Albania travel guide

Overview

Albania has moved from Europe's best-kept secret to one of its fastest-growing coastal destinations, without losing the things that made it worth visiting in the first place. Tirana is the capital and main transport hub, a compact city of colourful Ottoman-era streets and Soviet-era boulevards. From there, most visitors head south along the Albanian Riviera — a string of pebble beaches and cliffside towns like Himara and Ksamil — or inland to Berat and Gjirokastra, both UNESCO-listed old towns built up hillsides in stacked stone houses.

Prices are noticeably lower than in Italy or Croatia just across the water, which is part of the appeal. July and August are the busiest and hottest months on the coast; late May, June, and September offer warm weather with smaller crowds and better hotel rates.

Getting around

• Tirana International Airport (Nënë Tereza) is Albania's main international gateway
• Long-distance buses ('furgon' minibuses) connect most towns and are the standard way to travel between cities
• Coastal roads between Vlorë and Sarandë wind along cliffs — journeys take longer than the map distance suggests
• Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in Tirana; agree a price with drivers outside major cities where meters aren't standard

Mobile data and connectivity

A BrisqNet eSIM for Albania gives you mobile data from the moment you land, without hunting for a local SIM counter or dealing with an unfamiliar currency at the airport. Compare live plans for Albania in the BrisqNet catalogue before you fly, install the eSIM digitally, and turn it on when you arrive.

• Confirm your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked before you buy
• Install the eSIM profile while you still have Wi-Fi, ideally before departure
• Turn on the BrisqNet data line once you land, rather than relying on automatic roaming
• Keep your regular SIM active in the second slot if you need to receive calls or SMS on your usual number

Because BrisqNet is built around one reusable eSIM profile, you don't need to repeat the installation step on a future trip — just add a new data plan when you're heading somewhere else. See our full guide to installing an eSIM for step-by-step instructions.

Practical tips

• The currency is the Albanian lek; cards are widely accepted in cities but cash is useful in smaller towns and villages
• Tap water is not reliably safe to drink in many areas — bottled water is cheap and widely available
• English is common in tourist areas along the coast; Italian is also widely understood
• Sun protection matters more than you'd expect — the coast gets very hot with little shade on beaches

FAQs