Getting around in Albania: Albania transportation made easy
Getting around in Albania: what you need to know
Albania is a beautiful country with diverse landscapes, charming cities, and hidden gems. However, its transportation system might require a bit of planning and knowledge to navigate effectively. Here’s everything you need to know about getting around in Albania.
Arriving in albania
There is only one international airport in Albania – the Tirana International Airport (TIA), also known as Mother Teresa Airport. This is likely your starting point if you’re arriving by plane. TIA is located about 20 kilometers from Tirana center and it’s a convenient gateway to Albania’s main cities and tourist destinations.
Your next stop from the airport is most likely Tirana, Dürres or Golem. Keep reading to learn more about transportation in Albania.
Transportation from the airport
You should be able to reach the main destinations by taxi or a bus, which depart just outside the airport terminal.
The bus terminal can be found at the very end of the parking spot. During your short walk you’ll most likely encounter one or five taxi drivers offering you a “cheap” ride. A taxi to Tirana will cost some tens of euros. You are likely able to negotiate the price to around 20€. Should you not accept every offer they give you, they might act really angry, which you can ignore.
I’ve personally used the bus from Airport to Tirana and found it easy, safe and convenient. All you need to do is locate the buses (there is a bunch of them, you can’t miss them) and then you either choose a bus with the correct city labeled, or ask any driver “Tirana?”, or where ever you are going. They will happily help and guide you to the right bus. These buses are generally in decent condition and offer A/C. Your ticket fares will be collected during the drive. Ticket from Airport To Tirana will cost a few euros. The buses depart around every 30 minutes but do not follow a strict timetable. Most of the time they will wait until the bus is full – prepare to wait.
NOTE: If you’re planning to explore southern Albania, consider flying to Corfu, Greece. From there you can take a short ferry to Albania, which will save a lot of time. The infrastructure and transportation system in Albania is only developing, meaning that travelling from northern Albania to south will take very long.
Taxis and buses
Taxis are found in major cities and airport, and are relatively inexpensive. You should always agree on a price before starting your journey to avoid surprises. Do not pick a driver who does not go by the meter.
There is no Uber in Albania, but there is Bolt and some other alternatives.
- Speed taxi in Albania is considered as a reliable taxi company. They offer an app and a website to book a ride.
- UPs Taxi App is similar to Uber in Albania, and you can book and choose the ride from their app
- Green Taxi is an easy way to book a fixed price, safe ride. go to their website and follow the link to Whatsapp to ask for a taxi and a price!
Renting a Car in albania
Car rental in Albania is one of the few things that can get expensive. The international brands charge for a premium and are only found at the Airport. My advice is to find a well-rated rental close to your accommodation and rent from there. Search through most if not all of the area’s options and see how many reviews they have in Google, and aim to choose the one with a lot of reviews relatively to others, and of course positive reviews. Do keep in mind that most of the rental places do not accept credit cards, but only cash – meaning you won’t be able to use a credit card for an insurance! You might find information about accepted payments in Google, or from the company’s website.
Driving in Albania
The traffic is slow, and you should trust the time your navigation application shows you. Even if it sounds ridiculous. It is usually true and it might even be too optimal at times.
The traffic in Albania is also pretty chaotic. Locals don’t obey the law and rules and will bypass you, even if there is no space or time. They rely on that all others will avoid them. You should still not be frightened to drive. If you follow the rules and pay attention to your surroundings, you should do well. I do want to emphasize though that you should have previous driving experience, perhaps even from other (easier) countries abroad and you should have confidence. Unconfident or hesitant driving will make driving harder in Albania.
Roads are mostly paved, but not always in the greatest condition.
Speed limits change very often ranging anywhere between 30 and 90 Km/h. The traffic police is monitoring speeds frequently, so you are advised to follow the limits. It is possible to receive a speeding ticket and only find out about it at the airport, when trying to depart the country. You will then be required to pay the ticket in order to leave. Depending on the severity of your offense, the amount might not be huge, but it could delay you from your flight.