How to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana? Bus, Prices, Taxi, Car

If you are planning a trip from Gjirokaster to Tirana, let me help you. In this blog post, I will outline how you can get from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car.

How to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana? You can get from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by rental car. A bus ticket costs 12 EUR p.p., buses depart between 5 AM and 18:30 PM from the Gjirokaster bus terminal. It takes 4 hours to reach Tirana. A taxi costs 120-145 euros. A rental car costs at least 30 EUR per day + 80 EUR petrol. 

In this blog post, I will share all the information you need to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana. I will discuss bus station locations in Gjirokaster and Tirana, the bus timetable, bus agencies and ticket prices. I will also compare the taxi rates of different independent taxi drivers. I will discuss the best route to drive from Gjirokaster to Tirana and include some rental car rates. 

Getting from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car

You can travel from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car. Let me give you a quick summary of the best ways to travel from Gjirokaster to Tirana. This is a summary and more detailed information can be found down below.

Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus (summary)

• A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to Tirana costs 12 euros per person. You are expected to pay in cash in either euros or Albanian Leke. 
• Buses from Gjirokaster to Tirana depart at 5:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:15 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM (Fridays and Sundays only), 17:00 PM and 18:30 PM. 
• You can buy a bus ticket in person at the bus agencies Argjiro Shpk and Best Travel Gjirokaster near the bus terminal.
• Buses depart from the Gjirokaster Bus Terminal, in Albanian language: “Stacioni i Autobusave Gjirokastër”.
• Buses drop you off in Tirana at the “Tirana bus station North and South Albania”. In the Albanian language, the bus terminal is called “Terminali i Autobusave të Veriut dhe Jugut”. 

Gjirokaster to Tirana by taxi (summary)

• A taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana costs between 120-145 euros. 
• Below, I do have a price comparison of what local taxi drivers in Gjirokaster charge for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana.
• It takes approximately 4 hours to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana by taxi.

Gjirokaster to Tirana by car (summary)

• A rental car in Gjirokaster costs at least 30 euros per day.
• I have a price comparison of car rental rates below.
• Book or reserve in advance, especially in July and August, when car rental rates tend to be higher due to the tourist high season. 
• The best route to drive from Gjirokaster to Tirana is Gjirokaster -> Tepelene -> Lushnje -> Rrogozhine -> Kavaje -> Durres -> Tirana. This is a good quality road, which is not always the case in Albania.

How to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus?

You can get from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus. A bus ticket costs 12 euros per person, paid in cash. Buses depart at 5:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:15 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM (Fridays and Sundays only), 17:00 PM and 18:30 PM. Buses depart from the Gjirokaster bus terminal, called “Stacioni i Autobusave Gjirokastër”.

How much is the bus from Gjirokaster to Tirana?

The bus from Gjirokaster to Tirana costs 12 euros per person. You are expected to pay in cash. So you can bring either Euro in cash or Albanian Leke money in cash. If you are travelling by bus in Albania, you won’t be able to pay by card in most places. So it is best to bring some foreign currency with you and withdraw some more cash from the ATM as needed.

Gjirokaster to Tirana bus timetable

The bus timetable from Gjirokaster to Tirana is as follows. The bus from Gjirokaster to Tirana departs at 5:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:15 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM (Fridays and Sundays only), 17:00 PM and 18:30 PM. 

It takes 4 hours to travel by bus from Gjirokaster to Tirana. 

The buses are operated by Argjiro Shpk and Best Travel Gjirokaster. These bus agencies have an office near the Gjirokaster bus terminal, in the Albanian language “Stacioni i Autobusave Gjirokastër”. Sometimes is area is also called “Ura e Lumit”, because the buses depart close to the “River Bridge over the river”. 

Gjirokaster bus station

Buses from Gjirokaster to Tirana depart from the Gjirokaster bus terminal. In the Albanian language this bus terminal is called: “Stacioni i Autobusave Gjirokastër”. Sometimes is area is also called “Ura e Lumit”, because the buses depart close to the “River Bridge over the river”. 

You can see the location of the Gjirokaster bus station on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3dVPRXJSrUTExk4p8 

Basically, buses depart alongside the SH4 highway next to the river in the valley. Gjirokaster’s city centre is located on the hillslope, so it is a steep hike up the hill or better a taxi ride to get to the historical city centre of Gjirokaster. 

Tirana bus station

The buses from Gjirokaster to Tirana will drop you off at the Tirana bus terminal. The name of the bus terminal in Tirana is “Tirana bus station North and South Albania”. In the Albanian language, the bus terminal is called “Terminali i Autobusave të Veriut dhe Jugut”. 

You can see the location of the Tirana Bus Station North and South Albania on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dDpQEF8b3cfGA35M6 

The bus station is located outside the city centre of Tirana. So you must take a city bus or taxi for 15-20 minutes to get from the bus terminal to the city centre of Tirana. 

How much is a taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana?

A taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana costs between 120 euros and 145 euros. Below I do have a price comparison of what local taxi drivers in Gjirokaster charge for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana. 

Gjirokaster to Tirana taxi prices:

• Taksi Gjirokaster Elmas charges 120 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana. 
• Taxi Alket Gjirokaster charges 14.000 Leke (135 euros) for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana.
• Taxi Krenari Gjirokaster charges 15.000 Leke (145 euros) for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana.
• Taxi & Minibus Gjirokaster charges 130 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to Tirana.

How to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana by rental car?

A basic rental car in Gjirokaster costs at least 30 euros per day. To give you an insight into what you may rent for that price, I have a price comparison of car rental companies below.

It is important to book in advance or reserve a car before you travel. You can easily reach car rentals via WhatsApp. This is especially important in July and August, when car rental prices are high due to the tourist high season.

Car rental prices in Gjirokaster:

• Rent Car Gjirokaster in Eida Petrol Station charges 29 euros per day for a Mercedes B class.
• Blue Line Rent A Car Gjirokaster charges 30 euros per day for a rental car. You can choose from Toyota, Ford, Peugeot or Opel cars.
• Rental Car Ksera & Service in Gjirokaster charges 30 euros per day for an Opel Corsa 2012 or a Volvo.
• Rent Car Az Gjirokaster charges 30 euros for an Opel Corsa 2010 or 25 euros for a Lancia 2007.

If you are driving in Albania, it is important to note that not all roads are equal. Some roads are newly asphalted and brand-new. Whereas other roads are still sandpaths with rocks and potholes. 

The best route to drive from Gjirokaster to Tirana is Gjirokaster -> Tepelene -> Lushnje -> Rrogozhine -> Kavaje -> Durres -> Tirana. This is the route that taxi drivers, tour companies and bus drivers take when they drive from Gjirokaster to Tirana, because it is the best quality road. 

It will take you approximately 4 hours to drive from Gjirokaster to Tirana.

Important! Driving in Albania as a foreigner can be daunting and challenging. The Albanian drivers have a chaotic and sometimes aggressive style of driving. So you must be an experienced and confident driver to drive in Albania. Only you can judge your driving abilities, but if you have doubts, please do not drive yourself.

How far is it from Gjirokaster to Tirana?

Gjirokaster is 230 kilometers from Tirana. It takes approximately 4 hours to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana. The best route to drive is from Gjirokaster via Tepelene, Lushnje, Rrogozhine, Kavaje and Durres to Tirana. This is a good quality road.

How long does it take to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana?

It does take approximately 4 hours to travel from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car. The buses drive from Gjirokaster via Tepelene, Levan, Lushnje, Rrogozine, Kavaje and Durres to Triana. This is the route with the best roads, so if you are driving independently, I recommend you take this route as well.

Tirana to Gjirokaster bus

The bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster costs 12 euros per person for a bus ticket. The bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster departs at 5:00 AM, 6:45 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM and 17:30 PM. 

The buses from Tirana to Gjirokaster depart from the Tirana bus terminal. The name of the bus terminal in Tirana is “Tirana bus station North and South Albania”. In the Albanian language, the bus terminal is called “Terminali i Autobusave të Veriut dhe Jugut”. 

You can see the location of the Tirana Bus Station North and South Albania on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dDpQEF8b3cfGA35M6 

The bus station is located outside the city centre of Tirana. So you must take a 15-20 minute city bus ride or taxi to get to the bus terminal. 

How much is the bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster?

The bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster costs 12 euros per person for a bus ticket. You cannot book your bus ticket online. Instead, you are expected to pay in cash at the bus terminal with either euros or Albanian Leke. Always carry some cash with you if you travel by bus inside Albania.

How many days do you need for Gjirokaster?

You do need 1-2 days to visit Gjirokaster. If you have 1 day, you can visit the main sights, like the Gjirokaster Old Bazaar Market and the Gjirokaster Castle at the top of the hill. If you have 2 days, you could visit some of the traditional houses or museums as well. You can see traditional houses that date back to the Ottoman period, like Zekate House and Skenduli House. Or a museum about communism, like the Cold War Tunnel. 

Is Gjirokaster worth visiting?

Gjirokaster is definitely worth visiting. Gjirokaster is one of the two UNESCO cities in Albania. The old town centre is charming and rustic. There is an impressive grand castle on the mountain top, from where you get a beautiful view of the old town centre and its stone houses. 

Within Albania, Gjirokaster is known as a “museum city”. And that is what Gjirokaster is truly like. You walk through the old town centre and you really get a feel of what life was like during the 17th century in Albania. When Albania was a part of the Ottoman Empire, just like the rest of the Balkans. 

Gjirokaster is known for its stone houses and the typical tower houses. Many of the old houses in Gjirokaster are very grand and important. Because the regional governor Ali Pasha used Gjirokaster as his government city, many of the rich and influential government officials built their large houses in Gjirokaster. 

Related Questions

Bus from Gjirokaster to Berat – There is a bus from Gjirokaster to Berat, which departs at 8:30 AM and another one at 8:58 AM. So it is best to get to the Gjirokaster bus terminal in the early morning. A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 1000 Leke (9.65 euros) per person.

How to get to Gjirokaster from Saranda? You can get to Gjirokaster from Saranda by bus, by taxi or by rental car. A bus ticket costs 400 LEK (3.50 EUR), buses depart between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM, from the street next to Friendship Park. A taxi costs between 35-44 euros. A rental car costs at least 20-25 euros per day. 

Saranda to Gjirokaster bus – The bus from Saranda to Gjirokaster departs from the Rruga Flamurit (Flamurit Street) in the centre of Saranda. That is the street between Friendship Park and the archaeological ruins of the Synagogue – Basilica. A bus ticket from Saranda to Gjirokaster costs 400 Leke (3.50 euros). Saranda to Gjirokaster buses only depart during the daytime hours, between 6 AM and 5 PM. 

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