Exquisite carpets, painstakingly done needlework, lovely figurines and woodcarvings, curios in copper and silver - these are but a few of the interesting souvenirs that you can buy in Albania. The best place for such items is Kruja in Tirana where a traditional bazaar is held. The other places in Tirana where you can purchase knick-knacks are gift shops on Luigj Gorakuqi and Barricadave.
Use your bargaining skills to get both fun and value out of every deal that you strike!
Shopping in Albania is a truly unique experience. Read on and learn about the best deals and places to shop in Albania. If you get hungry during your shopping spree, stop for some finger food or local cuisine in one of the restaurants along the city's shopping streets. For further local shopping information, visit out Tirana or Shkoder sites.
Shopping in Albania
Shopping Malls
Galeria
Not all shopping in Albania is limited to bazaars. Albania has caught up with the rest the world and can offer you a shopping mall experience too. The Galeria Mall is located in the European Trade Centre. It is fully air-conditioned and has four floors of delights for you with shops, cafes, bars, the works. A Conad supermarket located conveniently on the ground floor is a good place to buy essentials that you may need.
Sheraton Plaza
The Sheraton Hotel has an attached mall where you will find a food court that gives you a choice of three cuisines, Asian, Italian and Mexican. There is a supermarket, a few high-end shops and even a Chinese car showroom here.
A few of the other big hotels also have gift shops on their premises that sell locally sourced merchandise. Seldom do people leave Albania without embroidered tablecloths and musical instruments like sharki and cifteli.
Univers
The Qendra Tregtare Univers is a shopping centre that occupies all of 13,600 square metres. It is located along the Durres highway; you cannot miss the QTU sign that is placed about a kilometre away from the Shkodra turning. Quite a few big names like Vodafone and Hilfiger, to name a few, have a presence here. There are restaurants and bars at which to refresh yourself when shopping tires you out. There is a free shuttle bus to the QTU from the National Museum every thirty minutes. The buses run between eight in the morning and ten at night.
Shopping Hours
Shops in Albania are open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and are closed in the afternoons for a lunch break (between 12.00 noon and 3.00 pm). Timings for the afternoon break may vary from place to place. A few shops are open on Sundays too.
Currency and Payment
When in Albania you will need to make most payments in the national currency, Lek.
Lek (ALL) = 100 qindarka.
ALL is issued in notes of 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000, and in coins with denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50.
Several ATMs in all the major cities make it easy for tourists to withdraw cash against their credit cards. VISA, Diner's Club and MasterCard are generally accepted by most ATMs. A few large retail establishments, big hotels and a few restaurants accept credit card payments. For all the other places it is better to carry the local currency.
