Albania, a country in Europe that still largely has no tourists, but which offers travelers many exciting experiences and beautiful nature. Would you like to travel to Albania and be inspired by this beautiful country for yourself? Then it’s important that you familiarize yourself with the currency in Albania beforehand and carefully examine how you can get cash in the country and whether it’s possible to pay cashlessly.
We’ll also clarify the question of whether you can easily pay with a credit card in the country today. Bolle and Marco took an exciting trip through Albania and really motivated me to travel through the beautiful mountain landscapes of Albania myself and relax on the Albanian Riviera. Have fun browsing, let’s go!
What else you should know:
- What else you should know:
- Currency in Albania
- Withdrawing money in Albania
- Fees for withdrawing money in Albania
- Exchanging money locally
- Paying with a credit card
- Best credit card for Albania
- Prices in Albania
- Currency in Albania – My Conclusion
Currency in Albania
In Albania, the official currency is the Albanian Lek, which is abbreviated as ALL. After the currency reform in 1964, one zero was removed from the Lek. But even today, there are still many Albanians who aren’t comfortable with the new currency (the new lek). Therefore, I recommend checking on your trip whether the currency is 1 lek or 10 lek. Currently (January 2025), you get around 100 lek for 1 €.
You can get coins in Albania in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. You’ll see bills in much higher denominations, as they come in 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 lek. What you’ll probably notice right away is that, due to the high denominations, it’s not exactly easy to convert the currency in Albania. That’s why I recommend downloading a currency converter onto your phone so you can always check how much your accommodation, food, or shopping is costing you.
Withdrawing money in Albania
Withdrawing cash from ATMs in Albania is easy in larger towns. In smaller towns and rural areas, it’s a bit more difficult. While there are a few ATMs, you shouldn’t rely on them. It’s better to withdraw enough cash in the cities before heading to smaller towns. The most widely accepted credit cards at ATMs are VISA, MasterCard, Diners Club, and American Express.
You can, of course, also withdraw money in Albania using debit cards with the Maestro logo, provided you have a 4-digit PIN. When withdrawing money, set the language to “English” so you can understand something. You should also be aware that V-Pay cards don’t work in Albania. To still get money, you should definitely get a credit card for your travels. More on that below.
Fees for withdrawing money in Albania
If you want to withdraw money from an ATM in Albania using your credit card, you should not forget one important factor: Your bank in Germany will usually charge you a foreign transaction fee of 1 to 4% of the withdrawn amount per withdrawal. This can quickly add up, especially on a longer trip.
Fees also apply when withdrawing money with your EC card. However, this is not a percentage; most banks charge a fixed amount of between €5 and €10 per withdrawal. This can also add up in the long run. So, be sure to check with your bank in Germany before your trip to find out what fees you will incur.
Exchanging money locally
The first option for exchanging money is at the exchange offices at the airport. You should compare rates if there are several exchange offices. At Tirana Airport, you’ll find an ATM and a BKT Forex exchange office. If you arrive in Saranda by ferry, you’ll find the Western Union Bank (Rruga Mitat Hoxha) near the ferry terminals. Exchange offices can usually be found in larger cities. Simply enter “Money Exchange” into Google Maps.
Large hotels also often offer the opportunity to exchange your money (warning: the exchange rate is usually very poor). Never exchange money on the street. While you’ll usually get the best rate there, travelers may be tempted to pay with counterfeit money. Also, keep in mind that you aren’t allowed to bring the currency into or out of the country. Therefore, you cannot exchange your money in advance in Germany.
Payment by credit card
Cashless payment is now more common in Albania. In larger cities, you occasionally have the option of paying by credit card in hotels, shops, and upscale restaurants. In most cases, your bank will charge you a transaction fee of 1 to 4% of your bill. Before your trip, check with your bank about the fees for payments with your debit or credit card.
However, the general rule in Albania is: Always carry enough cash with you. Especially when traveling in rural areas and the mountains, you should carry coins and smaller bills. You may encounter problems getting cash if you want to pay with bills that are too large in these regions. An ATM isn’t always easy to find or nearby.
Best credit card for Albania
We’ve talked about the free GenialCard from Hanseatic Bank in many blog posts. With this permanently fee-free credit card, you can withdraw money worldwide for free (without foreign currency or foreign transaction fees). We also use this card.
Bolle and Marco have also been traveling with the DKB* credit card for many, many years. If you’re an active customer there (at least €700 in monthly incoming payments), you can use the card to pay abroad and withdraw money from ATMs for free. It’s important, however, that you must withdraw at least €50 per withdrawal. Otherwise, fees will apply for your mini-cash option. ATM fees have not been refunded since 2016.
In addition, Marco and Bolle still have the N26 Mastercard* with them. This is also free and has been with us on our travels for years. More about this here: The best travel credit cards.
Prices in Albania
To give you a brief overview of the cash you should have on hand for everyday life in Albania, I’ve listed a few prices here. Bolle and Marco spent an average of around €40–€50 per day for both of them (accommodation, food, activities). Rental car and gasoline were the most expensive on their trip (see Costs Albania).
- Bed in a hostel: from €5
- Simple double room: from €10 to €30
- Bottle of water (2L): €0.70
- Beer (local): €1.20
- Food at the market: €1 to €3
- Meal in a cheap restaurant: from €3 to €6
- Food in an expensive restaurant: maximum €10
- Taxi ride: from €1.20 per kilometer
- Bus ticket: from €0.30
- Gasoline: €1.68 per liter
- Coffee: from 1 €
- Pizza per piece: from €1
- Packet of pasta: from €0.50
- Fruit yogurt: from €0.40
Currency in Albania – My Conclusion
If you stock up on the right credit card before your trip to Albania, you shouldn’t have any problems getting cash there. Just make sure you withdraw money in a larger city. Don’t run out of money in the “Albanian wilderness.” You should also always make sure you have enough small bills with you, as change is often scarce.