Short answer: Shkodra is northern Albania’s cultural capital and gateway to the Alps. The essentials: Rozafa Castle, the world-class Marubi photography museum, the pedestrian old town, the Ottoman Mes Bridge, and a bike ride to Lake Shkodra.

Short answer: Rozafa Castle stands above Shkodra where three rivers meet, with Illyrian roots over 2,000 years old and famous panoramic views over Lake Shkodra. It’s best known for the dark legend of Rozafa — a mother walled into the foundations. Entry ~€4, about an hour.

Short answer: Komani Lake is remote with no simple public bus. Take a ferry-company minibus from Tirana (~05:30, €12) or Shkodra (~06:30, €8) timed to the 09:00 ferry. Driving is possible but genuinely not recommended. A tour is the least stressful way.

Short answer: Berat is the easiest day trip from Tirana — ~90 km, 2–2.75h by bus, only €4–5, frequent departures. Under 2h to drive. No train. The one wrinkle: Tirana has multiple terminals, so confirm which one your Berat bus leaves from.

Short answer: no direct bus. Take a coach to Saranda (~4.5–5h, €16–17), then a cheap local bus 17 km to Ksamil (€1.50). Total 6–8h by bus, ~5–5.5h driving. The catch: southbound buses leave from a terminal 25 min northwest of central Tirana.

Short answer: most travellers don’t need a visa. EU, UK, Canada and Australia get 90 days in any 180; US citizens get a full year. Passport must be valid 3+ months beyond departure. Always confirm your own case on the official e-visa portal.

Short answer: no useful trains — you move by furgon, coach, taxi or car. Coaches run timetables; furgons leave when full and cost €4–10. Nothing books online the way you expect. Bring cash and don’t plan tight connections.

Short answer: yes, and it’s nothing like its reputation. Albania’s main highways are modern, and traffic authorities report most accidents involve local drivers, not tourists. The real challenges are Tirana traffic and unpaved mountain roads.

Short answer: Albania uses the lek, not the euro — roughly 100 lek = €1. It’s still a cash country. Withdraw from bank ATMs, always decline the machine’s conversion, skip the airport exchange desks, and watch out for prices quoted in “old lek”.

Short answer: the Llogara Pass climbs to 1,027 m and drops straight to the Ionian — the most dramatic road in Albania and the gateway to the Riviera. Roughly 3–3.5 hours from Tirana via Vlora, with Dhërmi on the far side.