When you’re traveling to Albania you’re obviously going to spend money on a variety of things, like your accommodation, transport, food, drinks, souvenirs and other things. Since you’re abroad, things might work a bit differently than you’re used to when it comes to money and paying. We have therefore gathered all necessary info about the local currency, payment methods, prices, tipping, bargaining, and more tips for you.
Currency
The official currency in Albania is the lek (plural: lekë). Banknotes are circulating in values of 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 lekë and there are coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lekë. The euro is also accepted at several places, but since exchange rates can be somewhat unfavorable it’s usually cheaper to pay in lek. Be aware though, that it’s difficult to exchange Albanian lek outside of Albania, so do spend it or exchange it before your leave.
Banks
There are several banks around the town center, most of which can be found around Nënë Teresa Square on Rruga Skënderbeu and Rruga Flamurit. Plenty of ATMs can be found throughout the town. If you arrive by ferry you can find ATMs to the right when exiting the terminal building.
Be aware though, that all of the ATMs in Saranda and in the rest of Albania charge a fee for withdrawing money with foreign bank cards. So it’s better to take out a larger amount of money at once in stead of withdrawing small amounts on multiple occasions. Do also check with your own bank for any additional fees for withdrawing a foreign currency abroad.
Cash Is King
It’s important to know that cash is absolutely still king in Albania. Cards are more and more accepted in hotels, some restaurants, and larger supermarkets, but definitely not in smaller places and in most shops. So it’s advisable to always carry some cash in case there is no alternative.
In case you are planning to pay by card where you can, we also recommend to check with your bank for their fees and markups when paying in a foreign currency.
If you’re specifically looking for bars or restaurants where you can pay by card, you can go to our website’s Food & Drinks section and select ‘Credit Cards Accepted’ as the advanced search criterion.
Prices
When it comes to the cost of living, Albania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe. However, Saranda is one of the most touristic cities and therefore relatively more expensive than other places in Albania. Although prices for accommodations, food, and many other things are still a steal compared to most other European holiday destinations, prices have gone up in the last few years.
The most expensive places are obviously along the busy beachfront promenade, but the further away from there, the cheaper it gets. Like everywhere, if you’re looking for the best deals for food and drinks, go where the locals hang out.
Imported products are usually the most expensive and you might even experience higher prices for certain international brands than you’re used to in your own country. But if you shop for local products, you will most likely spend much less on almost anything.
Paying The Bill
If you’re from a country where staff in bars and restaurants are very service-oriented, it might surprise you in Albania that waiters usually leave you alone as soon as they have taken your order and served your food.
There are exceptions, but in general, it’s not very common that they continue to walk up to you and ask if everything is alright, if you want anything else, or if you’re ready to pay the bill. This is not because they don’t care or have forgotten about you, but they simply don’t want to bother you when you’re enjoying time with your companions.
If you want to pay the bill, you’ll have to draw the staff’s attention and a waiter will gladly help you. Another common practice is to walk up to the till and pay your bill there.
Tipping
As in most European countries, tipping is not mandatory in Albania, but rather gratefully appreciated. In bars & restaurants, rounding up the bill is common practice and if you were really happy with your experience a tip of around 5-10% is appreciated. For tour guides a normal tip would be around 10%. Taxi drivers normally don’t expect tips, but rounding up the amount is rather common.
Bargaining
Price haggling is acceptable at markets, souvenir shops and for longer taxi rides. At other places this is not common.
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