Best currency to take to Albania – Euro, Albanian Lek, bring cash, exchange, buy Albanian currency abroad

If you are wondering what currency to take to Albania and how to handle cash in Albania, this blog post is for you. 

Best currency to take to Albania – The best currency to take to Albania is the euro. Euros are widely accepted in Albania. Exchange a small amount of euros for Albanian Leke once you are in Albania. Albania is a cash country. Cash is expected and strongly preferred. Small currency exchange offices offer the best rates.

In this blog post, I will share all you need to know about money and currency before travelling to Albania. I will include the best currency to take, exchanging currency, cash vs card payments, paying for hotels, taxis, bus tickets, food. Moreover, I will explain what you can expect when it comes to cash payments in Albania. The cheapest ways to exchange currency. And so much more. 

I live in Albania and I am a tour guide in Albania, so let me share the practical advice you need regarding money and currency before you visit Albania. 

What currency is best to take to Albania?

The best currency to take to Albania is the euro. Euros are widely accepted in Albania. So it is a good idea to bring some cash euros with you when travelling to Albania.

• Euros are widely accepted in Albania. So bring euros in cash with you to Albania.

The official currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek. You will only be able to get Albanian Lek upon arrival in Albania. Therefore, we recommend you bring some cash euros and then you can exchange a small amount of euros for some Albanian Leke once you are in Albania.

• Once you are in Albania, exchange a small amount of euros for Albanian Leke.
• Keep euros as well, those are widely accepted.

Since euros are widely accepted, you can pay taxi drivers, hotels and shops in euros a lot of the time. You will only need a small amount of Albanian Leke for little expenses like bottled water (recommended in Albania), coffee, pastries and breads, fresh fruits etcetera. The Albanian Leke is for little things you buy along the road, as you walk through a city or visit a sightseeing spot. 

• You do need cash in Albania. Albania is a cash country. 
• A combination of euros and a small amount of Albanian Lek is best.

You do need to have cash in your wallet whilst travelling in Albania. Albania is a cash country. The locals pay 99% of their expenses by cash. Cash is strongly preferred and recommended. 

Taxi drivers often do not have a card machine, they expect you to pay cash. Bus drivers often only take cash and often do not have a card machine onboard. 

In foreign countries, bus tickets are often booked and paid online in advance. This is not the case in Albania, many bus drivers do not have a website or online reservation system. Instead bus drivers only take cash upon boarding the bus or at the bus agency in person. So if you are travelling around Albania by bus, you must have cash.

A lot of Albanian hotels take reservations online on Booking Com or Airbnb. However, they still take cash payments upon arrival. Check if your card has been charged beforehand, if not, they likely expect and prefer cash payment upon arrival.

Fruit stalls, little local shops and bakeries often only take cash. Larger supermarkets may have a card machine, but still many people pay cash, that is the Albanian culture, when it comes to money.

• Pay the airport taxi or airport bus in euros, then exchange in the city center. To avoid more expensive exchange rates at the airport. 
• Exchange at a small currency exchange office in the city center.

Currency exchange is actually quite cheap in Albania. You will get the best exchange rates at small currency exchange offices in the city center. 

Any of the major foreign currencies, like euros, dollars or pounds, can be easily exchanged in Albania. 

It is best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as currency exchange at the airport may be relatively expensive. So bring euros with you to Albania. Then pay for the taxi/bus to the city center in euros. And once you are in the city center, you exchange a small amount of euros for Albanian Leke.

Banks are usually more expensive. So you will get the best exchange rates at little currency exchange offices. 

• Of course, you can use ATMs in the cities in Albania.
• Remote villages and nature parks may not have an ATM, so bring cash. 

Of course, you can use a cash machine or ATM to withdraw cash in the city center. Usually, Credins Bank offers good withdrawal rates, so that is a good option. But there are many more cash machines of course.

If you are travelling to a remote village, somewhere in the mountains or a nature park, you may not be able to find a cash machine. So bring some cash euros with you.

Is euro accepted in Albania?

Euros are widely accepted in Albania. So the best currency to take with you to Albania is the euro. Many taxi drivers, bus drivers, hotels and shops will accept euros as payment.

If you pay in euros, you may get some change in Albanian Leke. Euro is by far the best currency to bring with you for a trip to Albania.

• Euros are widely accepted in Albania.
• The best currency to bring to Albania is the euro. 

In many foreign countries, it is not possible to buy Albanian Leke. That is why we recommend you bring euros in cash with you. Then you can pay the airport bus or taxi with euros and get to your hotel. The hotel will accept payment in euros, if you have not paid online in advance yet. 

And then once you are settled into your hotel. You walk around the city center to find a small currency exchange office. Small currency exchange offices offer the best exchange rates. Or you can use an ATM to get some Albanian Leke.

It is best to avoid currency exchange at the airport, which is usually relatively expensive. So if possible, wait until you are in the city center.

You don’t need a large amount of Albanian Lek. Since hotels, taxis and larger shops will accept euros. But a small amount of Albanian Lek is useful for the entrance ticket to a castle, bottled water, coffee, Byrek pastry, a bus ticket or bread for lunch. Little stalls along the street sell bottled water and you will need that several times a day in the hot summer here!

Is it better to use euros or lek in Albania?

Paying in Albanian Lek might be slightly cheaper in Albania. Usually, if you pay euros the price is rounded up a bit. Because only euro notes can be accepted at currency exchange. So nobody will accept euro coins. That being said, if you pay in euros, you may be given change in Albanian Lek as well. 

• Using Albanian Lek can be slightly cheaper, as euro prices may be rounded up a bit, because only euro notes can be accepted and exchanged. 

Many hotels and taxi companies have price lists with both Albanian Lek and Euros on it. Which indicates that they will accept either currency. And you can pay Albanian Lek or Euros as you prefer.

I recommend exchanging only a small amount of currency for the Albanian Lek. Having a bit of local currency is great for small expenses. Of course, you will need to spend all of your Albanian Lek before leaving, because you cannot exchange the Albanian Lek abroad. That is why keeping the majority of your currency in euros is still a great choice.

Where to buy Albanian currency?

In most foreign countries, you cannot buy Albanian currency. So you will need to buy Albanian currency when you arrive in Albania.

• You cannot buy Albanian Leke abroad.
• Bring euros in cash with you for your holiday in Albania.
• Exchange a small amount of euros for Albanian Lek at a currency exchange office in the city center.
• Avoid the airport currency exchange, which might be more pricey. 

Since you won’t be able to buy Albanian currency before your trip, the best currency to take to Albania is the euro. Euros are widely accepted in Albania. If you have euros in cash, you will only need a small amount of Albanian Lek alongside the euro. 

Bring euros to Albania and upon arrival pay for the taxi or bus to the city center in euros. You can also pay for your hotel in euros. Then once you are settled into your hotel, you can look for a small currency exchange office in the city center.

It is better to avoid currency exchange at the airport, as this is usually relatively expensive. In Albania, you get the best exchange rates at small currency exchange offices. Exchanging at a bank is usually relatively expensive in Albania. So locals strongly prefer exchanging their currency at a small currency exchange office.

Currency exchange is used a lot in Albania, by the locals too. Because many Albanian families have a son working abroad in Europe and receive foreign currency from their son. Which means they will go to the currency exchange regularly. 

Of course, you can also use a cash machine to withdraw some Albanian Lek. Credins Bank is a good choice as they often have good withdrawal rates. But it depends on your card as well. 

Should I exchange money before I go to Albania?

You probably won’t be able to exchange money for Albanian Lek before you go to Albania. Because in most foreign countries the Albanian Lek is not available. 

With that in mind, if you already have euros, bring those to Albania. Because euros are widely accepted in Albania. 

• Dollars, pounds and euros can be exchanged easily in Albania.
• Euros are the most widely accepted currency, so if your country has a less popular currency, the best choice is bringing euros in cash with you. 

That being said, if you live in a country where they have dollars or pounds, you can bring those as well. Since well known foreign currencies like euros, dollars and pounds can all be easily exchanged in Albania. 

If you live in a country where they have a lesser known currency, I recommend you bring euros with you. As euros are the most useful in Albania and widely accepted.

Once you are in Albania, go to a small currency exchange office in the city center and exchange only a small amount of euros for Albanian Lek. You must spend all the Albanian Lek before leaving Albania, because you cannot exchange it abroad. 

Should I bring cash to Albania?

I highly recommend bringing cash to Albania. Whilst travelling through Albania, it is best to carry cash with you. 

Albania is a cash country. The locals in Albania pay 99% of their expenses with cash. Literally, everyone has a stack of cash in their pocket. 

So in Albania cash payments are expected and strongly preferred. 

• I recommend you carry cash in your wallet whilst travelling in Albania. 
• Cash payment is expected and strongly preferred.
• A combination of euros in cash and a small amount of Albanian Lek is the best. 

Bus drivers often do not have a card machine, so they only take cash. Moreover, bus drivers often do not have a website or online reservation system. So the only way to get a ticket for the bus is paying cash to the bus driver upon boarding the bus. 

Taxi drivers strongly prefer cash payments and often do not have a card machine. 

Hotels and apartments take reservations online on Airbnb or BookingCom. However, even though the reservation is taken online, many hotels still take cash payments upon arrival. You reserve online, but you are not charged by card, instead they want you to pay cash upon arrival.

Small shops, fruit stalls and bakeries only take cash. They will point you to the nearest ATM, since they won’t have a card machine.

Larger supermarkets will have a card machine. But still the majority of people will pay cash. 

With all of this in mind, I strongly recommend you carry a combination of euros in cash and a small amount of Albanian Lek in your wallet whilst travelling through Albania.

You use cash machines in the city centers. But bear in mind that small villages and remote nature areas won’t have a cash machine. So you will need to bring the cash in your wallet.

Can you use euros in Albania?

You can use euros in Albania. Euros are widely accepted in Albania, so bringing some euros in cash is a great idea. 

Many hotels, taxi drivers, bus drivers, restaurants and shops will accept euros for payment. They may give you some change in Albanian Lek. 

Once you are in Albania, I would avoid exchanging currency at the airport, as it may be a bit more expensive. So you can use your euros to pay for the airport taxi or airport bus. Check into your hotel and pay the hotel receptionist with euros. And then walk around the city center to find a small currency exchange office or a cash machine. When it comes to currency exchange in Albania, banks tend to be more expensive than small currency exchange offices. 

You will only need a small amount of Albanian Lek to pay for little expenses like bottled water (recommended in Albania), coffee, fruit, breads and Byrek pastries. If you are going to a castle, you may pay the entrance ticket with Albanian Lek. 

But like I said, euros are widely accepted, so keeping a combination of euros and a small amount of Albanian Lek is the best choice. You do need cash in Albania, as cash is expected and strongly preferred.

Can I buy Albanian Lek abroad?

In most foreign countries, you cannot buy the Albanian Lek. So you will need to bring a foreign currency to Albania. The best currency to bring to Albania is the euro. Euros are widely accepted in Albania. 

Then once you are in Albania, you can exchange a small amount of euros for the Albanian Lek. The best place to exchange currency is a small currency exchange office in the city center. Banks in Albania tend to be more expensive. And airport currency exchange can be relatively expensive. Of course, you can withdraw some cash from the ATM. Credins Bank can offer a good withdrawal rate. 

Where to buy Albanian currency?

You can buy Albanian currency, once you are in Albania. In most foreign countries, you cannot buy Albanian Lek before you travel. 

The best currency to take to Albania is the euro. Many hotels, taxi drivers, bus drivers, shops and restaurants will accept euros for payment. And you may be given some change in Albanian Lek. 

Albania currency exchange

• Small currency exchange offices are usually cheaper than banks.
• Banks can be relatively expensive in Albania.
• You can ask your hotel receptionist or people on the street for the nearest currency exchange office. Albanian people are very helpful.
• Avoid exchanging currency at the airport, which can be relatively expensive.

Once you are in Albania, you can take a taxi or bus to the city center. Pay for your hotel in euros. And then search for a small currency exchange office in the city center. 

What is the best currency to bring to Albania?

The best currency to bring to Albania is the euro. Euros are widely accepted. Many hotels, restaurants, taxi drivers, bus drivers and shops will accept euros for payment. 

Albania is a cash country. The locals in Albania pay 99% of their expenses with cash. So cash payment is expected and strongly preferred in Albania. 

Whilst travelling through Albania, I recommend you always have some cash money on you. A combination of cash euros and a small amount of Albanian Lek is best. 

How much lek do I need for a week in Albania?

The amount of lek you need for a week in Albania depends on your transport, your hotel expenses and the type of food you choose. Let me explain in detail.

The cheapest way to travel through Albania is by bus. Intercity bus tickets usually cost between 2-15 EUR per bus ticket. That being said, if you are travelling by bus, you may still need short taxi rides to get from the bus terminal to your hotel or a sightseeing location. 

Travelling by taxi is more expensive. Taxi drivers charge around 25-28 EUR for a taxi from Tirana airport to Tirana’s city center. But long distance taxi rides from Tirana to Saranda/Ksamil may cost 200-210 EUR, since it takes 5 hours. 

A rental car costs at least 20-30 EUR a day for a basic rental car. And you would need to pay for petrol as well. 

If you book your hotels via Booking COM or Airbnb, you will see hotels start from 25-30 EUR a night for the cheapest option. Many hotels in Albania take reservations online, but expect you to pay cash upon arrival. So it is good to have the cash ready for the hotel receptionist. 

The cheapest way to eat is going to local bakeries or Byrek shops for fresh bread and pastries. This only costs 2-5 EUR for quite a lot of bread, so it could work for breakfast or lunch. 

For dinner, the small local restaurants may charge 8-12 euros for simple foods like pizza or sandwiches. Of course, you can always spend more in a fancier restaurant at a beautiful location. 

Is 200 lek a good tip?

200 Lek is a good tip if you are having some drinks or coffee at a coffee house. 200 Lek is roughly about 2 euros. If you are going for some drinks with family or friends at a coffee house, your bill may end up being 10-15 euros, so in that case a few coins or 200 lek is an appropriate tip. In a fancy restaurant, you may consider tipping a bit more.

What can I buy with 100 Albanian Lek?

With 100 Albanian Lek, you can buy small things like a bottle of water, a bread at a bakery or a small juice. That being said, depending on where you buy these, they may also cost 200 Lek. A cup of coffee or a juice at a restaurant can often cost 200 Lek. 

Related Questions

Can I buy Albanian Lek in the UK? You cannot buy Albanian Lek in the UK. In most countries, you cannot buy Albanian Lek before travelling to Albania. You can take euros or pounds or dollars to Albania and exchange a small amount of foreign currency for the Albanian Lek once you are in Albania. 

What currency is best to take to Albania? The best currency to take to Albania is the euro. Euros are widely accepted in Albania. Many hotels, taxi drivers, bus drivers, shops and restaurants will accept euros for payment. Upon arrival in Albania, you can exchange a small amount of euros for Albanian Lek for little expenses. Whilst travelling through Albania, a combination of euros and Albanian Lek in cash is the best.

Welcome to Albania!

I am a Tour Guide in Albania

I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania.