Money
- The Bank of Albania's official rate on 12 October 2026: 1 euro = 91.61 lek, 1 US dollar = 81.88 lek, 1 pound = 108.37 lek.
- Prices are sometimes quoted in "old lek", ten times the real figure.
- Supermarkets take cards; many small shops are cash only. ATMs charge a fee: decline the machine's own currency conversion.
Getting around town
- City buses: 40 lek a ride, paid in cash to the conductor.
- Taxis: the city sets the fares: 300 lek for the first 1.5 km, then 120 lek a kilometre for the next 5 km. A cross-town ride is typically 400 to 800 lek.
- Uber and Bolt don't operate in Albania; local apps such as Speed Taxi do.
Water, power and phones
- The UK government advises drinking bottled water, not tap water.
- Plugs are types C and F (the two-pin European kind), 230 V, 50 Hz.
Emergencies
- 112 for emergencies, 127 for an ambulance, 129 for the police, 128 for the fire service, 126 for the traffic police.
Registering your stay
Under Albania's law on foreigners, a foreigner reports their address to the border and migration police within 10 days of arriving, which the host or accommodation can do on their behalf; hotels report their guests' arrivals and departures.
Questions
- Can I pay with euros in Tirana?
- Sometimes, especially in tourist places, but the currency is the lek and change usually comes in lek. Small shops often take cash only.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Tirana?
- The UK government advises drinking bottled water in Albania, not tap water.
- What plugs does Albania use?
- Types C and F, the two-pin European plugs, at 230 V and 50 Hz.