How To Get From Berat to Tirana (2026)
Berat and Tirana are both very popular destinations, and they’re well connected. You’ll have no problem travelling from Berat to Tirana.
You can take a bus, a private transfer (taxi), or rent a car and drive. Unfortunately, there is no train between Tirana and Berat. Albania has extremely limited rail service.
I’ve done this trip by bus and private transfer, and it’s very straightforward.
How Far is Tirana From Berat
The centre of Tirana is 98 km from Berat. The bus takes about 2.5 hours (give or take a few minutes). If you’re in car the drive is less than two hours, if you go by Elbasan. There’s another route through Durres, but it’s a bit longer.
How to Get From Berat to Tirana
Tirana is well connected to all parts of Albania, and it’s easy to reach from Berat.
Berat to Tirana by Bus
There are direct buses between 4:30 am and 4:00 pm every day from Berat to Tirana. A mix of furgons (mini buses or passenger vans) and coaches are used. The journey is between 2 and 2.5 hours.
Bus departures are every half hour, more or less. If the bus is full it will leave early; if the driver is getting a coffee it could leave later. The Albanian bus system is very functional, but it doesn’t exactly run with precision.
If you’re catching a plane or have anything important, give yourself a little extra time.
The cost for the bus is 600 lek ($7.50 USD). You pay this to the driver in cash. It’s best to have local currency, not all drivers will accept euros.
The Berat Bus Terminal is on Rruga Antipatrea, across from Rruga Asip Buba, 2 km north of the centre. Berat also has a local bus station on the opposite end of Rruga Antipatrea – do not go there by mistake.
To get to the Berat Bus Terminal you can take a public transit bus for 30 lek ($0.40 USD). There’s bus stops along Rruga Antipatrea in the centre. You can also take a taxi for 700 lek ($7.80 USD), or walk which takes about 30 minutes.
The Berat Bus Terminal is new and clean with snack bars, bathrooms and AC.
Berat buses arrive and depart from Tirana’s South North Bus Terminal. Tirana has two main bus terminals, but the South North one is more convenient. It’s closer to the centre and the airport.
Check the Gjirafa Travel website for bus schedules. It may not be 100% accurate, but close enough to give you a good idea of the options. I use this website all the time.
Avoid Bus Connections if Possible
Avoid taking any bus that will require you to transfer in Lushnje or Durres to reach Tirana. Bus changes in Albania are not always straight forward.
Often the bus will drop you off at the side of the road and you have to flag down the bus to your final destination. This is exactly what happened to me when I travelled from Berat to Korce with a bus change in Elbasan.
Instead of being dropped off at the Elbasan bus terminal (like I was expecting), the bus dropped me off on the main road and I had to flag down a Korce bound bus from Tirana or Durres. I had my small dog and suitcase with me – it was not ideal.
How to Get From Tirana’s South North Bus Terminal to the Centre
Once in Tirana, the South North Bus Terminal is 6 km from the centre (Skanderbeg Square). You can take a taxi or local bus to the centre.
The taxis hang out near the entrance to the bus terminal. Make sure the driver uses the meter, or agree on a price before you get in. I paid 1200 lek ($14.50) the last time, but I have been quoted as high as 2000 lek (which I turned down).
For only 40 lek ($0.50 USD) you can take a Tirana bus into the centre. Buses no 4 and 5 go right into the centre beside Skanderbeg Square. The bus stops are directly across the street from the South North Bus Terminal on Rruga Kastriotet.
Tirana bus fare is paid in cash to the bus conductor. They will accept euros, but they will charge one euro for the ride. Don’t expect any change.
Berat to Tirana by Private Transfer (Taxi)
Just about all Berat taxis will do a private transfer to Tirana. I was quoted 8000 lek ($97 USD) by a local taxi company recently. You will have to pay cash (lek), but some drivers do accept euros.
Just ask a couple of taxi drivers in the centre the day before you need the transfer. There are usually a bunch on Rruga Gaqi Gjikia in front of the Orthodox cathedral.
I recommend also checking with Taxi Landi, a Tirana based company that specializes in intercity transfers. I have used them several times, and they are reliable and dog friendly. They do transfers all over Albania, and across borders too.
Berat to Tirana By Rental Car
I don’t recommend renting a car strictly to get into Tirana because of the crazy fee rental agencies charge for dropping off in another city (usually €100). But if you already have a car it makes sense to drive from Berat to Tirana.
The drive is straightforward, and the roads are good. It should take less than 2 hours.
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How to Get from Berat to Tirana International Airport
There is no direct bus from Berat to Tirana’s airport. You have to take the Berat bus to Tirana and an airport bus from the bus terminal, or a private transfer (taxi) from Berat to the airport.
Berat to Tirana Airport by Bus
Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from Berat to the Tirana Airport, but you can get an airport shuttle from the South North Bus Terminal where the Berat buses terminate.
The airport shuttle is a big passenger van, and it runs about once an hour. The cost is 300 lek ($3.65 USD). I’ve taken it from the airport to the South North Bus Terminal, and it’s a great option to a taxi.
A taxi from the bus terminal to the airport will cost about 2000 lek ($24.00 USD).
Berat to Tirana Airport by Private Transfer
I would definitely shop around a bit for a price on this. Ask a couple of local taxis how much they charge and check with Taxi Landi.
The fare to travel from the airport to Berat is 9000 lek ($110 USD), so you can expect the cost to travel from Berat to the airport to be similar.
Is Tirana Worth Visiting?
Yes, Tirana is absolutely worth visiting. It’s a quirky, lively and very walkable city.
Almost all of the sites are in the centre, making it easy to explore. There’s a thriving cafe scene, lots of restaurants, and compared to other European capitals it’s very affordable.
It’s also safe. Albania in general is incredibly safe (something solo travellers always remark on), and the capital is no different. I travel alone with my small dog and have always felt very comfortable in Tirana.
Tirana doesn’t get the number of tourists other European cites do, so there’s rarely line ups for sites, or crowds in front of monuments. Also, if you’re interested in Albania’s communist past, this is where to explore that. There are a number of sites about this dark part of the country’s history.
It’s also a great base to explore other regions of Albania from. You can travel anywhere in Albania from Tirana by bus or car.
What to Do in Tirana
If you haven’t spent time in Tirana, it’s a great city and worth a couple of days. Tirana is extremely walkable, and almost all the sites are in the centre making it easy to explore.
You can see my 2 days in Tirana itinerary to help you make the most of your time there.
Popular sites in Tirana:
- Skanderbeg Square: The huge, main square in the centre of the city. A social and cultural meeting point. Historic Et’hem Bey Mosque is there.
- Bunk’Art 2: Museum inside a communist bunker focused on the activities of Albania’s secret police, the Sigurimi.
- House of Leaves: House formerly used for the surveillance of Albanians during the communist dictatorship.
- The Pyramid: Huge pyramid now used as public space, but originally built as a mausoleum for Albania’s communist dictator, Enver Hoxha.
- Blloku: Vibrant neighbourhood full of restaurants, bars and cafes, which was off limits to Albanians during communism. Enver Hoxha’s former home can be seen in Blloku.
- Namazgah Mosque: The largest mosque in the Balkans. Very beautiful.
Here is a full list of what to do in Tirana, including off the beaten path sites.
Where to Stay in Tirana
The best area to stay in Tirana is near Skanderbeg Square (within a 1 km radius). This is the centre and you will be within walking distance of the sites, restaurants and all amenities.
These are my favourite hotels in Tirana:
Luxury hotel: Maritim Hotel Plaza Tirana
Mid-priced hotel: Hotel Colosseo
Budget hotel: Albanopolis
Hostel: Red Goat Hostel
Here is a more detailed guide on where to stay in Tirana.
FAQs
You can take a bus or private transfer (taxi) from Tirana to Berat. There are buses every 30 minutes between 6:00 am and 5:30 pm from the South North Bus Terminal.
Yes, Berat is worth visiting. It’s Albania’s most beautiful historic city with a UNESCO designated old town.
Yes, it is possible to visit Berat as a daytrip from Tirana. Berat is 98 km from Tirana, and the drive is less than 2 hours. But Berat is such a lovely city, it’s better to stay a night or two.
Last Words on How to Get from Berat to Tirana
It couldn’t be any easier to get from Berat to Tirana. There are numerous daily buses, lots of choice for private transfers and taxis, and the drive is fairly direct – less than 100 km. In fact, Berat to Tirana is one of the easiest transfers in Albania!
