Getting to Albania has never been this easy, with affordable links via land, sea and air. Once you've arrived, keep in mind that as long as you’re on the ground it’s going to be a bumpy ride, whether you take a taxi, bus, car or train.
Airport
Public transport
Tirana’s fleet of buses plies a total of 16 routes every day between about 05:00 and 22:00. Simply get on and wait for the conductor to come by to collect the 40 lek fare. It’s unlikely you’ll ever have to wait more than 10 minutes to travel on one, so at these prices and at this frequency, it would be somewhat impolite to complain. There's an excellent Tirana bus map available on the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative website (2024/2025 version): https://transformative-mobility.org/multimedia/harta-e-linjave-te-urbanit-tirane.Taxis
Taxis are a useful form of transport in Tirana, and after 22:00, if you’re too tipsy to walk or confidently operate a bicycle, they’re the only game in town. Rates start at 300 lek for the first 2km (sufficient for most city centre trips) and 95 lek/km after that. Between 22:00 and 07:00 the start rate rises to 350 lek. Rates to and from the airport vary from around 1200 lek to 2200 lek. Not all drivers speak English, so it’s a good idea to write down the address, or to telephone someone who can explain.Camper vans
Fully equipped camper vans, some of them 4x4, can be rented from two companies, and are a fantastic way to get around the country.Car rental
Renting a car in Albania starts at around €30 a day for the cheapest model. Besides Google, the free Maps.me app offers downloadable offline road maps.Cycling
Back in the good old days when there were 600 cars in Albania, everyone had a bicycle. Now, in Tirana at least, it’s pretty much the other way round. Thankfully, plenty of streets have been upgraded with bike lanes in recent years, and cycling around town is often faster than getting around on four wheels, and nearly as pleasurable as it must have been before 1991.Long-distance buses
Travel to and from Tirana is easier than ever, with regular departures to Albanian cities and neighbouring countries from two new bus terminals, connected to the centre by city bus. Some domestic destinations are served by furgon minibuses, a transport choice often held together with little more than tape and prayers; large buses usually offer more comfort. The government bus timetable website can be found at www.etransport.al, the commercial site www.travel.gjirafa.com can also sell some tickets online, though it's often easier to simply show up and pay at a kiosk or to the driver.- Arditi Tours
- Artani Tours
- Drita Travel
- Erli Travel
- Hermes Airport
- Hermes Shkoder
- Komatas Tours
- North-South Bus Terminal
- Old Town Travel
- Tirana East Bus Terminal
- Tirana Metropol
Driving
Whist the country’s roads may be improving, the local drivers who use them continue to be among the worst imaginable, with road fatality figures some of the highest in Europe. Disrespectful of the law and seemingly unaware of the fact that pedestrians are soft and break easily, the quintessential Albanian motorist is easily distracted, oblivious to speed limits and would rather undergo torture than wear a seatbelt. Before 1991, only Party officials were allowed to own and drive cars, of which there were only about 600 in the entire country.Speed limits are 40km/h in urban areas and villages, 80km/h outside those, 90km/h on dual carriageways, and 110 km/h on highways. Drivers are required by law to have a fire extinguisher, yellow vest and first aid kit in the car, and always drive with the lights on. In cities, be aware of everything, in the countryside, keep an eye out for potholes and donkeys.
Travel agencies
- Albania2Go
- Albania Holidays
- Albanian Trip
- Albtours D
- Landways International
- Outdoor Albania
- Sondor Travel
