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{{Infobox Country
|country = of Albania
|pop = 3,170,048
|currency = Lek (ALL)
|hitch = from {{good}} to {{very good}}<rating country='al' />
}}
'''Albania''' is a country in the [[Balkans]] in [[Southern Europe]]. The capital is [[Tirana]]. It has borders to [[Montenegro]], [[Kosovo]], [[North Macedonia]] and [[Greece]].
'''Albania''' is a country in the [[Balkans]] in [[Southern Europe]]. The capital is [[Tirana]]. It has borders to [[Montenegro]], [[Kosovo]], [[Macedonia]] and [[Greece]]. The road network is not very complicated, and getting out from and past towns is usually just a matter of walking in the right direction. Roads do tend to go through the towns, but keep an eye out for signs for shortcuts to avoid tedious walking when transiting.In Albania there are lots of round-abouts, even on some motorways, these are perfect places to hitch!
== Hitchhiking culture ==
[[Hitchhiking]] in Albania can go surprisingly well. Even though Albania is still one of the poorest countries in [[Europe]], the country's living conditions have improved greatly in the past years.
People are usually friendly and ready to help. Be aware some drivers expect money, since private taxi is a major form of public transport. Make sure that before you board a vehicle the driver is not an informal cab-driver. A simple 'no taxi' phrase should be enough very easy way to avoid misunderstandings. Some found it useful (if you are strict about hitchhiking) is to learn say "por.... autostop, jo para.... jo problem?lek" - " (but.... hitchhiking, no money... no problem?) and ask it as they stop " while showing the thumb up sign (yes/no = po/"jo, and mirë (" is pronounced mir) = fine/good"yo"). Some This is very clear to drivers and they will refuse to take you for free, but still every other driver should either drive away or pick you up. Hitchhiking with a sign can be useful to differentiate yourself from the other people using public transportation. However, putting "no taxi" on your sign makes you just another roadside attraction, and is probably best avoidedanyway.
Hitchhiking with a sign can be useful to differentiate yourself from the other people using public transportation, but on smaller roads a thumb is enough (and might actually make things easier since people might not be going far and it's hard to know what to put on your sign). The only place a sign is really useful is to get out of [[Tirana]] [[Image:Albania hh truck.jpg|right|thumb|Hitching down from [[Theth]] at the back of a truck.]]Many private minibuses join the main cities via the main roads. There are no bus stops, so they may stop when they see you hitchhiking. They are quite cheap, for example a ride from [[Tirana]] - [[Shkodër]] (120 km) costs 400 500 Lek (about EUR 3 €.5). Thus, it may happen that they pick you for free if you say that they you don't have money.
Also, make sure to keep an eye on the road -- if the driver makes sudden turns and other similar actions while driving it is likely that he is either a taxi driver or that he thinks he is doing good by bringing you to the local bus station, and would expect some money from you. You therefore will have to be reiterative on stating that you travel by '''autostop'''. This kind of driver behaviour usually is not valid for the company car or truck drivers': they are already salaried and won't be offering a taxi service to you.
Women hitchhiking alone do not encounter more issues than the average European country.
[[File:100_1393.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Border Crossing from North Macedonia at Ohrid Lake]]
[[File:tirana.jpg|right|thumb|typical road scene in Tirana]]
[[File:Skadar-mosque.jpg|right|thumb|Mosque in [[Shkodër]]]]
=== Safety ===
Albania has a good hitchhiking reputation. The government financial trust in [[police]] force has lifted up the safety level in most areas of the country; however, it is paramount to remain cautious, and hitching by night as well as in some areas might not be too wise. Beware of the poorest area and hitching next to slums since you will be quickly dragging the attention of dozens of children lurking at your bags, and would make almost impossible for you to get out of there, so if you find yourself around such place just walk away and ignore the people until you are in a better area.
* [[Tirana]]
* [[Durrës]]
* [[Shkodër]]
* [[Berat]]
* [[Lushnjë]]
* [[Elbasan]]
* [[Vlorë]]
* [[ShkodërSarandë]]* [[Gjirokaster]]* [[Korça]] === Other places ===* [[Theth]] (village & national park)* [[Borsh]] (village with a wonderful beach) == Eating & Drinking == In Tirana (and probably in other cities, too) you can find very cheap local food markets with really good and fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, olives, etc. Local olive oil and freshly baked bread is something everyone has to taste!
== Border Crossing Accomodation & Sleeping ==
Be careful at the bordersIn Tirana one can easily get accommodated in so called private sector: these are people who have their apartments arranged to accepts occasional tourists. It is safe, because officers quite cheap (you can talk about how much you can be corrupted pay), you get friendly company (if needed) and tips how and there are many problems with smuggling where. To find these kind of cigarettesplaces just ask some more tidily looking folks on the street, drugs or in Internet cafes and gunsother similar places. Border controls are more "exact" than There is a nice and individual hostel in the rest center of Tirana. Tirana Backpacker Hostel, Rruga Elbasanit 85, Tirana.For free you can stay at Couchsurfer house. Albanians are very good hosts and they can help you by showing the [[Balkans]]city you will stay or giving directions.
* [[Montenegro-Albanian border crossing]]** ''[[User:HarveypekarMOAH|HarveypekarMind of a Hitchhiker]] 2010had an awesome time freecamping and squatting in Albania. I tried at Podgorice, but ended up stuck for 2 hours. I made the sign for "a little bit" and made it to Tuzi, where itThere's better. Even though the touts will discourage youlots of building going on in Albania, and shout especially at cars that you won't pay, I got a ride after 30 mins in an Albanian car. Backsheesh for leaving Montenegro was 5 beers, and entering Albania 200 leks. My drivers paid that. Beware that the road to Skoder is really slow and could take well over an hour. I heard the crossing on the coast is barely visited, and only by tourists, with way less hassle by border guards.* in [[Qafë-Thanës-Struga border crossingSarandë]]** there's a whole rise of ugly concrete structures, presumably to launder money. There'[[User:Quarim|Quarim]] had problems at s not enough people who actually buy those apartments, so squatting is really doable for the border check night if you manage to [[Macedonia]] (direction [[Struga]], [[Ohrid]]) sneak in unnoticed. There's empty buildings in 2008, he gave a bribe that the officers let him passwhole country.'' ** ''If you walk about 4km north of [[User:Klaudyna|KlaudynaDürres]] reports a very different experience: ''We crossed the Macedonian - Albanian border on foot and started hitchhiking straight after crossing, about 100 meters away from the officers. We thought itcentre there's was going to bring us in trouble a few beaches and we were trying to be as discreet with it as possible. They noticed us of course, but their reaction was quite different from what we expected - they stopped hills excellent for pitching a car for us and told the driver to bring us to Tirana coz there is not much traffic and otherwise we would have waited forevertent.''
== Eating & Drinking Personal Experiences ==
In Tirana (Albania is a great country for hitchhiking. Although beware there is some kind of taxi 'mafia' on the Albanian side of the border when entering Albania from Greece between Ioannina and probably in other cities, too) you can find very cheap local food markets with really good and fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, olives, etcGjirokastër. Twice now taxi drivers there have prevented me from hitching further into Albania. Local olive oil and freshly baked bread is something everyone has to taste!
Do not drink tap water In July 2022 (and back in Albania~2017 a similar situation occurred) we walked across the border and stopped a ride going to Sarandë between the border and the taxi stands. The taxi drivers rushed over and told us and the driver that its illegal to hitchhike there. I guess the taxi guys threatened the driver with something, and he was afraid to take us after that.
== Accomodation & Sleeping ==Best to not try and stop a car until you're past the taxi stands and out of sight of them. keep walking to the gas station around the corner and if they ask where your going tell them you're meeting someone. Keep walking further down the road if they hassle you at the gas station.
In Tirana one can easily get accommodated in so called private sector: these are people who have their apartments arranged to accepts occasional tourists. It is safe, quite cheap (you can talk about how much you can pay), you get friendly company (if needed) and tips how and where. To find these kind of places just ask some more tidily looking folks on the street, or in Internet cafes and other similar places.== Links ==
There is a nice and individual hostel in the center of Tirana[http://en. Tirana Backpacker Hostel, Rruga Elbasanit 85, Tiranawikivoyage.org/wiki/Albanian_phrasebook Albanian Phrasebook] on Wikivoyage
== Other Useful Info ==[http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Albania Albania] on Wikivoyage
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Albanian_phrasebook Albanian Phrasebook] on Wikitravel* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Albania Albania] on Wikitravel== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
[[wikipedia:Albania]][[wikitravel:Albania]]{{nomadwiki}}
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{{IsIn|Balkans}}
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[[Category:Albania]]