Albania offers many interesting places in the mountains and by the sea, in the north and in the south. It would be a shame to stay only in Tirana or in the resorts.
The public transport system here works a little differently than in Western European countries, for example.
Everything takes longer, you can't find reliable up-to-date information anywhere on the internet, and certainly not timetables, but even so, you can still get between the only slightly bigger cities more or less easily by public transport.
However, if you want to have freedom and not rely on the uncertain, definitely opt for travelling by car.
By car in Albania
The network of better quality roads in Albania is already quite extensive, so it's relatively easy to get around Albania by car. Just be aware that horse-drawn carts and other vehicles of various types and speeds will share the road with you in the countryside.
You also need to watch out for people crossing or standing around roads (including motorways) and herds of animals doing the same. Neither traffic regulations nor the police are much respected by drivers.
There is no charge for using motorways in Albania, except for the tunnel toll on the A1 motorway.
For more detailed information about travelling by car, see the chapter Car rental in Albania, where you will also find practical information about traffic and regulations, i.e. in case you go to Albania with your own car.
By bus in Albania
The cheapest mode of transport is to use local buses or vans (in local slang, these vans are called "furgon"). Rural and mountain roads are often impassable for buses, so only vans run on them.
Timetables and connection search
In Albania, there are two connection search engines for the larger transport companies running regular timetables.
However, connections to small villages, mountainous and remote areas served by local vans cannot be found in any of the online search engines.
However, none of the search engines listed below are 100% and the information in them should be taken with a large margin. You can get an idea of the price, journey times and roughly the frequency, but many services listed on the website do not run and others that are not listed do.
- travel.gjirafa.com/en - when travelling to/from Tirana, it very often incorrectly shows the destination/starting station as Terminali Lindor, but many national services do not go there at all and use the old bus station Veri-Jug
- etransport.al - new search engine, but many bus companies do not display it at all
On longer or some busy routes, buses/vans run according to a timetable. Typically there is a static sign at the entrance to the bus station with destination names and departure times, often buses or vans have the departure time behind the glass in addition to the destination name.
On shorter routes or routes with high passenger turnover or conversely routes with only 1 or 2 vans per day and also on rural services, there is a wait for the van to fill up.
It is not uncommon to wait until the last seat is filled. Generally in the early morning and late afternoon you will wait for a shorter time than around midday or early afternoon. It is not uncommon to wait over an hour for a bus/van to fill up.
The bus service in Albania operates on an "all to Tirana" basis. Connections between regions are quite sparse and most services leave from the capital city.
If you're making the journey from Tirana, you'll always catch a bus wherever you go. However, if you are travelling between regions, for example from Saranda to Vlora, from Skadar to Kukës, etc., you may well find that nothing runs on your particular day.
Frequencies and prices - the most frequent routes
- Tirana - Durrës (Drac): 2-3 times per hour, journey time 45 minutes, price 150 all
- Tirana - Kukës: 1x per hour, journey time 2.5 hours, price 500 all
- Tirana - Vlorë: 1-2 times per hour, driving time 3.5 hours, price 700 all
- Tirana - Sarandë: approximately once every two hours (more often in the morning), journey time 5-6 hours, price 1700 all
- Tirana - Elbasan: 2-3 times per hour, journey time 45 minutes, price 200 all
- Tirana - Gjirokaster: approx. 7-8 times per day, journey time 4.5 hours, price 1200 all
- Tirana - Shkodër (Skadar): 2x per hour, driving time 2 hours, price 500 all
- Shkodër - Theth: 1x per day early morning, driving time 3 hours, price 1200 all
- Tirana - Berat: 1-2 times in two hours, driving time 3 hours, price 600 all
- Tirana - Bajram Curri: 1x per hour, journey time 4.5 hours, price 1000 all
- Bajram Curri - Valbonë: 1x per day early in the morning, driving time 1.5 hours, price 300 all, many taxis offer private transportation for about 3000 to 5000 all
- Sarandë - Gjirokaster: 1x per hour, driving time 1 hour, price 300 all
- Kukës - Durrës (Dragon): 2-3 times per day, driving time 2,5-3 hours, prices 500 all
- Kukës - Shkodër: 1x per day early morning from Kukës, afternoon return, journey time 3 hours, price 600 all
- Kukës - Bajram Curri: 3-4 times a day, journey time 2.5 hours, price 500 all
- Durrës (Dragon) - Elbasan: 4x daily, journey time 1.5 hours, price 400 all
- Durrës (Dragon) - Sarandë: 2x daily, journey time 4.5 hours, price 1500 all
- Vlorë - Sarandë: 2-3 times a day, journey time 3.5 hours, price 1300 all
Where are the bus stops?
Finding the right bus station or bus stop can be a bit of a challenge in Albania, so we've listed the locations in Albania's biggest cities, including a link to a map of where intercity buses stop.
Don't expect much from bus stations. It's always a large paved area, often part of a parking lot, or just a dedicated parking lane along the street. You won't find any buildings, much less ticket offices, at the stations. The bigger and better ones have a static sign at the entrance with departures, but you can't trust them 100%. Some services leave on time, others not at all, others only when they fill up.
At most stations, however, you will find at least a stand with a drink or even a small snack.
Tirana
- Terminal Jug-Veri (south-north) also called Dritan Hoxha after the street near which it is located
- location on the map
- departures direction: most of Albania, e.g. Durrës (Drac), Kukës, Vlorë, Sarandë, Himara (all towns on the Albanian Riviera), Shkodër, Kruje, Bajram Curri, Berat, Gjirokastër, Kakavija, Himara, Fier, Lushnjë, Kavajë, Divjaka, Bulqizë, Peshkopi and others
- transport from the centre of Tirana: public transport bus Kamez-Tirane line (regardless of the line number), or city buses 3A, 4, 5B, 13
- TEG (Terminali Lindor) also known as Jug-Lindor is a new and modern international bus station which also serves some domestic services
- location on the map
- departures direction.
- transport from the centre of Tirana: public transport bus lines 2, 8A
Kukës
The main station of all connections is located in the centre on Rruga Islam Spahiu Street (see location on the map).
Sarandë
The main station is located on Rruga Vangjel Pandi street. The area is somewhat uncluttered, as the individual stops are scattered on both sides of the street for about 250 metres.
- Location on the map
- departures direction.
Durrës
The only bus station can be found by the train station north of the centre by the harbour (see location on map). Buses and vans leave from here in all directions.
Elbasan
- Centre
- location on the map
- departures direction.
- Jug bus station (it's a bit hidden in the development and not visible from the main road at first glance)
- location on the map
- Departures in the direction of Berat, Pogradec, Lushnje, Cerrik and other regional services; international lines also stop here
Vlorë
In Vlora, the situation is probably the least clear, as buses and vans of different companies may stop at different places, even if they are heading to the same destination. You are unlikely to get around here without asking carefully. Basically, services stop here at the following locations:
- Ismail Qemali Street and the adjacent Rruga Demokracia (stops are scattered along about 1 km)
- Location on the map
- Tirana, Fier, Berat, some connections to Sarandë, international lines
- At the train station
- location on the map
- departures direction: some connections to Sarandë and Korce, but most of them are moved to the centre on the above mentioned streets
- Rruga Ali Demi Street
- location on the map
- departures direction: regional services to the east, also Gjirokastër, Kakavije and others, but some services still leave the centre about 250 metres westwards
Shkodër
- Main bus station centre
- location on the map
- departures direction: most destinations (Tirana, Durrës, international lines and others)
- buses stop here at the pavements on the street on all sides of the roundabout, so it is advisable to arrive early (30 minutes before departure) to get your bearings
- North bus station
- location on the map
- Departures from Theth, Tamarë, Selcë, Lepushë
- Bus station south
- location on the map
- departures direction: Lake Komani
How to find your bus?
At the larger bus stations, you will find signs with information about the number of the stand where the buses/van stop to your destination.
You can safely pass this information by as there are no stand numbers anywhere in real life. The stations are usually not large and if you park at the curb on the street, the stops are usually not spread out for more than 500 yards.
All buses and vans always have a sign behind the glass with the name of the destination. If there are more than one stopping in the same direction, the conductor or driver will always direct you to the one going first.
Ticket prices and where to buy a ticket?
The price of a ticket is always the same for a given route, no matter which carrier you take. On the shortest routes (approx. up to 50 km) the prices range between 150 all and 200 all, medium routes go for approx. 500 all and the longest routes go for 1000 all to 1500 all.
Short rural routes usually cost around 50 all.
Tickets are always bought on the bus.
Get on quietly and wait for the conductor to pass the bus or van and collect the money. You don't have to have the exact amount deducted, the conductor will give it back. Of course, you can't pay by card.
In some cases the conductor does not drive, then the driver is paid. Usually only when you get off at your destination.
International buses
Many tourists like to combine Albania with visits to neighbouring countries, for detailed information on where to look for buses and how to buy a ticket see the How to Albania chapter.
Trains in Albania
Albania also has a rail network with passenger trains. Or rather, it used to have. Currently there is only one train a day between Durrës and Elbasan stations, and there should also be one train a day from Shkodër to Lac.
Online up-to-date information is nowhere to be found and the timetables posted at the stations often do not correspond to reality.
For example, the author of this article was told within 10 minutes in 2022 that the train from Elbasan to Durrës runs at the hour that is posted/doesn't run at all/runs at a different time. In the end, it didn't run at all, but depending on the state of the rails, something occasionally passes.
Anyway, trying to travel by train in Albania can only be recommended to true rail enthusiasts, and even they are unlikely to celebrate success.
However, the official railway website: hsh.com.al, is only in Albanian and the information is probably not up to date.
Urban transport
Urban transport is provided by buses, whose system is rather opaque in most cities. A wider network of frequent lines operates only in Tirana, and to a much more limited extent in Shkodër and Durrës or Elbasan. Apart from Tirana, however, the towns are relatively small and you can usually walk everywhere.
All cities with public transport have the same ticketing system. There are no day or time tickets, but you always pay for one ride. Everywhere you pay your ticket to the conductor inside the car, who finds you after you board.
The usual price is around 40 ALL.
Finding your way around the line numbers is also a bit difficult. Some buses don't have the number displayed at all, others have it stuck on (usually as "L.1" etc.), some have the number on an electronic banner, which is actually the car number and not the line number... Simply, always ask where the bus is going.
You can find a pretty clear map of public transport in Tirana on the official city website.
