Which ATMs in Albania have no withdrawal fee?

Credins Bank and BKT are usually the cheapest, often with no extra fee on foreign cards. Raiffeisen and Intesa charge roughly 500–800 ALL. Avoid the standalone Euronet tourist ATMs, which charge around 800–1,000 ALL plus a poor exchange rate.

Can I use euros in Albania?

Some coastal hotels and tour operators accept euros, but at a poor rate. The currency is the lek (ALL) and you will need lek in cash for buses, furgons, village cafés and mountain guesthouses.

Is Albania cash or card?

Cards work in Tirana, hotels, supermarkets and larger coastal restaurants. Transport, guesthouses in Theth and Valbona, markets and small cafés are cash only, so carry lek.

Money

Lek converter & ATM fees

You have

is about

9,750ALL

1 EUR ≈ 97.5 ALL · saved rate, works offline. Street prices are usually rounded, so treat this as a guide.

ATM fees, cheapest first

Credins BankNo extra withdrawal fee on most cardsBest value

BKT (Banka Kombëtare Tregtare)Around 0–500 ALL, often free for large withdrawalsBest value

Raiffeisen BankAbout 500–700 ALL per withdrawalOkay

Intesa Sanpaolo Bank AlbaniaAbout 500–800 ALL per withdrawalOkay

Euronet (blue/yellow tourist ATMs)Around 800–1,000 ALL plus a poor exchange rateAvoid

Cash rules that save money

Always decline the ATM's own conversion

When the screen offers to charge you in euros or pounds instead of lek, press 'without conversion' or 'decline'. Accepting it hands the ATM a hidden 5–10% margin. Let your own bank do the conversion.

Withdraw larger amounts, less often

Most fees are a flat charge per withdrawal, so one 30,000 ALL withdrawal costs the same as one of 5,000 ALL. Take out enough for several days.

Where cards do not work

Furgons and buses, most guesthouses in Theth and Valbona, village cafés, farmers' markets, small bakeries, parking attendants and taxi drivers are cash only. Cards are fine in Tirana restaurants, supermarkets, hotels and the big coastal resorts.

Cash before the mountains

There is no ATM in Theth or Valbona, and none on the Komani ferry route. Withdraw in Shkodër or Bajram Curri before heading up, and budget roughly 3,500–5,000 ALL per person per night for a guesthouse with dinner.

Notes and change

Lek comes in 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 notes. Nobody has change for a 5,000 at 7am, so break big notes in supermarkets. You may still hear prices in 'old lek' — ten times the real number; if a coffee sounds like 1,500, it is 150.

Fees are typical 2026 figures reported by travellers and can change at any time.

Questions travellers ask

Which ATMs in Albania don't charge fees?

Credins and BKT ATMs usually charge no operator fee. Raiffeisen and Intesa charge about 500–800 ALL; standalone tourist ATMs about 800–1,000 ALL.

Should I pay in lek or euro in Albania?

Pay in lek. Euros are accepted at some tourist businesses but at poor rates. Always decline the ATM's own currency conversion.

How many lek is one euro?

About 97–98 ALL per euro (rates change; the converter shows the current estimate).