Logistics · Country Guide
Mediterranean wrecks, marine parks, and clear Ionian road-trip diving
Updated Mar 27, 2026 • 24 sources
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Most international travelers enter Albania diving trips through Tirana or through nearby Corfu in Greece. Tirana is the safest all-country gateway and works best for Vlora and Karaburun-Sazan, while Corfu plus ferry is often the fastest play for Saranda and Ksamil and can also make sense for Himara. Albania is compact enough for a south-coast road trip, so many visitors arrive one way and loop south by car rather than changing hotels every night.
Tirana International Airport Nene Tereza
TIA • LATI
17 km • about 30 to 45 minutes to central Tirana, about 2.5 hourss to Vlora, and longer for Himara or Saranda
Primary national gateway and the easiest airport for overland access to Vlora, the Riviera, and the rest of Albania.
Transport: Airport shuttle buses, Licensed yellow taxis, Rental cars, Private transfers
Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias
CFU • LGKR
3 km • about 10 to 15 minutes to Corfu port, then about 30 minutes by fast ferry to Saranda
Best shortcut gateway for Saranda, Ksamil, and many far-south Albania itineraries when combined with the Corfu to Saranda ferry.
Transport: Taxi to port, Seasonal port transfers, Fast ferry, Car ferry
A rental car is the strongest choice for dive travelers because it lets you combine multiple bases and adapt to weather. Public transport exists and the national tourism guidance notes that buses are slow but workable, while Tirana Airport also publishes direct coach information to cities including Vlora. Licensed yellow taxis operate from the airport, and private transfers are easy to pre-book. On the Riviera, road progress is slower than the map suggests, so avoid planning too many hotel changes in one week.
Entry rules depend on nationality. Many visitors can enter visa-free or under special categories recognized by Albania, while others need a Type C visa through Albania's e-visa system. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs states that short-stay Type C visas allow stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period, and visa applications require supporting documents such as bookings, proof of funds, and travel health insurance. Check the official Albanian visa pages against your passport before travel, because eligibility varies by nationality and the exact document set can change.
Bring mission-critical items with you rather than assuming every coastal town can replace them quickly. Main dive centers can usually handle standard recreational rental needs, but specialty preferences such as specific fins, freedive buoys, computer charging setups, or advanced-gas expectations are best confirmed in advance. A hard box or padded bag helps on boat days, and a spare mask plus dry bag are worth carrying on any multi-base Albania trip.
Albanian Lek (ALL)
Cards are common in larger coastal hotels, restaurants, and organized dive businesses, especially in Vlora, Himara, Saranda, and Ksamil. Cash still smooths smaller guesthouses, beach services, roadside stops, and ad hoc parking or snack purchases.
ATMs and exchange points are easy to find at the airport, in ports, larger cities, and the main tourist centers. Coverage gets thinner in smaller villages and on long drive days, so withdraw before moving between bases.
230V • 50Hz • C, F
Standard continental European adapters work in most accommodations. Bring a small power strip or splitter if you travel with multiple cameras, torches, computers, and charging blocks.
Communications
Tourist SIM options are straightforward. Vodafone Albania and One Albania both advertise tourist-oriented data products, and buying one early in the trip is useful for navigation, ferry checks, and coordination with boat operators. Signal is fine in the main towns but can weaken in mountain stretches, remote coves, or during boat days, so download maps and save booking details offline.
Language
Albanian is the default language nationwide. In the main coastal tourism corridor you can usually manage the trip in English, especially with hotels, restaurants, and dive operations that handle international visitors. Italian or Greek can also be useful in parts of the south, but you do not need them for a normal visitor itinerary if your logistics are pre-booked.
Insurance
If you need a visa, travel health insurance is part of the official application logic. Even if you are visa-free, carry medical cover that includes evacuation and repatriation, and add dive accident coverage if you plan scuba or deeper freedive work. Albania is manageable as a destination, but conservative insurance choices are smarter here than assuming immediate resort-style medical redundancy on every stretch of coast.
Packing list