From this extensive article, you will learn everything about the internet in Albania for tourists. I will tell you which mobile network is the best and what data packages are available for travelers. Additionally, I will provide you with advice that you won’t find in any other guidebook.
Mobile Communication and Internet in Albania
In today’s era of widespread internet development and implementation, phone calls and text messages have taken a back seat. This applies to Albania as well. Many of my friends believed that mobile internet in Albania is of terrible quality and is still in its early stages of development. However, that’s not the case, and you’ll find out more below.
Useful to Know:
While just five years ago, most tourists traveled around the country without a local SIM card, which was considered normal, today almost everyone buys a local SIM upon entering the country. Phone calls are no longer necessary since having a reliable internet connection allows you to address all your needs.
- Looking for the address of your apartment? The host is always online, so you can message them. Also, keep in mind that in Albania, there are no house numbers, only street names. You can read more about this and other country facts here.
- Need to check the operating hours of a landmark? It’s impossible without internet access.
- Calling a taxi is easier through WhatsApp, as it ensures clear communication. However, attempting to call a taxi using voice commands in Albanian won’t get you very far :). Here’s a useful article about the Albanian language for tourists.
Important:
Having good mobile internet is essential when traveling in Albania, and it won’t significantly impact your budget.
Free Wi-Fi in Albania
This section is for those who don’t require internet access during their travels. If checking your email once a day suffices and you can forget about your phone’s existence, the following are places in Albania where you can find Wi-Fi.
- 90% of all accommodation options, even in the mountains, offer free Wi-Fi.
- However, there are apartments where it’s not available. If this point is critical for you, always inquire about the availability of Wi-Fi in advance.
Useful to Know:
Many restaurants and cafes don’t offer Wi-Fi to their guests. I would even say that 80% of cafes and restaurants don’t have Wi-Fi. Regional buses in Albania also lack Wi-Fi, unlike other parts of Europe.
- In the center of Tirana, on the main square and some adjacent streets, there is a free Wi-Fi network called “Tirana Free Wi-fi.” No registration is required, and the speed is decent.
- Among all the cities in Albania, this network is only available in the center of Tirana.
- Additionally, there is a free Wi-Fi network at Tirana International Airport.
Conclusion:
The reality is that you can guarantee free internet access during your travels in Albania only at your hotel or apartment. In all other places, it’s a matter of luck, and there’s no guarantee that you will have connectivity with the outside world.
Roaming and International SIM Card for Tourists
Roaming is the easiest but most expensive option to stay connected at all times. You won’t allow yourself any unnecessary actions on the internet. However, if you urgently need it or your work requires you to be online 24/7, this option is worth considering.
To find out the cost of roaming in Albania
you need to check the rates with your service provider. Usually, internet and communication services in roaming are quite expensive.
Therefore, in my personal opinion as the author, using roaming with your native SIM card is the last option to consider today. All other options are much cheaper and more convenient.
International SIM Card for Tourists
What is it? It’s a SIM card that is not tied to a specific service provider and works in 190 countries worldwide. The rates for such cards are much cheaper than roaming but slightly more expensive than local operators.
The main advantages of such a SIM card are:
- One SIM card for all your travels, no need to buy a new SIM in each country. It saves you money.
- You have internet and communication immediately after landing. While your plane is still taxiing to the gate, you already have affordable internet.
- No monthly fees, you only pay for each used megabyte or even kilobyte.
However, there are a few downsides, specifically for Albania:
- If you need a lot of mobile internet, it’s probably cheaper to get a local SIM card.
- The biggest downside: In Albania, you can only pay for parking in the center of Tirana through SMS with a local number. An international SIM card won’t work for that. By the way, you can read all about parking, traffic rules, and roads in Albania here.
Not for the sake of advertisement but as advice: The most convenient and reasonable rates worldwide can be found with a SIM card called DrimSim. You can check their conditions, rates, and more through the link.
It’s very convenient for me. I deposited $10 into my account two years ago, and I’ll always have communication in any country in the world. For example, 1 MB of data in Albania costs 1 cent. It’s very cheap.
Advice:
Even if you buy a local SIM card during your trip, it’s always good to have a card like DrimSim with you. It takes up no space, doesn’t ask for anything, but if something happens to your local SIM, you’ll have guaranteed connectivity with the world. And for those who are traveling to Albania by car through five countries, it’s a must-have SIM.
Mobile Operators in Albania
Let’s move on to the main topic of the article. Next, I will tell you everything about mobile communication and internet in Albania provided by local operators.
There are three mobile operators in Albania:
- ALBTelecom (Albania Telecom)
- One (part of a German telecommunications conglomerate)
- Vodafone (the largest European operator, present in more than 20 European countries)
Useful to Know:
You might come across information on the internet that T-Mobile and Plus are also operators. That’s false; they no longer exist. Today, there are only three operators in the market.
Each of the three mobile operators has prepaid tariffs for tourists. To obtain such a SIM card, you only need your passport or ID card.
Useful to Know:
In Albania, you can’t buy a SIM card without a passport or ID card, even for locals. You won’t find sim cards at the cashier of a store or a newsstand. Only in a mobile communication store. A prepaid tariff means that you can’t go into debt on such a SIM card. So, if you no longer need it, you can simply dispose of it and fly back home without any debts.
In short, the most popular mobile operator in Albania is Vodafone. It offers the best mobile internet quality, which is both my opinion and official statistics. It has the largest base in the country, and its prices are slightly higher than its competitors.
- However, for you as tourists, spending 13 euros or 11 euros for good internet during a two-week vacation, I believe the price difference doesn’t matter.
Therefore, I will now provide you with all the information about the services offered by Vodafone because it objectively offers the best quality.
Mobile Internet in Albania from Vodafone: Rates, Conditions, Prices
Before I talk about the rates, a few more points:
- In Albania, 4G network coverage is almost everywhere, provided by all three operators. However, only Vodafone offers LTE-A Pro, while the others have LTE-A. The addition of “Pro” in the standard gives me more confidence 🙂
- Service centers for all operators are available throughout the country in major cities. All three operators are present at Tirana Airport. It’s worth mentioning that paying by card for SIM cards is rare in Albania.
- Vodafone and One have the widest network of service centers, while finding ALBTelecom might require some effort.
So, the Vodafone tourist pack:
- Validity: 21 days. Afterward, all minutes and megabytes expire.
- Internet: 20 GB
- Out of which, 15 GB is regular data that we need.
- The remaining 5 GB is a video package that works when you watch YouTube, Netflix, etc.
- All data works on the 4G network.
- 500 minutes for all calls within Albania. It may not be necessary, but sometimes you might need to call your accommodation host or a car rental company. However, in most cases, they are available online on WhatsApp.
- 10 international minutes for calls to neighboring countries such as Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, etc.
- 100 SMS.
- Price of the package: 1500 Lek (approximately 13 euros).
- You can check your balance and remaining MBs using the USSD code: #123#, then select 7 to switch the language to English, followed by 1 (BUNDLES), and then 8 (BALANCE CHECK).
- They provide a universal SIM card with adapters for micro and nano sizes.
Quality of Communication and Mobile Internet
You will be pleasantly surprised to know that Albania is way ahead of us in this aspect. Whether it’s Vodafone doing an excellent job or our operators falling short, we have many concerns about the quality of internet in the plains outside the city. However, in Albania, 99.6% of the territory is covered by the 4G network, despite 71% of the country being mountainous.
- During your travels in Albania, you will find 4G coverage practically everywhere:
- Even in the mountains
- Across mountain passes
- In canyons and gorges
- There are only a few places where there’s no coverage, but you won’t even notice it.
- The overall speed of mobile internet is really good, consistently exceeding 20 Mbps.
eSIM in Albania
Progress has reached Albania, and today you can buy an eSIM from a local operator while you’re still at home.
Important to know:
eSIM is a communication technology that eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. Most new phones support it. To enable internet and local connectivity, you don’t need to go to a store for a SIM card; instead, you receive a QR code by mail and activate it in your phone’s settings or through an app with just a few clicks.
If your phone supports eSIM, it’s an excellent alternative to traditional SIM cards today. There are many advantages, including affordability and immediate internet access upon arrival.
- You can find prices, rates, and even purchase eSIM for Albania (while still at home) through the link.
- For new customers, discounts until October 31 for promotional codes OCT10 and OCT15 – 10% and 15% respectively (only for the first 5,000 applications).
Travel Tips about Internet in Albania
I strongly recommend having mobile internet during your travels in the country. Trust me, it will often help and simplify your life. Not to mention the ability to post real-time photos on Instagram or Facebook.
Whether it’s your roaming SIM, eSIM, or a local SIM card, you decide. Read about the pros and cons of vacationing in Albania in the article linked. However, when it comes to the quality of mobile internet in Albania, it’s definitely an advantage.
In conclusion, mobile communication and internet in Albania are essential today. And the expenses for these services in your travel budget will go unnoticed.
Wishing you fast and reliable internet even in the most remote corners of Albania!
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Albania
- Flights at the best prices with juicy discounts
- Car rental in Albania (cheaper – only by bus):
- DiscoverCars – a major international resource
- LocalRent – the leader in the Albanian car rental market. Very low deposits, even in cash.
- Hotels and apartments throughout the country: Booking
- Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
- Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
- eSIM virtual sim card in Albania
- Taxi and transfers: Intui.Travel
Danil, a heartfelt thank you for your guide!!! It’s the best thing I found on the internet!! Concise yet interesting, after reading it, I want to go and see everything for myself. Keep up the great work!! You’re doing an excellent job!!! Wishing you and your spouse good luck and many more adventures. Respectfully, Olga.
Hello, Olga. Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We’re delighted to know that our work has been helpful to you.