How far is Tirana from Shkoder? Bus, Taxi, Rental car
If you are planning to travel to Tirana from Shkoder, you might be wondering how far it is and how long it will take. In this blog, I will discuss the distance to Tirana from Shkoder, how to get there and transportation.
How far is Tirana from Shkoder? Tirana is 103 kilometers from Shkoder. It will take you approximately 2 hours to get to Tirana from Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by car. A bus ticket costs only 400 Leke (3.44 euros) and departs every 30 min between 7 AM and 17PM. A taxi costs 55-72 EUR. A rental car is 20-25 EUR per day + 25 EUR petrol.
In this blog post, I will describe the distance to Tirana from Shkoder, and how to get to Tirana from Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by rental car. I will outline bus timetables, compare taxi prices and car rental rates from different companies. I will also describe how to get back from Tirana to Shkoder.
How far is Tirana from Shkoder? – Including a summary of transportation means
Tirana is 103 kilometers from Shkoder. It will take you approximately 2 hours to travel to Tirana from Shkoder.
You can travel to Tirana from Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by rental car. There is no train connection from Shkoder to Tirana.
If you decide to travel to Tirana from Shkoder by bus, this will be incredibly cheap. A ticket costs only 400 Leke (3.44 euros). The bus departs from the city centre of Shkoder (more info on the bus station below). But the disadvantage is that the bus terminal in Tirana where you will be dropped off is outside the city centre of Tirana. So you need to take another taxi/bus to the city centre.
If you decide to travel to Tirana from Shkoder by taxi it will cost you between 55 euros – 72 euros. Here are some of the price quotations I received from well-known taxi companies in Albania.
- Merr Taxi charges 72 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana
- UPs taxi charge 7838 Leke (64 euros) for a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana
- Speedtaxi charges 6500 Leke or 55 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana
If you decide to travel to Tirana from Shkoder by rental car, you will pay at least 20-25 euros per day for a rental car. And an additional 25 euros for petrol from Shkoder to Tirana. What you will find out though, is that most car rental companies are actually based in Tirana, at Tirana airport or at the Port of Durres. So that is something worth considering when you make an itinerary.
What is the distance to Tirana from Shkoder?
The distance to Tirana from Shkoder is 103 kilometres. It will take you around 2 hours to get to Tirana from Shkoder by car, by taxi or by bus.
The road to Tirana from Shkoder is a national road, not a highway. Because this road has only 1 lane in each direction, it is hard to pass by slower trucks. Therefore, it will definitely take you 2 hours to drive this road. The road is asphalted and in a good condition.
How long does it take to travel to Tirana from Shkoder?
It does take approximately 2 hours to travel to Tirana from Shkoder. No matter if you travel by bus, by taxi or by car, it will always take you roughly 2 hours to get to Tirana from Shkoder. Since there is only one main road that connects the two cities, so the bus, taxi or rental car will all drive the same road, distance and time. There is no train connection.
How to get to Tirana from Shkoder by bus?
You can get to Tirana from Shkoder by bus. The bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs from this bus station:
Shkoder Bus Station (Stacion Autobusi Nderqytetas)
You can see the location of the Shkoder bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/WXbTJ5MdExdnfo7K9
The Shkoder Bus Station is close to the city centre of Shkoder. The “Rruga Kole Idromeno” is a Venetian-style boulevard in the centre of Shkoder. At the end of the boulevard, you need to pass in between the Ebu Bekr Mosque (a large white mosque) and Hotel Colosseo. Turn right and walk to the roundabout, the bus station is next to the roundabout.
The bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs at 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 13:00 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:30 PM and 17:00 PM.
You can always double-check the bus timetable on Gjirafa Autobus here: https://travel.gjirafa.com/ You can also see the company names of the bus operators, so you can reach out to them via WhatsApp or Facebook messenger for more information.
A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana costs 400 Leke (3.44 euros). You must pay for your bus ticket in cash to the driver of the bus. So be sure to carry a small amount of Albanian Leke currency with you.
The disadvantage of taking the bus from Shkoder to Tirana is the drop-off location. The bus terminal in Tirana where you will be dropped off is called “ South and North Albania Bus Terminal (in the Albanian language: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut). You can see the location of the bus terminal on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/Jz4oAovp8LcUxNQP9
The bus terminal in Tirana is located outside the city centre. So you will need to take a 15-20 minute taxi or transfer to a city bus to get to the centre of the city. The centre of Tirana is called “Skanderbeg Square”, and most hotels are around this area.
The city bus from the Tirana bus terminal to the city centre departs right across the road from the bus terminal. Walk off the bus terminal parking lot and cross the road, there is a bus stop in front of the petrol station / Terminal hotel.
How much does a taxi to Tirana from Shkoder cost?
A taxi to Tirana from Shkoder costs between 55 euros – 72 euros. Here are some of the price quotations I received from well-known taxi companies in Albania.
- Merr Taxi charges 72 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana
- UPs taxi charge 7838 Leke (64 euros) for a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana
- Speedtaxi charges 6500 Leke or 55 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana
How to get to Tirana from Shkoder by train?
You cannot get to Tirana from Shkoder by train. Because there are no trains in operation between Shkoder and Tirana. Albania has currently only a handful of trains in operation, since the railway network is old, it is in need of refurbishment and investment.
The railways and trains in Albania were built during the communist regime, which lasted from the end of the Second World War until 1992. Since the fall of communism in 1992, the railway network has not been refurbished or invested in. As a result, there are plenty of old railways, that are currently not being used.
You can read more about the trains in Albania on my blog here: https://albaniatourguide.com/can-you-take-a-train-to-albania/
How much does it cost to rent a car and drive to Tirana from Shkoder?
It does cost you at least 20-25 euros per day to rent a car in Albania. And for petrol, you will need roughly 25 euros to drive from Shkoder to Tirana.
That being said, most car rental companies are of course in Tirana, at Tirana airport or near the Port of Durres. So you might find that you will need to travel from Shkoder to Tirana and pick up a rental car from Tirana for your journey onwards.
I have recently written a blog post in which I compare the prices of different car rental companies in Albania, you can see the price comparison blog on my website here -> https://www.albaniatourguide.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-rent-a-car-in-albania/
If you want to get a good deal on a rental car, I highly recommend you reach out to car rental companies before your holiday in Albania. Because I have spoken to some tourists who travelled in the high season and paid between 50-70 euros per day.
That said, driving in Albania as a foreigner can be daunting and challenging. Albanian drivers have a chaotic driving style. And many drivers in Albania do not follow the rules of the road. So if you want to drive in Albania, you must always drive in daylight, be alert and be an experienced driver.
The road from Shkoder to Tirana is in a good condition and the signage along the route is clear. You may need extra time since traffic in both Shkoder’s city centre and Tirana’s city centre can be dense. As well as the road from Shkoder to Tirana has one lane in each direction, so you might be slowed down by the traffic in front of you.
How to get from Tirana to Shkoder by bus?
You can get from Tirana to Shkoder by bus.
The bus from Tirana to Shkoder departs at 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 13:00 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:30 PM and 17:00 PM.
A bus ticket from Tirana to Shkoder will cost you 400 Leke (3.44 euros). You do not need to book your bus ticket online. In Albania, you are expected to simply travel to the bus station and pay for your ticket in cash. So bring a small amount of Albanian Leke in cash with you to the bus station. The bus journey from Tirana to Shkoder will take you approximately 2 hours.
The buses from Tirana to Shkoder depart from the Intercity Bus Terminal.
This is the official name of the bus terminal in Tirana:
South and North Albania Bus Terminal
Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut
You can see the location of the bus terminal on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/Jz4oAovp8LcUxNQP9
The bus terminal is located in the Kamez neighbourhood which is a 15-20 minute drive from Skanderbeg Square in the city centre of Tirana. Since the bus terminal is not within a walking distance of the city centre of Tirana, you will need to take a taxi or city bus to get to the bus terminal.
If you want to take a city bus from the city centre of Tirana to the bus terminal. You can get on the bus behind the National History Museum. On the back of the National History Museum in Tirana, there is a double white bus that drives in the direction of Instituti. This bus to Instituti will make a stop at the bus terminal.
Tirana to Shkoder bus price
The Tirana to Shkoder bus ticket costs 400 Leke (3.44 euros). You will be expected to pay for your bus ticket with Albanian Leke in cash, so exchange a small amount of currency.
Buying a bus ticket online or paying for your bus ticket by credit card is not common practice in Albania. Albania is a rather old-fashioned country where the locals pay 95%-100% of their purchased by cash. So it is always best to carry some cash with you and do as the locals do!
How much does it cost to get from Tirana to Shkoder by taxi?
A taxi from Tirana to Shkoder costs between 55 euros – 72 euros.
- Merr Taxi charges 72 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder
- UPs taxi charge 7838 Leke (64 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder
- Speedtaxi charges 6500 Leke or 55 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder
- City Taxi charges 8500 Leke (70 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder
- Euro Taxi charges 70 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder
It takes 2 hours by taxi to travel from Tirana to Shkoder. If you are taking a taxi from Tirana airport directly to Shkoder, the licensed airport taxis will charge you between 55 – 62 euros depending on your destination in Shkoder.
Can I get from Tirana to Shkoder by train?
You cannot get from Tirana to Shkoder by train. There is currently no train station in Tirana. The former train station in Tirana was demolished in 2013 and a new boulevard was laid in its place. Since 2013, the train station in the city centre of Tirana has not been rebuilt, replaced or re-opened and it is 2022 right now.
So you cannot take a train from Tirana to any other city in Albania. The nearby coastal town of Durres does offer limited trains to Elbasan, but those only operate 2 days a week with only 1 train a day.
You can read more about the trains in Albania on my blog here: https://albaniatourguide.com/can-you-take-a-train-to-albania/
What is Shkoder known for?
Shkoder is known as the big city in the North of Albania. Within Albania, Shkoder is known as an artistic and cultural city.
For many travellers, Shkoder is a stopover on their way to the Albanian Alps. Many hikers and adventurous travellers sleep 1 night in Shkoder and leave early the next day for either the Theth mountain village or the Lake Koman Ferry.
Most tourists go on a 3-4 day hiking trip in the Albanian Alps, and this round trip starts and ends in Shkoder. From Shkoder, you travel to Koman, take the Lake Koman Ferry to Fierze and from there a bus to Valbone. You stay overnight in Valbone in a guest house. And the next day, you hike across the Valbone Pass to Theth. You stay overnight in Theth and the next day you travel back to Shkoder.
However, Shkoder is so much more than just a stopping and starting point for your trip. Shkoder itself has a beautiful boulevard in the city centre, called “Rruga Kole Idromeno”. This is a Venetian-style boulevard with beautiful cafes and terraces, where you can drink espresso and eat ice cream.
The most famous sightseeing attraction in Shkoder is Rozafa Castle. Rozafa Castle is a gigantic hilltop castle outside of the city centre. The castle has beautiful views of Shkoder city from above, the river delta and the lake of Shkoder all with the Albanian Alps in the distance.
You can also visit the little Shiroke village on the shore of Lake Shkoder. In Shiroke, there is a lovely boulevard with restaurants along the lake. Have lunch or a coffee whilst looking out over this gigantic lake, it is very peaceful and relaxing.
And finally, there is a historic Ottoman bridge called “Mesi Bridge” in the Mes Village to the North of Shkoder. This is a great 20-minute stop on your way from Shkoder to Theth.
Related Questions
What is the distance from Shkoder to Theth? The distance from Shkoder to Theth is 76 kilometres. It will take you approximately 2.5 hours to drive from Shkoder to Theth. The road from Shkoder to the guest houses in Theth was asphalted in the summer of 2021.
What is the distance from Tirana to Theth? The distance from Tirana to Theth is 178 kilometres. It will take you approximately 4.5 hours to drive from Tirana to Theth. It is best to depart from Tirana around 5 AM so that you arrive in Theth on time and have time to visit the Blue Eye of Theth and the Grunas Waterfall on your arrival day.
About me
I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania. I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania!
Kind regards, Manon
Welcome to Albania!
I am a Tour Guide in Albania
I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania.
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