Albania on world map

This article is for those who are just starting to think about their vacation and considering a trip to Albania. You will learn general facts about this country: about location of Albania on world map, which sea is in Albania, and much other useful information. After reading this article, you should have a general understanding of Albania.

Where is Albania on world map

Below is the map. It is fully interactive, and you can click on it for a better understanding of the country’s location.

Albania, or the Republic of Albania, is located in Southeastern Europe. It is a small country both in terms of area and population. The country is situated on the Balkan Peninsula or, as it is commonly called, the Balkans.

It is a unique region that combines a mild climate, magnificent sea (more than one), incredibly beautiful mountains, vibrant people, and unparalleled cuisine.

Here are a few facts about the country, and for more interesting information about Albania, read the article.

• Area of Albania – 28 thousand square kilometers. For perspective, it ranks 155th out of 200+ countries in the world.
  • You can’t travel across all of Albania in an hour, of course, but all the attractions are relatively close. And traveling around the country is a great pleasure.
• The population of the country is 2.8 million people.
• The capital city is Tirana, the largest city. It has a population of about 500,000 people.
  • Read all about Tirana and its attractions at the link.
• The highest point in Albania is Mount Korab (2764m). It is located on the border with Macedonia.

Albania on world map: neighbors

The country, although small, has many neighbors and an impressive coastline.

• In the north, Albania shares a border with Montenegro.
  • By the way, Albania is located south of Montenegro and Croatia, which means the season here is longer and warmer. But more on that later.
• In the northeast, it shares a border with Kosovo. We won’t delve into politics, whether it is part of Serbia or an independent state. The issue is complex for both sides. But in fact, it is a border with Kosovo.
• To the east, there is a border with Macedonia, which is about 120-140 km long. The highest mountains of Albania are located there. You can read all about the mountains of Albania in a separate article.
• And of course, the longest border is with Greece.

Important to know:

Above were all land borders. This means that it is easy to travel between the countries in the Balkans.

If you look at Albania on world map again, you can see that its entire western border is a coastline. The nearest sea neighbor of Albania is Italy, located 70 km from the Albanian coast. The Strait of Otranto separates them.

And, of course, let’s talk about the sea. There are interesting points to know.

Which sea is in Albania

There is a separate article in this guide about the sea. But to summarize, the situation is as follows:

• The coastline of Albania is over 300 km long. It’s very impressive for such a small country. Wherever you are, you can reach the sea within a few hours. And the nearest beach from the capital is only 40 km away.
• The country’s shores are washed by two seas. Then you can tell everyone that during your small vacation, you visited two seas.
  • Looking at Albania on world map, you can see that it has the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
• They are separated by the Strait of Otranto that I mentioned earlier.
• The Adriatic Sea is located in the northern part of the country.
• The Ionian Sea is in the south.
• At the junction of the two seas, there is a magnificent pass called Llogara Pass, in the eponymous Llogara National Park, with an incredibly beautiful viewpoint. Read all about this place in the article: Llogara Park and Karaburun Peninsula.
  • If you’re lucky with the weather, you will see the junction of the two seas from this viewpoint. They even differ slightly in color.

Good to know:

The Adriatic beaches are predominantly sandy, while the Ionian Sea beaches are more pebbly. Although both types of beaches can be found in both areas.

Season and weather in Albania

Again, only briefly, to give you a general idea. For detailed information on air temperature by month, water temperature, many tips, and life hacks, read the article: all about the weather in Albania.

As I mentioned earlier, Albania is located on the Balkans, south of resort countries like Montenegro and Croatia. And these two countries are known for their mild climate and long velvet season. Well, Albania is even warmer, and the season lasts longer. And there are no fewer sunny days per year than in neighboring countries.

The high season in the country starts from mid-May and lasts until mid-September. In southern regions of Albania, it even extends until October 1st. This is the best time for beach vacations, especially with children.

However, you can already come here from April. The sea is still cold in April, but the average daytime temperature is already 20 degrees. The same goes for October. It’s still around +20 during the day, and if you’re lucky with the weather, like in the last three years, October in Albania is practically +25.

Important to know:

If lying on the beach all day is not your thing, then April and October are the best months to visit Albania. During this time, there are practically no tourists, but it’s still very warm. And you can explore the whole country and all the attractions, including the mountains, without crowds of tourists. Despite what people may say that Albania is not a tourist country, in recent years, the tourist flow here has increased several times.

Travel tips: Types of Vacation

Also very briefly, as this guide has many articles about each specific type of vacation. But I often receive messages asking for help organizing a trip to Albania, and I see that most people think that there is nothing here besides the beach.

Let’s fill this gap in the minds of tourists 🙂

• Beach vacation.
  • No matter how you look at it, there are many seas here, and that’s the main reason to travel to Albania. Even if your goal is the mountains, everyone still takes a few days to relax on the beach.
• Mountains, trekking, hiking – there is plenty to amaze mountain lovers here.
  • Yes, the mountains in Albania are not very high, and real mountains are only in the north and east of the country.
  • Their average altitude is 2000 – 2400 meters above sea level.
  • To avoid being empty-handed, just look at the photos from hiking trails in the mountains of Albania. The link to the article about the mountains of Albania was in the middle.

• Sightseeing tours to the cities of Albania.
  • Albania’s history spans 2000 years. It even remembers the Romans. Believe me, there is plenty to see for architecture enthusiasts and lovers of beautiful medieval towns.

• Of course, Albania is a country for gastronomic tourism and wine tours.
• And there’s more here:
  • Thermal springs
  • Canyons
  • Lakes

• And for enthusiasts of active and extreme leisure:
  • Rafting and kayaking in mountain rivers and gorges
  • Paragliding

Statistics:

The overall picture today is as follows: only about 20% of tourists come to Albania for a beach package holiday. The remaining 80% are independent travelers who combine all types of vacations, create individual routes, and travel around the country by rental car. Renting a car in Albania is easy, cheap, and essential because public transportation won’t take you far.

In conclusion:

Albania is a tiny dot on the world map that many overlook. It is a highly underestimated country by travelers. But in reality, a vacation in Albania will be memorable for a lifetime, and you might even come back here. Luckily, it’s close to fly here, the season lasts for 7 months a year, and the prices are pleasantly surprising.

Wishing you an unforgettable vacation in the Balkans!

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Albania

• Flights at the best prices with best discounts
• Car rental in Albania (cheaper – only by bus):
  • DiscoverCars – a major international resource
  • LocalRent – the leader in the Albanian car rental market. Very low deposits, even in cash.
• Hotels and apartments throughout the country:
  • Hotellook – compares prices among dozens of platforms and offer you the best one.
  • Booking – large online booking platform.
  • Agoda – even more accommodation options in Albania.
• Tours, excursions and activities:
  • GetYourGuide – more than 550 tours
  • Viator – 920+ excursions and activities throughout the country
• Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
• Internet and Calls:
  • Airalo eSIM in Albania from $4.5
  • DRIMSIM – universal SIM card (or eSIM) in any country in the world.
• Taxi and airport transfer: Intui.Travel