Buying a SIM card at Tirana International Airport (TIA) is a method chosen by many tourists when coming to Albania. Specific buying instructions are given below.
Although many customers choose to buy a SIM card at Tirana International Airport (TIA), not everyone knows all the requirements, especially what needs to be prepared. Partly because this is an international airport so it is recommended by many customers, partly because it helps visitors connect to the internet upon arrival. The article below contains specific information.
In this article
To buy a SIM card at TIA airport, you can follow three ways:
| Choice | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Buy at Tirana Airport | – Instant internet access upon arrival. – Convenient and quick. | – Limited plan options. – Might be more expensive than other options. |
| Buy online before departure | – Wider selection of plans and providers. – Competitive deals and discounts. – Instant activation for eSIMs. | – Potential delivery delays. – Waiting for physical SIM card delivery. – Possible additional delivery fees for physical SIMs. |
| Buy in Tirana city center | – The widest variety of options and data packages. – Generally the cheapest rates. | – Requires extra travel time to reach Tirana city center. |
To buy a SIM card and pick it up at the airport, it is not required that you go there and choose to buy it. In fact, there are 2 ways you can buy: order online before arriving and buy directly at the airport.
Usually, tourists and foreigners coming to Albania choose a SIM card and order it in advance and receive it at the airport. This way, you can save time and don’t need to waste time and health waiting in line.
Usually, buyers will choose to have the carrier ship to their accommodation instead of receiving it at the airport to save time. Because the SIM card is activated and can be used immediately after purchase, you do not need to buy it too long in advance, you should only buy it about 1 day before.
This way of buying has pros and cons such as:
Pros:
Cons:
Instead of booking online, many tourists choose to go to a new place to buy a SIM card. Immediately after passing through the arrival hall, 2 kiosks of Vodafone and One (Telekom) are easily visible. Of course, this way of buying is also chosen by many people and you need to line up for your turn.
Travelers can find two shops of Vodafone and Telekom at arrival terminal. Shops are usually open until almost midnight.
Buying this way, you need to consider some of the following advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
Cons:
No, SIM card shops at TIA airport do not open after midnight. While the airport conveniently offers kiosks from Vodafone and Telekom for travelers to purchase SIM cards upon arrival, these shops generally operate until “almost midnight,” meaning they close before the clock strikes twelve. So, if you’re arriving late, it’s best to plan on getting your SIM card earlier or exploring other options like purchasing online in advance.
The cost of purchasing a SIM card at Tirana International Airport is around 1000 Lek ($10.51 USD) to 2900 Lek ($30.48 USD) with accompanying data packages. This price depends on each network operator, different packages and time of purchase. It’s best to check with the network operator before buying.
Vodafone and telekom are the biggest mobile operator in Albania. Below is detailed information about their SIM card options and prices for travelers.
Some data packages purchased at the airport for tourists from Vodafone Albania:
Telekom’s travel package:
Some other prepaid SIM cards are valid for 30 days:
To buy a SIM card at international airports in general and Tirana International Airport in particular, you need to prepare a few things. First, you definitely need an unlocked phone, next is identification documents to verify identity (passport) and certainly not without cash or credit cards. Usually, you also don’t need a SIM card stick because the staff is available.
An optimal alternative to SIM cards is eSIM. When using, you just need to access the settings on your phone to use it at any time instead of having to use a SIM stick. By removing the physical SIM card, the phone will have more space for other features.
As expected of being the leading eSIM provider from Hong Kong, Gigago allows you to freely choose eSIM packages from 7 days, 14 days, 30 days. This means you have many options to suit the length of your trip. Of course, its cost also varies.
Yes, you can. Maybe other airports only open shops selling SIM cards during the day, but Tirana airport is open 24 hours so you can rest assured. However, if you are worried about changes, check the information through the network operator’s website.
When traveling internationally, you cannot lack a passport and it is also an important document for you to verify your identity when buying a SIM card. Furthermore, whether you have a credit card or not, have some cash on hand.
Information on buying a SIM card at Tirana International Airport (TIA) is important information for those who prefer this traditional way of buying. Hope you have been very satisfied with this information. Please visit Gigago to receive other eSIM promotions!
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