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  • 🇦🇱 Albania: bunq Community Travel Tips

✈️ Heading to Albania? We've gathered some tips from the bunq community to make sure your trip is the smoothest it can be. 😎

Check them out below! 🌈 👇


Using your card

💳 Do I need cash in Albania, or can I use my card everywhere?

Card payments are not widely accepted in Albania, only in larger cities. Small business and taxis usually only accept cash, so make sure you withdraw some.

💰 What currency do they use here?

The currency here is Albanian Leks. The symbol is Lek.

Euro's may be accepted at popular places for tourists, hotels and car rentals.

🏧 Which ATM’s can I use for free?

The bunq community has reported free withdrawals at these ATMs.

  • Credins Bank
  • BKT

The bunq community has reported (possible) additional fee's for withdrawals at these ATM's.

  • Help us out by commenting below.

💵 If I want cash, how much should I take out of an ATM?

4000 Lek should be enough for a few days.

💳 Should I choose local currency or Euros when paying?

If you're asked to choose between local currency and Euros, always choose local currency.

That way bunq does the conversion for you, and you get to take advantage of the best rates with bunq ZeroFX.


Staying connected

📱 Can I roam, or should I get a local SIM?

Most EU mobile plans will charge you for roaming in Albania.

Wifi is readily available in Albania, especially in coffee shops.

If you want to get a local SIM card, you can learn about your options here.


Useful things to know

💁‍♀️ How does tipping work?

Tipping is not compulsory, but is much appreaciated.

🍺 How much does a 0.5L beer cost?

€1,25

🍽 How much does an average meal cost?

€4,50

🚨 What’s the emergency number?

112

🔌 What type of plug do they use?

This one! It’s the standard European plug.

🚗 What side of the road do they drive on?

They drive on the right side of the road here.

🗺 How do I navigate my way around?

Google and Apple Maps both work well in Albania.

Otherwise, we recommend Rome2Rio as the best way to find out how to get anywhere. It even tells you the cost of each option. 🙌

👀 Any other good tips?

Drink a beer at a rotating bar in Tirana! Make sure you are there
before sunset!


If you've been to Albania 🇦🇱 share your experience! The following would be really useful for other bunqers to know:

  • Which ATMs are free to use?
  • What card should I use and where?
  • Any other info you think may be useful.

Share your experience with us in the comments below! 🌈 👇

    a month later

    Hmm, I can't edit my previous post anymore, anyway, what I still wanted to add:

    We used OsmAnd (Android) for navigation in the Mountains where there is not always a mobile network, although in general mobile internet is available, even in the mountains. Vodafone considers Albania to be EU regarding Roaming, Ben and T-Mobile do not. You can buy a sim with 3GB for about 6 euros on the airport.

    4000 Lek is enough for a few days, but it's gone if you need gas for your car, I'd take more when traveling by car (fuel prices are almost the same as in the Netherlands).

    Extra tip: Have a coffee at one of the small bars at the side of the road for 50 lek. The people are always really nice. Sometimes asking for an Americano gets you a nice large coffee, but sometimes you get instant. In retrospect I would have asked for espresso (or Turkish coffee) everywhere, they take their coffee seriously (except for the americano's).

      3 years later

      Hi. Ich war Ende September in Albanien. BKT berechnet mittlerweile Gebühren. Credins Bank weiterhin kostenlos.

        Hey, I would want to add to this post after a (very nice) trip to Albania that the following banks charged fees:
        Opt Bank (500 Lek)
        Alpha Bank (600 Lek)
        Reifeisen Bank (800 Lek)

        The following banks had restrictions:
        Union Bank (ATM only dispensed Euros -> but was also right next to an Exchange office)
        Intensa Sanpaulo Bank (credit card would be rejected completely)

        Without fees:
        Credins Bank

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