Albania by motorbike is a unique experience, a journey into a romantic and impetuous, prosaic and fascinating country, where it is still possible to experience a small adventure.
Still unknown to most people, this land of sea and mountains will conquer all five of your senses: the scent of the lavender and sage fields, the sound of the çiftelia, the taste of a cuisine flavored with Middle Eastern spices, the sight of picturesque white villages that interrupt the arid and rocky landscape and at times cultivated with obsessive precision.
Traveling by motorbike in Albania is also the most practical way to visit the country and in some cases represents the only solution to reach certain locations.
And then there is the charm of the two wheels, the undisputed symbol of free travel! In fact, motorbikes, in addition to being a means of transport, are a unique tool for meeting people, creating sympathy and perceiving places with all your skin. So free, yes, but with some precautions and a premise: anyone can take a long trip to Albania by motorbike, it’s not superhero stuff, but it’s not a walk in the park either.
In recent years the process of modernizing the Albanian road network has significantly improved the practicability of the main roads and most of the state roads. However, some non-negligible critical issues remain, especially regarding secondary routes, such as mountain ones and those connecting small villages.
On these routes you will have to pay particular attention to your own safety and that of others, travel carefully and have a supply of fuel. It is also a good idea to keep an eye on the condition of your tires and adapt their pressure to the road surface conditions.
It probably doesn’t even need to be remembered, but helmets are mandatory for the driver and passenger of a motorcycle.
Using Google Maps (they can also be downloaded and consulted offline on your smartphone) to orient yourself is always a good idea; keep in mind, however, that your phone’s battery could abandon you at the most unexpected moment, so it is always better to have a backup plan: the good old paper map! Seek it, choose it, study it; she will be your best friend.
Before leaving, check the date of issue of your license and see if it is among those that allow you to drive abroad. The law establishes a series of rules regarding:
- anyone who obtained an A or B license before 1 January 1986 can drive any motorcycle, even abroad;
- anyone who obtained an A or B license between 1/1/1986 and 25/4/1988 can drive any motorcycle but only in Italy; to drive abroad, a practical exam at the Motorization Office is required;
- those who obtained the B license after 25/4/1988 can drive motorcycles up to 125 cm³ and with a power up to 11 kW but only in Italy;
- those who obtained their A license between 26/4/1988 and 30/9/1993 can drive any motorcycle even abroad;
- anyone who obtained an A or A1 license after 30/9/1993 can drive any motorcycle even abroad but access to the different categories occurs based on the limits indicated by sector regulations.
Given the complexity of the subject, we recommend that you inform yourself in advance at the ACI or at the driving school.