Destination
Albania
Europe · Tirana
Entry details
eVisa required
- Source's ruleeVisa
- Passport validity3 months
Practical details for a short tourist stay — conditions change; always verify with an official source.
From the guidebook
All road and tourist taxes (upon entering or leaving) the country have been lifted as of 2021. Entry requirements There is no longer a visa charge for any foreigners entering Albania. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nationals of the following countries and territories can enter Albania without a visa: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia*, Austria*, Azerbaijan, Belgium *, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria*, Canada*, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus*, Czech Republic*, Denmark*, Estonia*, Finland*, France*, Germany*, Greece*, Holy See, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary*, Ireland*, Iceland*, Israel, Italy*, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania*, Luxembourg*, Malaysia, Malta*, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands*, New Zealand*, North Macedonia, Norway*, Poland*, Portugal*, Romania*, San Marino*, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, South Korea, Spain*, Swede
…Safety advisory
Exercise normal safety precautions
Traveller safety tips
Albania is generally a safe place to visit but there are some safety precautions you have to take before visiting the country. • In some Albanian cities like Berat there are no traffic lights and thus crossing on the road can be dangerous • Avoid places that are deemed as slums and are sketchy, things like pickpocket can happen and also violence can occur, so avoid bringing valuables in those areas. • Albania does have speed limits, but most people do not follow them. If you are driving on the highway, you have to pay extra attention to avoid car crashes . If you are not a good driver it is highly recommended that you take a bus. Stray dogs and rabies • See also: Aggressive dogs Albania is one of the countries where stray dogs can be a problem
…When to go
Seasonal calendar — from climate data and curated definitions.
Public holidays
National holidays — closures and days off.
Independence Day
Dita e Pavarësisë
November 30, 2026
Mon · in 62d
Liberation Day
Dita e Çlirimit
November 30, 2026
Mon · in 62d
Youth Day
Dita Kombëtare e Rinisë
December 8, 2026
Tue · in 70d
Christmas Day
Krishtlindjet
December 25, 2026
Fri · in 87d
New Year's Day
Viti i Ri
January 1, 2027
Fri · in 94d
New Year's Day
Viti i Ri
January 4, 2027
Mon · in 97d
Summer Day
Dita e Verës
March 15, 2027
Mon · in 167d
Nowruz
Dita e Sulltan Nevruzit
March 22, 2027
Mon · in 174d
UNESCO sites
4UNESCO World Heritage sites in this country.
- Butrint1992Cultural
Butrint was an ancient Greek polis and later Roman city and the seat of an early Christian bishopric in Epirus.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) - Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe2007Natural
©
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe is a transnational serial nature UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompassing 93 component parts in 18 European countries. Together, the sites protect the largest and least disturbed forests dominated by the beech tree. In many of these stands, especially those in the Carpathians, beech forests have persisted without interruption or interference since the last ice age. These sites document the undisturbed postglacial repopulation of the species.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) - Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra2005Cultural
The Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastër encompasses the cities of Berat and Gjirokastër in southern Albania. Gjirokastër was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2005 while Berat was added as a site extension in 2008. They are inscribed as rare examples of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) - Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region1979Mixed
©
Lake Ohrid is a lake which straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, with a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Car rental & driving
Whether your licence is recognized, and which side traffic drives on — per the UN road-traffic conventions.
Vienna Convention: national licences (Latin script) are accepted; an IDP is not required.
Local norms
Tippingnot customary
Tipping has not become a custom in Albania and it is not expected; in some cases it might even confuse staff. If dining in a westernised restaurant in the capital you may round up the bill.
…Culture & etiquette
Albanians are very hospitable. Even more so than the rest of the Balkans, elder males expect to be shown respect on account of their age. Men of the family have to be respected in particular. Shake hands with them and do not argue about topics such as religion and politics. Certain topics are strictly taboo, homosexuality being one. Don't speak about gay rights, no matter what. The situation changes a lot according to the location (village or city) and the people with whom you speak as well. In the hidden north, avoid topics that go beyond local understanding, but in Tirana you will find cosmopolitan people that are as open to new ideas as the citizens of Western Europe. Sometimes, if you stay for a night or so at someone's house, don't be surprised if you see an AK-47 Kalashnikov hanging at the wall. It's pretty normal for Albanians to keep guns in the house
…Health
Internet
Connectivity on the road: coverage, data price, access.
Food delivery: Wolt
Prices
Frequently asked questions
Albania: do Kyrgyzstan citizens need a visa?
Yes — an e-visa, applied for online before the trip — up to 90 days.
How long can you stay?
Up to 90 days per visit.
What do you need to enter?
Passport must be valid 3 months. The permit or visa is issued online via the official portal — see the Entry details card above. Rules change — check the official source before you travel.
Similar visa-free destinations
Similar climate, sea and prices — no visa needed in advance.
If something goes wrong
Lost passport, detention, emergencies — where to turn.
MFA emergency line:+996 999 31-20-02Hotline for citizens abroad (also WhatsApp)About the country
- Capital
- Tirana
- Continent
- Europe
- Population
- 2,866,376
- Area
- 28,748 km²
- Currency
- Lek · ALL
- Time zone
- 20:10UTC+2
- Sockets
- CF
- Emergency
- 129police127ambulance128fire112universal
- Calling code
- +355
- Languages
- Albanian, Greek
−4h vs. your time
230 V · 50 Hz