Tirana is the main transport hub for the whole of Albania and is the destination of most international air and bus routes, as well as all major roads.

You cannot currently get to Tirana by train, the rail network in Albania is very limited and none of the lines are currently running.

By air to Tirana

To the west of the city centre lies Albania's largest airport, Mother Teresa TIA, with a large number of flights from all over Europe.

Tirana is an easily and cheaply accessible destination thanks to the huge number of low-cost flights operated by Ryanair and Wizz Air, both of which have a large base here.

Both Ryanair and Wizz Air fly from Tirana to many destinations across Europe and Wizz Air even flies to the United Arab Emirates.

Off-season (during winter) one-way fares are also available from 15 eur.

Compare prices for flights to Tirana

Many network airlines also fly to Tirana, including those that are members of one of the major alliances. The most common airlines to buy cheap tickets are the following network airlines:

• lufthansa.com
• aegeanair.com
• swiss.com
• austrian.com

By bus to Tirana

As Tirana is by far the largest transport hub in the country, we have compiled detailed information in a separate guide to Albania, specifically in the chapters How to get to Albania and Getting around Albania.

International buses

International bus connections are fairly brisk with Germany, Switzerland and Italy, but the high prices, extra-long journey times and the inability to book tickets clearly online make them definitely not worthwhile for Czech or Slovak travellers.

However, tourists often take the bus to Tirana to/from neighbouring countries and especially around Albania.

With the exception of bus tickets to Montenegro or Northern Macedonia, which can be purchased on some routes via flixbus.com, bus tickets can always be bought on the spot. For international connections at the ticket office at the bus station, for domestic connections always on the bus or minibus (in Albanian these vans are called "furgon").

National buses

The bus service to Tirana from other Albanian cities is very lively and frequent, although somewhat confusing at first for the foreign tourist.

No reliable information can be found online. The single internet search engine gjirafa.com/Autobus can serve to give a rough idea of frequency and journey times, but many connections are not shown at all, or instead show buses that no longer actually run.

Large buses are common on routes in Albania, but also vans ("vurgons"). The common practice is that on some routes the buses have an exact timetable, while on other routes the bus only sets off when it fills up.

Tickets can usually only be paid for in cash.

Bus stations in Tirana

There are 4 bus stations in Tirana, each with buses departing in different directions.

• TEG Tirana East Gate (Terminali Lindor) - the modern and largest bus station can be found at the TEG shopping centre 8 km south of Tirana.
  • Most international lines and domestic services to cities such as Elbasan, Korce, Pogradec, Belsh, Bilisht, Gramsh and others
  • Location on the map
  • Public buses from the centre - lines 2 and 8A
  • A tip for a great and cheap hotel right by the station - Metro Hotel Terminal ****
• North-South Station (Veri-Jug) - an old bus station that is just a large parking area with no shelters or facilities
  • Domestic services to the whole of Albania (except for Elbasan, Korce, Pogradec and others running from the TEG terminal)
  • Location on the map
  • Public transport buses from the centre - lines 3A, 4, 5B, 13
  • A tip for a great and cheap hotel right by the station - Doanesia Premium Hotel & Spa ****
• Former international station - old international station near the city centre
  • The vast majority of international lines have been moved to the new TEG bus station
  • Location on the map
• Southeast Station (Juglindje) - a small station without any facilities in the parking lot of the Faculty of Economics
  • Minimum departures of small vans to nearby villages south of Tirana (e.g. Pëllumbas)
  • Location on the map

By car and parking in Tirana

If you're heading to Tirana by car, either your own or a rental, be prepared for heavy traffic but a relatively uncluttered urban layout, with all the main streets ending up in the centre at Skanderbeg Square anyway.

On-street parking is free wherever blue lines aren't painted.

You will find virtually no such spaces in the centre and immediate surroundings, and you are not allowed to park in the blue zones as a non-resident. Outside of the centre, street parking is common, but due to the rather cramped conditions and the driving "ineptitude" of many Albanians, there is a relatively high risk of damage to your car.

The best places to park in Tirana are the city's official underground and secure car parks. These city car parks are definitely the cheapest option to park your car safely in a covered area, there are 4 underground garages in the city:

• Skanderbeg Square in the centre (see map) - 500 all all day, 500 all 3-8pm, 200 all until 3pm
• Boulevardi i Ri on the northern edge of the wider centre (see map) - 300 all all day, 250 all 3-8 hours, 100 all up to 3 hours
• 7 Xhuxhat in the centre (see map) - 500 all all day, 500 all 3-8 hours, 200 all up to 3 hours
• Sheshi Italia at the southern edge of the centre (see map) - 500 all all day, 500 all 3-8pm, 200 all until 3am

By train to Tirana

The rail link was discontinued after 2018 and currently does not look like it will be restored anytime soon.