Money at Tirana International (Mother Teresa) (TIA)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Tirana, Albania.
Tirana uses the ALL (L). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly 400 ALL–2500 ALL. Cash preferred; small ALL notes help.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Tirana International (Mother Teresa) (TIA)?
Albania uses the ALL (L). Airport ATMs dispense ALL directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from TIA to the city cost?
Expected fare on the TIA → Centre route is roughly 400 ALL–2500 ALL. Around 3500 ALL+ is already high, and 5000 ALL+ off-meter is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at TIA?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Albania don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at TIA?
Cash preferred; small ALL notes help. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of ALL notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at TIA?
Only if you need $10–20 of ALL to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
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