How to get from Tirana airport to Vlore? Bus, Taxi, Car

If you are flying to Tirana airport and you would like to go to Vlore beach, you might be wondering: How to get from Tirana airport to Vlore? In this blog post, I will discuss the best ways to get from Tirana airport to Vlore by bus, by taxi or with a rental car.

How to get from Tirana airport to Vlore? You can get from Tirana airport to Vlore by direct airport bus, by taxi or by rental car. There is no train connection. The direct airport bus departs 6 x times a day and costs 1000 LEK (8.20 EUR). A taxi costs 86 euros. And a rental car is 20 -25 euros per day plus 4000 LEK (33 EUR) for petrol.

Although there is a direct bus from Tirana airport to Vlore, it only departs 6 x a day. So I recommend you scroll down to check the timetable with your arrival time. Alternatives are a taxi from the airport or renting a car. I will also discuss a direct bus from Tirana airport to Tirana or a direct bus to Durres as an alternative. Let’s begin!

Getting from Tirana airport to Vlore by bus, by taxi or by rental car

How to get from Tirana airport to Vlore by bus?

You can get from Tirana airport to Vlore by bus. There is a direct bus from Tirana airport to Vlore. The direct bus is operated by Hermes Airport.

The direct bus from Tirana airport to Vlore depart 6 x times per day. The bus from Tirana airport to Vlore departs at 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 22:00 PM. The bus journey from Tirana airport to Vlore takes roughly 2.5 hours.

A bus ticket from Tirana airport to Vlore costs 1000 Albanian Leke (8.20 euros).
If you have questions about the direct bus from Tirana airport to Vlore, you can reach out to Hermes Airport at reservation@hermesaeroport.com or by calling +355 676097542.

The direct bus from Tirana airport to Vlore only departs 6 x times per day. So it might not match with your flight arrival time or you may miss the bus if you spend a lot of time waiting at the border/luggage collection.

In that case, you can take a direct bus from Tirana airport to Durres or a bus from Tirana airport to Tirana. Durres would be the most convenient because it is a coastal town en route to Vlore. For more information on the alternative routes, scroll down, please.

How does a taxi from Tirana airport to Vlore cost?

A taxi from Tirana airport to Vlore costs 86 euros with the official airport taxi. It will take roughly 2.5 hours to get from Tirana airport to Vlore by taxi.

Price of a taxi from Tirana airport to Vlore:

  • Tirana airport taxi charged 86 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore
  • Merr Taxi charges 101 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore
  • UPs taxi charges 11341 Leke (93 euros) for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore

It is the easiest to take the official airport taxis. The official airport taxis are parked in front of the Arrivals Hall at the airport and you can recognize them as yellow taxis with the airport logo. Another advantage to taking the official airport taxi is that they have a set price list, which they published online, here: https://tiataxi.al/travel/ . So you won’t be surprised by the pricing.

If you prefer to call your own taxi or book a taxi beforehand. You can contact many taxi companies in Albania via Whatsapp or Viber directly. Or you can download the popular taxi apps in Albania: UPs Taxi App, Speed Taxi App or Taxi.al taxi app. Uber does not operate in Albania.

How much does a car rental from Tirana airport to Vlore cost?

An affordable car rental at Tirana airport costs at least 20-25 euros per day. Petrol from Tirana Airport to Vlore will be roughly 4000 Leke (33 euros). And it will take you 2.5 hours to get from Tirana airport to Vlore.

I recently wrote a blog post about the prices of car rentals in Albania. I basically contacted 15 car rental companies in Tirana and at Tirana airport. And I typed up all the prices offered in this blogpost: https://albaniatourguide.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-rent-a-car-in-albania/

However, to get an affordable car rental offer, I highly recommend you reach out to car rental companies before your holiday in Albania. Because car rental prices do vary significantly between companies. And when you arrive at the airport and simply pick the nearest car rental desk, you may be charged a lot more than 25 euros per day.

It is easy to drive from Tirana airport to Vlore. Tirana Airport is located alongside the highway between Tirana and Durres. From the airport, you must turn onto the highway in the direction of Durres. Then from Durres, you drive southwards via Fier city to Vlore. Signage is good on this route.

The quality of the highway from Tirana airport to Vlore is good, so you do not have to worry about it. If you read on the internet that road quality in Albania is poor, this mainly applies to the mountainous areas in the North and East of Albania.

Is there a train from Tirana airport to Vlore?

There is no train from Tirana airport to Vlore. Because Tirana airport is not connected to any train network. So you cannot take any trains from Tirana airport.

There is no point in taking a taxi from the airport to the train station in Kashar, which is 10 kilometres from Tirana. Because trains in Albania are infrequent, old fashioned and very slow. So it is not a good alternative and you will not be faster.

The trains in Albania were built during the communist regime, which ended in 1992. And these trains have not been maintained, refurbished or expanded since the fall of communism. So you might take a train in Albania to experience an old fashioned train, but not as an effective manner of transportation.

How far is Tirana airport from Vlore?

Tirana Airport is 148 kilometers from Vlore. It will take you roughly 2.5 hours to travel from Tirana Airport to Vlore by bus, by rental car or by taxi.

Alternative ways to get to Vlore

If you have a long flight, a delay or you arrive late, a direct trip from Tirana airport to Vlore might be a bit too much for you. So what are the alternatives?

Option 1: Take a bus / taxi from Tirana airport to the city centre of Tirana and travel to Vlore the next day
Option 2: Take a bus / Taxi from Tirana airport to Durres and travel to Vlore the next day

How to get from Tirana airport to the city centre of Tirana?

You can get from Tirana airport to the city centre of Tirana with the airport shuttle bus, a taxi or a rental car.

The direct bus from Tirana airport to the city centre of Tirana departs every hour between 8:00 AM and 19:00 PM and there are two extra busses at 21:00 PM and 23:00 PM. You can check the bus timetable here: https://www.tirana-airport.com/en/transport-and-directions/15/By-Bus  The airport bus is operated by LUNA. A bus ticket costs 300 Lek (2.50 euros). And the bus will drop you off behind the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet on Skanderbeg Square.

How much is a taxi from Tirana airport to the city centre?

A taxi from Tirana airport to the city centre of Tirana costs 20 – 25 euros with the official airport taxi service.

How do I get to Vlore from Tirana?

You can get to Vlore from Tirana by bus, by taxi or in a rental car.

The local bus from Tirana to Vlore departs from the Regional Bus Terminal. So your first step is to travel from the city centre of Tirana to the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania. This bus terminal is located here: https://goo.gl/maps/8hTHhErVXLZEzDXZA

The Regional Bus Terminal is around 20 minutes by car from the city centre. You can take a taxi to the Regional Bus Terminal for around 5 euros. Or you can take the bus in the direction of Instituti, which departs from the Dede Gjo Luli Street behind the National History Museum on Skanderbeg Square. The bus to Instituti stops at the Regional Bus Terminal.

Once you are at the Regional Bus Terminal, you can take the bus to Vlore. The bus to Vlore departs every 30 minutes between 5:00 AM and 17:30 PM. You can check the bus timetable here: https://gjirafa.com/autobus . A bus ticket from Tirana to Vlore costs 500 LEK (4.10 euros) for a one-way journey.

How to get from Tirana airport to Durres?

You can get from Tirana airport to Durres by bus, by taxi or in a rental car.

Durres is a coastal city with beautiful beaches about 30 minutes from Tirana International airport. Moreover, if you plan on travelling onwards to Vlore the next day, you will have a shorter journey the next day. Because Durres is closer to Vlore than Tirana or Tirana airport.

There is a direct bus from Tirana airport to Durres, which departs 5 x times per day. The bus from Tirana airport to Durres departs at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 17:00 PM and 22:00 PM.

A bus ticket from Tirana airport to Durres costs 1000 Leke (8.25 euros) for a one-way trip. The bus is operated by Adis.

A taxi from Tirana airport to Durres costs between 21 – 30 euros vary between taxi companies. I did request the taxi rates from several taxi companies, you can see an overview below:

  • Tirana Airport taxi charges 25-30 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres
  • Merr Taxi charges 23 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres
  • UPs Taxi charges 2603 ALL (21.50 euros) for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres
  • Speedtaxi charges 2500 Leke or 21 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres
  • City Taxi charges 3000 Leke (25 euros) for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres
  • Euro Taxi charges 30 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres

How do I get from Durres to Vlore?

You can get from Durres to Vlore by bus, by taxi or by rental car.

The bus from Durres to Vlore departs from the Durres Bus Terminal (in Albanian: Stacioni i Autobusëve Durrës). You can see the location on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/7zjurxBwJ8hfe7aa6

The bus from Durres to Vlore departs between 5:35 AM and 18:05 PM. The bus departs at: 5:35 AM, 6:05 AM, 6:15 AM, 6:35 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:05 AM, 7:35 AM, 8:05 AM, 8:35 AM, 9:05 AM, 9:30 AM, 9:35 AM, 10:05 AM, 10:35 AM, 10:45 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:05 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:05 PM, 12:35 PM, 12:45 PM, 13:05 PM, 13:30 PM, 13:35 PM, 13:45 PM, 14:05 PM, 14:35 PM, 14:45 PM, 15:05 PM, 15:35 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:05 PM, 16:35 PM, 17:05 PM, 17:35 PM, 18:00 PM, 18:05 PM.

A bus ticket from Durres to Vlore costs 400 Leke (3.30 euros) for a one-way trip.
A taxi from Durres to Vlore costs 85 euros if you book with Merr Taxi or 9675 Leke (80 euros) with UPs Taxi.

Things to do in Vlore

Vlore is a stunning coastal city. There is a beautiful boulevard along the seaside. In the city, you can visit some great seafood restaurants. And further to the South, there are amazing hotels right on the beach! Let’s explore the best things to do, whilst staying in Vlore.

Apollonia Archaeological Park

Apollonia is an archaeological park in the centre of Albania. In ancient times, Apollonia was an important Greek city. The city was founded in 588 BC by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth. However, it was during the Roman period that the city of Apollonia really flourished.

In the 4th century AD, Apollonia was an important economic city and trade centre. The city was known for its famous school of philosophy. Cicero, a famous Roman public speaker, called Apollonia “a great and important city”. And the city was also one of the most important gateways to the Via Egnatia, which was a Roman trade route through the Balkans.

The ruins of Apollonia were re-discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. The park is set on a hilly plateau and it is surrounded by calming nature.

Sightseeing at Zvernec Island

Zvernec Island is a little island in the Narta Lagoon. The island is about a 30-minute drive from Vlore city. It is a very picturesque location, which is definitely worth a visit! The little island is connected to the mainland via a long wooden bridge. From the coastline, you will have a stunning view of the island across the bridge. You can walk over the long wooden walkway and step foot on Zvernec island. On the island, there is a little Byzantine monastery from the 13th century.

The coastal road along the Albanian Riviera

Vlore Beach is also the starting point of the Albanian Riviera. From Vlore, you can get on the road to Saranda, which leads all the way to the Greek Border. The coastal road is actually stunning. The road turns and twists along the coast and it has beautiful views of all the beaches below. In about 3-4 hours, you can see all the beaches of the Albanian Riviera whilst making short stops along the road.

Llogara Pass

The Llogara Pass is a mountain pass on the coastal road. It is the highest point on the coastal road, at a height of 1027 meters. It has a beautiful viewpoint, where you can make a stop to take pictures. From the pass, you will have a spectacular view of Palase beach, the Dhermi village and the Ionian Sea. There is a lovely restaurant at the top of the Llogara Pass, with floor to ceiling windows. It is a perfect place to relax and drink a coffee whilst taking in the view!

Karaburun Peninsula

The Karaburun Peninsula is a rocky peninsula, that points into the Adriatic Sea. Alongside the peninsula, there are hidden beaches, which can only be reached by boat or by a long hike. The peninsula is located between Vlore and Dhermi, so you can take a boat trip from either side.

The Karaburun Peninsula has hidden pristine beaches. Moreover, some of the beaches and caves have a mysterious history.

You can take a boat from Vlore harbour to explore the Haxhi Ali Cave and some beaches on the eastern side of the peninsula. The Haxhi Ali Cave is a massive cave, which can hold several speedboats at a time. In the past, this mysterious cave was used by pirates to seek shelter and hide.

Or you can take a boat from the Dhermi Village to visit the other side of the peninsula. From Dhermi, you can visit the Blue Cave and Gramata Bay. Gramata Bay is the highlight of the peninsula.
Gramata Bay means “the bay of scriptures”.

The seawater can be rough around the Karaburun Peninsula. And Gramata Bay is one of the few places, which offered ships shelter from the rough sea. Therefore, many sailors carved inscriptions and symbols in the rocks of the bay, to thank their god for the shelter of the bay. Some of the scriptures were written by the ancient Greeks.

The best way to get to the Karaburun Peninsula is by boat. A boat trip from Vlore to the Haxhi Ali Cave and a few beaches on the eastern side costs 2500 LEK (20 euros) per person. A boat trip from Dhermi to Gramata Bay and the Blue Cave costs 150 euros for 6-7 persons. By foot, it will take six hours to reach the beaches of the Karaburun Peninsula.

About me

About me

I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania. I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania!
Kind regards, Manon

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.

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