How to get from Shkoder to Podgorica? Bus, Taxi, Car, Prices, Train

If you are looking for the best way to get from Shkoder to Podgorica, this blog post will give you all the information you need. I will describe how to get from Shkoder to Podgorica by bus, by taxi and by rental car.

How to get from Shkoder to Podgorica? You can get from Shkoder to Podgorica by bus (12 EUR), by taxi (50 EUR) or by rental car (at least 20-25 EUR per day + 15 EUR Green Card). Buses depart at 6 AM, 10 AM, 13:20 PM and 21:30 PM from Hotel Rozafa in Shkoder. Taxi drivers charge 50 EUR. By car, you need Green Card Insurance.

In this blog post, I will share which bus companies operate a bus from Shkoder to Podgorica and where to book. I will compare the taxi rates of different taxi drivers. I will compare car rentals, and discuss permission to cross the border, including Green Card Insurance. I will also discuss train travel, travel distance and getting to Podgorica airport.

The best ways to get from Shkoder to Podgorica by bus, by taxi or by rental car

You can get from Shkoder to Podgorica by bus, by taxi or by rental car. There are no passenger trains on this route. It will take you approximately 2 hours to travel via the road from Shkoder to Podgorica. 

If you want to travel by bus, there are 4 x different bus companies that each operate a bus from Shkoder to Podgorica. 

• Drita Travel departs at 6:00 AM from Shkoder to Podgorica. 
• Old Town Travel departs at 10:00 AM from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Jadran Ekspres Kotor departs at 13:20 PM from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Vetoni Tourist departs at 21:30 PM from Shkoder to Podgorica. 

All buses depart in front of Hotel Rozafa in Shkoder. And a bus ticket from Shkoder to Podgorica will cost you 12 euros per person for a one-way bus journey.

A taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica will cost you 50 euros for a one-way journey. Here is a comparison of taxi rates from taxi drivers and companies in Shkoder.

• Premium Taxi Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Taxi Internacionale Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Speed Taxi Shkoder charges 6000 Leke (52 euros) for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Lux Taxi Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.

You can pay for a taxi in Euros or Albanian Leke, taxi drivers accept both currencies. But usually, cash is the preferred method of payment. Taxi drivers can be easily reached via WhatsApp.

A rental car in Albania will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day for a basic rental car. I do have a detailed price comparison of different car rental companies below.

You will need the permission of the car rental company to drive across the border to Podgorica in Montenegro. However, all car rental companies I contacted were willing to grant the permission. 

You will need to pay 15 euros at the border with Montenegro for a Green Card Insurance document. Because the Albanian car insurance does not cover Montenegro.

How to get from Shkoder to Podgorica by bus?

You can get from Shkoder to Podgorica by bus. There are 4 x different bus operators who operate a bus on the route from Shkoder to Podgorica. The operators are Drita Travel, Old Town Travel, Jadran Ekspres Kotor and Vetoni Tourist.

Bus from Shkoder to Podgorica with Drita Travel

Drita Travel operates a bus from Shkoder to Podgorica every day. The bus departs from Shkoder at 6:00 AM. The bus journey from Shkoder to Podgorica takes roughly 2 hours, so you will arrive in Podgorica around 8:00 AM. 

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Podgorica costs 12 euros per person for a one-way trip, if you book with Drita Travel. 

The Drita Travel bus from Shkoder to Podgorica departs in front of Hotel Rozafa in Shkoder. The address of Hotel Rozafa is Rruga Teuta, Shkodër 4000, Albania. You can see the location of the Shkoder bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/owHMK6UsKnfV3o9V8 

Drita Travel does have a website which is https://dritatravel.com/ You can also reach out to Drita Travel via WhatsApp, their phone numbers are on the website. I have personally contacted Drita Travel via WhatsApp on many occasions. They usually answer my questions quickly and are helpful via WhatsApp.

Bus from Shkoder to Podgorica with Old Town Travel

You can also travel by bus from Shkoder to Podgorica with Old Town Travel. Old Town Travel operates daily buses between Tirana and Kotor (and reversed). These buses make stops in Shkoder and Podgorica along the journey.

The bus from Shkoder to Podgorica departs at 10:00 AM. The bus journey takes roughly 2 hours. So you will arrive in Podgorica around 12:00 PM noon.

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Podgorica costs 12 euros per person for a one-way journey. You can book a bus ticket on the website of Old Town Travel. To clarify, their website is actually Kotor to Tirana, not Old Town Travel: https://www.kotortotirana.com/timetable

The bus from Shkoder to Podgorica departs in front of Hotel Rozafa in Shkoder. The address of Hotel Rozafa is Rruga Teuta, Shkodër 4000, Albania. You can see the location of the Shkoder bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/owHMK6UsKnfV3o9V8 

The bus will drop you off at the bus terminal in Podgorica. The address of the bus terminal is Autobuska stanica Podgorica, 1 Trg Golootočkih Žrtava, Podgorica, Montenegro. You can see the location of the bus terminal in Podgorica on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/dmdrtwyxCcWrezWy5 

Bus from Shkoder to Podgorica with Jadran Ekspres Kotor

Your third option is taking a bus from Shkoder to Podgorica with Jadran Ekspres Kotor. 

However, I have contacted Jadran Ekspres Kotor and their buses from Shkoder to Podgorica do not operate every day. Their buses actually operate every second day, so for instance on 28 March and then on 30 March. So you will need to get in touch with them to check if the date you want to travel is available.

The bus from Shkoder to Podgorica departs at 13:20 PM from Shkoder. The bus journey to Podgorica takes roughly 2 hours. So you will arrive in Podgorica around 15:20 PM. 

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Podgorica costs 12 euros per person. You can contact Jadran Ekspres via WhatsApp before you travel at +382 68 857 060. You can find their contact information on their Facebook page. 

The bus from Shkoder to Podgorica departs in front of Hotel Rozafa in Shkoder. The address of Hotel Rozafa is Rruga Teuta, Shkodër 4000, Albania. You can see the location of the Shkoder bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/owHMK6UsKnfV3o9V8 

Bus from Shkoder to Podgorica with Vetoni Tourist

You can also travel from Shkoder to Podgorica with the Vetoni Tourist bus. Vetoni Tourist has a bus that departs from Shkoder at 21:30 PM and arrives in Podgorica at 23:30 PM. A bus ticket costs 12 euros per person. You can reach out to Vetoni Tourist via their Facebook page. 

How much is the bus fare from Shkoder to Podgorica?

The bus fare from Shkoder to Podgorica is 12 euros per person for a one-way bus journey. A bus ticket from Shkoder to Podgorica costs 12 euros, if you book with Drita Travel, Old Town Travel or Jadran Ekspres Kotor.

Shkoder bus station to Podgorica

The Shkoder bus station is in front of Rozafa Hotel in Shkoder. The buses from Shkoder to Podgorica depart in front of Rozafa Hotel in the Rruga Teuta (Teuta Street). The address of Hotel Rozafa is Rruga Teuta, Shkodër 4000, Albania. You can see the location of the Shkoder bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/owHMK6UsKnfV3o9V8 

The buses from Shkoder to Podgorica are operated by Drita Travel, Old Town Travel and Jadran Ekspres Kotor. All of these bus operators depart from the bus station in front of Rozafa Hotel in Shkoder.

Shkoder to Podgorica taxi

A taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica costs 50 euros for a one-way taxi journey. To give you a good insight into the price of a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica, I have reached out to several taxi companies in Shkoder and requested their rates.

• Premium Taxi Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Taxi Internacionale Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Speed Taxi Shkoder charges 6000 Leke (52 euros) for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.
• Lux Taxi Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica.

Many taxi drivers in Albania accept payment in either Albanian Leke or Euros in cash. So carrying a combination of some euros cash and a small amount of Albanian Leke is ideal for a foreign traveller.

How to get from Shkoder to Podgorica by rental car?

You can get from Shkoder to Podgorica by rental car. For a simple rental car in Albania, you can expect to pay at least 20-25 euros per day. 

• Basic rental car cost at least 20-25 euros per day in Albania

Of course, more luxurious cars will cost more. And you can also expect to pay more in July and August. In July and August, a simple rental car may no longer be available, therefore, you may only be offered more expensive and luxurious car models. 

• In the high-season months (July and August), it is harder to get an affordable rental car in Albania. So reach out to car rental companies before you travel!

If you drive the rental car across the border from Shkoder to Podgorica in Montenegro, you will also pay for a Green Card Insurance Document.

• Green Card border Albania-Montenegro costs 15 euros 

Because the rental car is Albanian, you will need to pay 15 euros for a Green Card insurance document. This document ensures your rental car is insured as well in Montenegro because Albanian car insurance does not cover Montenegro. 

You buy the Green Card insurance document at the border with Montenegro from a little insurance office next to the border patrol officers. 

You also need to consider that you need the permission of the Albanian car rental company to drive to Podgorica. That being said, any car rental company that I reached out to, was willing to give permission for Podgorica in Montenegro.

Here is a list of what type of rental car you can expect to rent for 20-30 euros per day in Albania.

• Avis Rent a Car Tirana charges 25 euros per day for an Opel Corsa Manual 2022. A Green Card for Montenegro costs 15 euros.
• G Rentals Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for an Opel Corsa 2021. It is allowed to take the car to Montenegro.
• Green Motion Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia. Plus an additional 50 euros for a cross border fee.
• Eagle Car Rental Tirana charges 25 euros per day for a Hyundai i10. A Green Card for Montenegro costs 15 euros at the border.
• Sixt Car Rental Tirana charges 25 euros per day. A Green Card at the border with Montenegro costs 15 euros. And you need to pay 15 euros extra to get permission from Sixt to cross the border.
• Easy Rent Tirana charges 30 euros per day for a Fiat Panda. It is allowed to drive the car to Podgorica, but it costs an additional 10 euros per day for authorization to drive in a foreign country. You will need to buy a Green Card at the border yourself.
• Albania Airport Rent a Car charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia 2019. And a Green Card costs an additional 15 euros. 
• Hertz Tirana Airport charges 22 euros per day for an Opel Corsa, 10 euros for full insurance and 15 euros for a Green Card. 
• City Rent Albania charges 25 euros for a Ford Fiesta. And a Green Card for Montenegro costs 15 euros, which you pay at the border.
• ARA Auto Rental Albania charges 20 euros per day for a Fiat Punto 2018. And Green Card Insurance costs 15 euros at the border with Montenegro.

And a final note of caution. The Albanian drivers do have a chaotic and aggressive driving style. This means that as a foreigner driving in Albania can be daunting and challenging. Of course, there are rules on the road, but Albanian drivers often do not follow these rules. That being said, you are the only one who can judge your driving experience and ability. But I will say that if you have any doubts about driving in Albania, I recommend you take a bus or taxi instead.

Is there a train from Shkoder to Podgorica?

There is no train from Shkoder to Podgorica. Albania does not offer international passenger trains over any of its borders. So it is not possible to travel from Albania by train to Montenegro, to Kosovo, to North Macedonia or to Greece.

Within Albania’s borders, very few old trains are in operation. The trains and railways were constructed during the communist period (end of the Second World War until 1992). Since the fall of communism in 1992, there has been little to no investment in railway tracks or trains. As few as 1-2 trains operate in the entire country, usually between Elbasan and Durres.

How far is Shkoder from Podgorica?

Shkoder is 59 kilometres from Podgorica. It will take you roughly 2 hours to drive from Shkoder to Podgorica. Google Maps underestimates the journey at 1 hour and 8 minutes, but a realistic travel time is around 2 hours of driving. Because you will cross the border and might need to wait for the border control officers.

How to get from Shkoder to Podgorica airport?

You can get from Shkoder to Podgorica airport directly by taxi. A taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica airport costs 50 euros. 

• Lux Taxi Shkoder said “a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica airport costs 50 euros, just like the taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica’s centre. Because the airport is not far from Podgorica only 7 kilometres.”
• Premium Taxi Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica Airport.
• Speed taxi Shkoder charges 6000 Leke (52 euros) for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica Airport. This price is the same as for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica’s centre.
• Taxi Internacionale Shkoder charges 50 euros for a taxi from Shkoder to Podgorica airport or from Shkoder to Podgorica’s centre.

There is no direct bus from Shkoder to Podgorica airport. Therefore, as an alternative, you can take a bus from Shkoder to the bus terminal in Podgorica and then a short taxi ride to Podgorica airport. 

Related Questions

How to get from Shkoder to Kotor? You can get from Shkoder to Kotor by bus. The bus departs at 10 AM from the Rozafa Hotel in Shkoder. A bus ticket costs 17 euros per person one-way. It is the same bus that departs from Shkoder to Podgorica and drives onwards to Budva and Kotor.

How to get from Shkoder to Tirana? You can get from Shkoder to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car. It takes around 2 hours. The bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs from the Bulevardi Bujar Bishanaku street every 30 min from 7 AM-5 PM. A bus ticket costs 400 LEK (3.30 EUR). A taxi costs 55-72 EUR. A rental car is 20-25 EUR per day + 25 EUR petrol.

 

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