This article was written and edited alongside my partner Sarka. If you’re a Czech traveler have a look at her Czech version of this article on the sharkadventurin blog.
Albania buses are cheap and can get you to almost anywhere in the country. However, there’s a slight hiccup – the huge lack of organization. You won’t find bus schedules online, stops aren’t always marked on maps, and only a few bigger bus stations have timetables posted by the entrance. It can all feel like a massive headache for a tourist who doesn’t speak the language or is used to convenient transport apps.
Fear not my friends. We’ve done our best to collect as much data as possible during our three-month trip around Albania in late 2021. Times are always tricky in this part of the world, just like the saying “island time” The Balkans have the saying “Balkans time.” Unless there are any unforeseen issues, you can count on the bus stop locations in this guide. We’d like to first mention, that asking the locals or your accommodation is the best way to go about travel when you need the most up-to-date information about Albania.
Alright, let’s get to it. Below are all the Albania bus routes we tested or saw timetables of.
Tirana Bus Stations
Tirana is going to be the starting point for most people, so you’d expect a nice, smooth-operating bus station ready for international visitors! Unfortunately, that’s not the case, the bus system here is one of the most chaotic places in the whole country. There were three stations (now four), not close to each other whatsoever. They service various routes inside and outside Albania. Make sure to find the right one for you!
South and North Bus Terminal
Where | Terminali i Autobusave të Veriut dhe Jugut in Albanian. You’ll find this bus station on Google Maps (here) or look for the crossroads of Rruga 29 Nëntori and Rruga Kastriotet.
There’s a frequent city bus L5B Institute – Qender (40 lek) in Tirana’s city center that will take you to the station in about 30 minutes. The bus stop in the center is on Rruga e Barrikadave (the big road behind the Opera) in front of the Big Market. Alternatively, you can seek a bus line called Kamez.
Goes | The South and North Terminal is the station for most intercity Albania buses, excluding the Albanian – North Macedonian border routes for Elbasan and other places nearby. The most popular routes you’ll find at the terminal are Tirana to Durrës, Shkodër, Berat, Vlorë and Sarandë.
Southeastern Albania Regional Bus Terminal
Update 2024 | According to the comments on Google Maps, it looks like Tirana didn’t have enough with its three terminals. They started building a new East Terminal (here) at the Tirana East Gate shopping mall. It goes by Terminali Lindor I Autobusave (East Bus Terminal) in Albanian. It’s located at the previously mentioned TEG mall on Unaza Lindore/Rruga Vilave. We don’t have it confirmed, but there should be buses marked TEG/2/8 that go there. Evidently, it’s a new station for Pogradec, Korçë, Maliq, Elbasan, and the FlixBus to Ohrid, North Macedonia.
Where | Terminali i Autobuzëve Juglindje in Albanian is located on the opposite side of the city near The Faculty of Economics on the corner of Rruga Arben Broci and Rruga Gramoz Pashko.
We didn’t try this one out ourselves, but we were told all the city buses called TEG/SAUK stop there. You pay 40 lek to the conductor on a bus for any single journey around Tirana. Just like we mentioned about the buses heading to the North and South Terminal. Southeastern Terminal is only 2.2 km from the city center so you can choose to take a city bus or just walk to get there.
Goes | This is the terminal for everyone going to Elbasan, Pogradec, Korçë, or the lesser-known towns of Cërrik, Gramsh, Ersekë, Librazhd, Belsh, Përrenjas, Leskovik or Bilisht.
Tirana International Bus Terminal
Where | Stacioni Qendror i Linjave Nderkombetare in Albanian. The terminal is on Rruga Ali Kolonja near Pallati i Sportit.
Pallati i Sportit is also the name of the nearest bus stop. It’s on the same bus lines as the North and South Terminal – Institut or Kamez. It’s also only 2.2 km from the city so walking is an option too.
Goes | At the Tirana International Bus Terminal, you can catch buses to Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Germany, Northern Macedonia, and Turkey. It also serves as a FlixBus stop.
Heads Up | This is the only bus station with a public toilet, fast food, and travel agencies selling tickets.
Popular Albania Bus Routes
Albania Bus Routes Within Tirana City Limits
Tirana Airport – Tirana City Center
A company called LU-NA has a stop marked with a bus sign across the airport exit. You arrive at a little park behind the Opera & Ballet Theatre in the city center. The price is 400 lek (they sometimes take Euros). Travel time is approximately 30 minutes.
Departure times from the airport | Every full hour of the day (there can be a wait time for the bus to be filled).
Departure times from the city center | Every full hour of the day.
Tirana City Center (Qendër) – Museum BunkArt1/Dajti Express
The bus stop is in a little park behind the Opera & Ballet Theatre, line L11 Porcelan. You can either get off at the last stop and walk 1.2 km or wait a bit for the bus to continue to a stop called BunkArt1/Teleferiku. The price is 40 lek. Travel time is around 20 minutes (depending on the traffic and the driver’s break at Porcelan).
Tip | You can track most of the bus stops in Tirana offline on Maps.me.
Albania Buses In The North
Tirana–Shkodër
Leaves from the North and South Terminal. The price is 300 lek and the travel time is approximately 2 hours. The stop in Shkodër is on Bulevardi Bujar Bishanaku by a roundabout with a fountain near the theater.
Departure | 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 11:45, 12:30, 13:15, 14:00, 14:45, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00
Return | Every 45 min to an hour from 6:00-17:00. From our experience, buses, and vans tend to wait until they’re full.
There should also be a direct bus from Tirana Airport for 1,000 lek.
Departure | 11:15, 12:45, 17:30, 20:10
Return | 07:30, 11:00, 14:00, 16:00
Tirana–Krujë
Leaves from the North and South Terminal. Price 150 lek. Travel time is approximately 1 hour. The bus stops near a grocery store on Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu Street, but on the way back it waits across the Grand Hotel on Donika Kastrioti Street until it’s full.
Departure | Every hour starting from 7:00-18:00. (except for one at 13:30).
Return | We didn’t try this and there was no schedule up at the stop, but, it should leave around every hour and/or wait until full.
Krujë – Fushë–Krujë
The stop is across from the Grand Hotel on Donika Kastrioti Street. You should head to Fushë–Krujë if you need to get from Krujë to Shkodër without backtracking to Tirana. The price is 100 lek and the travel time is approximately 20 minutes The stop in Fushë–Krujë is by a roundabout at Rruga e Durrësit. That’s where you’ll find buses to Tirana too.
Departure | Often and when the bus fills up.
Fushë–Krujë – Shkodër
If you arrive at Fushë–Krujë by bus from Krujë, walk straight until you reach an overpass/bridge on SH1/E762, there you’ll see a little path going up to this main road where buses from Tirana to Shkodër pass regularly. I recommend waiting at a safe spot in front of the Nirvana Resort and Spa. You can wave down any bus with the correct sign behind its windshield. The price should be a maximum of 300 lek. Travel time under 2 hours.
Departure | It’s not an official stop so it’s hard to say, but based on the departures from Tirana it should be around 7:30, 8:30, and then every 30 minutes until about 18:30.
Shkodër–Shirokë
Shirokë and Zogaj share one bus stop on Rruga Teuta opposite Rozafa Hotel. The price is 40 lek and the travel time is about 15 minutes.
Departure | 12 a.m., 2:30 p.m. (?) Ask the driver about the return times, we enjoyed a walk back along the lake and it’s also ideal for a bike trip.
Shkodër–Theth
This trip is best organized through your accommodation with a door-to-door service. You will also meet drivers offering a ride near the roundabout with a fountain across from the theater. These are usually shared cars, not buses. The price is 10 euros and the travel time is about 2 hours.
You can book your return ride at your accommodation in Theth or at the Info Center.
Places worth visiting in Theth:
Shkodër–Valbonë
Even though there’s a bus servicing this route, which takes about 5 hours, the best and most scenic option is a combination of a shuttle bus and the Komani Lake ferry. You can book online here, but if you ask at your accommodation, they’ll book it for you. They will make sure you get on the right shuttle at no extra cost.
Departure | Approximately 6:45 and you’ll get dropped off at your accommodation in Valbonë at about 12:30. The price is 2200 lek/19 euro (We’ve found conflicting prices in 2024 ranging from 1800 lek to 2600 lek).
Albanian Riviera Routes
Tirana–Durrës
Leave from the South and North Bus Terminal. The price is 150 lek and travel time is about 30 minutes. You will arrive at the Main Bus Station next to the train station in the center of Durrës (maps).
Departure | Every 20 minutes between 6:00 and 21:15 in both directions.
There should also be a direct bus from Tirana Airport for 600 lek.
Departure | 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00
Return | 08:00, 09:30, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00
Durrës: Center–Beach–Rotondo Shopping Center
This city bus will get you to the historical center of Durrës, the beach, and a bus stop for Vlorë/Sarandë (more about that below). It’s 40 lek for one ride and runs frequently, stopping at many places along Rruga Pavarësia.
Tirana–Vlorë
Leaves from the South and North Bus Terminal. The price is 500 lek and travel time is about 3 hours. The bus stop in Vlorë is by the Information Center/Independence Monument.
Departure | Every 30 minutes between 5:00 and 17:30 in both directions.
There should also be a direct bus from the Tirana Airport for 1,200 lek.
Departure | 03:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:15, 24:45
Return | 01:30, 03:30, 06:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 20:00
Places worth visiting in Vlora:
Tirana–Himarë
Leaves from the South and North Bus Terminal. The price is 1000 lek and travel time is about 5 hours 30 minutes. The bus stop in Himarë is on the crossroads of SH8 and Rruga 25 Marsi across from Big Market.
Departure | 6:15, 13:00
Return | 5:00, 11:00, 18:00, or take a bus to Vlorë at noon where you can catch a bus to Tirana every 30 minutes or so.
Further Reading for Himara:
Tirana–Sarandë
Leaves from the South and North Bus Terminal. The price is 1500-2000 lek and travel time is about 5 hours. The bus stop in Sarandë is along Rruga Vangjel Pandi between Rruga Lefter Talo and Friendship Park (Parku Miqësia).
Departure | 5:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:45, 12:00/12:30, 14:15, 16:00, 22:00 (only in summer). There might also be a 10:30 bus through Delvinë, but it’s unconfirmed.
Return | 5:00, 6:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:45, 14:00
Vlorë–Durrës
Bus stop next to the Information Center in front of the park with the Independence Monument. The price is 500 lek and travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes. In Durrës, the buses to/from Vlorë and Sarandë DO NOT stop at the Main Bus Station in the city center.
Instead, they go to/from a stop near the roundabout by Rotondo Shopping Center in the direction of Tirana. It’s marked on Google Maps (here) as Stacioni i Autobuzave Plepa.
Departure | About every 30 minutes starting from 5:00/5:30 in both directions.
Vlorë–Dhërmi
Leaves Vlorë from the bus stop by the park with the Independence Monument. Some might also leave from the University of Vlorë by the port, but we can’t confirm it. The price is 400 lek and travel time is about 1 hour 30 minutes. The bus stops in Dhërmi at the crossroads of the main road and Rruga Megali Hora.
Departure | 11:30 (goes all the way to Sarandë), one more bus passes Dhërmi on the way to Himarë, but you’ll have to ask in Vlorë the day before because there’s no schedule up. Don’t just take any bus in the direction of Sarandë as some take the inland route instead of the coastal.
Return | It’s better to ask some locals, but we caught one between 7:30 and 8:00 that went all the way to Tirana through Vlorë. There should also be one between 12:30 and 13:30 (it leaves Sarandë at 11:30 so depends on traffic).
Further Reading for Dhermi:
Vlorë–Himarë
Bus stop by the park with the Independence Monument. The price is about 400 lek and the travel time is about 2 hours 30 minutes. It arrives near Himarë‘s Big Market.
Departure | 11:30
Return | 12:00, 13:00
Vlorë–Sarandë
Leaves from the bus stop by the park with the Independence Monument. The price is 700/800 lek and travel time is about 3 hours for the inland route or 4 hours along the picturesque coast. It arrives at Rruga Vangjel Pandi near Friendship Park.
Departure | 11:30 (takes the coastal route and stops in Dhërmi or Himarë if you ask)
Return | 8:00/8:30 (inland), 11:30
Sarandë–Ksamil–Butrint
There’s a local bus with a few official stops at the roundabout by Eli’s Seafront Boutique Apartment, SOS Bar in the city center, Hotel Butrinti, Hotel OASI, Supermarket Planet, Kanal i Çukes, Ksamil, and Butrint.
The fare is 100 lek and travel time to Ksamil is about 30 minutes and an extra 10 minutes to Butrint.
Departure | Every hour from 5:30 to 21:30 in both directions, but it’s seasonal so 18:30 is always the safer bet. It starts at half past each hour and you can expect it to be at each consecutive stop 2-5 minutes after the previous one.
Further Reading for Ksamil:
Sarandë–Himarë
Leaves from the marked Trans Dea bus stop in front of a fast food restaurant on Rruga Vangjel Pandi. The price is 500 lek and travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes. The main bus stop in Himarë is by the Big Market but if you come across a nice driver, they might drop you off as close to your accommodation as possible!
Departure | 10:00 (maybe) 11:30, 13:00 (maybe), 14:00
Return | 8:30, 16:00
Himarë – Porto Palermo
To get to Porto Palermo you have to catch the previously mentioned bus in the direction of Sarandë, but be mindful that the bus might leave earlier than scheduled. The price is 100 lek and travel time is about 15 minutes. If you ask the driver they will stop right in front of the island for you.
Departure | 11:30, 14:00
Return | Around 14:00, but you can also walk back or easily hitchhike.
Himarë–Dhërmi
Get on a bus in the direction of Vlorë at the bus stop near the Big Market. The price is 200 lek and travel time is about 30 minutes. It usually stops by the old village at the spring near Saint Harallambi Church, but the main stop is Dhërmi–Drymades by the turn-off to Rruga Megali Hora. To get to most accommodations, especially those near the sea, you’ll have to catch a taxi or walk down the hill.
Departure | 12:00, 13:00
Return | You’ll have to ask locals because Dhërmi isn’t an official stop and there are usually only two buses a day. One leaves Vlorë at 11:30 so it should pass Dhërmi around 1 p.m.
Albania Buses To Inland/Historic Towns
Vlorë–Fier
Leaves from the park with the Independence Monument. The price is 250 lek and travel time is about 40 minutes. The bus stop in Fier is by the roundabout on SH4/8 near the Qendra Gold shopping center.
Departure | There’s no schedule in Vlorë, but buses to Fier leave frequently as soon as they’re full, which is usually every 30 minutes.
Return | From the same roundabout, but in the direction of Vlorë. They also leave often.
Fier–Apollonia
Take a local bus to Pojan village. It leaves from Brigada IX Sulmuese Street in front of Gjimnazi Janaq Kilica (corner of Rruga Leon Rei). The price is 50 lek and travel time is about 20 minutes. It’ll be another 1.3 km walk to Apollonia from there. The bus stop in Pojan is well-marked and you can catch a return bus from the same place.
Departure | 7:30, 8:30, 11:15, 12:30, 14:00, 15:30, 16:45
Return | 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 11:45, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00
Fier–Berat
The bus stop is by the roundabout of SH4 and Rruga Naftëtarët across from Kisha Katolike. It’s marked on Maps.me if you have offline maps. The price is 250 lek and travel time is about 1 hour. All intercity buses in Berat arrive and leave from a bus terminal on Rruga Antipatrea by Friends Hotel. It’s about 3.4 km from the historic center.
Departure | Buses leave often, but usually wait until they fill up. Same in the opposite direction.
Berat–Terminal – Berat–Historic center
A local bus stops directly across from the Bus terminal, you have to cross the road to go in the right direction. The price is 30 lek and takes about 7 minutes.
Departure | The first bus from the historic center leaves just before 7:00 and buses leave often.
Berat–Tirana
Leaves from Berat Bus terminal (here). The price is around 400 lek and the travel time is about 1 hour 45 minutes. You will arrive at Tirana’s South and North Terminal.
Departure | Every half hour from 4:30 to 11:30. After that it’s 12:30, 13:10, 13:50, 14:30, 15:10, 15:50, 16:30
Return | 5:40, 6:30, 7:15, 7:45, 8:15, 8:50, 9:20, 9:50, 10:20, 11:00, then every half hour until 17:30
Berat–Vlorë
Leaves from the Berat Bus Terminal. The price is 400 lek and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. The bus arrives at the park with the Independence Monument in Vlorë.
Departure | 6:00, 7:30, 8:30, 9:20, 10:00, 13:00
Return | You’ll have to ask around in Vlorë but most likely every hour during the morning, often waiting until the bus fills up. You can catch a bus to Fier and transfer from there also, just make sure to find the right bus stop as described earlier.
Berat–Sarandë (stops in Gjirokastër)
Leaves from the Berat Bus terminal. The price is 1200 lek (1000 from Gjirokastër). Travel time is about 3 hours 30 minutes. The bus stop in Sarandë is on Rruga Vangjel Pandi near Friendship Park (in Gjirokastër on Rruga 18 Shtatori by the Bar Cafe Station).
Departure | 8:00, 14:00
Return | 8:00, 10:15, 14:30
Gjirokastër–Sarandë
The bus stop is by the roundabout of SH4 and Rruga 18 Shtatori by the Bar Cafe Station. The price is 300 lek and travel time is about 1 hour. You’ll arrive at Rruga Vangjel Pandi by Friendship Park.
Departure | 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 12:00, or anything that passes Gjirokastër in the right direction, just don’t leave it until the late afternoon.
Return | 6:00, 8:00, 10:15, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:00
You can catch any bus going to Tirana, Berat, Fier, Elbasan or Lushnje. Just be advised that some buses to Tirana require reservations and may not want to take you.
Further reading for Gjirokaster:
Gjirokastër/Sarandë – Blue Eye
The Blue Eye is approximately halfway between Sarandë and Gjirokastër, maybe a bit closer to Sarandë. That means you can catch any of the buses I described earlier. The price from Sarandë is 100 lek and from Gjirokastër 200 lek. Travel time is about 30–45 minutes. After that, it’s a 1.9 km walk to get to the freshwater spring. It’s well marked but if you’re not sure, turn left by the ticket booth with a barrier.
International Connections
Shkodër–Podgorica
The bus stop is on Rruga Teuta in front of the Rozafa Hotel. The price is 10 euro + 1 euro/luggage or 12 euro depending on the company. You can pay the driver or book through busticket4me. Enter Skadar into the website instead of Shkoder. Travel time is around 2 hours, but it depends on the situation at the border.
You’ll arrive at the main bus station in Podgorica. There’s usually a seasonal bus to Ulcinj from the same bus stop. It looks like FlixBus also serves this route now.
Departure | It depends on the season, but normally it’s 7:50, 10:00, 13:20, 14:15.
Return | Check with either FlixBus or bustickets4me.
Shkodër – Ulcinj
There is also a seasonal bus to Ulcinj from the same stop as to Podgorica.
Departure | 9:00, 14:15, 16:00
Return | 7:00, 12:30, 16:30
Tirana-Ohrid
FlixBus now runs this route from the Tirana Terminali Lindor I Autobusave ( Rruga Nacionale, Autostrada Tirane – Elbasan). You still might be able to get tickets from the International bus station as well, but I’m not sure. The price is 17 euros and travel time is about 3 hours. You will arrive at the Ohrid Bus Station. Tickets can be purchased through the FlixBus website.
Departure | 13:00
Return | 8:00
These are the bus routes we either tried or saw a schedule for. Please don’t treat this as an end-all-be-all, this information was accurate for us, but there’s truly no reliable system or liability in Albania. Each company or driver ultimately decides when they go. You often have to wait until the minivan fills up or it might get seriously delayed because of maintenance issues.
There’s currently not much about buses in Albania online, so hopefully this article is useful for basic orientation. At the very least you might find the bus stop locations helpful.
Final Tip | Another thing to do is check out the latest photos of bigger bus stations on Google Maps. Sometimes people snap a picture of the newest bus schedules.
Are buses in Albania not for you?
You can check out organized transfers and tours to most of Albania here. There are some great options for people trying to avoid the harder-to-reach chaotic Albania bus system.
