Kashlee KucheranLast Updated
Albania officially reopened its borders for tourism on July 1,, 2020 allowing tourists from all countries and nations to enter without restrictions.
Albania started lifting restrictions on June 1st for its closest neighbors crossing via land borders, and finally lifted all entry restrictions and travel bans for air and sea borders as of July 1st.
All foreign citizens can now travel to Albania for the purposes of tourism.
Below we have more detailed information about what’s open in Albania, the health and safety protocols tourists should know about, and any testing/quarantine rules or entry requirements that might be put into effect.
Countries Allowed To Travel To Albania
All foreign citizens are now permitted to travel to Albania.
All normal ‘pre-covid’ entry requirements apply, like having a valid passport or Visa if necessary based on your nationality.
Note for US Citizens:
- The US embassy page for Albania has not been updated since June 15, 2020. On June 15th, they stated Albania was not yet open for US citizens, however many sources now tell us it is. We have confirmed with local consulates, embassies, local press, Iata and even the official border police that all covid-related entry restrictions or bans have now been lifted. However, Americans should always contact their consulate for clarification before traveling.
Entry Requirements For Albania
Albania’s borders are open for all nations to visit, but there are a few things travelers should know about entry requirements, even though they are pretty easy compared to other countries.
- All passengers arriving to Albania should follow distancing protocol of 1.5 meters and wear face masks on the flight and in the airport.
- In the arrivals area, all travelers will have their temperature measured with a calibrated thermometer
- To avoid duplication, passengers coming from EU flights, whom have been subjected to temperature measurement at the departure airport, will be excluded from this procedure when entering the Republic of Albania.
- Persons tested with a temperature above 37.5 degrees are not allowed to enter the airport and additional verification procedures will be carried out for them. Persons with a temperature above 37.5 degrees will enter the special area of quarantine.
Testing and Quarantine Protocols for Albania
None in effect. Currently there is no mandatory testing on arrival, no negative-PCR tests needed, and no quarantines for arrivals from certain countries.
Tests and/or quarantines will only be applied to symptomatic travelers.
What’s Open in Albania
As of June 1st, here is what tourists can expect to be open in Albania:
- Professional sporting events have resumed, with no spectators allowed to attend.
- Malls and shops are open with strict social distancing guidelines in place.
- Hairdressers and dentists are open with strict social distancing guidelines in place.
- Restaurants and cafes
- All indoor activity centers for children, gyms, sports centers, swimming pools, internet cafes, cultural centers, and entertainment centers
- Beaches
- Outdoor exercise
- Libraries and museums
- Public transportation has resumed with limited service and social distancing.
- All maritime and air borders have reopened.
- Hotels and other tourist accommodations
Have Flights Resumed To Albania?
Yes, commercial fights resumed June 15 from select countries, and reopened to most other destinations by June 22.
There are direct flights to many European cities into Tirana daily.
Some examples of cities Tirana currently flies direct to include: London, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Zurich, Prague, Vienna, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Kyiv, Belgrade, and Budapest.
Airlines offering the most availability include: Wizz Air, Air Albania and Albawings.
If you need to transit through the EU to get to Albania, read our EU transit airport guide.
Visiting Albania
Albania is situated between Greece and Montenegro on stunning Adriatic and Ionian coastlines. Visitors will love the variety of beautiful beaches, cities with historical ruins, and towns perched in the mountains.
The official currency is the Albanian Lek, but Euros are widely accepted as well.
All visitors should have valid travel insurance when visiting Albania.
Read More: See our complete guide of countries now reopen for international tourism, which countries are open for British, Canadian and American tourists, and travel insurance that covers covid.
Sources: Interview with the Embassy of Albania / Albania Border Police / Iata / US embassy in Albania
Disclaimer: Albania’s reopening news is ever-changing and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.
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