How to get from Shkoder to Tirana?

If you are wondering how to get from Shkoder to Tirana, this blog post is for you. In this blog, I will explain how to get from Shkoder to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car.

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.

In this blog post, I will detail the best ways to get from Shkoder to Tirana. I will discuss where the bus station in Shkoder and Tirana is, how much you can expect to pay at each taxi company and what you can expect if you rent a car in Albania. I will also detail if Shkoder is worth visiting and what you can see and do in Shkoder as a tourist.

How can I get from Shkoder to Tirana?

You can get from Shkoder to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by rental car.

Getting from Shkoder to Tirana by rental car (quick summary):

• Departure location: “Bus Station to Tirana on the Bulevardi Bujar Bishanaku street
• Arrival location: Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania, which is 20 minutes from the city centre of Tirana
• Ticket price: 400 Leke (3.30 euros) for a one-way ticket
• Travel time: 1 hour and 44 minutes
• Bus time table see below

Getting from Shkoder to Tirana by taxi (quick summary):

• A taxi from Shkoder to Tirana costs between 55 euros – 72 euros.
• 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

Getting from Shkoder to Tirana by rental car (quick summary):

• A rental car will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day
• Reach out to rental car companies before travelling to get a good deal
• Budget 25 euros for petrol from Shkoder to Tirana
• Driving in Albania can be daunting and challenging as a foreigner
• Consider renting a 4 wheel drive if you plan on driving to Lake Koman, Valbone or Theth, due to road conditions
• The road from Shkoder to Tirana is in a good condition, regular car is fine on this journey.

How to get from Shkoder to Tirana by bus?

You can get from Shkoder to Tirana by bus many times a day. The first bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs at 5:27 AM. And the last bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs at 17:47 PM.

By bus, it will take you 1 hour and 44 minutes to get from Shkoder to Tirana. However, the regional bus terminal in Tirana, where the bus drops you off, is a 20 minute drive from the city centre of Tirana.

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana will cost you 400 Leke (3.30 euros) for a one-way ticket.

The bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs from the “Bus Station to Tirana” (or in Albanian: Stacion Autobusi Nderqytetas) on the Bulevardi Bujar Bishanaku street. You can see the location of the Shkoder bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/2BHdd6RZF6YHftXDA

The bus from Shkoder to Tirana will bring you to the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania (in Albanian: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut). The regional bus terminal is in the outskirts of Tirana in the Kamez neighbourhood, about a 20 minute drive from the city centre of Tirana. You can see the location of the Tirana bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/bdq3wSELPwiVMvQg7

Since the Regional Bus Terminal in Tirana is about a 20 minute drive from the city centre of Tirana, you will most likely need to take a taxi to your hotel. A taxi from the Regional Bus Terminal to the city centre of Tirana costs around 5 euros.

The bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs at 5:27 AM, 6:27 AM, 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, 15:27 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:12 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:00 PM and 17:47 PM.
You can always check the latest bus timetable from Shkoder to Tirana on the website of Gjirafa Autobus here: https://gjirafa.com/Autobus

Where is the bus station in Shkoder to go to Tirana?

The bus station in Shkoder, where the busses to Tirana depart, is on the Bulevardi Bujar Bishanaku street.

The bus from Shkoder to Tirana departs from the “Bus Station to Tirana” (or in Albanian: Stacion Autobusi Nderqytetas) on the Bulevardi Bujar Bishanaku street. You can see the location of the Shkoder bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/2BHdd6RZF6YHftXDA

What is the price of a bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana?

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana will cost you 400 Leke (3.30 euros) for a one-way ticket.

How much is a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana?

A taxi from Shkoder to Tirana costs between 55 euros – 72 euros.

• 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

Can I get from Shkoder to Tirana with UBER?

UBER does not exist in Albania. In the past UBER did announce that they would come to Albania, but so far, UBER is not operating in Albania.

However, there are some taxi Apps that you can use, as an alternative to using UBER.

Taxi APPs in Albania:
1. UPs Taxi App
2. Speed Taxi App
3. Taxi.al App

The UPs taxi app is similar to UBER. Because it will connect you to a taxi owner near your location. If you request a taxi through UPs taxi, it is always a licenced taxi.

Speed Taxi is a branded taxi company, who has their own taxi app. So if you request a taxi through the app, you will get a branded taxi and the driver is an employee of the Speed taxi company. Which is a bit different from UBER.

The Taxi.al App is very similar to Uber. Because drivers register on their website and these are private drivers with their own cars. You will most likely pay for your taxi in cash.

How long does it take to drive from Shkoder to Tirana?

It takes approximately 2 hours to drive from Shkoder to Tirana. 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.

If you want to rent a car in Albania, you will need at least 20-25 euros per day for a rental car. However, if you want to get a good deal for 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 paid between 50-70 euros per day.

I have recently written a blog post about car rental prices in Albania, which you can check out here: https://albaniatourguide.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-rent-a-car-in-albania/.

That said, driving in Albania as a foreigner can be daunting and challenging. The 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. If you are unsure about renting a car, I would recommend you avoid driving and take a taxi or the bus instead.

Can I take a train from Shkoder to Tirana?

You cannot take a train from Shkoder to Tirana.

Unfortunately, the train network inside Albania is currently in a poor condition. The rail network was constructed in the period that Albania was a communist country. Since communism ended in Albania in 1992, the rail network has not been maintained, refurbished or expanded.
As a result, Albania currently has few operational trains, which drive at a very slow speed due to the rail condition.

Moreover, the capital city Tirana does not currently have a train station. Since it was broken down a few years ago.

Therefore, trains are not an effective manner of transportation in Albania. If you want to take a train to “experience” an old communist train, I would recommend taking a train from Durres to the Kashar neighbourhood on the outskirts of Tirana.

How to get from Tirana to Shkoder?

You can get from Tirana to Shkoder by bus, by taxi or with a rental car.

I asked several taxi companies in Tirana, what they would charge for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder.

-Merr Taxi charges 72 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder.
-Speed Taxi charges 6500 Leke (54 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Shkoder.
-Tirana Airport Taxi charges 55 – 62 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.

By bus, it takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to get from Tirana to Shkoder. A bus ticket from Tirana to Shkoder costs 400 LEK (3.30 euros).

The bus from Tirana to Shkoder departs from the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania (in Albanian: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut). The regional bus terminal is in the outskirts of Tirana in the Kamez neighbourhood, about a 20 minute drive from the city centre of Tirana. You can see the location of the Tirana bus station on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/bdq3wSELPwiVMvQg7

From the city center of Tirana, you can take the bus to Instituti Bujqesor to the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

Bus to Instituti Bujqesor departs behind the National History Museum, which is on the central Skanderbeg Square. The bus station is on the backside of the National History Museum in the Dede Gjo Luli Street (In Albanian: Rruga Dede Gjo Luli).

Or you can take a short 15 minute taxi ride from the city center to the Regional Bus Terminal North and South. It will cost you around 5 euros.

If you want to rent a car and drive from Tirana to Shkoder, you will spend at least 20-25 euros for the rental car per day. Plus it will cost you around 25 euros for petrol to drive from Tirana to Shkoder. That said, you may want to consider renting a 4 wheel drive if you want to drive onwards from Shkoder to Lake Koman, Valbone or Theth, due to the poor road conditions in the Albanian Alps.

How to get from Tirana airport to Shkoder?

You can get from Tirana aiport to Shkoder by taxi, by taking a bus from the Regional Bus Terminal or by rental car.

A taxi from Tirana airport to Shkoder costs between 55 euros – 62 euros. This is the price of the Official Airport Taxis. The Official Airport Taxis have a set price list, which you can see here: https://tiataxi.al/travel/ . The official airport taxis are always stationed in front of Tirana Airport’s Arrivals Hall.

You cannot get from Tirana airport to Shkoder with a direct bus line, so you will need to transfer in order to get from Tirana airport to Shkoder.

Since there is no bus to Shkoder from Tirana Airport, the only bus from Tirana to Shkoder departs from the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania (in Albanian: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut).

So if you want to travel by bus, you must first take a taxi from Tirana airport to the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania, which costs 13 euros. And then you take the bus from the regional bus station to Shkoder, which costs 400 Leke (3.30 euros). More information can be found above.

If you really prefer travelling by bus, I would recommend that you book your first night hotel in Tirana or Durres. Because there is a direct bus from Tirana International Airport to either Tirana or Durres. Which will be a lot more convenient for you.

A rental car from Tirana to Shkoder will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day + 25 euro for petrol for a one way journey. If you consider driving to Shkoder, you may want to rent a 4 wheel drive car, because destinations like Lake Koman, Valbone and Theth are best with a 4 wheel drive due to the condition of the roads in the North of Albania.

Is Shkoder worth visting?

Shkoder is certainly worth visiting. Within Albania, Shkoder is known as the artistic and cultural city.

Shkoder city has a beautiful historical town centre. The highlight in the centre of Shkoder is the Kole Idromeno Street. The Kole Idromeno Street is a famous pedestrian street in the centre of Shkoder city. It is a very pretty boulevard with many terraces.

The pedestrian street was designed after a painting from Shkoder based painter called Kole Idromeno. Kole Idromeno was schooled Venice and therefore, the boulevard has a very Italian feel. It has many decorative details like beautiful stones and romantic lighting. The Kole Idromeno boulevard is a lovely place for strolling, shopping for souvenirs or enjoying a beautiful afternoon on the terrace.

The most well-known sightseeing destination in Shkoder is Rozafa Castle. Rozafa Castle is a large castle on the top of a hill near Shkoder city. The castle has a spectacular, panoramic view over Shkoder city and the Lake of Shkodra. The Illyrians originally founded the castle in antiquity, but it was later rebuilt by the Venetians and the Turkish Ottomans. Apart from the stunning views, the castle is also known for its famous legend about the 3 brothers who built the castle and the sacrafice of lady Rozafa.

A bit further away from the city centre, you can visit Lake Shkoder. The Lake of Shkodra is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. It is located on the border between Albania and Montenegro. I would recommend driving to the Shiroke village, which is located on the shore of Lake Shkodra. There is a lovely boulevard with restaurants alongside the lake. It is the perfect spot for a relaxing lunch or coffee. Whereas Shkoder is a buzzing city, Shiroke is quiet, relaxed and peaceful.

Shkoder is also known as the biking city in Albania. In Albania as a whole, you won’t see many people biking. But in Shkoder biking is very popular. You can simply hire a bike at one of the hotels or restaurants and explore the historical city centre by bike!

If you want to see more of the artistic side of Shkoder, I do recommend visiting the Marubi National Photography Museum. The Marubi museum has a collection of photos taken by three generations of photographers. In 1850, Pietro Marubbi, an Italian painter and photographer, emigrated from Italy to Shkoder for political reasons. Whilst in Shkoder, he founded a photo business called Foto Marubi. He trained Kel Kodheli, who took over the family business after Pietro’s death and changed his name to Kel Marubi. And later Kel’s son, Gege Marubi followed in his footsteps.

In the Marubi National Photography Museum, you can see a collection of 400.000 photographs that tell Albania’s history. The Marubi family photographed significant national events and daily life in Albania. There are portraits of tribal leaders, highland uprisings and influential persons, like Edith Durham.

If you are looking for a unique souvenir from Shkoder, you can visit the Venice Art Mask Factory. The factory was started in 1997 by Edmond Angoni, who is originally from Albania, but spend a long period of time in Venice. Back in Albania, he began creating Venetian masks and turned it into a worldwide factory. The factory has eight shops in Venice and one in Las Vegas, and it sells masks in luxury shops in Dubai and Australia as well.

In the Venice Art Mask Factory, you can see a display of 1700 unique art masks. Each mask is produced by 12 or 13 professionals, who work on the moulding, papier-mache, painting and decorations. The factory produces more than 30.000 masks per year. It is very enjoyable to browse through the beautiful collection of masks. Each mask is a unique work of art. The masks vary in price point, so you might even find a unique souvenir to take home.

And finally, the Mesi Bridge of Shkoder is a beautiful historical sightseeing location. The Mesi Bridge is a cultural monument to the northeast of Shkoder city. It is a historical bridge that was build in the 18th century when Albania was ruled by the Turkish Ottoman empire.

Today, it is the largest remaining bridge from the Ottoman period in Albania. The bridge is a tourist attraction and it was voted the top bridge to visit in Albania by TripAdvisor. The bridge is 108 meters long and it has a total of 13 little arches. It is surrounded by the beautiful mountains in the background.

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