The +355 country code is for Albania. A small country of about 2.8 million people on the western Balkans, wedged between Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece, with a long Adriatic and Ionian coastline. Tirana is the capital and by far the largest city. Albania spent nearly five decades under one of the most isolated communist regimes in history -- Enver Hoxha sealed the borders so tightly that even the Soviet Union was considered too liberal. When the regime collapsed in 1991, Albanians flooded out, primarily to Italy and Greece. That diaspora now outnumbers the domestic population in terms of who's calling whom.
Quick answer: The country code +355 is for Albania. Mobile numbers are 9 digits after +355, starting with 6:
+355 6X XXX XXXX. Tirana landlines are 8 digits:+355 4 XXX XXXX. Other city landlines use 2-digit area codes. The trunk prefix is 0 -- drop it when dialing internationally.
How to call Albania: quick reference
Albania uses the trunk prefix 0 for domestic calls. When calling from abroad, drop the leading 0. A Tirana number that locals dial as 04 XXX XXXX becomes +355 4 XXX XXXX internationally.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +355 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-355-[local number] |
| Italy | 00-355-[local number] |
| Greece | 00-355-[local number] |
| UK | 00-355-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-355-[local number] |
| Kosovo | 00-355-[local number] |
Understanding Albania phone numbers
Albanian phone numbers vary in length depending on whether they're mobile or landline:
- Mobile numbers: 9 digits after +355, always starting with 6.
- Tirana landlines: 8 digits after +355, area code 4 (single digit).
- Other city landlines: 8 digits after +355, area code is 2 digits.
The trunk prefix 0 is used domestically but must be dropped for international calls.
Mobile numbers
All Albanian mobile numbers start with 6 after the country code. The next two digits generally indicate the carrier:
- Vodafone Albania: 69X (many ranges)
- ONE Albania: 68X, 67X
- ALBtelecom (Plus): 66X
Format: +355 6X XXX XXXX (9 digits total after +355)
Landline numbers and area codes
Tirana has the single-digit area code 4. Other cities use 2-digit area codes:
| Area code | City |
|---|---|
| 4 | Tirana (capital) |
| 52 | Durrës |
| 54 | Elbasan |
| 82 | Korçë |
| 33 | Vlorë |
| 22 | Shkodër |
| 32 | Fier |
| 84 | Gjirokastër |
Landlines are uncommon for personal use. Most Albanians rely on mobile phones. Landlines are mostly found in businesses, government offices, and hotels.
Mobile carriers in Albania
Albania has three mobile carriers. The market consolidated in recent years as foreign ownership shifted.
Vodafone Albania
The largest carrier with about 40% market share. Originally launched in 2001, Vodafone Albania is the preferred network for many urban users. 4G coverage is strong in Tirana and along the coast. The Vodafone brand is recognized across Albania, and many diaspora Albanians already have Vodafone accounts from Italy or Greece, which creates a sense of familiarity.
ONE Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
The second carrier, rebranded from Telekom Albania. ONE has about 30-35% market share and competitive pricing. It provides solid 4G coverage in major cities and along main highways. ONE also operates in Kosovo under the same brand, which makes cross-border communication between Albania and Kosovo easier for subscribers.
ALBtelecom (Plus)
The state-owned incumbent, originally just the fixed-line operator. ALBtelecom entered the mobile market with its Plus brand. It has the smallest mobile subscriber base (about 15-20%) but controls much of the landline and broadband infrastructure. Coverage outside Tirana and major cities can be patchy for mobile.
Don't confuse +355 with nearby codes
Albania's +355 sits in a cluster of 35X codes that are easy to confuse, especially since three of them are European countries that sound nothing alike.
| Code | Country | Region |
|---|---|---|
| +355 | Albania | Southeastern Europe (Balkans) |
| +353 | Ireland | Western Europe |
| +354 | Iceland | Northern Europe |
| +356 | Malta | Southern Europe (Mediterranean) |
| +357 | Cyprus | Eastern Mediterranean |
The most common mix-up is +355 (Albania) vs. +353 (Ireland). If you transpose the last two digits, you'll reach Dublin instead of Tirana. +356 (Malta) is one digit off and also a small Mediterranean country, adding to the confusion.
Time zone considerations
Albania is on Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October. This is the same time zone as Italy, Germany, and most of Western/Central Europe.
| Your location | Time difference | Call Albania 9 AM - 6 PM |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | Albania is 6 hours ahead | 3 AM - 12 PM EST |
| US East Coast (EDT) | Albania is 6 hours ahead | 3 AM - 12 PM EDT |
| US West Coast (PST) | Albania is 9 hours ahead | 12 AM - 9 AM PST |
| Italy (CET/CEST) | Same time zone | 9 AM - 6 PM |
| Greece (EET/EEST) | Albania is 1 hour behind | 10 AM - 7 PM Greek time |
| UK (GMT) | Albania is 1 hour ahead | 8 AM - 5 PM GMT |
| UK (BST) | Albania is 1 hour ahead | 8 AM - 5 PM BST |
| Kosovo | Same time zone | 9 AM - 6 PM |
Tip: The Italy-Albania connection is ideal -- same time zone, so you can call at any reasonable hour. Greece is only 1 hour ahead. US East Coast callers should aim for the morning window.
Communication in Albania
Business hours and calling patterns
Standard business hours in Albania are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Government offices typically close at 3:00 PM. Many shops and markets stay open later, especially in summer. Saturday mornings are busy for retail. The informal economy is large, so "business hours" can be flexible -- many people work from their mobile phones at all hours.
WhatsApp and messaging
WhatsApp is the dominant communication app in Albania. Voice calls, video calls, and voice notes are all common. WhatsApp has largely replaced SMS. Many Albanian businesses -- restaurants, shops, even medical clinics -- communicate with customers via WhatsApp. For the diaspora in Italy and Greece, WhatsApp is the default way to call home.
Viber also has a significant user base in Albania, more so than in most Western European countries. Some older Albanians who adopted Viber early still prefer it. Facebook Messenger is used too, especially for group chats.
Network coverage
Tirana and the coastal cities (Durrës, Vlorë, Sarandë) have solid 4G coverage on all three carriers. Main highways connecting major cities are well covered. Mountain areas in the north (the Albanian Alps around Theth and Valbona) and remote villages in the south have limited or no coverage. If you're trying to reach someone in rural northern Albania, they may need to walk to a spot with signal.
The Albania diaspora
Albania has one of the highest emigration rates in Europe relative to its population. When communism collapsed in 1991, the borders opened and a wave of Albanians left that hasn't fully stopped. At least a third of ethnic Albanians live outside Albania.
Where they went
- Italy: About 400,000-500,000 Albanians. The first wave arrived in March 1991 when ships packed with thousands of people landed in Bari and Brindisi -- images that were broadcast across European television for weeks. Another wave followed during the 1997 financial crisis (when pyramid schemes collapsed and the country briefly fell into anarchy). Albanians are now one of the largest immigrant groups in Italy, concentrated in Lombardy (Milan), Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Puglia.
- Greece: About 400,000-500,000 Albanians, the largest immigrant group in Greece. Many are from southern Albania, and some are ethnic Greeks from the Dropull and Himarë regions. Concentrated in Athens and Thessaloniki. The Greek-Albanian border crossing at Kakavijë is one of the busiest in the Balkans.
- Kosovo: Not exactly diaspora -- Kosovo's population of 1.8 million is mostly ethnic Albanian. Phone traffic between Albania and Kosovo is heavy. Family ties span the border. Many Albanians have relatives in both Tirana and Pristina.
- United States: About 200,000 Albanian-Americans, concentrated in New York (particularly the Bronx and Westchester County), Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Michigan (the Detroit area). The community predates the 1991 wave -- there's been Albanian immigration to the US since the early 1900s.
- United Kingdom: Growing community, estimated at 50,000-100,000. London is the main hub. A significant wave arrived in the 2020s, making Albania one of the top nationalities for Channel crossings.
- Germany: About 50,000-70,000 Albanians. Many arrived as asylum seekers in the 1990s.
Why they call
Albania's emigration was driven by economic collapse, not war (unlike neighbouring Kosovo and Bosnia). Families left together or in stages -- one parent would go to Italy or Greece to work, then bring the family later, or not. The phone call home was the lifeline. Remittances from Italy and Greece still account for roughly 5-8% of Albania's GDP. Calls spike around Albanian holidays: Independence Day (November 28), Bajram (Eid, both versions -- Albania is a mix of Muslim, Orthodox, and Catholic), and summer when diaspora families return for vacation.
Dialing examples
Example 1: Calling a Tirana mobile (Vodafone) from Italy
- Albanian number (local format): 069 123 4567
- Drop the trunk prefix 0: 69 123 4567
- From Italy:
00 355 69 123 4567
Example 2: Calling a Tirana landline from the US
- Albanian number (local format): 04 234 5678
- Drop the trunk prefix 0: 4 234 5678
- From a US mobile:
+355 4 234 5678 - From a US landline:
011 355 4 234 5678
Example 3: Calling a Durrës landline from Greece
- Albanian number (local format): 052 345 678
- Drop the trunk prefix 0: 52 345 678
- From Greece:
00 355 52 345 678
Example 4: Calling an Albanian mobile from Kosovo
- Albanian number (local format): 068 765 4321
- Drop the trunk prefix 0: 68 765 4321
- From Kosovo:
00 355 68 765 4321
Common mistakes to avoid
Keeping the trunk prefix 0
Albanians give their mobile numbers as 069 XXX XXXX or 068 XXX XXXX. That leading 0 is the trunk prefix for domestic use only. Drop it when dialing internationally: +355 69 XXX XXXX, not +355 069 XXX XXXX.
Confusing +355 with +353 (Ireland)
The two most commonly swapped codes. If you transpose the 5 and the 3, you get Ireland instead of Albania. Double-check before dialing.
Wrong number of digits
Mobile numbers are 9 digits after +355. Tirana landlines are 8 digits (area code 4 + 7 digits). Other city landlines are also 8 digits (2-digit area code + 6 digits). If your number doesn't match these lengths, something is off.
Calling Kosovo numbers with +355
Kosovo is a separate country with its own code: +383. Even though the population is mostly ethnic Albanian, you can't reach Kosovo numbers with +355. Use +383 for Kosovo, +355 for Albania.
Expecting landline reliability in rural areas
The fixed-line network in Albania outside Tirana is old and unreliable. If a landline number doesn't connect, try a mobile number instead. Most Albanians rely on their mobile phones.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +355 country code?
The +355 country code is for Albania.
How many digits is an Albanian phone number?
Mobile numbers are 9 digits after +355 (starting with 6). Landline numbers are 8 digits after +355 (Tirana: area code 4 + 7 digits; other cities: 2-digit area code + 6 digits).
How do I call Albania from the USA?
From a mobile phone, dial +355 followed by the number (drop the leading 0). From a landline, dial the US exit code 011, then 355, then the number without the leading 0.
What time zone is Albania in?
Albania is on Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and CEST (UTC+2) in summer. Same time zone as Italy.
What is the difference between +355 and +353?
+355 is Albania (capital: Tirana). +353 is Ireland (capital: Dublin). They're the most commonly confused codes in the 35X range.
Does Albania have a trunk prefix?
Yes. Albania uses 0 as the trunk prefix for domestic calls. Drop it when dialing from abroad.
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