You are right, Albania is a relatively new and mysterious tourist destination for many. At the moment, the infrastructure in the country is poorly developed, but I think that within 3-5 years the situation will change for the better.
So it is not surprising that before traveling to this country, many travelers are interested in personal safety issues. One of the main misconceptions is that Albania is a purely Muslim country with strict rules and laws, but this is far from the case. In fact, Albania is a multinational country in which there are several religions. Of course, Islam occupies a leading place, but there are no such strict rules as in many Arab countries.
Another opinion boils down to the fact that Albania is called a closed and unfriendly country to tourists. It was like this until 1990, but later the government changed and the situation changed, now it is an open state with benevolent inhabitants.
But it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the attitude towards Russians is ambiguous. Most of it is either neutral or partially negative. Those who remember how the USSR helped Albania in difficult times have a good attitude, but mostly young people who reproach the Russians for friendship with the Serbs are bad. In this regard, in no case should you start conversations with local residents on political topics, as they can end in big trouble.
Local men are not indifferent to girls of Slavic appearance, so the latter are not recommended to walk alone through the streets of Albanian cities (especially at night).
When visiting large cities, such as the capital of the country, Tirana, it is advisable to avoid remote areas (outskirts), as there is often a lot of criminal activity and there is a risk of getting into an unpleasant situation.
A separate issue is the gypsies, who are not distinguished by decency, mainly engaged in begging and theft. In addition, they are often aggressive, it is not uncommon for them to snatch bags and run away (most often teenagers trade in such crimes). So, when you see gypsies, you should be wary and in no case should you give them money.
On the streets of Albanian cities you will meet many street money changers who offer to change different foreign money. But don’t mess with them. Firstly, their exchange rate is far from always favorable, and secondly, foreigners often become victims of fraud. It is better to change money in a bank calmly and without unnecessary hassle.
Smokers should be aware that there is a €35 fine for smoking in public places. Local authorities often turn a blind eye to this, but you can still get under the hot hand of the local police and have to fork out.
Pay attention to prohibition signs that may be found in certain places. Most often, they say that photography and video filming are prohibited and you will have to pay a fine for violating this ban.