Albania has become a popular destination in a short time. Most visitors combine Tirana with the beaches of the Riviera between Vlorë and Ksamil, the old towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, or the hike between Theth and Valbona in the Accursed Mountains. Albania is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and EU plans often charge roaming there by the day or by the megabyte, so check your tariff before you go.
Key facts for Albania
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: One, Vodafone (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 112; police 129; ambulance 127
- Embassies: in Tirana
Tirana and getting around
Tirana's centre, around Skanderbeg Square, is easy to explore on foot, and coverage is good across the city and along the main roads. Between towns, most people travel by furgon, a shared minibus, or by intercity bus. Departure points and times are not always posted online, so ask at your accommodation before you set off.
The Riviera, Saranda and Corfu
Coverage is good in the resorts along the coast from Vlorë to Ksamil. From Saranda, ferries cross to Corfu in roughly 35 to 75 minutes, depending on the boat, and near the coast your phone may pick up a Greek network before you have even left Albania. A plan for Albania alone does not cover Greece, so if your phone switches to a Greek network in Saranda or Ksamil, select an Albanian network manually. For a day trip to Corfu, or a route that also takes in Montenegro or North Macedonia, choose a Europe Extended plan.
Berat, Gjirokastër and the mountains
Berat and Gjirokastër, listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage site, have good coverage. In the Accursed Mountains, the hike between Theth and Valbona and the ferry on Lake Koman pass through valleys where the signal can disappear for hours, so download maps, carry cash and tell your guesthouse your route. Mountain roads, including the one over the Llogara Pass, are narrow and winding, so allow extra time.
Cash and cards
The currency is the Albanian lek. Cards work in most hotels, larger restaurants and shops in Tirana and on the coast, but guesthouses, furgons and small cafés often take cash only, and cash machines are scarce in the mountains. Some places on the coast also accept euros.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM is set up at home with a QR code and starts on its first connection in Albania. Your usual number stays reachable for texts and bank codes, while maps and messages run on the eSIM's data.
Albanian prepaid SIMs from One or Vodafone are sold at Tirana airport and in phone shops, and you need your passport to buy one.
Consular protection: who to call in Albania
- 112 connects you to the emergency services, and the operator transfers your call; you can also dial 129 for the police, 127 for an ambulance and 128 for the fire service.
- Embassies are in Tirana. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Albania, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
Questions travellers ask about Albania
Does my EU plan work in Albania?
Not under Roam Like at Home. Check your operator's rates before you travel.
Will a plan for Albania work in Corfu?
No. For Greece, Montenegro or North Macedonia as well, choose a Europe Extended plan.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Albania?
One and Vodafone, with 4G and 5G where available.
What is the emergency number?
112; the operator transfers you to the right service.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, carry cash for the mountains, switch to an Albanian network if your phone picks up Greece, and save 112.
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