Albania is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, whether for its beautiful beaches or the pristine nature of the Albanian Alps. Its affordability compared to other European coastal destinations also adds to the appeal. However, since Albania is not part of the EU, you’ll need to figure out how to stay connected without paying expensive roaming fees. If you’re planning your next vacation here, read on to discover the best tourist SIM cards or eSIM options available in Albania.
Data eSIM Albania: How to Choose the Best One?
When choosing an eSIM or SIM card, consider how long you’ll be in Albania and whether you need data for daily use or just as a backup. On vacation, you typically use more data than at home, as you’re not always within Wi-Fi range and often need to check maps, use a translator, or book a taxi (we recommend using the Up’s Taxi app in Albania). During our time in Albania, we also needed data to coordinate with our hosts via WhatsApp.
If you prefer choosing based on network coverage, the options in Albania are pretty straightforward. Although Vodafone has slightly better coverage than One Albania, both networks will work well in tourist areas along the coast and in larger cities, but you may often lack signal in the mountains. If you’re planning to drive between cities, we suggest downloading offline maps as a backup.
The Best Data eSIM for Albania
Let’s look at some of the data packages you can consider for Albania.
eSIM Albania Cheapest Packages
If you’re looking for an eSIM as a backup and 1 GB is enough, the cheapest option is eSIM4Travel, offering a 7-day eSIM for $1.5. You’ll be connected via Vodafone, which is a solid choice.
Get a discount with Jetpac and grab a 30-day eSIM for just $1.
Other providers offer 1 GB eSIMs at similar prices, around $4. You can choose based on validity, with some lasting up to 30 days, or opt for packages that cover neighboring countries if you’re planning a larger Balkan trip.
For longer validity than just 7 days, choose Maya Mobile, which offers options for 5, 10, 15, or 30 days. The most expensive is $7.
Another option is MobiMatter, offering a 14-day validity package. You can choose the cheaper “Europe and USA” option for $3.49, which works in 43 countries but doesn’t cover other Balkan states, or the “Balkan Special” for $4.99, which covers all neighboring countries like Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If you prefer mainstream providers, Airalo offers a 7-day package for $4.5, and Revolut for 100 CZK.
Average Data Usage (5 GB)
If you plan to use more data, consider a package with more GB. For 5 GB, eSIM4Travel is the most affordable at $7.9 with 30-day validity.
Another option is MobiMatter, offering an eSIM for $6.99, which only works in Albania. If you want to explore neighboring countries, opt for the more expensive $13.99 eSIM.
Airalo and Revolut offer 5 GB packages at similar prices – $15.5 and 340 CZK, respectively.
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Heavy Data Usage (10 GB)
If 5 GB isn’t enough, check out 10 GB eSIM options. The cheapest is eSIM4Travel at $14 or MobiMatter at $11.99. For traveling across multiple Balkan states, opt for MobiMatter’s “Balkan Special” at $24.99.
Another affordable option is Maya Mobile. A 30-day package costs $20, but if you only need a shorter duration, you can reduce the price. Maya Mobile also offers a Balkan eSIM covering all Balkan states, though it’s pricier.
Well-known providers like Airalo and Revolut charge $26 and 580 CZK, respectively, for 10 GB.
Unlimited Data in Albania
Need to stay connected constantly or even work while traveling? Here are some unlimited data options. We’ve compared packages with 15-day validity, but each provider also offers 20- or 30-day plans.
The cheapest unlimited data for Albania is from Holafly, with a 15-day package for $47. One downside is that you can’t use a hotspot with Holafly, which may be a limitation for work purposes.
Yesim offers a 15-day package for €50. It includes VPN and hotspot usage.
Maya Mobile also provides unlimited data, but it’s quite expensive, costing $89, with an additional $10 for hotspot access.
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Summary of the Best eSIM Deals for Albania
| Provider | GB | Price | Validity |
| eSIM4Travel | 1 GB | $1.5 | 7 days |
| MobiMatter | 5 GB | $6.99 | 30 days |
| MobiMatter | 10 GB | $11.99 | 30 days |
| Holafly | Unlimited | $47 | 15 days |
Tourist SIM Card in Albania
Wondering if a traditional plastic SIM card would be cheaper in Albania? Let’s take a look.
Albania only has two main operators: Vodafone and One Albania. Both offer similar prices: 2000 – 2300 LEK (500 – 580 CZK) for 40 GB or 2500 – 2900 LEK (620 – 720 CZK) for 100 GB. The differences are minor, such as free local calling minutes or SMS, but it’s not significant. When buying, be mindful of the validity. Vodafone’s packages are valid for 21 days, whereas One Albania’s 40 GB package only lasts 15 days.
Top-ups can be done at stores or through the mobile operator’s app.
SIM cards from both operators have the advantage of working in neighboring Balkan countries, such as Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. Only MobiMatter and the pricier Maya Mobile eSIMs offer this feature.
You can buy SIM cards at operator stores in major cities or at Tirana Airport. Prices are the same at the airport, so feel free to purchase there. Note that most shops only accept cash in local currency, but the One Albania booth at the airport does take cards. You’ll need to show ID, like a passport or national ID card, to purchase.
Summary of eSIM Albania
To sum up, if you only need up to 10 GB of data, an eSIM is your best option. If you expect to use a lot of data, a traditional SIM card with 40 or 100 GB might be a better choice.
The advantage of a traditional SIM card is that it works in neighboring Balkan countries, such as Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. It’s useful if you’re planning a road trip around the Balkans. The downside is the validity, which is a maximum of 21 days. After that, you’d have to find a store and buy a new SIM card.
We found the best option to be the eSIM from MobiMatter, which we used on our last trip to Albania. It’s valid for 30 days, and you can buy it again anytime from your phone. If you choose the Balkan Special, it will cover the entire Balkans just like a traditional SIM card.
