Planning a trip to Tirana and wondering if you can buy a sim card for Albania on arrival at Tirana International Airport? Don't waste money on high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans!
This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a sim card at Tirana Airport in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, my recommendation, info about EU data roaming and eSIMs for Albania and more.
In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected.
Table of contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Albania
- Arrival at Tirana International Airport
- Where to buy a sim card at Tirana Airport
- Prices prepaid sim cards Tirana Airport
- Best sim card for tourists at Tirana Airport
- Best eSIMs for Albania
- Order a prepaid sim card for Albania online
- My experiences buying a sim card at Tirana Airport
- Vlog about buying a sim card at Tirana Airport
- How much data do you need?
Traveltomtom also wrote a comparison of the best eSIM for your trip to Albania in 2025.
Is Tirana one of your stops in Europe and are you visiting multiple countries then you probably want to check out Traveltomtom's guide for the best sim cards for visiting Europe in 2025.
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Tirana Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a One sim card at Tirana Airport, simply because it is cheapest. A tourist sim card with 10 GB data is around $19 USD.
Albania is a cheap country to travel, surprisingly prepaid sim cards for tourists are not so cheap as expected.
Therefore another reason to look into eSIMs for Albania as they already start from just $1 USD and you are online as soon as the plane lands.
The best-buy eSIMs for Albania are from SimOptions. You can already get an eSIM with 10 GB data for just $12.90 USD.
Find many more eSIMs plans in my Albania eSIM comparison for 2025.
If you are traveling onwards to other continents on this trip, for example to Turkey then there are also international prepaid sim cards in the form of physical sim cards as well as eSIMs which are valid in up to 141 countries around the world.
Make sure your phone is unlocked otherwise a prepaid or eSIM wont work in your phone. Contact your mobile internet provider in your home country if you are not sure about this.
Why buying a sim card for Albania
Keep in in mind that Albania is not part of the EU and therefore EU data roaming is not working in Albania.
Make sure you avoid high roaming charges at all times or end up with excessive high phone bills. Also don't opt for those slow and overpriced overseas data roaming plans, they reduce the data speed!
There are many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Albania. Having a data connection on our phone makes life so much more convenient. Think about ordering an Uber, getting directions from Google Maps or looking for a nearby rooftop bar, it is not possible without a data connection on your phone.
Also think about emergencies, checking your banking apps, etc. Don't depend on public WiFi. There is no guarantee, it can be slow and keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.
One of the first things I do when planning my next trip abroad is finding out what is the best way to stay connected. It is a vital part of my travel planning. To save money on high roaming costs you can buy a prepaid sim card at Tirana Airport on arrival, but you can also order a sim card for Albania on the internet and arrive prepared.
Traveltomtom is on a journey to travel to every country in the world and everywhere I go I write sim card guides. That is why on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Romania, Bucharest, Prague, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and many more.
Traveltomtom is the most complete sim card blog on the internet. Next time you are planning your trip abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and leet me help you save money!
Arrival at Tirana International Airport
Tirana International Airport is not that big and arriving is pretty straight forward. From the plane you are guided to passport control and after passport control there is immediately the baggage claim hall. There are only 4 small luggage belts and at the end of the hall there is the last customs check before you walk through the sliding doors and end up in the arrival hall.
The arrival hall is pretty big and spacious. There is a car rental and shuttle service, a cafeteria and 2 sim card shops.
There is free WiFi at Tirana Airport but it is terribly slow, so don't rely on the WiFi on arrival. Sending WhatsApp messages is no problem though.
Where to buy a sim card at Tirana Airport
It is impossible to miss the sim card shops at Tirana Airport because when you walk out of the sliding doors into the arrival hall there is a Vodafone store and a store from One right in front of you. It is impossible to miss these sim card shops.
Of course, both phone stores sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. You have to provide your passport or any form of ID when buying a sim card at Tirana Airport.
Shops are open 24 hours and you can pay by credit card or with cash.
Heads up the prices for prepaid sim cards at Tirana Airport are pretty much the same if you buy a prepaid sim card in a phone store in the city center of Tirana. For more info check out Traveltomtom's guide about the best prepaid sim cards for Albania.
Prices prepaid sim cards Tirana Airport
All the info and prices are up to date as per January 2025 and prices are in Albanian Lek: $1 USD = 95.3 Lek and 100 Lek = $1.05 USD.
Vodafone
Vodafone Albania sells two prepaid sim cards for tourists, so called tourist packs:
- 40 GB data + 1,000 minutes for 15 days = 2,300 Lek - $24 USD
- 100 GB data + unlimited minutes for 21 days = 2,900 Lek - $31 USD
There is no EU data roaming included, but data is valid in all Eastern Balkan countries: Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
When buying a Vodafone sim card at Tirana Airport you can choose to either get a physical prepaid sim card or an eSIM.
One
At One they sell the exact same tourist sim cards:
- 40 GB data + 1,000 minutes/sms for 15 days = 2,300 Lek - $24 USD
- 100 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms for 21 days = 2,900 Lek - $31 USD
But they also have a couple other prepaid sim card plans.
- 1 GB data + 400 minutes + 400 sms for 30 days = 1,000 Lek - $11 USD
- 10 GB data + unlimited minutes + 1,000 sms for 30 days = 1,500 Lek - $16 USD
- 25 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms for 30 days = 1,800 Lek - $19 USD
- 34 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms for 30 days = 2,100 Lek - $21 USD
For these prepaid sim card plans you will be charged an extra 300 Lek ($4 USD) for the registration of your new One sim card.
That makes it that the cheapest sim card for tourists at Tirana Airport with 10 GB data is 1,500 + 300 = 1,800 Lek ($19 USD).
There is no EU data roaming included, but data is valid in all Eastern Balkan countries: Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
When buying a One sim card at Tirana Airport you can only get a physical prepaid sim card, One does not provide eSIMs for tourists.
Best sim card for tourists at Tirana Airport
So which sim card is the best? Vodafone or One...
The tourist packs from Vodafone and One are the exact same, but One has a slightly cheaper option that will cost you around $19 USD and you get a sim card with 10 GB data.
It depends on how long you are staying in Tirana, but who needs 40 GB data for a city trip. Even if you visit Albania for 2 weeks, then you would have almost 3 GB data per day on a sim card with 40 GB data.
Traveltomtom's conclusion is that prepaid sim cards for tourists are pretty expensive at Tirana Airport, especially given the fact that Albania is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Europe.
When we look at the eSIMs for Albania you see that they are in fact even cheaper.
The best-buy eSIMs for Albania are from SimOptions. You can already get an eSIM with 10 GB data for just $12.90 USD.
So Traveltomtom's first recommendation is to order an eSIM for Albania on the internet.
For my research for finding the best prepaid sim card in Albania I also compared the 4G/5G network coverage maps and found out that Vodafone has slightly better 4G/LTE network coverage around the country, but there is not much difference.
If you want to go for the cheapest option then get a One sim card, if you would like one of those expensive tourist sim cards then choose Vodafone.
Best eSIMs for Albania
Local prepaid sim cards are not the only way to stay connected when traveling to the Tirana. The easiest way to get data on your phone when visiting Tirana is by ordering an eSIM for Albania on the internet.
No need to visit a sim card store anymore on arrival at Tirana Airport. With an eSIM you are online as soon as the plane lands.
You instal an eSIM on your phone in a couple simple steps. Then once installed the eSIM instantly connects to an available network as soon as the plane touches the ground.
You can order an eSIM for Tirana directly on the internet, you process the payment, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the instructions and instal the eSIM in a couple simple steps. You are all set in less than 2 minutes.
For more detailed info and an answer to all FAQ about using eSIMs check out Traveltomtom's guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Albania in 2025.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a reputed eSIM provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your tourist eSIM for Albania through SimOptions is done fast and easy.
Check out our SimOptions review with all pros and cons.
Here are the SimOptions eSIMs for Albania:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.50 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $5.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $6.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $12.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $31.90 USD
- 50 GB data for 60 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Albania via SimOptions.
The SimOptions eSIMs are data-only and data is only valid in Albania. Incoming and outgoing calling and texting is not supported.
Airalo
Airalo is a trusted eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used them in more than 50 countries around the world.
Airalo has the following Albania eSIM plans:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $49 USD
Click here for more info or to order a Albania eSIM via Airalo.
These data-only Hej Telecom eSIMs from Airalo operate on the 4G/LTE network in Albania of ONE. Data is only valid in Albania. Incoming and outgoing calling and texting is not supported.
Before ordering an eSIM for Albania make sure your phone unlocked and eSIM compatible.
Although Albania is in Europe, it is not part of the European Union and therefore the sim card for traveling to Europe are not valid in Albania.
There are many more eSIMs available for Albania from for example: Holafly, Nomad, etc. Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Albania in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for Albania online
Remember that eSIMs can only be used in eSIM compatible phones. If your phone is not eSIM compatible and you want to order a sim card for Albania on the internet then you have to look into buying a physical international prepaid sim card.
These pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put them in your phone during your flight and you are online as soon as the plane touches the ground in Tirana. An international sim card connects automatically to an available network.
Arrive prepared in Tirana with an international prepaid sim card for Albania from SimOptions:
- 10 GB data valid in 124 countries for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international physical prepaid sim card for Albania via SimOptions.
My experiences buying a sim card at Tirana Airport
So did I buy a One or a Vodafone prepaid sim card at Tirana Airport? No! Why not?
First of all I think the tourist sim cards at Tirana Airport are overpriced. Yes, you get a lot of Gigabytes, but who needs 40 or 100 GB on their trip to Albania!?
It is a smart way of the mobile internet providers to keep the price for tourist sim cards high and on top of that they both offer the EXACT SAME.
Traveltomtom prefers eSIMs for traveling abroad so that I am online as soon as the plane lands and I don't need to visit a sim card store on arrival.
For my latest trip I ordered an Airalo eSIM with 3 GB data for just $11 USD to give Airalo another test and I was very happy with my eSIM. Much cheaper, faster and more convenient, as I prefer to be online instantly on arrival.
I mostly used the WiFi of the hotel and the bars and restaurants and it worked fine in most places.
Vlog about buying a sim card at Tirana Airport
Here is my YouTube video about my arrival at Tirana Airport and showing you exactly where you can buy a prepaid sim card for your trip to Albania.
How much data do you need?
I consider myself a very heavy data user, but even on a crazy day I won't use more than 5 GB per day. On average I use about 2-3 GB per day, mostly on social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.
Always make sure you don't have Google Drive or iCloud enabled on data, but only on WiFi. As well as automatic updates. Turn it off on data, so you are not uploading all your Albania holiday photos and videos directly to the cloud and using all your data.
I am sure some of the above tips on how to stay connected when traveling to Tirana were helpful. If you have any questions then please leave me a comment below and I will try to help you out.
Curious what the life of a full time nomadic traveler looks like? Go check out my 680K Instagram account or 1.4 Million TikTok account both called @traveltomtom. Follow along with daily updates from around the world about the good, the bad and the ugly about traveling.
Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to Tirana!