Kukës

Understand

thumb|Overview of Kukës from the west with Gjallica in the background Kukës is a city in northeastern Albania, serving as the administrative centre of Kukës County. Situated near the confluence of the White Drin and Black Drin rivers, and close to the borders with Kosovo and North Macedonia. Kukës holds a strategic geographic position in the Albanian Alps, which is known not only for its rugged natural beauty and mountain culture, but also for its significant role during the Kosovo War, which earned it international recognition and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. It is the only town in the world that has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. It received this honour for receiving hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Kosovo War.

See

thumb|The 2 Kukës Bridges over the Drin River thumb|Façade of Radio Kukësi thumb|Shkalla e Keqe 2 thumb|right|320px|Majestic Gjallica and Kukës.

Buy

Local Kukës raki kumbull (plum raki) and raki rrushi (grape raki) are good and available reasonably priced at the small supermarket beneath Bar Amerika on the street level.

Eat

On Rruga Dituria there are various offering among other things the local meatballs or roast chicken in buns and halal pizza.

Connect

See Albania#Connect. There is a Vodafone shop near where the furgons arrive and depart.

Visitors coming from Kosovo may also be able to use Kosovo SIM cards in Kukës. IPKO's prepaid TIP Super and TIP Max bundles include data that can be used in the Western Balkans, including Albania; IPKO also sells separate roaming data packages of 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 15 GB and 20 GB. Vala also offers roaming data packages for Albania and the region, but package sizes and activation codes can change, so check the Vala Jone or MyIPKO apps before travelling.

For visitors buying a local Albanian SIM, Vodafone Albania has tourist packages with large data allowances, including 40 GB and 100 GB options valid for 21 days. Check the current price in a Vodafone shop or in the My Vodafone app before buying.

thumb|right|Stadium of Kukës

Go next

Albania: Muholaj - Village Muhole near Bicaj, south of Kukës, Qark Kukes, Albania A beautiful village of Kukes,with a wonderful nature. Shishtavec – A village in Kukës County in eastern Albania that represents rich unique folklore, endless varieties of customs, traditions, stories, songs, legends and inspiring landscape.

Albanian Alps – The main city of the area is Bajram Curri, the villages of Thethi, Valbonë and Kelmend are the main tourist destinations. Shkodra – The cultural center of northern Albania and Albanian Catholics. Tirana – The capital of Albania.

Kosovo: Prizren – Ottoman-era town in Kosovo with Albanian, Serbian and Byzantine heritage. Gjakova – Take the Bajram Curri bound minivans which pass by Gjakova. This town has the largest Ottoman-era bazaar in the Balkans. Pristina – The capital of Kosovo.