Public transport in Albania is still one of the most affordable ways to travel. If you’re starting your trip in Tirana, you’ll likely use one of the two main intercity terminals. Taking the buses from any stops in Tirana to any of the Terminals, costs 40 lek, around 40 cents, however you will need to convert to Albanian Lek. The South and North Bus Terminals make it easy to connect with almost every city in the country. They don’t operate under one centralized hub, so knowing where to go in advance saves you time and money. In order to get in either one of them, you will have to take the airport bus which is 24h, leaves from the airport every one hours and costs 200 lek or 2 euros. If you want to save time, you can also order a taxi, try to get on the electric ones which are way cheaper and have a standard rate which is around 11-13 euros for one way.
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The South Bus Terminal, located near TEG Shopping Center, handles routes to cities like Elbasan, Librazhd, Pogradec and Korçë, meaning that it covers the southeastern part. You can also get on a fugon (albanian mini buses) that get you to Bilisht, which is near the greek border. In case you were planning a day trip to one of the Greek neighbouring cities it is very convenient. The South Bus Terminal is organized, not only with fugons’ that can take you to the Southeastern but also with ticket booths for buses that go to any cities in Greece, cafes, public toilets, and waiting areas.
Buses usually leave regularly at every one hour especially in summer. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early, pay in cash, and store your bags in the luggage compartment for free. Prices to the cities depend on the distance, for example Elbasan that is around 30 minute away, costs around a euro, and Pogradec which is around 2 hours costs 6 euros. We absolutely recommend that you have Albanian Lek and to not pay in euros as with the exchange range it may cost you more and some drivers may not accept euros at all.
Buses that take you to TEG from Tirana center, where the Terminal is located, are the ones with signs in the windshield:
-“Tirana – TEG”
-“Sauk-TEG”
Some main stops where you can get on these buses are :
-“9-katëshet”
-“Rruga e Elbasanit”.
You can use your GPS, which frankly can be a little useless sometimes, but if you ask locals on the street telling them that you want to go to the Bus Terminal in TEG, be sure that they will absolutely help you and show you the way regardless of whether they speak English.
The North and Northeast Bus Terminal is found near Kamza, on the way out of Tirana. From here, you can travel to Shkodër, Kukës, Pukë, Tropojë, Sarandë, Vlorë and the northern mountain areas as well as the South Riviera. The setup is simpler, but it works. You’ll see minibuses, parked and ready. Ask the drivers directly about departure times. They leave once full, which can take a few minutes or over an hour, depending on the destination and time of day. Compared to the Southeastern Bus Terminal, it is not really organized yet with booths, cafes, sitting areas, however there is one shop where you can buy some cold water or snacks if you don’ t have any. You can use the municiplatity’ s online page to find the times that the buses for your destination leave, but they may not be too accurate.
Buses that take you to the North-South Terminal are the ones with signs in the windshield:
-“Instituti”
-“City Park
If you’re on a tight budget, this kind of travel is perfect. A bus from Tirana to Shkodër might cost you around 700 lekë. Southbound trips are slightly more, depending on distance. Wi-Fi might not be one of the amenities, even air-conditioning will depend on the fugon, but nowadays they all have it, but you will get a real view of Albanian life. Locals use these routes daily, and conversations often spark up easily. Don’t be surprised if someone offers you snacks or stories from the road.
Some main stops where you can get on these buses are :
-“9-katëshet”
-“Muzeu Kombëtar”
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Our Albania360 app makes it easy for everyone to discover hidden gems, explore 360 views of places before visiting, plan their meals & coffee dates, find perfect accommodations & book directly on the app, and much more!