Getting There and Away

Written by Alexander Kopp, Chloe Davies
17/09/2025
Vertical view of Namazgah Mosque in Tirana framed by lush trees and mountains.
Donald Meta, Pexels

Tirana's primary transport hub is Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA). The city also operates several bus terminals for both domestic and international routes, with a new major North-Western Bus Terminal currently under construction. There are no operational train services to or from central Tirana.

Flights:

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) is Albania's sole international airport, connecting to major European cities. Airlines such as Wizz Air, Air Albania, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Pegasus Airlines, and Aegean operate flights. One-way tickets can start from approximately €26-€33, with round-trip options from €26-€62, varying by booking time.

Airport Transfers:

  • Bus:: The Rinas Express bus service runs hourly between the airport and the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in central Tirana. The journey takes about 30-45 minutes and costs approximately ALL 250-400 (€2-4).
  • Taxi:: Official yellow taxis with a red ATEX logo are available outside the terminal. A ride to the city center takes around 20-25 minutes and costs approximately ALL 2,500 (€20-25).

Buses (National):

National buses depart from the Tirana North and South Bus Terminal for destinations across Albania.

  • To Shkoder: Approximately 2 hours, ALL 300 (€3).
  • To Durres: Approximately 35-40 minutes, from €6-€9.
  • To Vlore: Approximately 3 hours, ALL 500.

Buses (International):

International buses depart from the Tirana East Bus Terminal at TEG.

  • To Pristina/Prizren (Kosovo): Approximately 4 hours, €15-€20.
  • To Skopje/Ohrid (North Macedonia): Approximately 4-7.5 hours, €13-€26.
  • To Thessaloniki (Greece): Approximately 11 hours, €30.
  • To Athens (Greece): Approximately 10-13 hours, €35-€50.
  • To Podgorica/Budva/Kotor (Montenegro): Approximately 3.5-5 hours, €15-€25.

Ferries:

Ferries connect Albania with Italy, primarily arriving at the ports of Durres and Vlora, which are accessible from Tirana. All routes accommodate vehicles.

  • From Bari, Italy to Durres: Daily sailings, 8-10 hours, from €40-€70.
  • From Ancona, Italy to Durres: Up to 7 weekly crossings, 16-19 hours, from €68-€83.
  • From Brindisi, Italy to Vlora: Up to 3 daily crossings, 3.5-7.5 hours, from €41-€50.

Car Rental:

Car rental services are available at Tirana International Airport, offering a range of vehicles from international and local companies. Economy car rentals can start from approximately $13-$29 per day.

Check out our other pages on Tirana

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