Transportation in Albania
Travellers to Albania can enjoy a gamut of transportation options to get them to from and around Albania. With international flight provisions on the continuous improve, regular ferry connections and a myriad of land crossings available from neighbouring countries, getting around Albania is half of the fun!
[read more]Cycling in Albania is a great way to see the sites; just remember to keep in mind the freewheeling local driving habits!
Our Albania transportation guide gives you some handy tips and tricks for getting to and from Albania, and how to get around once you arrive. As a newly emerging country on the world stage of tourism, Albania is slowing improving its transportation options, making getting around Albania an easier experience. A great way to easily traverse the country side in the mean time is by joining a tour of Albania.
For local transportation options in our current destinations select on one of the links below:
- Transport in Tirana
- Transport in Shkoder & Albanian Alps
Albania Transportation Guide
Getting to Albania
By Air
Tirana International Airport, also known as the Mother Teresa Airport, is located at a distance of 25 km from Tirana. This is the only international airport in Albania. About 13 airlines have scheduled flights here and connect Albania to around 24 destinations.
A shuttle bus service runs from the city to the airport. Known as the Tirana Rinas Express, the shuttle bus runs an hourly service and can be boarded at Skanderbeg Square in the city. A trip to the airport by the shuttle bus will cost you 2 Euros. The other way to travel between the airport and the city is by taxi, which will cost you 20 Euros one way. For the best deals try our partner website for Cheap flights to Albania.
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Albania.
By Sea
Albania has several seaports that serve as access points to the country. Durres links Albania with Italian ports Brindisi, Trieste, Bari, and Ancona. Vlora connects Albania to Otranto and Brindisi in Italy. Saranda links Albania with Corfu, a Greek port. Shen Gjini connects the Albanian shores with Bari, Italy.
By Road
- From Montenegro
Two main roads connect Albania and Montenegro. One leads to the city of Shkodra in northern Albania, while the other leads from Shkodra to Ulcinj in Montenegro. This route passes through Hani I Hotit and Murriqan-Sukobina. Vermoshi, a recent addition to the roadmap, links Kelmendi on Albanian terrain with Gucia (Gusinje) and Plava in Montenegro.
- From Macedonia
Depending on where you are in Macedonia you can choose one of the following four routes to enter Albania. You can take the route through Qafe Thana to Pogradec, Librazhd and then to Elbasan or the one from from Tushemisht, at the south-eastern end of Lake Ohrid to Pogradec.
If you plan to start from Bllata, you should head towards Peshkopi or Bulqiza and then to Burrel. From Gorica you can travel by the road that takes you straight to the northern part of Lake Prespa.
- From Kosovo
There is a road via the Morina pass, which links Pristina in Kosovo with Kukes in Albania. This region is beset with political turmoil, and is not considered safe for tourists to travel through.
- From Greece
Tourists visiting Albania from Greece can opt to take any of these routes based on their destination. One road runs through Kapshtica to Korça. Another route via Kakavija leads to Gjirokastra.
A roadway through Qafe Boti links Konispol, the southernmost town of Albania, with Filat, while Permet and Konica are accessible from Tre Urat.
By Bus
Several buses run between different Albanian cities. You can travel from Tirana to Tetova (Macedonia) via Qafe Thana. Buses plying through Morina will take you to Prishtina and other Kosovo towns. Kapshtica, Thessalonica, and Greece are accessible from the city of Korça. Travelling from Tirana to Athens you could visit Kakavija. Bulgaria, Sofia, and Istanbul are also well connected to Tirana by Qafe Thana.
Getting around Albania
By Rail
Train travel in Albania is cheaper when compared to bus fare and taxi fare. However, not many places are well connected by trains and the available trains are overcrowded and not very fast. Albania has long term plans to connect Macedonia and Greece by rail routes.
By Road
Vehicles drive on the right side of the road in Albania. The road network in Albania is 18,000 km long; however, only 7,450 km have the status of main roads. The State is responsible for maintaining the roads and a major part of the roads in Albania are non-motorable. 4-wheel drive vehicles are the best choice for negotiating these roads. Visitors driving in Albania should be doubly cautious when driving as the roads are poor and the local drivers can be a bit unpredictable.
It is best to avoid driving at night as the lack of street lighting leaves the roads in darkness. The potholes combined with the darkness can make night driving a nightmare. Do remember to stock up on petrol when you see a petrol station, as the countryside does not have many of them. Ensure that you carry any equipment that may be required for carrying out minor repairs.
Road signs comply with international standards, so you will not have problems interpreting them. Do follow the prescribed speed limit for the type of vehicle that you are driving and the kind of road that you are on.
Make sure that you carry your International Driving Permit, your driving licence and a comprehensive insurance policy.
By Bus
Bus travel is the chief form of transport in Albania. Several private bus companies operate buses on all the main routes linking Tirana to cities like Peshkopia, Durres, Saranda, Shkodra, Gjirokastra and Korça.
Knowing approximate travel times between different cities will help you immensely in planning your trip. Travelling to Durres from Tirana takes approximately an hour. If you are headed form Tirana to Shkodra you will need 2 ½ hours. Tirana to Vlora can take 3 hours and Tirana to Korca will consume the better part of four hours.
By Taxi
Finding a taxi in Tirana will not be difficult. You can either hail one on the street if it happens to be passing by or join a taxi queue at a prominent location like Hotel Europapark, Tirana International Hotel, the Avni Rustemi Square or the Ethem Bey Mosque. In other cities in Albania the best place to find a taxi would be near the railway station or near a major tourist attraction.
