How To Travel Around Albania in 2025

Albania isn’t a big country, and all of is beautiful and worth exploring. So how do you travel around Albania? There are three ways: car, bus or private transfer.

There is no metro and no Uber in Albania. Although there is a rail system, there is very limited passenger train service. Locals all say it’s easier to take the bus.

While Albania’s public transit system is outdated compared to the rest of Europe, it’s not complicated. I’ve travelled all over Albania by rental car, bus and taxi (private transfers), with a dog.

It’s easy once you have a general idea of how it works.

I’m going to explain how I travel in Albania, and provide you with all the information you need to get around the country.

How to Travel Around Albania

Here’s what you should know about getting around Albania by car, private transfer (taxi) and inter-city bus. You’ll be able to go anywhere once you read this!

Personally, I use all of these modes of transport. I base my decision on my schedule, how much luggage I have, and cost.

For a sample 14-day route with bus and driving options, see my full two-week Albania itinerary.

By Car – Best for Exploring & Flexibility

Travelling by car will give you the most freedom. Albania is stunning, and I guarantee you’re going to want to stop along the way to wherever you’re going for photos and to admire the scenery.

If you’re planning to explore Albania (as opposed to staying in one place), I recommend renting a car and driving.

The main roads and highways are pretty good. The roads which aren’t numbered on a map can be rough with pot holes, unpaved etc.

Albanian drivers have a reputation for being aggressive and fast, and that’s not entirely true. The fast part – yes, sometimes they do drive fast! But I’ve found local drivers to be courteous and no more aggressive than anywhere else in the world.

Renting a Car in Albania

You can find small cars for $30 USD/day. That is exclusive of insurance. Rental companies in Albania will put a damage deposit on your credit card (usually €500-800) and hold it for 30 days after the rental.

Read the fine print carefully, and check to see if there are any age restrictions or requirements for an international driver’s license.

Don’t take a rental car over an international border without prior permission. You’ll need additional insurance paperwork.

Private Transfer (Taxi) – Easiest, but Most Expensive

This is the easiest way to get from one destination in Albania to the next, but also the most costly. To give you an idea of costs, I recently paid 8000 lek ($95 USD) to travel from Ksamil to Himare (2 hour drive).

Private transfers are taxis, and they are easy to arrange. Below are the companies I use, but you can always ask at your guest house or hotel. They should be able to recommend someone.

While I was in Himare, I found a great taxi driver to take me to Himare Old Town by asking my Airbnb host.

Taxi Companies I’ve Used for Private Transfers

• Taxi Landi: Tirana based, but provides transfers all over Albania and internationally. I used them from Vlore for a day trip to Berat, and again when I travelled to Montenegro from Albania. They’re very reliable.
• Saranda Eco Taxi: Based in Saranda – great for travelling around the Albanian Riviera. I used them recently a couple of times for transfers to and from Ksamil. Good drivers and clean cars.
• Taxi-Lux: Tirana taxi company that provides transfers. I used them to travel to Durres from Tirana.

I’ve had good experience with private transfers. Clean cars, courteous drivers and reliable. Make sure you agree on the price before, and keep in mind you’ll probably have to pay cash in local currency (Albanian lek).

To be honest, I love the convenience of taxis but if I wasn’t travelling with a small dog and big suitcase, I’d probably take the bus more often.

By Bus – the Cheapest Way

Albania has an extensive bus network – it’s not as structured as other European countries, but it works and it’s cheap. I recently paid 1700 lek ($20 USD) to travel from Tirana to Saranda – a 5 hour journey.

One of the reasons there’s so many buses in Albania is because during the communist regime (1944 – 1991) the general public were not allowed to own vehicles. Only the communist elite could own cars. Most people relied on buses, and that system is still around today.

How the Buses in Albania Work

Every town and city has a bus ‘station.’ Depending on the size of the town, that bus station could be a huge parking lot (like Tirana South North Bus Station), or a particular spot on the side of the road (like Dhermi and Golem).

If you’re not in a city like Tirana or Durres, which have proper bus ‘stations’ (I use that term loosely, because half the time there’s no building – it’s just a parking lot), you’ll have to ask a local where the bus stop is.

Buses are often furgons (mini buses/large passenger vans). Busier routes during peak season will have full size buses also. Full size buses are more comfortable, but the furgon is an authentic Albanian experience! All buses have AC – it usually works.

Most of the time you buy your ticket on the bus (in cash). Sometimes you do have to buy a ticket beforehand, like when travelling to Saranda from Tirana (tickets are purchased at the ticket booth in the bus parking lot). If you’re unsure, ask a local.

⭐Check this website for bus schedule and fare information⭐

Keep in mind the schedule may not be exact. Buses generally leave when full, so show up a little early. Don’t buy your tickets on this website – just use it for schedule and routing information.

Buses also make unscheduled stops to drop passengers off or pick passengers up. It’s kind of a casual system, but it works.

Passenger Train Service in Albania

Albania has two operational passenger rail routes: Durres – Elbasan and Shkoder – Lac/Gjorme. Both are limited routes, with service only on certain days.

You cannot buy train tickets online in Albania. If you want to inquire about the train you’ll have to go the train station in person, or ask at your guest house or hotel.

When writing this I could not even find passenger rail service information on the official Albanian Rail website.

Last Words on How to Travel Around Albania

It is easy to travel around Albania if you know how the buses and private transfers work. It’s not the streamlined operation found in much of Europe, but it works, and it’s budget-friendly.

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