In Albania, you are not exposed to more health risks than in other South-Eastern European countries. However, government-run medical facilities are poor, particularly outside Tirana. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad.
Private hospitals provide far better care. American Hospital, which has offices in Tirana, Durrës and Fier, also runs a 24-hour emergency room (tel. +355(0)42357535). Another private clinic is Hygeia Hospital in Tirana (tel. +35542390000)
Important phone numbers:
Ambulance: 127
Fire brigade: 128
Police: 129
Emergency number: 112
The universal 112 emergency number works in Albania similar to in all EU countries, integrating emergency services, police and firefighters. Operators on this number should be able to receive calls in English and possibly other world languages. On other emergency numbers, dispatchers usually speak only Albanian.
No compulsory vaccination is required in Albania. However, vaccination against hepatitis A or B, tetanus and possibly tick-borne encephalitis is always recommended. If you are not vaccinated against rabies and are bitten by a stray dog or other animal, you should either get a jab (which is quite difficult to get in Albania) or consider returning home immediately for proper treatment.
Pharmacies are frequent and relatively well-supplied in Albania.
Tap water is not always safe to drink and caution is needed. Even Albanians sometimes prefer bottled water and use tap water only for cooking and washing. You may better ask the locals if the water is drinkable. In the mountain areas, the water is mostly clean, as it is brought to the villages directly from the springs through a system of hoses.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Explore diverse, reliable accommodations in Albania with Booking.com, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Flights
Find the cheapest flights to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Experiences
Viator.com offers a way to book diverse tours and activities in Albania, providing access to trusted local partners.