Tirana Money exchange

The Albanian lek is a closed currency: you cannot buy it before you arrive, so changing money is one of the first things most visitors do. Exchange offices are concentrated around Skanderbeg Square, along the boulevard and through the centre, and their rates are consistently better than the airport or a hotel desk.

Rates are displayed on boards outside and commission is usually built into the spread rather than charged separately, so compare the number you will actually receive. Euros are the easiest currency to change. Cash still matters here: smaller restaurants, markets, furgons and taxis often take nothing else.