How to Get from Tirana Airport to the City Centre| Cheapest to Quickest
Looking for a quick, practical overview of your main options to get from Tirana airport to the city - or travel onward to alternative first stops beyond the Albanian capital?
We've got you sorted, with the essential details on the airport shuttle bus, official taxis (and cheaper alternatives), and ride-hailing options that actually work.
If you’re considering an Albanian road trip, we’ve also got a personal take on picking up your rental car on arrival at the airport.
There’s also advice on how to avoid three very common mistakes on SIM cards, ATMs, and money exchanges once you land.
Let’s go.
The Essentials
Where / Tirana airport is 18km from Tirana city centre
Time / 20 minutes to an hour depending on traffic + mode
Cheapest / The €4 hourly airport bus
Quickest / An official taxi for €22
Savviest / A pre-booked transfer for €11
Hire / Airport is cheapest place to rent a car for road trips
Tip / If driving, consider alternative first stop to Tirana
Know / Fares can be paid in lek or euro, but cash often required - Uber doesn’t work
How to Get from Tirana Airport to the City
Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) - named after Mother Teresa - is the country’s main airport and start point for travellers flying into Albania.
Situated 18km / 11 miles outside the capital, a logical choice for some Albania itineraries will be to spend your first night or two in Tirana before moving north to the Accursed Mountains or south to the beautiful beaches and UNESCO towns.
For some travellers though, it's going to be best to save the capital city for later in the trip or just pick up a rental car at the airport.
You have three options to travel to Tirana from the airport: the regular shuttle bus, the official taxis and pre-booked transfers, and driving with your rental car.
The Tirana Airport Shuttle Bus
The Rinas Express bus is the cheapest way to get into the centre of Tirana from the airport.
Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it’s the only regular public bus service between the two and costs 400 LEK (€4) per passenger.
There are departures every hour on the hour (i.e. 11am, 12pm, 1pm etc), and journeys take 30-45 minutes depending on traffic, but up to 60 minutes in peak rush hour
Note that there are no local city bus lines serving the airport.
Where | You can find the Rinas Express buses a short walk outside arrivals, after the car rental booths, in bus parking bays number 9 and 10. They’ve usually got a big 'LUNA’ logo on the side, and the exact location is here on Google Maps
The company states that a seat is guaranteed, but their aim is to fill up each bus, so it’s best anticipate a slight delay on leaving - especially if several flights have just landed at once.
The drop-off point is on a street next to Skanderbeg Square, slap bang in the middle of Tirana (here on Google Maps).
Tickets | No reservation or booking is required, and you can buy tickets onboard with cash or card; it’s possible to pay LEK (the local currency) or in Euro.
If you prefer, you can buy tickets online in advance though on the official LUNA Travel website, but note that English translation function often doesn’t work and there’s a 0.60 booking fee.
Alternatively, you can also buy tickets here: Bus Transfer from Tirana Airport to Tirana
Know | The Rinas Express is a very reliable, convenient, and affordable option to travel from the airport to Tirana - especially for solo travellers. The main drawbacks to be aware of are:
If you just miss a departure, you’ll need to wait almost an hour for the next bus
Costs for groups and families stack up to more than a pre-booked taxi
Some travellers find the buses too crowded and the drivers rude
If you’re not based near Skanderbeg Square, then may still have a decent walk to your accommodation. However, drivers do often drop-off passengers along the route if you ask with enough notice (and it’s feasible for them)
Travel Tip // You can usually just board the bus at the airport, then a guy will come to sort out the tickets later.
Tirana Airport Taxis, Transfers & Uber
Going with an official taxi from Tirana International Airport to the city centre costs €22 for a one-way trip. This offers the fastest way into Tirana, with a journey time of around 20-25 minutes depending on traffic.
The official airport taxis are operated by Auto Holiday Albania, and they’re parked directly outside the arrivals terminals. They’re yellow with ‘Taxi Tirana Airport’ emblazoned on the side and very easy to spot. No negotiation is required, but it’s a good idea to confirm the total price and drop-off location before setting off.
Cash payment is still standard, and some drivers expect a tip.
It’s also possible to reserve the official airport on their website, but not necessary.
There will also be a large number of unofficial taxi drivers operating in and around the arrivals hall, and they’ll inundate you with offers. We’ll leave it up to your judgement on whether this is a better option or not, but you should avoid if a solo traveller and for evening flight arrivals.
A better, cheaper alternative to the official and unofficial taxis is to pre-book with one of several taxi companies that offer Tirana airport pick-ups for around 1100-1300 LEK (€11-13). This includes Taxi Lux Albania and Green Taxi, and their drivers will usually stand and wait for you outside in a different part of airport to the official taxis.
Booking is primarily done via WhatsApp or e-mail, and payment is cash only as standard in LEK or Euros. We don’t recommend paying for these companies online in advance.
The drawback of the cheaper, pre-booked option is that things can get complicated if your flight is significantly delayed or the driver turns up late and you don’t have an internet connection to get in touch with them.
If you would prefer a more convenient advance payment option for a pre-booked taxi, then we recommend taking a look at this highly-rated option available on GetYourGuide (which is actually cheaper than taking an official taxi).
Another alternative is booking your Tirana airport transfer on WelcomePickups
Know | ‘Rinas’ is the name of the village where Tirana International Airport is located, and that’s what you’ll often see listed on taxi websites. For those still researching and planning their Albania route, we should also note that Tirana doesn’t have to be your first stop after flying in - and you’ll find lots of taxis and private transfers here that will take straight to other popular destinations in Albania.
Travel Tip // If you’ve done the maths, then you’ll have worked out that the pre-booked taxis work out cheaper than the shuttle bus for groups of three or more. If you’re faced with a long wait for the next bus, then consider splitting the cost and sharing an official taxi to the centre with others.
What About Uber?
Uber does not operate in Albania, and is actually illegal. So, you are currently not able to take an Uber from Tirana airport.
Bolt also isn’t here.
In their absence, there are a couple of local ride-hailing apps which offer basically the same service, though nowhere near as slick, intuitive, or well-served.
The two main alternatives to Uber in Albania are Patoko and Clust.
At present, you’re more likely to have a quicker, better, more conveient experience from the airport to Tirana with the taxi and transfer options listed above.
Travel Tip // If you do want to try it out, it’s a good idea to download and register for whichever app before you fly out rather the depending on the airport wifi or your new local SIM card. As we had a rental car for the entirety of our time in Albania, unfortunately we can’t give a personal recommendation on which app is best for general travel, so please do let us know you experience or preferences in the comments!
Tirana Airport Car Rental
The option we did and, if you’re planning an Albanian road trip, it’s worth knowing that the airport is the cheapest place to book and collect your rental car.
However, we’re not certain your first move should then be driving into the capital. You really don’t need a car for the main highlights, parking is limited, and the whole experience may not be the most enjoyable introduction to driving in Albania for less-experienced or nervous drivers.
The bests alternatives are listed below.
We look + book all our hire vehicles on AutoEurope and RentalCars, which somehow often bring up deals that are cheaper than going direct with the local and large companies. To compare and get the best value and terms, it’s a good idea to check offers on both.
Collecting Your Car
When you exit the airport, you’ll find the long row of car rental kiosks outside, with some offering on the day booking as well as reserved collection: we absolutely do not recommend arriving in summer without having booked your vehicle in advance though!
You need to go to these offices first to sort out the paperwork and licence checks.
It's then a short walk, via the old red plane, to collect your vehicle from one of the distinct company car parks across the road*
Once you've done all the necessary checks and taken photos/videos of the rental car, you’ll exit the airport and have a very swift introduction to Albanian drivers, so please go slow and let yourself ease gently into it.
*When comparing prices and companies on RentalCars and AutoEurope, bear in mind that some of the cheapest offers will actually require a short shuttle ride from the airport to their offices / parking lot; this isn’t a big issue, but can sometimes add on a long delay.
Should Tirana Be Your First Stop?
For road trippers, we'd suggest it's actually not a bad idea to leave Tirana until the middle or end. We found the driving in the capital to be the most unenjoyable in the country and therefore not the best introduction to any roadtrip.
From the airport you can just as easily get to Kruje or Shkoder, or head straight to the beaches.
Alternatively, you could of course visit Tirana after your time in the mountains, and before heading south to the coast.
Based on our experience, we think your main options after flying into Tirana airport are:
Pick up your car, and go north toward Krujë and Shkoder
Pick up your car, drive to Durres and south along the coast
Pick up your car, drive into Tirana
Take the bus/taxi to Tirana, stay for 1-3 days, then bus back to the airport to pick up your rental car.
Know | Due to the nature of the roads and distances, you shouldn’t head straight to Theth and the Accursed Mountains. Further, it’s not worth risking the roads and driving in the dark after a late flight arrival. Instead, just switch your itinerary to option 4 or stay in one of these Tirana Airport hotels.
Tirana Airport Travel Tips
· You cannot (legally) source the local currency - LEK / ALL - outside the country.
· As mentioned in 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Albania, it’s a very good idea to arrive in Albania with a decent stash of Euro. The currency is accepted almost everywhere in the country, including by the airport taxi and shuttle buses, and basically operates alongside the LEK.
· There are a couple of ATMs in the arrivals baggage hall, but when we were there queues were long, one only accepted VISA, and the other had run out of money.
A better alternative is to wait for the four bank-owned ATMs you’ll find once you exit baggage. This included otpbank, BKT, Raiffeisen, and Tirana Bank but all charge a withdrawal fee in the region of 500-800 LEK (€5-€8); this is common throughout Albania, meaning you should withdraw the maximum each time (about 30,000 LEK / €300 depending on the ATM and your bank)
Avoid any Euronet branded ones, and note some ATMs in Albania tend to have a preference for Visa over Mastercard, and some won’t work with other cards.
· Alternatively, you will find two airport cash exchanges in the arrivals baggage hall, and another once you go through the gate. We would usually advise against using these services in airport due to terrible exchange rates, but if you have any issues with the ATM or are in a rush, they do offer those without euro a quick and convenient opportunity to get some local currency to get through your first day. Note that when we visited, individuals were only permitted to exchange a maximum of 50 in GBP, USD, and EUR.
There is also at least one money exchange outside the baggage hall.
· As Albania isn’t a member of the European Union, most UK and EU cross border free data-roaming plans treat the country as a separate zone, often with expensive roaming charges for calls, texts, and data. tion
· The most cost-effective solution is to buy a local SIM card, and within the arrivals baggage hall, you’ll find ONE and Vodafone teams offering deals and SIM cards. They matched each other on data allowance, minutes, and days with a 40GB 14-day package costing €23.
If the baggage hall is too busy and chaotic, both companies also have two office outside in arrivals, which is where we bought ours.
We recommend getting the staff set up and check your data works there and then, just in case you have issues or get the wrong package.
Alternatively, if you’d rather arrive with data ready to go, then we recommend Airalo for e-sims.
