Loading...
Explore itineraries grouped by geographic area
Planning a trip to Albania? Here you'll find our 2 day-by-day itineraries (Ottoman cities and the southern Riviera, The Albanian Alps: Koman, Valbona and Theth), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.
Mediterranean climate on the coast (hot, dry summers, mild winters) and continental/alpine in the mountains. The best time for the sea and the Riviera is May to October (July-August are hot and crowded). For the northern Alps (Theth, Valbona) the trekking season runs June to September: in winter the passes are closed by snow. Spring and autumn are ideal for the cities.
Updated: June 2026
EU citizens can enter with a national ID card valid for travel (or a passport), in good condition and valid for at least 3 months beyond the return date; other nationalities need a passport and should check their own rules. No visa is needed for stays up to 90 days within 180. Travel with an intact, legible document.
The currency is the Albanian lek (ALL), which is NOT convertible outside Albania: change or spend all your lek before leaving. The euro is often accepted in tourist areas, but paying in lek costs less. Cards are accepted in city hotels, restaurants and shops, but in small towns and the mountains you need cash. ATMs are common in urban centres. Albania remains a very affordable destination.
The language is Albanian. Italian is surprisingly widespread and understood by many (thanks to TV and historical ties), along with English among young people and in tourism: communicating is easier than in other Balkan countries. A 'faleminderit' (thank you) is always appreciated.
No mandatory vaccine (yellow fever only if arriving from at-risk countries). Keep your routine vaccinations up to date; discuss hepatitis A and typhoid with your doctor. Public healthcare is very poor and private facilities do not perform complex procedures: for serious problems you arrange a transfer. Hygiene conditions can be precarious: drink bottled water and be careful with raw food. ALWAYS take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation.
The main operators are Vodafone, One and ALBtelecom: a tourist SIM with data costs very little and is easily bought with an ID, or you can use an eSIM. 4G coverage is good in cities and along the coast, but disappears in the most remote valleys of the Alps (Theth, Valbona): download maps and bookings offline. Albania is outside the EU, so roaming with EU SIMs is generally not included (check with your operator).
Power is 230V/50Hz with type C and F sockets, the same as continental Europe: European two-round-pin plugs fit without an adapter. In the mountains electricity may suffer outages: keep your devices charged.
Albania is at UTC+1 (Central European Time), with daylight saving time, the same as central Europe.
💡 Albania is a discovery an hour's flight from Italy: an ID card and little money are enough. Change or spend your lek before leaving (it is not convertible abroad) and rent a car to get around, but don't drive at night on inland roads. For the sea choose June or September, for the northern Alps the summer. And enjoy warm hospitality and still very low prices.
