Albania Guide · 4 articles
Albania, the practical side
This is the paperwork and pocket side of a trip to the Albanian Riviera, checked against the bodies that set the rules. Which European ID cards the border accepts and how long they must stay valid; why your EU phone plan stops working as it does at home once you are in Albania; what the lek is worth against the euro on the Bank of Albania's own table, and where to change money; and what the weather does on the coast month by month, from the first warm nights of June to the end of September. Each article lists its official sources and the day we read them. For the nights themselves, start with Albania's nightlife; for door times and dress, see our questions.
Practical
Entering Albania with an ID card: the rules for EU travellers
Albania is outside both the EU and the Schengen area, yet citizens of EU countries can cross its border with nothing more than their national identity card. What decides whether the officer waves you through is how long the card is still valid, which kind of card it is and, for children, a few extra papers.
Practical
Lek or euro? Money in Albania, from the official rate to the border
Albania pays in lekë. The lek (ALL) is the only currency the Bank of Albania issues, and the euro, however often you see it, is a foreign currency there. Here is the official rate and where it comes from, the notes and coins you will handle, where to change money and the cash rule at the border.
Practical
Roaming in Albania: why your EU plan stops at the border, for now
Albania is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so an EU SIM card is roaming outside the zone the moment it connects to an Albanian network. Talks to change that are under way; until they end, your own operator's price list is what counts.
Practical
Albania weather by month: the Riviera's short summer, in numbers
The Riviera's summer is short and dry, and its nights follow it. Month by month, here are the averages Albania reported to the World Meteorological Organization for its coastal station at Vlorë, set beside the calendar of nights this website followed in 2026.