Internet in Albania: how to stay connected while traveling, the best solution

In Albania, you can wake up to the sound of waves lapping the white beaches of Ksamil, explore in the afternoon the winding stone streets of Gjirokastër, and at sunset get lost among the ancient olive groves surrounding Berat, while sipping a glass of homemade raki. Every day offers authentic views and flavors that stay in your heart.

To fully enjoy this wonderful experience, it’s essential to have a good Internet connection in Albania during your stay. Staying connected allows you to use navigation apps during a road trip, check bookings and schedules, keep in touch with your contacts, and share the best moments of your trip.

In this article, we explore how to have Internet in Albania while traveling, analyzing costs, advantages, and disadvantages to help you choose the most suitable solution.

Network and operators in Albania

Let’s look at the network situation in Albania. In general, the quality varies greatly from area to area; 5G has been introduced experimentally and is only available in some urban areas.

• Major cities like Tirana, Durrës, and Vlorë are well covered by the 4G network, with some areas also covered by 5G.

• In rural or mountainous areas, such as the Albanian Alps or the Lake Shkodra region, the connection can be weak, intermittent, or even absent.

• Some operators offer good coverage in urban areas, but outside cities the quality decreases.

Main mobile operators in Albania:

• Vodafone Albania: wide coverage and generally reliable network, with good offers for tourists.

• Telekom Albania: good coverage in cities, competitive prices.

• ONE Albania (formerly ALBtelecom): more limited coverage, but available in some specific areas.

How to stay connected to the Internet in Albania while traveling

There are four main solutions for those who want Internet in Albania. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each option.

🌍 1. Activate roaming with your operator

Data roaming allows you to use your SIM abroad while keeping your number. It’s one of the most practical and immediate solutions, but probably not the cheapest.

❗️ Important: many European travelers believe they can use their SIM plan in Albania like in the rest of Europe. But although Albania is geographically in Europe, it is not part of the European Union, so EU free roaming rules do not apply.

• By activating roaming, extra charges may apply, sometimes including limits on data and connection speed.

• Costs can vary significantly, even reaching €/MB, so it’s always advisable to check your operator’s prices and conditions.

✅ Pros: no action required, immediate activation ❌ Cons: expensive, limited data, often reduced speed

📲 2. Buy a local or tourist SIM

One of the most traditional but impractical solutions to get Internet while traveling is to buy a local prepaid SIM card.

• In the early moments of the trip, you’ll be without connection, just when you might need it the most to find your way.

• You need to find a physical point of sale (available in airports, malls, or operator stores in the city), where there might be a language barrier.

• ID registration is required.

In Albania, tourist packages from the main operators start from about €5 for 1–2 GB up to €20 for 10–20 GB.

✅ Pros: generally affordable prices, local operator coverage
❌ Cons: not immediate activation, time-consuming, possible manual APN setup

🧩 3. Use public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is a free and practical option to access the Internet in Albania. It’s widely available in cafés, restaurants, hotels, airports, train stations, and other public areas. However:

• It is often slow or unstable with many users connected.

• It works in tourist spots, but is hard to find elsewhere.

• The security level of public Wi-Fi networks in Albania is not as high as in the EU, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks.

• In some rural areas it doesn’t exist at all.

✅ Pros: free, easy to use
❌ Cons: unstable, limited, privacy risks

💡 4. Use an international eSIM

The eSIM is an innovative technology that is gaining popularity among travelers. It’s a digital SIM integrated directly into your device, allowing you to activate a data plan without needing a physical card.

• You can buy it online, even before departure
• It activates in minutes and is ready to use at your destination
• No physical SIM, no registration
• Plans are prepaid, avoiding hidden or unexpected charges
• It works directly on your device and keeps your personal phone number
• Multi-country plans are often available
• They connect to local operators’ networks

❗️ Warning: eSIMs are only available for compatible phones, usually the most recent mid-to-high-end devices.

✅ Pros: fast activation, transparent pricing, no bureaucracy, great coverage
❌ Cons: requires a compatible device

The best connectivity solution: the eSIM for Albania

After reviewing every available connectivity option for Albania, let’s compare them quickly: