Tirana Airport is situated in Rinas, about 20km north west of Tirana. Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza is also sometimes known as Rinas International Airport and has the airport code TIA. If you are arriving in Tirana Airport and wish to get to the city centre, this blog post is perfect for you! We provide details about how to get from Tirana Airport to the city centre and back by bus car and taxi.
How to Get From Tirana Airport to the City Centre By Bus
The bus departs from Tirana Airport every hour, on the hour, between 7am and 2am.The cost of the bus from Tirana airport to the city centre is 400Lek (€3.50) one way. There is no option to buy a round trip ticket.
To find the bus, exit the arrivals hall and turn left. You will see a car park and the bus will depart from there. It is quite well signed. The bus operator is Luna Shpk and the destination will be in the windscreen.
Tickets are bought from the ticket collector on the bus and you will need cash.
The journey from Tirana Airport to the city centre by bus should take about 30 minutes. However, it could be longer if traffic is heavy.
The bus will drop you near Skanderbeg Square in the centre of Tirana. You can see it on the map HERE.
The bus from Tirana Airport to the city centre is a great option is you are on a budget and have plenty of time. If you arrive after the hours of service, a taxi or airport hotel might be your best bet. More on that later…
Tirana City to Tirana Airport by Bus
You can also take the bus back from Tirana city to Tirana Airport. The bus goes from the same location just off Skanderbeg Square. It runs between 7am and 6pm and costs 400Lek. You should expect it to take around 30 minutes but during rush hour it can take up to 60 minutes, make sure you account for this when planning your trip.
How to Get From Tirana Airport to the City Centre By Car
To drive from Tirana Airport to the city centre should only take around 30 minutes – depending on traffic. The route is pretty direct. You will first take the SH60 then the SH2 into the city. Watch out for Tirana traffic, it can be brutal.
Should I Rent a Car in Tirana?
This is really down to personal preference. Albania’s public transport is cheap and cheerful and most places are accessible by bus. However, there are very few railways in Albania. The buses – or furgons – are great for travelling between towns and cities. However, the timetable can be a bit restrictive. If you can haggle, a taxi driver will take you anywhere!
If you decide to rent a car in Albania, please make sure you take out the full insurance. Drivers in the Balkans have their own unique style…
There are several car rental outlets at Tirana airport. It is definitely worth booking in advance if you can. That should get you a better deal. Try not to pay over 30 for a standard car in the off season. During July and August prices will go up.
Roads in and around Tirana are in pretty good shape. However, if you plan on going further afield, remember to plan your journey in advance as there are many small roads that are not more than dirt tracks. Several mountain routes can be perilous if you do not plan ahead and take great care.
Tirana City to Tirana Airport by Car
The same goes for the return leg. By this point, you might have become more accustomed to the Albanian style of driving. Always leave plenty of time, especially if you are returning a rental car.
How to Get From Tirana Airport to the City Centre By Taxi
A taxi from Tirana Airport to the city centre will cost between 1,800 and 2,000Lek, depending on the company and the time of travel.
There are Tirana Airport official Taxis which sit right outside. There are convenient but will charge almost double. They are yellow and say Tirana Airport Taxi on the side.
As far as we know, most companies only take cash.
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.
Tirana City to Tirana Airport by Taxi
We were quoted 2,000Lek for a return taxi from Tirana to Tirana Airport. It might be worth trying to negotiate this price down a bit, especially during a weekday. There is a taxi rank beside the buses by Skanderbeg Square (just behind the clock tower).
It is also common in Albania to share a taxi with another traveller. This is a great way of cutting costs.
| Travel Time | Cost (1 way) | Distance (km) | Comfort Factor | |
| Bus | 30 minutes | 3.50 Euro | 20 | *** |
| Drive | 30 minutes | 4 – 5 Euros | 20 | **** |
| Private Hire Taxi | 30 minutes | from 19 Euros | 20 | ***** |
Late Arrivals/Early Departures
We seem to get a lot of awkward flight times in and out of Tirana. If you don’t fancy travelling late at night or super early, we would recommend staying at one of the hotels near the airport.
We often use Hotel Vila Zeus as it is clean, comfortable, very affordable and you can walk to the airport in 5-10 minutes.
Tirana Airport to Other Albanian Cities
From Tirana airport it is also possible to travel easily by bus to Durres, Vlore and Shkoder. These depart from the same point as the bus to Tirana. For Saranda, you will need to go into Tirana and take a bus from the Regional Bus Terminal.
What’s in Tirana Airport?
Tirana Airport has increased in size a lot recently. However, it is still not very large compared to other international airports.
If you are used to travelling around Europe, you might find a few differences in Tirana Airport. It is not possible to use a mobile boarding pass. You must check in at your airline’s check in desk. After this, you progress through security then you queue to go through passport control before finally arriving in the departures lounge. For this reason, we advise you leave a bit more time than you usually would.
There are not many shops or restaurants after going through security. There is a Mulliri Café, a Segafredo restaurant/café, a duty free store (in Euros) and a few other small outlets. The food outlets are mostly in Lek so this is a good chance to get rid of any spare currency. Most places will take part payment in Lek cash and allow you to pay the balance by card.
The Albanian Language
Just a little side note for your visit to Albania –
Many Albanians in the cities speak a little English but it is useful to learn a few phrases in Albanian. It is certainly not an easy language for English speakers, but any attempt is greatly appreciated by the locals. Here are a few words to try out:
Hello Tungjatjeta (toon-jah-TYEH-tah)
Please Ju lutem (yoo LOO-tehm)
Thank you Faleminderit (fah-lehm-meen-DEH-reet)
Yes Po (poh)
No Jo (yoh)
Goodbye Mirupafshim (meer-oo-PAHF-sheem)
Your Visit to Albania
If you have not visited the amazing country before, you are in for a real treat. Even regular visitors are often surprised at what they might find on their next visit. Make the most of your trip by experiencing the culture and hospitality of Albanian people, they really are incredibly friendly and welcoming.
There is so much history in the small country as well as incredible nature to explore. Don’t forget to sample some of the amazing foods throughout the different regions.
There is plenty to do in Tirana. However, if you get the chance, try a few day trips to the locals areas nearby. This will let you see another side to Albania.
Whatever you end up doing with you visit, enjoy! You will be back again sooner than you think…
Where to go next
Ready for another Albanian 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 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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