How to Travel from Vlore to Tirana – and Tirana to Vlore

How to Travel from Vlore to Tirana, Albania

Albania is an incredible country. It has spectacular beaches, soaring mountains, quirky cities and quaint villages. The country is becoming more popular as a tourist destination but it is still rather an undiscovered gem on the edge of Europe. Travelling around the country can be a challenge at times. The population is small and tourists are relatively few so transport links are largely underdeveloped. We have put together this comprehensive guide to help you travel from Vlore to Tirana – and Tirana to Vlore.

In this post, we have detailed the different ways you can travel from Vlore to Tirana, and back, and we have included all you need to know about costs, buying tickets, schedules and loads of other practical tips. For more guides to travelling around Albania, click HERE. Just a side note, in Albanian the city names are written Vlorë and Tiranë.

Take the Bus from Vlore to Tirana

First of all, Vlore is really worth visiting for a few days. There is a lot to see in the town and in the surrounding area. It is also a great place to find connecting buses to other parts of Albania.

After spending a few nights in the town, it is time for us to travel from Vlore to Tirana. Having already visited Vlore on a few previous trips to Albania, we have finally worked out the sometimes confusing, slightly frustrating furgon system.

What is a Furgon?

A furgon is a mini bus that will work loosely to a timetable but will sometimes only depart when full. These buses are small and old but they will always get you from A to B. They are usually a cheap way to travel and a great way to experience how locals get around.

The bus from Vlore to Tirana departs from the bus station by the old town – HERE – in central Vlore. It can be found just north of the independence monument by a row of Cafes. We found our bus on the side of the road, next to a few other buses. Most of the buses have their destination on a sign in their front window and drivers call out their destination. However, if you’re unsure, just ask.

How to Buy your Bus Ticket

For our trip Vlore to Tirana, we bought our ticket on the bus. After departing, the bus driver’s assistant will come around and collect the money for your ticket. Sometimes that won’t be until you get off at the other end. Tickets to Tirana cost 600Lek (€5.25) and must be paid in cash. The journey takes around 3 hours depending on stops. We took one break after about 2 hours of driving. The route is direct, mostly on good motorway and travels via the port town of Durres.

There are regular buses from Vlore to Tirana, but it’s always good to plan a little in advance. Currently, there are buses departing Vlore every 30 minutes or so and they run daily. We took the 07:30 and can confirm it runs on time…more or less…

You can use the website Gjirafa to help with schedules. However, it’s not always 100% accurate.

Arrival in Tirana Regional Bus Station

The bus from Vlore to Tirana doesn’t take you right into the centre of the city. However, it is easy to catch a city bus for 40Lek (€0.35) from the main road outside the bus station.

The Bus from Vlore to Tirana Airport

You can also take a bus from Vlore directly to Tirana Airport. However, these are not as frequent as the buses to the city, so best to check at the bus station the day before. However, at time of writing, buses depart from Vlore to Tirana Airport at 05:00, 07:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 17:00. Tickets cost 1000Lek (€8.70) and it takes around 3 hours. We always advise you to leave plenty of time when travelling by public transport in Albania and carry cash for buying tickets.

Drive from Vlore to Tirana

Driving from Vlore to Tirana is also a great option. It will cut down your travel time and give you flexibility to stop at some pretty amazing locations on the way. However, we always recommend that you take out full insurance (if renting a car) and plan your route well. Albanian driving can be a little erratic. However, the roads on the route from Vlore to Tirana are very good. Just be prepared for traffic in Tirana.

The route takes you through Durres. If you have the time, this port city and former capital is well worth a visit as well.

How much is a Taxi from Vlore to Tirana?

Another option is to hire a taxi. This can be done easily online and can remove any stress from the journey. Of course, the cost is a lot higher than the other options. However, if you are a group it might be a good idea if you want to save time and any hassle. You can expect to pay between 70 and 115 euros for a taxi from Vlore to Tirana.

There is currently no Uber in Albania. However, there are some Taxi booking Apps you can try – UPS Taxi App, Speed Taxi App or Taxi.al App.

The Train from Vlore to Tirana

The train from from Vlore to Tirana is a very slow but interesting option. However, there is only one train from Vlore per day and it departs at 5am. You will also need to change in Durres. The train will not take you into the centre of Tirana but 10km outside the city to the Kashar area.

Trains in Albania are old and slow. They have not been updated much since the communist times. If you aren’t in a rush, its actually a really cheap and interesting way to travel. Just don’t expect high speed luxury!

There are also rumours of a new line to be built between Tirana and Vlore, so watch this space…

Vlore to Tirana Travel Options

We have put together a useful table to check out the options for travelling in Albania.

	Travel Time	Cost (1 way)	Distance (km)	Comfort Factor
Bus	3 hours	5.25 Euro	155	**
Drive	2 hours 10mins	20 Euros	155	****
Private Hire Taxi	2 hours 10 mins	from 70-115 Euros	155	*****
Train	4 hours (at least)	3-4 Euros	160	**

How to Travel from Tirana to Vlore

To travel from Tirana to Vlore is the same journey in reverse. Buses leave every 30 minutes between 5am and 5:30pm from the Regional Bus Terminal in Tirana.

Useful Tips when Travelling from Vlore to Tirana by Bus

If you are new to travelling in Albania, it can seem a little bit daunting. However, with a bit of forward planning, some patience and a sense of humour, you will manage to see a lot of this beautiful country and meet some really nice people. To make your trip by furgon a little easier, we have summarised some super useful tips.

• Pack plenty of water in the summer (the old buses have no AC and it gets HOT)
• Bring snacks that won’t melt easily
• Have a good supply of wet wipes, not just for kids!
• Maybe bring a handheld fan in the hotter months
• An audio book allows you to enjoy the scenery outside
• There isn’t a luggage hold so pack light and prepare to sit with you bags if they don’t fit in the rack above
• Always have cash for your ticket
• Leave yourself plenty of time and expect delays

Albania is a fantastic country and the more you experience of it the better. Travelling between cities allows you to see very different parts of this small but incredible country.

Once you arrive in Tirana, you will be treated to an eclectic mixture of architecture, a deep and recent history and some fantastic food!

Where to go next

Ready for another adventure? Why not try check out these amazing Day Trips from Tirana? There is plenty of history and culture to discover in beautiful Tirana.

Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.

Have you visited Tirana or Vlore? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!

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