In a nutshell
- Planning a trip to Albania and wondering if it’s safe? In this article, we share our firsthand experiences with safety in Albania — including what surprised us.
- We traveled as two women and felt very safe overall. The one thing we genuinely found nerve-wracking was the road traffic. More on that below!
- It’s also worth reading up on dangerous animals before you go — there are venomous snakes and bears in Albania, though actually encountering them is unlikely.
Is a vacation in Albania dangerous?
No – in our opinion, it isn’t. We felt just as safe in Albania as in other European countries like Italy, Greece, or Spain.
We didn’t experience any crime targeting tourists – not even theft.
As with any other trip, you should still always keep a close eye on your valuables and never leave them visible in your car.
The only thing that really had us sweating during our road trip through Albania by car was the traffic.
And since we did spot the occasional snake, you should also read up on dangerous animals in Albania – but don’t worry, the snakes always bolted before we even got close.
Crime against tourists in Albania
The crime rate in Albania is low, and we found the country to feel much safer than it’s often reported to be.
Nothing happened to us throughout our entire Albania vacation, and other travelers we spoke with didn’t report anything negative either.
Petty crime like pickpocketing can occur, but violent incidents are very rare.
If you follow a few basic rules, you shouldn’t have any problems — so yes, Albania is safe to visit if you use common sense.
#1 Keep your valuables close to your body
We recommend bringing a money belt to keep your valuables in. Try not to leave them in a backpack on your back or anywhere they can easily be snatched. This is especially true in the cities in Albania where there’s a lot going on.
#2 Never let your belongings out of your sight
Especially at the beach in Albania, in restaurants, and on buses, don’t leave your things unattended. This applies not just to valuables, but to all of your belongings.
#3 Leave important documents at your accommodation
When we go out on excursions, we only bring the valuables we actually need. For example, we always leave our passports at the hotel and only carry as much cash as necessary.
#4 Don’t leave valuables in the car – stow your things in the trunk
If you’re traveling around Albania in a rental car, make sure to stow your bags in the trunk and never leave anything visible on the seats. We’d generally avoid leaving valuables in the car at all.
Safety for women in Albania
We traveled through Albania as two women and felt very safe the whole time. Every now and then men would approach us on the street, but they backed off pretty quickly once we showed no interest.
Other than that, we had no issues at all and can absolutely recommend Albania as a destination for solo female travelers.
Of course, the Albania safety tips above apply to women too. We also recommend avoiding deserted areas at night. In practice, nothing tends to happen in Albania, but it’s better to play it safe.
Road traffic in Albania
Driving in Albania is a whole thing. We were often sitting in the car thinking: “Oh boy, something’s about to crash!”
In Albania, and throughout the Balkans in general, people drive fast. On highways, the speed limit is usually 90 km/h, yet people race past at 150 km/h and overtake car after car.
On top of that, many of these speeders don’t care whether they make their passing maneuver before a curve or at other moments when they can’t even properly see oncoming traffic.
We had some genuinely scary moments in the car – for example, when a car overtook from the oncoming lane and only pulled back in a few seconds before it would have hit us head-on.
Apart from that, driving in Albania is actually pretty relaxed. Except for the greater Tirana area, there wasn’t much traffic and we always got through just fine.
Also keep in mind that there are a lot of police posted along the roads in Albania – specifically to pull speeders over. We were never stopped ourselves.
Find more information on getting around in our Albania travel tips
Dangerous animals in Albania
There are some dangerous animals in Albania. That said, you don’t need to worry too much about them — encounters are relatively unlikely. Still, before you go exploring Albania’s attractions, it’s worth knowing which animals to watch out for.
Venomous snakes
There are many snakes in Albania, including some venomous ones. We spotted at least five live snakes during our trip. After a bit of research, though, we’re fairly confident that the ones we saw weren’t venomous.
Before you start worrying too much: snakes are very shy and will immediately flee when they notice you. Snakebites really only happen if you accidentally step on one.
After our first snake encounter in Berat, we were honestly a little panicked. From then on, we always hiked with a stick — it’s a great way to alert snakes to your presence so they can get out of the way.
The animals sense vibrations in the ground, and you can amplify these by using trekking poles and stomping firmly as you walk.
Venomous snake species in Albania include the nose-horned viper (Europe’s most venomous snake), the Balkan whip snake, the common European adder, and the meadow viper.
The only one that poses a real danger to humans is the nose-horned viper, which is, however, very shy.
Bears
Albania is also home to brown bears – many of them live in the Albanian Alps, through which the popular Peaks of the Balkans Trail runs.
Generally speaking, bears live in very remote areas and you’re unlikely to see or encounter one.
Still, you should be aware of the bear risk when hiking in the mountains. We carried bear bells while hiking in Theth and Valbona, and we’d recommend doing the same.
It’s also advisable to hike in a group and keep talking. This usually keeps bears at a distance.
If you do encounter a bear, it’s important to stay calm and not approach it. Don’t run away, and don’t try to fight the bear in any way.
If an attack is imminent, lie flat on the ground and protect the back of your neck and your head.
Shepherd dogs
We were repeatedly warned about shepherd dogs on hikes. Shepherd dogs accompany sheep herds and can become aggressive if you get too close.
If you come across a sheep herd, it’s best to give it a wide berth – especially if no shepherd is present.
In the end, we barely saw any sheep herds and had no issues with shepherd dogs at all.
Wolves
Wolves are native to Albania. Again, you’re unlikely to spot them, particularly since they tend to be nocturnal.
Are there dangerous animals in the sea in Albania?
Snakes also live in areas close to the sea, so always watch carefully where you step. Other than that, a beach vacation in Albania is perfectly safe. The Mediterranean is home to neither sharks nor other dangerous sea creatures.
There can, however, be jellyfish in the water. If you’re concerned, check locally before you go. The likelihood of jellyfish is higher in summer when the water is warm.
Natural disasters in Albania
Generally speaking, you don’t need to worry too much about natural disasters on your Albania vacation, but they can occur.
In summer, wildfires are the main concern, so always stay up to date with the latest news.
Additionally, Albania lies in a seismically active zone and earthquakes can happen. Severe earthquakes are, however, very unlikely.
In winter, there is avalanche danger in the mountains. If you plan to venture into snowy areas at that time of year, make sure to thoroughly research local conditions beforehand.
Heavy rainfall can lead to landslides.
