Getting to from and around Tirana is easy and convenient with well established transportation connections to various countries in both Europe and Asia by air, road and sea.
Our Tirana transportation guide below will tell you all you need to know about getting to and getting around Tirana. To help you see & experience the best that the city of Tirana has to offer, we have many tours and activities available. For some great general travel information about getting to, from and around Albania, see our Albania transportation guide.
Tirana Transportation Guide
Getting to Tirana
By Air
Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA or Mother Teresa International Airport) is modern and clean and is at a distance of 25 km from the city centre. There are flights from many European cities and taking the plane may be the best option for you if you are travelling from Europe.
You will be able to get the official yellow coloured taxis outside the airport, which is the most convenient way to travel to and from TIA. The one way fare is 2,500 Lek or 20 EUR and you will reach Tirana in 30 to 45 minutes, which however depends on how chaotic the traffic is on that day. Do not go for the unofficial taxis, even if they charge less. Taxis are quite easily available in most cities and urban areas across Albania.
You can also opt for the hourly bus service from the airport to the National History Museum in Tirana. Operated by the Rinas Express, the single fare is 200 Lek, and this is a cheaper option. There is a new highway on the Tirana-Durres motorway, which has made the airport very accessible by car. Check out the best flights to Tirana with our partner site!
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Albania.
Flights to Tirana
By Bus
The bus service in Albania, though nothing to write home about, is cheap. Though buses are the most convenient way to travel inside Albania, they are usually quite erratic in their timings and not in the best condition. Usually these are private coaches that do not originate from a bus station; and bus stops are only identifiable by a pole and a bench. Buses will usually leave when they are full, or when the driver decides.
Do not keep you valuables, money or your passport in your front pockets, as there have been reports of pickpockets on the local buses.
You can also travel to Albania from places such as Serbia, Greece, Macedonia and Turkey by international roads. Plan your journey in advance and gather information before you start, as there is usually only one bus service per day. Do not look out for bus stations, even when you are on an international bus route, because there aren't any!
By Sea
Though there is no port in Tirana, you can easily take a ferry from Durres, which is just half an hour away from Tirana. If you are planning to go to Italy, you can take a ferry to Trieste, respectively. There is also a fast catamaran service to Bari in Italy.
By Train
Railways here are not the best way to travel in Tirana, as it is not only slow but nothing much has been done by way of improving the existing 447kms of single track. The lines are not electrified and all trains run on diesel. You may see glossy pictures of fast rails on websites but remember that in Albania they do not exist. Train travel is cheaper than buses and taxis.
There are three railway lines in Albania:
The first line starts from Tirana and heads North through Vore, Mamuras, Laç, Milot, Lezhe, Shkoder, Bajze and Hani I Hotit.
The second line starts from Tirana and this first goes south and then east, towards Macedonia, going across Durres, Golem, Kavaje, Rrogozhine, Peqin, Elbasan, Librazhd, Perrenjas and Guri I Kuq; it stops outside Pogradec.
The third line starts from Tirana and goes south and across Durres, Golem, Kavaje, Rrogozhine, Lushnje, Fier and Vlore.
Getting Around Tirana
By Urban Bus
There is a flat fare of 30 Lek or 0.25 EUR for bus travel between the various cities of Albania, such as Tirana, Shkodra, Kruja, Durres, Vlora, Korca, Elbasan, and Berat.
You can take a bus, if the routes you want to cover go through Unaza (the city's ring road), Kinostudio, Kombinat, Tirana e re, Stacioni I Trenit (Railway Station) and Scanderbeg Square, Profarma etc.
If you want to travel by bus in Durres, then you have to take a route via Plepa, which goes through the area near the beach.
By Interurban Bus
If you are travelling within Albania, the most convenient mode would be by private buses. From Tirana you can go by bus to any of the southern cities such as Berat, Vlora, Gjirokastra and Saranda. All the south bound buses leave from the Old City Airport. Buses going to the northern cities from Tirana, such as Shkodra and Kukes, depart from the railway station. To go to the southeast, to places such as Pogradec, Korca etc, you have to catch a bus from the Tirana University, Faculty of History and Philology. For Golem beach and Durres, catch a bus from the Railway Station.
Shkodra, Kruja, and Lezha are approximately two and half hours, 45 mins and one and half hours to the north from Tirana, respectively. The fares for Kruja and Lezha are 150 Lek, while that for Shkodra is 300 Lek. If you want to go to Durres, the fare is 100 Lek and it will take you an hour to reach there by bus. For going to Vlora (three hours), Saranda (five and half hours) and Golem (one hour ten mins), you have to spend 300 Lek, 1,000 Lek and 150 Lek, respectively.
By Taxi
Taxis are conveniently found and you can easily hail one on the street. If you are looking for a taxi stand, then check out landmarks such as Tirana International Hotel, Hotel Europapark, Ethem Bey Mosque and Avni Rustemi Square.
Roads in Albania
Albania contains around 18,000 km of roadways, of which 7,450 km are main roads. The roadways are maintained according to international standards. The state is improving the quality of existing roads and building new highways.
