Can you use the euro in Albania? Your Albanian currency guide

Planning a trip to Albania is exciting. You're probably thinking about the stunning Albanian Riviera, the historic streets of Gjirokastër, and the delicious seafood.

But before you go, one of the most important things to think about is how to handle your travel money.

In this guide for UK travellers, we break down everything you need to know about the Albanian currency, the practicality of using euros and pounds, and how to pay safely and affordably in Albania.

We’ll also show you how your Revolut card can help you spend in Albania with clear and competitive rates, making us your essential companion for seamless travel.

Exchange and transfer fees, fair usage limits, and T&Cs apply.

The information provided is accurate as of 1 December 2025.

The content of this page is for general information purposes only and doesn't constitute financial advice. If you have any questions about your personal circumstances, please seek professional and independent advice. Revolut isn't a financial adviser.

What money does Albania use?

The national and official currency of Albania is the Albanian lek (leku shqiptar), which is universally abbreviated to ALL and symbolised by L.

While Albania has strong ties to the eurozone and is a growing destination for UK visitors, the Albanian lek is the only legal national currency. All goods and services are officially priced and settled in ALL. It’s the only currency accepted everywhere, from mountain villages to public transport in city centres.

Using the local currency simplifies your payments and helps you stick to your budget without the confusion of on-the-spot conversion estimates.

Albanian Lek facts and figures

Knowing the denominations will help you manage your money easily, especially when you’re paying with cash or calculating tips. Although the lek is theoretically divided into 100 qindarka, these units are no longer in use due to their low value, meaning the lek is the smallest unit you’ll encounter.

The banknotes you'll encounter are:

• L200, L500, L1,000, L2,000, L5,000, and L10,000

The coins are:

• L1, L5, L10, L20, L50, and L100

Familiarising yourself with these notes and coins before you travel is a simple way to feel more confident when handling payments at markets or small local shops.

Can you pay with euros in Albania?

Albania doesn't use the euro as its official currency. The official currency is the Albanian lek (ALL).

This is the central question for many UK travellers, and the answer is this: while you can use euros in Albania, you often shouldn’t.

However, because of the high volume of tourism, especially along the coastline (the Riviera), you'll find places in popular destinations such as Tirana, Sarandë, and Vlorë that are willing to accept foreign cash, including the euro and, occasionally, the British pound.

Can you pay in pounds in Albania?

Acceptance of the British pound (GBP) in Albania is far less common than acceptance of the euro. While some large, tourist-focused businesses might occasionally accept euros as a convenience, pounds are almost never accepted as a form of payment.

Even if a business takes euros, the deal isn’t always great. You might be charged a poor rate, and any change will probably come back in lek.

So it’s usually easier to keep some Albanian lek with you, or use a card with competitive exchange rates — like the Revolut debit card.

Where foreign cash is accepted (and where it isn't)

In touristy areas, some places do accept euros (EUR) and US dollars (USD).

Foreign cash is often accepted by:

• Large, international hotel chains
• Tour and excursion operators (especially for boat trips)
• Shops in major city centres or large shopping malls
• Some major restaurants and resort bars

Foreign cash is generally not accepted (or should be avoided) for:

• Local markets and street food vendors
• Taxis and most forms of public transport
• Small, independent retailers or bakeries
• Any service not inside a major city or tourist area

If you try to pay in euros or pounds in these situations, you'll likely be met with refusal, or the vendor will reluctantly accept it using an exchange rate heavily skewed in their favour.

When an Albanian vendor accepts EUR or GBP, they must later take that money to an exchange office to convert it into their operating currency, ALL. To compensate for this hassle, they apply a safety margin to the price.

This margin often translates into you paying a 5–15% mark-up on the item that you wouldn’t have to worry about if you paid in Albanian Lek.

If you want a clear and fair conversion rate, always insist on paying in Albanian lek.

A multi-currency card like ours automatically handles the conversion process for you, giving you a significantly better rate. You can easily manage and exchange your currencies in-app, including GBP and EUR.

How to get Albanian lek

Your next question is how and where to exchange your GBP for ALL. The method you choose affects the rate you get and the fees you pay.

Avoiding airport and hotel exchange prices

As a rule of thumb, you should always aim to avoid exchanging large amounts of currency at airports and hotels.

These locations are convenient, but they charge a significant premium. Their exchange rates are deliberately set to be less competitive, meaning you receive far fewer lek for your British pounds than you would elsewhere. Similarly, you often get worse rates when you change money before you leave the UK than you can find once you arrive in Albania.

It's sensible to exchange a very small amount, just enough for a taxi or a snack when you land, but reserve the bulk of your exchange for better rates in the city centre.

ATMs vs exchange offices (zyra këmbimi)

Once you're in a city like Tirana or Shkodër, you have 2 main options for getting lek — a licensed exchange office or an ATM:

• Exchange offices (zyra këmbimi): these dedicated currency exchange offices are common in city centres and generally offer clearer, more competitive rates than banks or airport desks. Always check the rates posted on their boards and be wary of any office that advertises a 0% commission but displays a very poor exchange rate. The commission is simply built into the rate itself.
• ATMs: for most customers, using an ATM with a multi-currency card offers the best combination of speed, clarity, and convenience. Your card provider handles the currency conversion, usually at a much easier to understand rate than traditional exchange services.

Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) and why you should avoid it

When you use a card to pay or at an ATM in Albania, there's one important concept to master: dynamic currency conversion (DCC).

If the ATM asks if you want to continue the transaction in British pounds (GBP) or Albanian lek (ALL), always choose ALL.

Choosing GBP allows the ATM operator (not your card provider) to apply its own (often highly unfavourable) exchange rate. By selecting ALL, you opt for your card provider’s clearer, more competitive rate.

Tips for using an ATM in Albania

If an ATM asks whether you'd like to complete the transaction 'with conversion' or 'without conversion', you should choose 'without conversion'.

If you choose 'with conversion', the ATM provider may apply their own exchange rate.

You should opt to be charged in the local currency of the country you’re in. If you’re in Albania, choose Albanian lek.

No ATM withdrawal fees within plan limits. T&Cs apply. Third parties may charge ATM fees.

Should I use cards or cash in Albania?

Albania is well-served by card networks like Visa and Mastercard in cities and major tourist spots. However, a combination of cash and card is the most practical way to pay, ensuring you're prepared for every situation.

When to use your card

Your multi-currency card is your primary tool for security and large payments, including:

• Accommodation: hotels, resorts, and pre-booked apartment costs
• Large retail: shopping malls and major chain restaurants
• High-value transactions: any item over a few thousand lek where you prefer the security of a card transaction over handling large quantities of cash
• Online bookings: domestic flights, trains, and tours are safest booked online with a card

When to use cash

Keep some Albanian lek cash on you for smaller, necessary expenses like:

• Tipping: from servers to cafe attendants, tips are typically given in cash (10% in restaurants is standard)
• Local transport: many local buses and taxis, especially outside the main city centres, rely purely on cash
• Small purchases: street food, small coffee shops, local corner shops, and public toilet fees often require lek coins or small notes

As a general rule, travellers often carry between L2,000–5,000 in small denominations for daily use, keeping the rest of their money safe on their card.

Why use a multi-currency travel card?

For UK customers planning a trip to Albania, using a specialist multi-currency travel money card like ours is a cost-effective and safe way to manage your finances.

Many traditional banks charge high fees for foreign transactions and ATM withdrawals, quickly eating away at your holiday budget. Our approach is to provide clear and competitive rates, making us your essential companion for seamless travel.

To see how competitive our rates are, check any currency conversion — including GBP to ALL — on our dedicated currency converter page.

Spending abroad with Revolut is simple

If you're looking to avoid expensive surprise fees and hidden exchange rate mark-ups, consider taking the Revolut debit card on your next trip to Albania.

Here's why:

• Manage and exchange over 30 currencies in-app, including GBP, EUR, and ALL
• Convert euros to Albanian lek at clear fees and competitive exchange rates
• No need to buy or exchange currency before your trip — we'll automatically convert your balance to the currency you're paying in
• Withdraw cash easily from any ATM that supports Visa or Mastercard
• Create free virtual cards for more convenience and security, and add them to your digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay

Final tips for keeping your money safe in Albania

Safety and security are important when travelling. Modern digital accounts like ours provide tools to keep your money safe.

The protection measures we take for your account include:

• Instant freezing: if you misplace your card or suspect theft, you can instantly freeze it in-app with a single tap. If you find it, you can instantly unfreeze it.
• Security measures: you have full control over your card’s security settings, including enabling/disabling contactless payments, online transactions, and ATM withdrawals. We also use geo-blocking to provide an extra layer of protection when your card is used in a different location to your phone.
• Virtual cards: for booking hotels or flights online, use a single-use virtual card. After the transaction, the card details expire, protecting your main account details from potential fraud.

To protect yourself from being robbed, avoid withdrawing large sums late at night. Only take money out in small amounts and from secure ATMs attached to major banks.

Learn more abou how we protect your money.

Pay with Revolut on your next trip to Albania

Make us your travel money card for seamless spending abroad, and manage Albanian lek and over 150 other currencies in-app.

Getting started is quick and easy:

1. Download the Revolut app from the App Store or Google Play and sign up for Revolut.
2. Follow the in-app process to complete your profile and verify your identity.
3. Add money to your account in British pounds (GBP) via transfer or a linked card.
4. Once in-app, you can create an Albanian lek currency Pocket and exchange the amount you plan to spend. Or, simply start spending from your usual GBP balance in Albania — we'll handle the conversion instantly.
5. Order your physical card (delivery fees apply) and, if needed, add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay to start spending immediately.