Facts about Albania - 30 things you (might) not have known

Writer: Peter Bergström

Updated August 2026 | Facts about Albania! We traveled one summer with our camper along the Albanian coast and it was a real adventure. Here you will find beautiful untouched beaches, affordable restaurants, friendly people and dramatic nature.

Facts about Albania

In Albania you will find interesting ancient remains, the city of a thousand windows, the popular seaside resort of Ksamil and the deepest lake in the Balkans. Here are 30 facts about Albania!

1. 'Xhiro' is an Albanian tradition

Albanians enjoy socializing, and in many cities the tradition lives on xhiro left. This means that people gather and walk through the city center or along the promenade, often in the early evening, to meet up with acquaintances and talk about what happened during the day.

2. Berat and Gjirokastër are UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Berat and Gjirokastër are two historic cities that are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Berat is often called the ”city of a thousand windows” and is known for its whitewashed houses, castle and religious buildings. Gjirokastër is located in the Drino Valley and is famous for its characteristic stone houses, its old bazaar and the large castle above the city.

3. Most of Albania is characterized by mountains

Albania is a very mountainous country, which gives the landscape its dramatic character. Along the Albanian Riviera, the road passes through the Ceraunian Mountains and over the Llogara Pass, before winding down towards the shores of the Ionian Sea.

4. the Ura e Mesit bridge has 13 arches

Ura e Mesit is located about eight kilometers from Shkodër and crosses the Kir River. The Ottoman stone bridge was built in 1768 and consists of 13 arches. The bridge is 108 meters long, and the largest arch has a span of about 21.5 meters.

5. ”Besa” is an Albanian word of honor

Besa is an Albanian term of honor that refers to keeping one's word, being trustworthy, and showing hospitality. The person giving their besa is expected to stick to their promise and protect the person who has entrusted themselves to them.

6. The currency in Albania is lek

Don't forget that Albania has its own currency. You exchange or withdraw from the ATM when you arrive. 

7. Albania attracts with hiking in high mountains

Albania's highest mountain is Korab, whose peak is located on the border between Albania and North Macedonia. The country offers everything from coastal hikes to demanding tours in the Albanian Alps. For hiking at high altitudes, summer and early autumn are usually the best times, depending on the weather and snow conditions.

8. Albania was isolated during the communist era

After World War II, Albania was ruled by a communist dictatorship under Enver Hoxha. The regime took power in 1944, and the country eventually became one of the most isolated in Europe. The communist system fell in 1991, when Albania began to transition to democracy and a market economy.

9. Rozafa Castle is associated with a dramatic legend

Shkoder is the fourth largest city in Albania and is located in the northern part of the country. On one of the city's hilltops, Rozafa Castle is home to a special legend.

According to legend, three brothers tried to build a castle, but every night what they had built during the day collapsed. They were advised to wall up one of their wives so that the building would remain standing. The lot fell on the youngest brother's wife, Rozafa. According to legend, she asked for a breast, an arm and a leg to be left free, so that she could still breastfeed, hold and cradle her newborn child.

10. Skanderbeg is a symbol of Albania

Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, who lived from 1405 to 1468, led a long-lasting resistance to the expansion of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. He is considered Albania's national hero and a powerful symbol of the country's struggle for freedom.

11. Albania was filled with bunkers during the communist era

During the rule of Enver Hoxha, bunkers were built all over Albania as protection against a feared invasion. According to the Albanian Military Museum, 173,371 bunkers of various types had been built by 1983. Many still stand today, becoming one of the clearest traces of the country's communist and isolated past.

12. Private car ownership was very uncommon during the communist era

During the communist era, private car ownership was practically forbidden for ordinary Albanians. Motor vehicles were mainly owned by the state and used by authorities, companies and people with special functions. When the regime fell in the early 1990s, the number of privately owned cars increased rapidly.

13. A famous Albanian motto is about honor and identity

The row Ti Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin shpërtian comes from a poem by the national poet Naim Frashëri. It can be roughly translated as ”You Albania give me honor, you give me the name Albanian” and has acquired a strong meaning for Albanian national identity.

14. Mother Theresa came from an Albanian family

Mother Teresa was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje in 1910, to a family of Albanian origin. She became a Catholic nun and missionary in India and founded the Missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, was beatified in 2003, and was canonized in 2016. She died in 1997.

15. The Albanian fast food chain Kolonat is reminiscent of McDonald's

Albania has a domestic fast food chain, Kolonat, whose restaurants, menus, and graphic design have often been compared to McDonald's. The chain serves hamburgers, fries, and other classic fast food dishes.

16. Tirana only became the capital in 1920

Tirana was designated as the provisional capital of Albania in 1920. In 1925, the city was given definitive status as the country's capital. Before that, Durrës was the capital for a short period.

17. Albania helped Jews during the Second World War

During World War II, many Albanians sheltered both the country's small Jewish population and Jewish refugees from other parts of Europe. Families hid people, gave them false identity documents, and helped them integrate into society. Almost all the Jews who were within Albania's borders during the German occupation survived, and there were more Jews in the country after the war than before.

18. Butrint was inhabited from around 800 BC.

Butrint in southern Albania dates back to ancient times and developed through several historical periods. There are remains from the Greek, Roman, early Christian, Byzantine and Venetian periods. Among the ruins are a theater, baths, baptistery, basilica, city walls and fortifications. Butrint has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1992.

19. Apollonia was a significant city in ancient times

The ancient city of Apollonia was founded by Greek colonists around the 7th century BC and developed into an important commercial and cultural center. The city was located near the Roman road Via Egnatia, and the future emperor Augustus studied here. The archaeological site includes an odeon, a portico, mosaics, a Byzantine church and a monastery.

20. Albania is called Shqipëria in Albanian

The Albanians' own name for the country is Albania. The name is usually popularly interpreted as "land of eagles", which fits well with the black double-headed eagle on the country's flag. The exact linguistic origin of the word is, however, debated. Albanians who have lived in southern Italy for several centuries are called Arbëreshë.

21. Dita e Verës is a spring festival

Dita e Verës, ”Summer Day”, is celebrated on March 14 and, according to Albanian tradition, marks the end of winter and the awakening of nature. The holiday is celebrated throughout the country, but is particularly associated with Elbasan. Families gather, take walks and eat, among other things, the traditional cake ballokume.

22. Albanian has two main dialect groups

Albanian is usually divided into two main dialect groups: Gege in the north and Tosk in the south. The Shkumbin River is often described as the approximate border between the areas. The modern standard Albanian language is largely based on Tosk.

23. Blue Eye is a deep and icy karst spring

Syri i Kaltër, or Blue Eye, is a karst spring near the village of Muzinë, about 18 kilometers from Saranda. The crystal-clear water flows from a depth of more than 45 meters, but the exact depth of the spring is not determined. The water is very cold, and swimming in the spring itself is prohibited to protect the natural environment.

24. The Albanian part of Lake Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Pogradec is located on Lake Ohrid in southeastern Albania. In 2019, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lake Ohrid was expanded to include the Albanian part of the lake and its surroundings. The area is valuable both for its unique nature and for its many archaeological and historical remains.

25. Kukës was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

During the Kosovo War, Kukës and its surroundings received a very large number of refugees from Kosovo. The city was reportedly nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for its humanitarian efforts, but the Nobel Committee's nomination details are classified for 50 years and therefore cannot yet be officially verified.

26. Përmet is called both the city of roses and the cleanest city in Albania

Often called the ”city of roses,” Përmet in southern Albania is also marketed as one of the cleanest cities in the country. The town is known for its food, wine, and scenic surroundings. Nearby attractions include the Bënjë hot springs, the Katiu Bridge, the Vjosa River, and the Hotova-Dangëlli National Park.

27. Albania became the world's first officially atheist state

In 1967, Enver Hoxha's communist regime declared Albania the world's first officially atheist state. Religious institutions were closed or given other functions, religious activities were banned, and priests were persecuted. Religious freedom was restored when the communist regime fell.

28. Albania has coastlines on two seas

Albania has both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas as its coastline. The closest coast to Corfu is only 10 kilometers away.

29. Lake Ohrid is the deepest lake in the Balkans

Lake Ohrid, shared between Albania and North Macedonia, is the deepest lake in the Balkans, with a maximum depth of around 300 metres. It is also one of the oldest lakes in Europe and has an exceptionally rich biodiversity, with many species found nowhere else. The entire lake region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

30. YES or NO in Albania?

In Albania, head movements can sometimes create confusion for visitors. A movement that to a Swede looks like a slight shake of the head can in some contexts express a yes answer, while other movements can mean no. At the same time, many Albanians today use the same gestures as in the rest of Europe. If you are unsure, the easiest way is to listen for the words po for yes and yes for no.

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