Albania is located in southern europe as part of the Balkan peninsula - Just north of Greece with a long coast line on the Adriatic Sea and directly across the Adriatic from Italy - It's history goes back thousands of years - There are beaches along the coast with hill and mountains inland - Extreme caution should be exercised while traveling here - The country is certainly unspoiled by tourism - Tirana, aka Tirane, is the Capital
This sunny slice of mountains and southern European easy living has been ground down by years of totalitarianism. But the new Albania packs a wild punch of traditional Mediterranean charm, delightfully hospitable people and a madly colourful art-driven renaissance in the capital, Tirana.
There are two border crossings for vehicles from Montenegro into Albania: the main one at Hani i Hotit, south of Podgorica, and Tuzi, and a smaller one at Muriqani, south of Ulcinj (called Ulqini in Albanian). The road condition from both crossings to the nearest city, Shkodra, is good; from Shkodra to Durresi it is upgraded highway all the way and takes about one and a half hours. Two car-ferries run between Durresi and Bari every day, operated by Ventouris Ferries (ferries.gr /ventouris) and Adriatica di Navigazione (adriatica.it/it /albania-orari.htm). The ferries leave Durresi at night and arrive in Barithe following morning; at peak periods the ferry companies lay on extra, daytime sailings on specific dates. On the way to Durresi, the mountain scenery of the Vermoshi gorge and the Shala valley is outstanding There are good hotels in Shkodra, Lezha and Durresi