It’s great to see so many comments about people having only good experiences in Albania, but I’m gonna be a bit less positive.
I work in the travel industry, Albania being part of my region. I’m a guy, but most of the people I take care of are women under 30. So, here’s what I can say based on personal my experiences, but also on what I was told by my clients and co-workers.
In general, Albania is not-unsafe - like someone else mentioned, crazy drivers are the biggest danger. If you’re sticking to touristy areas and cities, you probably won’t have any issues. However, parts of the countryside (and even of Tirana) can be very different and not a safe place for a lone foreigner no matter their gender. I’ve heard enough first-hand accounts of real horror stories.
Another thing is that Albania can feel unsafe, especially if you’ve only travelled in western countries. It’s a poorer country, with a “traditional” view of gender norms and a rampant drug problem, which had a military conflict not that long ago. People tend to stare more, men can be wayyyy more pushy, it can feel uneasy even if you can’t exactly pinpoint why.
It’s a beautiful country, with some fantastic people and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. You absolutely can go there in a safe way and have a great time, it’s just not as perfect as other comments might make it seem.
It’s great to see so many comments about people having only good experiences in Albania, but I’m gonna be a bit less positive.
I work in the travel industry, Albania being part of my region. I’m a guy, but most of the people I take care of are women under 30. So, here’s what I can say based on personal my experiences, but also on what I was told by my clients and co-workers.
In general, Albania is not-unsafe - like someone else mentioned, crazy drivers are the biggest danger. If you’re sticking to touristy areas and cities, you probably won’t have any issues. However, parts of the countryside (and even of Tirana) can be very different and not a safe place for a lone foreigner no matter their gender. I’ve heard enough first-hand accounts of real horror stories.
Another thing is that Albania can feel unsafe, especially if you’ve only travelled in western countries. It’s a poorer country, with a “traditional” view of gender norms and a rampant drug problem, which had a military conflict not that long ago. People tend to stare more, men can be wayyyy more pushy, it can feel uneasy even if you can’t exactly pinpoint why.
It’s a beautiful country, with some fantastic people and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. You absolutely can go there in a safe way and have a great time, it’s just not as perfect as other comments might make it seem.