Electricity and sockets
Electrical sockets in Albania are identical to those in continental Europe. Although there is an older type where the holes are slightly closer together, you will rarely see these in hotels, or they are likely to have a reduction available for hire.
Electricity is theoretically 220V, in practice it's often much less, so if you're travelling with equipment that could be damaged by low voltage you should get an adaptor.
Sockets and plugs used in Albania are mainly type F (called Schuko type) and type C. A type F socket looks identical to the sockets in the Czech Republic, but has a pair of earthing strips at the top and bottom instead of a grounding pin. However, most modern plugs (e.g. for computers or kettles) can cope with this without any problem, because in addition to the hole for the grounding pin, they also have cutouts on the sides for the grounding strips. Incidentally, in the Czech Republic you can often find "Schuko" sockets.
Type C sockets have no earthing (it is replaced by two-phase protection), you can plug most appliances into them without any problems.
- F and Csockets
- Voltage: 220 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
- Adapter: not needed
Internet and data SIM
Albania is not a member in the EU, so you cannot use mobile data here without a roaming surcharge. However, mobile operators have outlets at both international airports and in every major city that directly offer tourist data SIM cards. For example, the mobile operator ONE offers a SIM card with 15 GB of data for 1500 all.
Wifi is common in almost all restaurants and cafes, of which there is a really large number around Albania, even in the smaller towns. It is of course standard in hotels or even in shopping malls.
Call
The same rules apply for calling or texting as for using data. Albania is not in the EU, so you can't call home on your domestic tariff, only with roaming surcharges. However, the above-mentioned tourist SIM card for data for 1 500 all includes calls abroad.
