Country guide

Albania

Destinations

Visa & entry

eu passport	Visa-free entry, up to 90 days per 180-day period; EU/EEA citizens may enter on a national ID card, passport not required (2026).
us passport	Visa-free entry; US citizens may stay up to 1 year without a residence permit, no application or fee required (2026) - unusually generous vs rest of Europe.
uk passport	Visa-free entry, up to 90 days per 180-day period under a bilateral UK-Albania arrangement, in force through 2025-2026.
notes	Passport must be valid 3+ months beyond entry date with one blank page; proof of onward/return travel may be requested at border. Holders of a valid, previously-used Schengen, US, or UK visa can also enter visa-free for 90 days regardless of nationality.

Money

currency	ALL (Albanian Lek)

SIM & internet

operators ranked for coast coverage	Vodafone Albania - reported best 4G/5G network, covers Durrës, Vlorë and the Albanian Riviera (Dhërmi, Ksamil) plus mountain areas (2026) Telekom Albania ONE Albania
esim options	Holafly (Albania-specific plans) Saily - from $3.99 (2026) Generic international eSIM providers (Airalo-type) - roughly $3.40 for 1GB/7 days up to ~$26 for larger packages (2026)
notes	Physical tourist SIM ~500-1800 LEK (roughly EUR4-15) depending on provider/package (2026 reports vary).

Insurance

Health

Driving

Regulation

protected areas	Divjakë-Karavasta National Park (est. 1964, Ramsar-listed wetland) covers the Divjakë kite spot area on the Adriatic coast. Park rules prohibit intensive/disruptive activity and entry into designated biodiversity-conservation zones, but sources do not state explicitly whether kitesurfing itself is permitted or requires a permit - one kite-trip report advises checking locally / possibly needing a special permit or local kite-club membership. Contact Albania's National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA/AZMT) to confirm before launching at Divjakë.

protected areas

Divjakë-Karavasta National Park (est. 1964, Ramsar-listed wetland) covers the Divjakë kite spot area on the Adriatic coast. Park rules prohibit intensive/disruptive activity and entry into designated biodiversity-conservation zones, but sources do not state explicitly whether kitesurfing itself is permitted or requires a permit - one kite-trip report advises checking locally / possibly needing a special permit or local kite-club membership. Contact Albania's National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA/AZMT) to confirm before launching at Divjakë.

Calendar & costs

meal	Restaurant meal (main + drink) ~EUR4.70-9.30 ($5-10); McMeal ~$9.00 (725 ALL) (2026, Numbeo-derived)
coffee	Cappuccino ~$2.10 (170 ALL); espresso ~$1.50 (119 ALL) (2026)
currency	USD-equivalent (source figures given in USD)
year	2026

Open questions

Whether kitesurfing/launching is formally permitted or requires a permit inside Divjakë-Karavasta National Park.
Albania entry/eco tourist tax status for 2026 not confirmed.
Digital nomad visa existence/terms for Albania not confirmed this session.
ID requirement for prepaid SIM registration not confirmed.
Airline kite-bag policies for carriers serving Tirana (Wizz Air, Ryanair, etc.) not researched this session.
Health/emergency numbers, tap water safety, and driving rules not researched this session - budget exhausted before coverage.

Sources: albaniavisit.com · himara.net · schengentraveler.com · staffordaffiliatestravel.com · esim.holafly.com · saily.com · +7