Albania flag

Albania

History

Arbanon, the first Albanian state, formed around Kruja.
Rival Albanian principalities held the coast and the mountains.
The Kingdom of Albania emerged, giving the area a defined monarchical state structure.
An Albanian principality took shape in the south as Byzantine authority receded.
Skanderbeg united the Albanian lords at Lezhë to resist the Ottomans.
Semi-independent pashaliks at Shkodra, Janina and Berat ruled much of the land.
The League of Prizren pressed for Albanian autonomy within the empire.
Independence was declared at Vlora on 28 November.
Europe thumbnailPart ofEuropeMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalTirana
Population2.4M
Area28,748 km2
CurrencyAlbanian lek

Short facts

RegionSoutheast Europe
LanguageAlbanian
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Albanian Riviera: Beautiful beaches along the Ionian coast with clear turquoise water.
  • Accursed Mountains: Dramatic alpine scenery with hiking trails through remote valleys.
  • Berat UNESCO City: Well-preserved Ottoman city of a thousand windows on a hillside.

Find a city in Albania

Showing all cities

Tirana thumbnailTiranaCity

Planning questions

What is Albania known for?Albanian Riviera, Accursed Mountains, Berat UNESCO City.
What is the capital?Tirana.
Which language is useful?Albanian.
When is the national day?28 November.

Upcoming events

Albania Independence Day thumbnailAlbania Independence Day28 Nov 2026 · Albania

Use Tirana as the first planning anchor for Albania, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Byrek thumbnailByrekSignature dishRaki thumbnailRakiLocal drink

Known for

Albanian RivieraAccursed MountainsBerat UNESCO CityCapital cityLocal foodHistory
Winter Olympics 2030 thumbnailAlpine SkiingMountain venues, races and winter calendars.Categories Topics thumbnailNature & placesLandscapes, routes, coastlines and outdoor context.