How to get from Tirana Airport to Shkoder? NEW 2024 Bus, Taxi, Car Rental, Prices

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

How to get from Tirana Airport to Shkoder? You can get from Tirana Airport to Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by rental car. The direct bus from Tirana Airport to Shkoder costs 1000 LEK (9.60 EUR) and departs at 11:15, 12:45, 17:30 and 20:10. A taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder costs 58-82 euros. A rental car is at least 15-20 EUR per day.

In this blog, I will give you all the information you need to travel from Tirana Airport to Shkoder. I will detail bus timetables, bus ticket pricing, bus station location and where to pay. I will also compare taxi prices for different taxi drivers from Tirana Airport to Shkoder. And I have a price comparison of what car rental companies at Tirana Airport charge.

How to get from Tirana airport to Shkoder in 2024?

You can get from Tirana airport to Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by rental car. Below, I have a quick summary of your transport options to travel from Tirana Airport to Shkoder. There is more detailed information if you scroll further down.

Tirana airport to Shkoder by bus (summary)

• As of 2024, there is a direct bus from Tirana Airport to Shkoder. 
• The bus departs from Tirana Airport to Shkoder at 11:15 AM, 12:45 PM, 17:30 PM and  20:10 PM. 
• A bus ticket from Tirana Airport to Shkoder costs 1000 Albanian Leke (approximately 9.60 euros) per person for a one-way ticket. 
• The bus departs from the parking area at Tirana Airport and drops you off at Hermes Airport Shkoder in the Rruga Marin Bicikemi in Shkodër.

Tirana Airport to Shkoder by taxi (summary)

• A taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder costs between 58-82 euros depending on the taxi driver you book and your exact destination in Shkoder. 
• The official Tirana Airport Taxi Service charges 65-74 euros depending on your destination in Shkoder. These are the airport taxis always parked in front of the Airport Terminal building.

Tirana Airport to Shkoder by rental car (summary)

• Renting a basic rental car at Tirana Airport costs at least 15-20 euros per day. 
• IMPORTANT! In July and August, rental cars can be very expensive due to the tourist high season. So reach out to car rental companies before you travel. 
• Driving in Albania can be a challenge as a foreigner, due to the chaotic style of driving in Albania. So evaluate your driving confidence and experience, before you decide to rent a car. 

How to get from Tirana Airport to Shkoder by bus?

As of 2024, there is a direct bus from Tirana Airport to Shkoder. The direct bus departs from Tirana Airport to Shkoder at 11:15 AM, 12:45 PM, 17:30 PM and  20:10 PM. So there are 4 x buses in operation between Tirana Airport and Shkoder. A bus ticket costs 1000 Albanian Leke (approximately 9.60 euros) per person for a one-way ticket. 

Tirana Airport to Shkoder bus timetable

The bus timetable from Tirana Airport to Shkoder is 11:15 AM, 12:45 PM, 17:30 PM and  20:10 PM. There are 4 x buses from Tirana Airport to Shkoder per day. Buses operate every day of the week at the same time. 

If you want to take a bus from Shkoder to Tirana Airport, these buses depart from Shkoder at  07:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 14:00 PM and 16:00 PM. 

How much is the bus from Tirana Airport to Shkoder?

A bus ticket from Tirana Airport to Shkoder costs 1000 Albanian Leke (approximately 9.60 euros) per person for a one-way ticket. 

Tirana airport to Shkoder bus price – 1000 Leke (approximately 9.60 euros) per person

You are expected to pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver. Hermes Airport operates the bus. If you want to contact the bus operator this is the phone number: +355 676097542 and this is the email address:  reservation@hermesaeroport.com 

Tirana Airport bus station

The bus from Tirana Airport to Shkoder departs from the parking at Tirana Airport. When your aeroplane lands, a bus will take you from the aeroplane to the Terminal Building. Once you arrive at the Terminal Building, you will pass through security/passport control. Then you will go through the luggage collection hall. And walk into the Arrivals Hall. Take the exit to your left to the airport parking and bus departure stations. 

Shkoder bus station

The bus from Tirana Airport to Shkoder will drop you off at “Hermes Airport Shkoder”. The bus agency Hermes Airport Shkoder is in the Rruga Marin Bicikemi, Shkodër, Albania. You can see the location on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qau6wLN3H6bzRXBy5 

The Hermes Airport Shkoder agency is centrally located, you can walk to the city centre of Shkoder in about 10 minutes. The main boulevard in the city centre of Shkoder is called Rruga “Kolë Idromeno”, Shkodër, Albania. It is where the “Marubi” National Museum of Photography is located as well.

How much is a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder?

A taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder costs between 58-82 euros depending on the taxi driver you book and your exact destination in Shkoder. 

Taxi Tirana Airport to Shkoder

• City Taxi Tirana charges 8500 Leke (82 euros) for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.
• Smart Taxi Tirana charges 6000 Leke (58 euros) for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.
• Ciao Taxi Tirana charges 80 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.
• Speed Taxi Tirana charges 7000 Leke or 70 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.
• Merr Taxi Tirana charges 8000 Leke or 80 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.
• Green Taxi Tirana charges 7000 Leke (67 euros) for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.
• Tirana Taxi Company charges 70 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.
• Tirana Airport Taxi Service charges 65-74 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Shkoder.

The Tirana Airport Taxi Service is the licensed taxi service for Tirana Airport. These are the yellow taxis with the airport logo displayed on both sides, that are parked in front of the Airport Terminal Building. You can take one of these taxis that are always waiting at the airport. Or if you like you can reach any of the other taxi drivers easily via WhatsApp. 

Speed Taxi and Merr Taxi also have a taxi booking app that you can download, if you prefer using a taxi app rather than WhatsApp.

How much does renting a car and driving from Tirana Airport to Shkoder cost?

Renting a car at Tirana Airport costs at least 15-20 euros per day for the cheapest rental car available. 

There is a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport. You can find mobile numbers and email addresses for all the car rental companies that have a little office on Tirana Airport. 

I have reached out to several car rental companies and requested what their cheapest rental car costs. 

Tirana Airport car rental prices (starting from):

• Albania Airport Rent a Car charges 20 euros per day for a manual Skoda Fabia from 2018.
• Avis Rent a Car Tirana Airport charges 20 euros per day for a manual Opel Corsa or 25 euros per day for an automatic Opel Corsa. 
• Pepa Rent a Car Tirana Airport charges 20 euros per day for an economy car, like a Skoda.
• RCA Rent a Car in Albania Tirana Airport charges 15 euros per day for a small manual car, like a Mitsubishi Spacestar or Citroen C1 or Peugeot 108.
• Green Motion Rent Car Tirana Airport charges 15 euros per day for the economy category. It can be an Opel Corsa or Dacia Sandero or Skoda Fabia.
• Viaggia Rent Tirana Airport charges 18 euros per day for a manual Fiat Panda from 2023.
• ARA Auto Rental Tirana Airport charges 17 euros per day for a small manual car or 20 euros per day for an automatic car. Brands like Citroen or Peugeot are available.
• G Rentals Tirana Airport charges 20 euros per day for a Dacia Stepway.
• Sixt Car Rental Tirana Airport charges 15 euros per day for a Mitsubishi Space Star. 

Of course, it is important to bear in mind that car rental rates can be a lot higher in the tourist high season. The summer months like July and August are the top of the high season, so car rental can be a lot pricier. Especially, since the basic or cheap rental car may not be available anymore and only a more luxurious and expensive car is available. 

I highly recommend you reach out to car rental companies before you travel via email, online or via WhatsApp. Do not wait until your arrival, especially if you are travelling in July or August.

IMPORTANT! Driving in Albania can be challenging for a foreigner. The Albanian drivers do have a chaotic and sometimes aggressive style of driving. So if you have any doubts about driving, do not do it! Hire a taxi, book a tour or travel by bus instead. Safety comes first.

What is the distance from Tirana Airport to Shkoder?

The distance from Tirana Airport to Shkoder is 82 kilometers. It will take you between 1.5 and 2 hours to drive from Tirana Airport to Shkoder depending on traffic. The road from Tirana Airport to Shkoder is an asphalted national road with one lane in each direction. Therefore, traffic in front of you can slow your journey down, as you may not be able to overtake easily.

How long does it take to get from Tirana Airport to Shkoder?

It does take approximately 1.5-2 hours to get from Tirana Airport to Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by car. The road from Tirana Airport to Shkoder is a national road where most sections there is only 1 lane for each direction. Therefore, your journey will take closer to 2 hours if there is traffic in front of you and you won’t be able to pass if the road is busy.

Is there a train from Tirana airport to Shkoder?

There is no train from Tirana airport to Shkoder. There is no train station at Tirana airport. There have been some announcements and plans about a train station that will be built at Tirana airport in the future, but this has not happened yet. 

Tirana city also does not have a train station. The old train station in Tirana was demolished in 2013, it is currently 2024 and the train station in Tirana has not been rebuilt. 

Shkoder does have a train station, but it operates only 1 x train per week from Shkoder to Lac and back from Lac to Shkoder. This train usually only runs 1 x day per week.

Train travel within Albania is very limited. In the communist period, between the End of the Second World War and 1992, railways and trains were built in Albania for the first time. There were railways connecting Shkoder, Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Vlore and Pogradec. However, many of these old railways are currently visible in the landscape but not in use, due to a lack of interest, a lack of maintenance and a lack of investment. 

Related Questions

How much is the bus from Tirana to Shkoder? The bus from the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania” to Shkoder costs 400 Leke (3.85 euros). 

Tirana to Shkoder bus timetable – The Tirana to Shkoder bus timetable is 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. These buses depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

Tirana to Shkoder bus price – The bus from Tirana to Shkoder costs 400 Leke (3.85 euros) if you take the bus departing from the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania” to Shkoder. The direct bus from Tirana Airport to Shkoder costs 1000 Leke (9.60 euros) per person for a one-way ticket.

Tirana airport to regional bus station – There is a bus from Tirana airport to Tirana’s city centre. This bus passes by the Regional Bus Station North and South Albania as this bus station is located alongside the highway connecting Tirana Airport and Tirana’s city centre. However, I do recommend you ask the bus driver from Tirana airport to Tirana, if he is willing to stop at the Regional Bus Station North and South Albania. Buses from Tirana Airport to Tirana depart 24 hours a day, every hour on the hour and cost 400 Leke (3.85 euros) per person.

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.

Book your free Albania Planning Session via Skype now, by using my online scheduler to find a time that’s convenient for you.