How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Albania?

Planning a trip to Albania? As you pack and take care of all the final details, it’s important to also think about how you’ll get around and stay connected during your travels.

To truly make the most of your vacation and avoid expensive roaming charges, consider swapping your UK SIM for a local Albania SIM card. This will give you the freedom to use essential travel apps on the go, without having to rely on Wi-Fi.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card. It can help you get ready for your stay in Albania and save money while travelling abroad. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to Albania from the UK?

Since your UK plan most likely doesn’t cover international data or calls, a local Albania SIM card can be a great way to save money. Although it’s an additional travel expense, buying a SIM card in Albania is cheaper than paying extra charges from your provider for using your phone abroad.

With an Albania SIM card, you can easily update your friends and family on your travel adventures and stay connected. You won’t have to plan Wi-Fi breaks into your itinerary, and instead, you’ll have internet access all day long. Plus, having apps like maps and translation tools available whenever you need them will make your trip even easier.

If you're still not convinced you should get an Albania SIM card, you could rely on international roaming instead. Networks such as VOXI or Virgin Mobile offer global roaming packages that include Albania. Others, like Tesco Mobile, Sky or Three, charge roaming fees as you go.

How much does a SIM card cost in Albania?

Albanian carriers offer prepaid plans with plenty of data, so the smallest package you can get is 10 GB for 1,000 ALL. Some plans also include unlimited calls, like the Tourist Giga from Vodafone Albania for 2,500 ALL.

As far as eSIMs go, Airalo’s £4 weekly eSIM is the most affordable option. Holafly’s unlimited data eSIMs start at £8 per day, but the price lowers with the number of days you buy.

How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Albania?

Albanian SIM cards are available at the airport or at official carrier stores in the cities. Additionally, some operators offer the option to order and pay for a SIM card in advance, allowing you to schedule a pick-up date. This way, you can avoid waiting in line.¹

When registering your Albania SIM, you will need to present an ID, such as your passport. You may also be asked for the address of your accommodation in Albania. The store staff will then activate the card, so you can begin using it right away. Note that some stores may only accept cash, so make sure you ask in advance if credit cards or debit cards are accepted.¹

Where can you buy a SIM card for Albania in the UK?

You could also buy an Albania SIM card before leaving the UK. This way, you’ll have an internet connection as soon as you land. The downside of this option is that you might have limited selection, so you might end up overpaying.

SimCorner offers a SIM that could work well. They don’t offer a specific Albania plan, but instead an international data SIM. For £29, you get 6 GB of data valid for 15 days, and the SIM works not only in Albania but also in over 100 countries.²

Can you buy an Albania SIM card at the airport?

If you want to get an Albania SIM card as soon as you land, you can do so at Tirana Airport. Major carriers like Vodafone Albania or One Albania have kiosks in the Arrivals section and they’re likely open 24/7.¹

However, although these are official stores, they tend to be more expensive than those in the city. The lines may also be longer, so we recommend considering other options.

Best prepaid SIM cards for Albania

Here are some of the best SIM card options for your vacation in Albania.

Vodafone Albania

Vodafone Albania offers four prepaid plans for tourists, ranging from 10 to 100 GB of data. The smallest package, Albania 10 GB, is valid for 5 days and costs 1,000 ALL, while the next plan, Albania 20, lasts for 10 days and costs 1,500 ALL. With both plans, you can receive an additional 10 GB by registering on the My Vodafone app.³

The remaining two plans are the Tourist Pack and Tourist Pack Giga, priced at 2,000 ALL and 2,500 ALL. Both plans are valid for 21 days and include national calls. The Tourist Pack provides 40 GB of data and 1,000 minutes of calls, while the Tourist Giga plan offers 100 GB of data and unlimited calls.³

If you purchase any Vodafone tourist pack online, you can receive a discount of up to 20% compared to buying in physical stores.³

One Albania

At One Albania, you can choose between two tourist SIM plans, the One Tourist Ultra and the One Tourist Advance.

The One Tourist Ultra plan costs 2,900 ALL and is valid for up to 21 days. It includes 100 GB of data, 4,000 national minutes, and 3,000 national SMS.⁴

If you don't need as much data or calls, you can choose the One Tourist Advance. Priced at 2,500 ALL, it offers 40 GB of data, 1,000 minutes, and 1,000 SMS.⁵

Whichever plan you choose, you can purchase any of their add-ons at any time. For example, they offer an 8 GB add-on for 700 ALL and a 40 international minute add-on for 500 ALL.⁶

Best e-SIM cards for Albania

Physical SIMs are a good choice, but eSIMs offer an even easier way to avoid roaming charges. You can buy one before you leave the UK and activate it when you arrive.

If your phone supports eSIM, here are some of the best options for Albania.

Airalo

Airalo has six eSIM plans for Albania under the name Hej Telecom. The cheapest one is the £4 package, which is a 7-day plan with 1 GB of data. The next plan is priced at £7, lasts for 15 days and includes 2 GB of data. The remaining plans are 30-day options, great for longer stays. Their prices range from £9 to £33.50, depending on the amount of data.⁷

Maya Mobile

Maya Mobile’s Albania plans start with 3 GB of data and go up to unlimited data, with durations ranging from 5 to 180 days.⁸

For example, if you choose a 10-day eSIM, their smallest plan costs £6.99 for 3 GB of data. The best value currently is the 20 GB plan, priced at £20.99. If you prefer unlimited data, the cost is £3.89 per day.⁸

Holafly

Holafly only offers unlimited eSIM plans, and the daily price gets cheaper the longer the plan duration.

Their Albania eSIM for one day costs £8, but a weekly plan is £30, or £4.29 a day. If you’d like to be covered for 15 days, their plan costs £51, or £3.40 daily.⁹

You can share up to 500 MB of your data via hotspot. This can be a great solution if you’re travelling with multiple people, since you can share one plan.⁹

Spend like a local in Albania with Wise

While you’re choosing an Albania SIM card for your trip, you might also want to check out options for holiday spending.

The Wise international debit card can be a convenient choice. For a one-time cost of just £7, you can spend and withdraw like a local in Albania and 150+ more countries. You can also send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation or the like while still in the UK.

With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 20-Jan-2025