How to get from Gjirokaster to Berat? Bus, Taxi, Rental Car, Prices

If you are wondering how to get from Gjirokaster to Berat, this blog post will show you your options. I will describe getting from Gjirokaster to Berat by bus, by taxi and by rental car. 

How to get from Gjirokaster to Berat? You can get from Gjirokaster to Berat by bus, by taxi and by rental car. A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 1000 Leke (9.70 euros). Buses depart at 8:30 AM and 15:00 PM. A taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 87-150 euros. A rental car costs at least 20-25 euros per day. 

In this blog post, I will give you all the details you need to plan a trip from Gjirokaster to Berat. I will discuss bus timetables, bus tickets, bus agencies and bus terminals. I will also compare the prices of taxis from Gjirokaster to Berat. Discuss renting a car and what you can expect from the road, the travel distance and the travel duration. 

Getting from Gjirokaster to Berat by bus, by taxi, by car

In this paragraph, I will give you a short summary of getting from Gjirokaster to Berat. I have more detailed information below for bus travel, taxi travel and car rental prices.

Gjirokaster to Berat bus (summary)

• A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 1000 Leke (9.70 euros) per person.
• The bus from Gjirokaster to Berat departs at 8:30 AM and 15:00 PM. 
• The bus departs from the Gjirokaster bus terminal called “Stacioni i Autobuseve nderqytetas ne Gjirokaster”
• You can buy a bus ticket at the bus agency called “Agjensia Henris Ura e Lumit Gjirokaster”
• More detailed information about bus travel from Gjirokaster to Berat can be found below.

Gjirokaster to Berat taxi (summary)

• A taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat costs between 87-150 euros. 
• I recommend you reach out to several drivers via WhatsApp because there is quite a price difference between taxi drivers. 
• Below I have a list of taxi drivers and their quoted rates for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat. 

Gjirokaster to Berat rental car (summary)

• A rental car in Albania costs at least 20-25 euros per day.
• Reach out to several car rentals by email, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger before you travel to compare their rates.
• In July and August, car rentals can be more pricy due to the tourist high season, so get a price before you travel!

How to get from Gjirokaster to Berat by bus?

You can get from Gjirokaster to Berat by bus. A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 1000 Leke (9.70 euros) per person. You can go to the bus terminal in Gjirokaster in person and pay for your ticket in cash. 

Below, I will share the bus timetable, the bus agency location and the location of the bus terminal in Gjirokaster.

Gjirokaster to Berat bus timetable

The bus from Gjirokaster to Berat departs 2 x times per day. There is a bus from Gjirokaster to Berat at 8:30 AM in the morning. And there is a bus from Gjirokaster to Berat at 3:00 PM in the afternoon.

• Gjirokaster to Berat -> 8:30 AM
• Gjirokaster to Berat -> 15:00 PM

It takes roughly 3 hours to travel by bus from Gjirokaster to Berat. So if you depart on the 8:30 AM bus from Gjirokaster, you will arrive in Berat around 11:30 AM. And if you take the 15:00 PM bus from Gjirokaster, you will be in Berat around 18:00 PM. 

You can buy a bus ticket from the agency at the bus terminal. The agency is called: “Agjensia Henris Ura e Lumit Gjirokaster”. A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 1000 Leke (9.70 euros) per person. 

Always bring some cash money with you to the bus terminal. The Albanian people always pay for their bus tickets in cash. And I always recommend you do as the locals do, so you go to the bus terminal and the bus agency in person and pay cash. You can pay in Leke or Euros. 

You can find the location of the bus agency on Google Maps here: https://goo.gl/maps/RSrz3sh8Dujj6JiE7 

The agency has bus timetables outside on display, but it is always best to go inside and ask in person for the most up-to-date bus timetable. You can also reach out to the bus agency via WhatsApp on +355 69 638 8669.

You can also find the Albanian bus timetables on the website of Gjirafa Autobus. However, my personal experience is that the bus timetables online are not always up-to-date. So you will always get the best bus travel information by going in person to the bus terminal and speaking with the staff of the bus agency or the bus drivers.

Gjirokaster bus terminal

The bus from Gjirokaster to Berat departs from the bus terminal in Gjirokaster. The bus terminal in Gjirokaster is located alongside the SH4 highway. 

The name of the bus terminal in Gjirokaster is: Stacioni i Autobuseve nderqytetas ne Gjirokaster

The address of the bus terminal in Gjirokaster is: Autostrada Sarande-Tepelene, Gjirokastër

You can see the location of the bus terminal in Gjirokaster on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/1mu13BZTCj5aDk9TA

A note about the location of the Gjirokaster bus terminal:

The bus terminal in Gjirokaster is located at the foot of the hill. In essence, Gjirokaster is a very hilly town. The main sights and hotels are located in the old town centre on the slope of the hill. For instance, the Old Bazaar Market in Gjirokaster is on a steep slope and the Gjirokaster Castle is further up to the top of the hill. 

So to get to the bus terminal, you need to either take a taxi downhill or walk down the steep slope, as the bus terminal is in the valley alongside the highway. 

Berat bus terminal

The bus from Gjirokaster to Berat will drop you off at the Bus Terminal in Berat. If you want, you can check the location of the Bus Terminal on Google Maps online. 

This is the address of the bus terminal in Berat: 

Terminali i Autobusave Berat, Rruga Antipatrea, Berat, Albania 5001, Berat

You can see the location of the bus terminal in Berat on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/VpbBv1Qvo8onHsRFA 

The bus terminal in Berat is located next to the Gega Oil Petrol Station. 

The bus terminal in Berat is approximately 8 kilometres from the city centre of Berat. So if you book a hotel in the city centre of Berat or you want to go to the old town centre for sightseeing, you will need to take a city bus or taxi. From the bus terminal in Berat, it is approximately a 20-minute journey by city bus or taxi to the city centre. 

A bus ticket from the bus terminal to the city centre of Berat costs 30 Leke (0.30 euros). A taxi from the bus terminal to the city centre of Berat cost you approximately 10 euros. 

The bus terminal of Berat has good facilities. There are public toilets and a few cafes. There is also Free Wifi available at the Berat bus terminal.

How to get from Gjirokaster to Berat by taxi?

You can get from Gjirokaster to Berat by taxi. A taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat costs between 87 euros and 150 euros.

To give you an insight into the prices for taxis from Gjirokaster to Berat, I have contacted several local drivers in Gjirokaster. This is a price comparison of what rates I was quoted for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat. 

• Taxi Krenari Gjirokaster charges 11000 LEK (106 euros) for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat. 
• Taxi Service Dashamir Seferi charges 87 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat.
• Taxi Alket Gjirokaster charges 12000 LEK or 120 euros for taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat.
• Taksi Gjirokaster Elmas charges 13000 LEK (125 euros) for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat.
• Taxi & Minibus Gjirokaster charges 150 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat.
• Taxi Imer Babaramo charges 120 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat. 

I highly recommend you reach out to several taxi drivers before you book your taxi from Gjirokaster to Berat. As you can see above there is quite a difference in price between taxi drivers. Some taxi drivers are willing to drive you from Gjirokaster to Berat for only 87 euros. Whereas other taxi drivers charge you 150 euros. 

How to get from Gjirokaster to Berat by rental car?

You can expect to pay at least 20-25 euros per day to rent a car in Albania. Now, of course, a rental car for 20-25 euros per day would be a basic car rental. 

In July and August, it is the tourist high season, so car rental prices can be higher than 20-25 euros per day. Therefore, I always recommend you reach out to several car rental companies before you travel. 

You could contact independent car rental companies via email, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. You can find phone numbers on Google Maps, look in the Port of Saranda for instance. Or you can contact car rentals based at Tirana Airport, there is a list on the airport website.

To give you an idea of what you could rent for 20-25 euros per day. Below is a list of car rental companies in Saranda. For each car rental company, I have listed what type of car they can offer for 20-25 euros per day.

• Leka Tours & Rent a Car Sarande charges 20 euros per day for a Citroen C1 or 25 euros per day for a Suzuki Swift.
• Saranda Holiday Rent a Car charges 200 euros per week, so approximately 28.50 euros per day, for a Fiat Panda or a Toyota Yaris.
• Moto Adventure Cars and Motercycles Rental charges 140 euros per week, so 20 euros per day, for a Toyota Yaris.
• Centrum Rent a Car Saranda charges 25 euros per day for a Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Spark or Volkswagen Polo. 
• Brilant Car Rental Sarande charges 20 euros per day for a Toyota Yaris.
• Saranda Center Scooter and Car Rental charges 200 euros per week, so approximately 28.50 euros per day, for a Toyota Yarris 1.4 Diesel.
• Iri’s Car Rental charges 20 euros per day for a Nisan Note.

How is the road from Gjirokaster to Berat?

The road from Gjirokaster via Tepelene and Fier to Berat is in good condition. This route is a combination of highway and national roads, which are asphalted and easy to drive on. 

If you look on Google Maps, you might be tempted to take another route, where you approach Berat from the South. I do not recommend these routes. Because driving via Fier will ensure a better quality road and a more enjoyable driving experience. 

Is there a train from Gjirokaster to Berat?

There is no train from Gjirokaster to Berat. Because Gjirokaster does not have a train station and Berat does not have a train station. 

Train travel within Albania is very limited. You may see some of the old railway tracks in the landscape when you travel through Albania. But many of the old railway tracks are currently not in use. 

The train tracks in Albania were built by the former communist regime. From the end of the Second World War until 1992, Albania was ruled by the communist regime. The communist regime constructed train tracks and started operating trains within Albania for the first time. There were trains between Shkoder, Tirana, Durres, Vlore, Elbasan and Pogradec.

However, since the fall of communism in 1992, there has been little interest and little investment in train tracks and trains. Therefore, only 2-3 trains operate within Albania’s borders per week. Sometimes there is a twice-weekly train between Elbasan and Durres. And a once-per-week train between Shkoder and Lac. The other railways are not in use, although still partially visible in the landscape. 

This is why the Albanian people travel by Furgon minibus or by private car when they need to get to another city or destination.

Albania is not connected to any international railways. So you cannot travel to another Balkan or European country by train from Albania.

How long does it take to travel from Gjirokaster to Berat?

It does take approximately 3 hours to travel from Gjirokaster to Berat. Bus drivers indicate 3 hours from Gjirokaster to Berat. And realistically, if you drive by car or hire a taxi, you can also expect your journey to take 3 hours. 

If you look at Google Maps, there are different routes from Gjirokaster to Berat. I highly recommend you drive from Gjirokaster via Tepelene and Fier to Berat. Although this route may seem longer on a map, this is a better route, because of the quality of the road. 

If you take a road where you would approach Berat from the south, these are older roads and it will take you longer. 

Gjirokaster to Berat km – The road from Gjirokaster to Berat via Tepelene and Fier is roughly 160 kilometres. 

Related Questions

Is there a bus from Berat to Gjirokaster? There is a bus from Berat to Gjirokaster. The bus ticket from Berat to Gjirokaster costs 1200 Leke (11.70 euros) per person. Buses depart from Berat to Gjirokaster at 8:00 AM and 14:00 PM from the bus terminal in Berat. Get to the bus terminal early to secure a seat onboard the bus.

How much is the bus fare from Berat to Gjirokaster? The bus fare from Berat to Gjirokaster is 1200 Leke (11.70 euros) per person. You are expected to pay in cash in person at the bus terminal. 

Should I visit Berat or Gjirokaster? You should visit Berat if you are staying in Tirana. And you should visit Gjirokaster if you are staying in Saranda. Berat is very pretty and picturesque, it has little white houses on the slope of the hill, known as the “city of a thousand windows”. Gjirokaster has a more serious and impressive look with large tower houses built for elite and government officials. Gjirokaster is steep, impressive and a great place for shopping for souvenirs and handicrafts. 

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