How to Travel Around Albania – Your Comprehensive Guide

How to Travel Around 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 relatively underdeveloped. We have put together this comprehensive guide to help you travel around Albania with ease.

Is it Easy to Travel in Albania

Travelling around Albania is an amazing way to see many varied parts of this incredible country. We would certainly recommend seeing as much of Albania as your time will allow. However, travelling in Albania can sometimes be a challenge if you go unprepared. Infrastructure is improving, but still relatively basic by western standards, and public transport can be limited. Drivers in Albania also have a certain style – Cruella de Ville in a hurry is what comes to mind.

Saying that, there are plenty of ways to make travel around Albania easier and we are here to help with that. So let’s take a look at the different ways to travel in Albania and the pros and cons of each.

Travel in Albania by Car

Travelling around Albania by car is certainly a good option. This mode of transport will allow you more flexibility and car hire is relatively cheap if booked ahead of time. If you are short on time and have a busy itinerary, this might be an ideal option for maximum travel efficiency.

This will also allow you to reach more off the beaten path areas such as some of the beautiful, secluded beaches along the Albanian Riviera or some of the gorgeous mountain villages around Lake Shkoder.

On the other hand, driving in Albania is not for the faint hearted. Some roads in rural areas are no more than dirt tracks and will not be possible without the right vehicle. Traffic in Tirana can be pretty awful too and there is often major construction underway. The main highways are much easier to navigate.

Drivers in the Balkans can also be quite reckless and accidents are common.

Should I Rent a Car to Travel Around Albania?

This is a tricky one, and definitely down to personal preference. If you decide to rent a car in Albania, please make sure you take out the full insurance.

As mentioned, drivers in the Balkans have their own unique style… On our last visit to Saranda we spent 3 days in the town and witnessed 2 crashes. Remember to plan your journey in advance as there are many smaller roads that are not more than dirt tracks. A 4×4 is recommended if you plan to drive in rural locations.

If you take the plunge and decide that driving is best for you, try SIXT. They are really handy if you are starting your journey in Saranda and are located just beside the port. If you arrive in Tirana, there are several car hire companies available at the airport.

Renting a car will provide a lot more freedom and independence and make it easier to avoid the crowds. While exploring, look out for signs pointing to “Plazhi…” meaning beach in Albanian. All along the jagged coastline there are serene, and often secret, beaches

Can you Travel Around Albania without a Car

So, if you don’t drive, or don’t want to, is it possible to travel around Albania without a car? Well, Albania’s public transport is cheap and cheerful but far from wide ranging. It is great for travelling between towns and cities but reaching the secluded beaches will be difficult. Saying that, if you can haggle, a taxi driver will take you anywhere! So what are our options?

Travel Around Albania by Furgon

Travel in Albania by furgon is how most locals get around. There will be a furgon to take you almost anywhere that is on a relatively main road. It is also possible to flag one down on the road and ask to be dropped off at specific points on the route.

What is a Furgon?

A furgon is a mini bus that will work loosely to a timetable but will sometimes only depart when full. They are not run by a public transport company but are privately run. These buses are small and old but they will (almost) always get you from A to B. They are usually a cheap way to travel and a great way to experience how locals travel.

Useful Tips when Travelling Around Albania by Furgon

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 to buy your ticket
• Leave yourself plenty of time and expect delays

Travel in Albania by Bus

Buses in Albania are slightly different to furgons. They are often larger coaches and tend to travel longer distances. They also stick more closely to a timetable. We actually have used very few proper buses in Albania as there are far more furgons than buses. A journey such as Tirana to Durres or Tirana to Podgorica, Montenegro, will involve using a bus.

They are certainly more comfortable than furgons and are still a cheap way to travel. However, there is not a very complete network covering the country so it is not always possible to travel by bus.

Hitchhiking in Albania

Hitchhiking in Albania is a popular way to get around and is supposedly perfectly safe. We have not tried this ourselves but have spoken to many successful hitchers. Often, if you can’t find a car to take you, a furgon might come along and help you out anyway. There are also apps like BlaBla Car you can try.

Can I Take the Train in Albania?

Well, sort of… Travel around Albania by train is possible but very limited. The trains are old and unreliable and there are not many lines. If you do choose to travel by train, you can find timetables and tickets HERE. Check out the map below to see which cities are connected by train.

The carriages are very old school and the countryside is beautiful so it might be fun for the experience. The tickets are also pretty cheap. So, if you have plenty of time, this might be a great option for travel in Albania.

Safety When Travelling Around Albania

Albania is generally a very safe country and therefore travel around Albania is also pretty safe. You can read about this in more detail in our post HERE.

As mentioned earlier, the main precautions to be taken are when driving. Keep a good distance from other drivers where possible and plan your route in advance. Keep a look out for rural roads as they can be in bad condition and have a back up plan.

If you are travelling by taxi, make sure you agree a fare in advance. Its also worth scrutinising anything a taxi driver tells you. For example, we are often told that no furgons are expected and the only way to get home is to take a taxi – specifically their taxi. A furgon usually shows up a few minutes later.

As with any country, we wouldn’t recommend leaving too much stuff visible in your car overnight, it may not be there when you return.

How to Travel Around Albania

Travelling around Albania is a really fun adventure and you will discover some impressive sights, meet some awesome people and sample really delicious food. If you are thinking about booking a trip to Albania, go for it. You will not regret it.

Where to go next

Ready for another adventure? Why not check out Albania’s stunning Riviera.

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 Albania? 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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How to Travel Around Albania