Buying a SIM card at Tirana International Airport (TIA) 2024: Travelers Guide

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.

I. How to Get a SIM Card at Tirana International Airport (TIA)?

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.

II. Where to Buy a SIM Card at Tirana International Airport?

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.

1. Buy online before departure and pickup 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:

• Don’t waste time waiting or queuing
• The SIM card is activated and ready for use

Cons:

• Not all carriers allow you to order online
• There is an additional shipping fee to your address

2. Buy at the airport upon arrival

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:

• There are many options under the guidance of the staff
• There are two forms of payment: cash and credit card
• The kiosk is open 24/7 so it’s easy to buy whenever you come

Cons:

• Waste of time waiting and queuing if crowded
• Need good foreign language skills

III. Do SIM card shops at TIA airport open after midnight?

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.

IV. How Much Does a SIM Card at Tirana International Airport Cost?

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.

1. Best Vodafone Albania SIM card options and prices

Some data packages purchased at the airport for tourists from Vodafone Albania:

• 2300 Lek ($24.17 USD) = 40GB data + 1000 minutes calling (valid 15 days)
• 2900 Lek ($30.48 USD) = 100GB data + unlimited minutes calling (valid 21 days)

2. Best Telekom Albania SIM card options and prices

Telekom’s travel package:

• 2300 Lek ($24.17 USD) = 40GB data + 1000 minutes calling + 1000 SMS (valid 15 days)
• 2900 Lek ($30.48 USD) = 100GB data + unlimited calling/SMS (valid 21 days)

Some other prepaid SIM cards are valid for 30 days:

• 1000 Lek ($10.51 USD) = 1GB data + 400 minutes calling + 400 SMS
• 1500 Lek ($15.77 USD) = 10GB data + unlimited minutes calling + 1000 SMS
• 1800 Lek ($18.92 USD) = 25GB data + unlimited calling/SMS
• 2100 Lek ($22.07 USD) = 34GB data + unlimited calling/SMS

V. What to Prepare for Getting a SIM Card at Tirana International Airport – Registration Process

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.

VI. Albania eSIM for Tirana – an Alternative to Prepaid SIM Card at Tirana International Airport

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.

VIII. FAQs

IX. Conclusion

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!