Where Is Albania Located?

Albania is located in Southeast Europe. It’s a sovereign state on the western side of the Balkan Peninsula along the Adriatic and Ionian seas, also known as the Republic of Albania.

Albania is situated on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, across the water from Italy, and near Greece at the southern end of the peninsula.

Where is Albania matters because its position links the central Mediterranean and the land routes of the Balkans. The coastline and mountains influence transport routes, weather, and city locations. 

That geography also helps explain Albania country close ties to the Adriatic and Ionian seas, where ports, ferries, and coastal roads connect quickly to Italy and Greece. Steep hills and narrow valleys limit travel routes, causing delays with adverse weather.

The below blog explains where is Albania located in Europe, shows Albania on world map, and answers key FAQs about this country.

Where is Albania? Key Takeaways

Key Facts About Albania

To begin understanding Albania's location, consider basic country data first. Such information often appears in atlases, trip planning tools, or official records. A clearer picture forms when these elements are noted early.

Where is Albania Located Geographically?

Albania is located geographically in Europe, a coastal country in the northwestern Mediterranean zone, occupying the western flank of the Balkan Peninsula.

On the Albania on world map view, it appears as a narrow north-to-south strip of land between the Adriatic and Ionian seas and the rugged inland highlands.

The Albania location in Europe is 39°38′N to 42°39′N and 19°16′E to 21°04′E. These coordinates place it firmly in the Northern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere, within the temperate latitudes.

Major physical features that shape the Albania country landscape include:

Although Albania’s total area is modest at 28,748 km², its terrain is highly varied. The western edge includes lowlands and coastal plains, while the interior rises quickly into hills and mountain systems that connect to larger Balkan ranges, from where is Albania situated.

Albania on World Map

Albania appears in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, along the eastern edge of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. On a world map, it sits across the Adriatic from Italy and to the south of Greece, with Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia on its land borders.

Is Albania in Europe?

Yes, Albania is in Europe. This classification is based on its position west of the Black Sea basin, north of the central Mediterranean, and within the established geographic grouping of Balkan states.

So where is Albania in continental terms? It is not in Asia, even though broader “Eurasia” discussions sometimes confuse continent labels in casual conversation.

In most modern geographic and reference frameworks, Albania is placed in the Western Balkans, a sub-regional term that groups nearby countries with shared peninsula geography and closely connected transport corridors.

This label is mainly about location and connectivity, not just culture or politics. Albania sits on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, so it links sea routes across to Italy and land routes that run through neighboring Balkan states.

Cardinal placement within Europe, stated simply:

Where Is Albania Located Relative to Its Neighbors?

Albania is on the western Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south, and the Adriatic and Ionian seas to the west.

This placement concentrates many overland routes into a few mountain passes and river valleys, which influences how people and goods move between the coast and inland Southeast Europe, where is Albania located.

As a result, flat western lowlands shape the most traveled paths, while primary valleys cross elevated terrain. These natural passages frequently match border transition points, leading movement and support functions to gather at shared hubs.

Land borders (cardinal framing):

Maritime borders and sea-facing orientation:

These borders shape travel in practical ways. The coastline supports ferry-style crossings and maritime trade lanes, while the inland borders channel driving routes through specific corridors, especially where mountains exist.

This geography also influences popular trips and things to do in Albania, from coastal towns and beach routes to inland valley drives and mountain hikes.

Where is Albania? Seas, Oceans, & Natural Features

Where is Albania along the water is defined by two seas: the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the southwest, both part of the Mediterranean system.

Key natural features by type:

Along the coast, winters tend to be milder and wetter, while summers are hot and dry, shaped by maritime air and sea breezes. Step inland, and temperatures swing more, with cooler nights and heavier winter conditions at higher elevations in many Albanian location.

Tourism changes with the seasons; beaches get more visitors in summer, while mountain trails are popular later in the year. These small differences help each area look unique compared to others nearby.

Time Zone and Seasonal Geography of Albania's Location

Albania uses Central European Time for most of the year and moves one hour forward during daylight saving time, so the Albania time difference changes seasonally, aligning with the clock shifts followed across much of Europe.

Seasonal geography is shaped by two linked factors: (1) proximity to the Adriatic and Ionian seas, which moderates coastal temperatures, and (2) rapid elevation gain inland, which creates cooler mountain climates and more localized weather patterns.

Coastal areas have milder seasons, while higher elevations face harsher winters and shorter growing seasons.

Time zones used in Albania:

Even without multiple domestic time zones, travel experience can vary by season because mountain roads and coastal routes respond differently to weather. That is one reason where is Albania often comes up in itinerary planning for hikers, beach travelers, and cross-border drivers.

Why Does the Location of Albania Matter to Travelers?

The location of Albania is important for travelers because it sits at a practical crossroads between the Adriatic-facing side of Europe and the inland Balkans.

Albania’s position supports multiple entry patterns: short-haul flights from many European hubs, overland routes from neighboring states, and seasonal sea crossings that connect the Balkan coast to Italy and the wider Mediterranean network.

Here are some other reasons:

From a time-and-distance standpoint, Albania’s longitude places it close to Central European schedules, so jet lag is limited for travelers coming from nearby European time zones.

Longer-haul arrivals often route through larger regional airports in neighboring countries or through well-connected European hubs before continuing to Albania’s capital or coastal cities from where is Albania located.

Network Coverage Across Albanian locations

Network coverage across Albania varies because coastal lowlands are more populated and easier to serve than the mountainous interior.

You will usually get the best signal in cities and along main roads, while deep valleys, high passes, and remote border areas can have weaker or patchier reception.

Practical coverage factors shaped by geography:

Using SimCorner eSIMs & SIM Cards in Albania

Being a major European country, Albania offers some outstanding tour activities that you will love to capture in your travels. But, you will need the best network coverage that doesn’t cost a fortune.

From SimCorner, get an Albania eSIM or Albania SIM card, offering you fast 4G and 5G data, easy online activation, flexible data plans, reliable coverage in major cities and along main travel routes, hotspot support for sharing data, and options that help you avoid high roaming costs while you travel.

If your itinerary includes border crossings to Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, or Greece, check multi-country plans to stay connected without swapping SIMs.