characteristic aroma.

Nightlife:
The people in the cities go on an evening stroll in the main boulevards and squares. The performances given by Drama and Opera cast, different concerts and movie shows, enliven the culture life. Discos, pubs and bars with gambling machines have been opened everywhere. The main hotels have taverns where one can enjoy local music and dancing.

Shopping:
You can buy carpets, filigree ,silver and copper woodcarvings, ceramics and different assortments
of needlework. Some of the big tourist hotels have their own shops.

Pets:
Can enter in the country if they have the vaccination record and veterinary certificate.

Banks & Credit Cards:
Banks are open weekdays from 08.00am to16.00pm. Stores are more flexibilities hours
and are open on Saturdays and Sundays as well.
Credit Cards : American Express, Diners, Visa, and Master, are accepted in most of the shops, hotels,
restaurants and other establishment.

Local Time
GMT 1 (GMT + 2 between the end of April and the end of October)

Political System:
The national flag has a black two-headed eagle on red background. The highest legislative body is the
Assembly of the Republic of Albania. Members of Parliament are elected every four years through direct democratic ballot. The Assembly has its Presidency , composed of a Chairman and two Vice-chairmen elected , from the ranks deputies. The Assembly elects by secret ballot the President of Republic ,who then nominates the Prime Minister.
Albanian territory is divided into 12 Regions. Each region has the head of region and the Regional
Council. Each region comprises a number of Municipalities and Communes ,which are the first level
of local governance.

State organization.
The superior legislative body is the People's Assembly (the Parliament).
The People's Assembly elects the President of the Republic.
The President appoints the Prime minister.
The Prime minister forms the Cabinet which is approved by the Parliament.
The Council of Ministers is the supreme executive org

Geography
Surface : 28.748 km2
Population : 3,5 million inhabitants
Capital city : Tirana

Albania is situated on a border with Montenegro and Kosovo to the North and North East, FYR Macedonia to the East and Greece to the South. It is washed by the Adriatic and Ionian seas to the West and separated from Italy through the straight of Otranto, of 82 km.
Landscapes range from typical Mediterranean in West and South West, to mixed landscapes in central area, to steep mountains in the inner part of country. On the coast beautiful, virgin and fine sandy and pebble beaches are to be found. The country is jewelled with plenty of beautiful inland lakes, natural lagoons, reserves, hunting grounds and SPA-s.
Albania is located in the area GMT+1 (From March 28 GMT+2)
In the western part of the country lie the Western Lowlands, with a mainly plain relief and rich vegetation of this type. Along the whole coastline, in the lowland area from Shkodra to Vlora, there are numerous beaches with healthy Mediterranean climate.
Lowland area forms numerous bays with clear water and fine sand, which are very suitable sites for coastal tourism.
Albania has a coronal of mountains that are located to the North, East and South-East. The highest peak of the country (Mount Korab 2751 m) The highland region has mainly an Alpine relief characterized by
a cold climate. The Alps of Albania resemble a big cupola. The abundant snow falls during winter create very favourable natural terrain for the development of white tourism, for those who love skiing and other winter sports.
Albania is also rich with lakes and the largest of them in the Balkan Peninsula is the Shkodra Lake,
which is located in the North-Western part of the country. In the North-Eastern part, there is the
Fierza lake in the South-Eastern part, there is the Ohrid lake, a bit southward there are two other l
akes: Bigger and smaller Prespa lakes. Other small lakes have dotted Albania as well. Whereas in
Lura area 1600 m above sea level, there are several glacial lakes, which are located in groups, thus providing a magnificent view and leaving deep impressions in you.
The main rivers permeating the territory of our country are: Drini (285 km), Semani (281 km),
Vjosa (272 km), Shkumbini (182 km), Mat (115 km), Buna (44 km), Ishmi and Erzen.
Albania has a Mediterranean climate because of its mountains character and broken relief, the climate varies throughout the country. In Albanian Alps in the northern part the winters are cold and summers chilly. Normally the period from May-October period is characterized by hot and sunny whether, while from October-May the weather is cool and wet. Notwithstanding that Albania beauty can be appreciated around the year the best months to visit Albania are April, May and June as well as the periods September-October.
Albanian flora is rather rich beginning with evergreen Mediterranean plants and ending with Alpine fir. It consists of 3220 kinds of plants (in addition to sub- species and varieties). They constitute 29% of the species of European flora and 47% of the kinds of the flora of the Balkan peninsula.
Albania claims distinction for a rich and varied fauna(also aquatic fauna), which is linked with the diversity of geographical landscape and its location on the roads of emigration of birds.

Brief History

The territories of present-day Albania have been inhabited as early back as 100.000 years ago. It was
at the turn of the third millennium that an Indo-European population settled there. As the result of the mixture, a population incorporating the unique cultural and linguistic characteristics of the whole Balkan Peninsula (pellazgs) was created. Based on this ancient population, the Illyrian people developed through the second millennium and the first century B.C After its fall in the year 30 B.C
Illyria came under the control of Roman Empire. With the division of the Roman Empire (395 A.D.), Illyria became a part of the Byzantine Empire. The country has sufferd continuous invasions over the
last 1000 years and by the end of the 15th century Albania was occupied by the Ottoman Empire after the dead of National Hero "Scanderbeg". The subsequent efforts and insurrections for independence eventually brought about the proclamation of the independence of Albania in 1912. After 1912 till the end of the First World war, the country was attacked by neighboring countries. After eleven years of monarchy the country was occupied by Italy in 1939, putting the end of monarchy. In 1943 the German armies occupies the country.
The resistance against foreign invasion was known as the Anti-Fascist National Liberation front. The communist party took power in November 1944, when the foreign armies were expelled. Shortly thereafter, a totalitarian regime was established under the communist leader Enver Hoxha. For about
50 years, the regime applied the policy of self-isolation, leaving the country in great economic poverty when it finally emerged from isolation in 1991. the principle of self-reliance applied by the Communist regime prohibited foreign loans, credits and investiment.
From 1992 until 1997 The Democratic Party lead the country. From 1997 till July 2005 The Socialist Party was in power. Now The Democratic Party is the leadership of Albania.