How to get from Tirana to Berat? Bus, Taxi, Car, Prices 2023

If you are planning a trip from Tirana to Berat, this blog post is for you. I will describe the best ways to get from Tirana to Berat, by bus, by taxi, by car including all the prices for 2023.

How to get from Tirana to Berat? You can get from Tirana to Berat by bus, by taxi or by car. A bus ticket costs 500 LEK (4.40 EUR) per person, buses depart 20-30 min between 5:40 AM and 17:30 PM from the Albania Bus Terminal South and North. A taxi costs 61-79 EUR. A rental car costs at least 20-25 EUR per day + 30 EUR petrol.

In this blog post, I will give you all the information you need to get from Tirana to Berat by bus, by taxi or by car. I will give you practical advice about getting to the bus terminal, bus ticket prices and the bus timetables. I will compare taxi rates and car rental rates so that you can plan your trip to Berat easily!

The best ways to get from Tirana to Berat

In this blog post, I will discuss all the best ways to get from Tirana to Berat. I will answer these questions below, so feel free to skip ahead to the section that interests you most.

How to get from Tirana to Berat by bus?
How much does the bus from Tirana to Berat cost?
Tirana to Berat bus timetable
Where is the bus station in Tirana?
Where is the bus station in Berat?
Berat to Tirana bus timetable
Taxi Tirana to Berat pricing
Can I use Uber to get from Tirana to Berat?
How much does it cost to rent a car and drive from Tirana to Berat?
How to drive from Tirana to Berat?
Can I get from Tirana to Berat by train?
How far is it from Tirana to Berat?
How long does it take to get from Tirana to Berat?
How many days should I stay in Berat?
Tirana to Berat day trip
Staying overnight in Berat
Is Berat worth visiting?
What is Berat Albania known for?
Things to do in Berat

How to get from Tirana to Berat by bus?

You can get from Tirana to Berat by bus. A bus ticket cost 500 Leke (4.40 euros) per person. And the buses depart between 5:40 AM and 17:30 PM from the Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut (in English: Albania Bus Terminal South and North). I do have all the details, including bus timetables and Google Maps below.

How much does the bus from Tirana to Berat cost?

A bus ticket from Tirana to Berat costs 500 Leke (4.40 euros) per person for a one-way journey. It is important to bring cash money, either Albanian Leke or Euros with you to the bus station. Because the bus driver will expect you to pay in cash money. Many buses are not equipped with a credit card machine, so that will not be a possibility. Of course, you can withdraw from a nearby ATM.

Tirana to Berat bus schedule

The bus timetable from Tirana to Berat is as follows. The bus from Tirana to Berat departs at 5:40 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:05 AM, 7:15 AM, 7:45 AM, 8:15 AM, 8:50 AM, 9:20 AM, 9:50 AM, 10:20 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:15 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, 16:10 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:00 PM and 17:30 PM.

That being said, bus travel in Albania is different from bus travel in Western Europe. Each of those buses is operated by a small company or individual driver. These drivers simply drive to the bus terminal, park their bus somewhere at the terminal and display a sign with “Berat”.

When you arrive at the bus terminal, bus drivers may approach you and ask for your destination and point you to the right bus. But you can also walk around the bus terminal yourself, and look for a bus with the signage “Berat”.

Bus travel is not as “organized” in Albania, it is a more individual and less timed system. The bus driver may leave early if the bus is full. The bus driver may wait a bit longer to get some extra passengers onboard. And the bus driver may stop along the road to let people alongside the road on the bus as extra passengers and thus extra income.

In essence, you will get to your destination and you will get there cheaply. But you do need to wait and you will need some patience.

Where is the bus station in Tirana?

The bus from Tirana to Berat departs from the “Albania Bus Terminal South and North”. In the Albanian language this bus terminal is called “Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut”.

You can see the location of the Albania Bus Terminal South and North on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/i3AbmSASaugxm7V6A

The Bus Terminal for South and North Albania is located outside the city centre of Tirana. So if you are staying in a hotel anywhere near central Skanderbeg Square, you will need to take a taxi or a city bus to get to the bus terminal.

You can take a 15-minute taxi ride to get to the bus terminal. Ask the taxi driver to drop you off at “Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut”. You can grab a taxi off the street. Or you can call taxi companies, like Merr Taxi, Speed Taxi, City Taxi Tirana or Do Taxi. You can also reach them via WhatsApp chat or Viber.

I have spoken with Merr Taxi, Do Taxi Tirana, City Taxi Tirana and Speed Taxi Tirana. And basically, there is no set price for a ride to the bus terminal. The taxi driver will switch on the taxi meter and that will determine how much it will cost you.

You can also take a city bus to get to the Bus Terminal North and South Albania. The city bus departs behind the National History Museum. So when you see the entrance of the National History Museum, you will need to walk to the back of the building to “Rruga Ded Gjo Luli”. You can see the location of the bus stop on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/GzJhE5m9XtfwgHsR6

From the bus stop on Rruga Ded Gjo Luli, you need to take the bus to “Instituti”. This bus will make a stop at the Bus Terminal for North and South Albania.

Where is the bus station in Berat?

The bus station in Berat is located on Rruga Antipatrea in Berat. The name of the bus terminal is: Terminali i Autobusave Berat and the address is: Rruga Antipatrea, Berat, Albania 5001, Berat. In the English language, this simply means Bus Terminal Berat.

You can see the location of the Berat bus terminal on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/AWXuv7PZBYhyu84LA

The Berat bus terminal is not in the Old Town Center. So I recommend you budget another 10-15 euros to take a taxi to the Castle of Berat on the top of the hill or to the Old Town Center. So that you can then explore the sightseeing spots on foot after that.

I would avoid walking up to the Berat Castle on the top of the hill on foot in the summer months, as it is a long walk and can be tiring in the heat. Take a taxi en then enjoy your walk through the castle instead.

Berat to Tirana bus schedule

This is the bus timetable from Berat to Tirana. The bus from Berat to Tirana departs at 5:32 AM, 5:40 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:23 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:23 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:23 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:53 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:53 PM, 13:00 PM, 13:07 PM, 13:50 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:05 PM and 15:40 PM.

Bus timetables in Albania are not as strictly followed as they are followed in Western Europe. Always your best option is to go to the bus terminal, ask around which bus departs first and then patiently wait for the bus driver. Bus drivers may leave a bit earlier if the bus is full or wait a bit longer for some extra passengers. You will get to your destination, but as the locals say “slowly-slowly”.

Taxi Tirana to Berat pricing

A taxi from Tirana to Berat costs between 61 euros and 79 euros, depending on which taxi company you book your taxi with.

To give you some insight into what a taxi from Tirana to Berat costs, I reached out to some of the well-known taxi brands in Tirana and requested their taxi prices for Berat.

Speed Taxi charges 9000 Leke (79 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Berat.
Green Taxi charges 7500 Leke (65 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Berat.
Smart Taxi charges 7000 Leke (61 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Berat.
City Taxi Tirana charges 9000 Leke (79 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Berat.
Do Taxi Tirana charges 7000 Leke (61 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Berat.
Tirana Airport Taxi service charges 75 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Berat.

If you are taking a taxi from Tirana airport to Berat, you can take one of the official Tirana airport taxis. These taxis are parked right in front of the airport arrivals hall and have an airport logo displayed. The Tirana airport taxi service charges 75 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Berat.

Can I use Uber to get from Tirana to Berat?

You cannot use Uber to get from Tirana to Berat. Because Uber does not operate in Albania. Although, there were some announcements in the past online about Uber coming to Albania. Uber has not come to Albania (yet).

Taxi apps – As an alternative to Uber, you can use some of the local taxi apps for Albania. The popular taxi apps are the Speed Taxi app, Ups Taxi app and Taxi.al app.

You can download the Speed Taxi app on this website: https://www.speedtaxi.al/ You can download the Ups Taxi app on this website: https://www.upstaxi.com/#/ And you can download the taxi.al app on this website: https://taxi.al/

Calling a taxi via Viber/Whatsapp – But really, you don’t need a specific taxi app, if you have Viber or WhatsApp. The taxi companies in Albania all use Viber and WhatsApp, so you can simply drop a message in the WhatsApp chat and you will immediately get prices quoted.

How much does it cost to rent a car and drive from Tirana to Berat?

It does cost at least 20-25 euros per day to rent a car in Tirana + 30 euros for petrol to drive from Tirana to Berat.

To give you a good insight into the prices for car rental companies in Albania, I did reach out to several car rental companies and compared their rates. I will say that I asked for the cheapest car they had available, so nothing luxurious on this list!

Albania Airport Rent a Car charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia with manual gear from 2019.
ARA Auto Rental Albania at Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for a Fiat Punto from 2018.
Avis Rent a Car Tirana Airport charges 25 euros per day for an Opel Corsa manual gear from 2022.
G Rentals Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for an Opel Corsa from 2021.
Green Motion Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia.
Hertz Tirana airport charges 22 euros per day for a Suzuki Ignis from 2019.
Eurocar Rentals Tirana charges 25 euros per day for a Kia Rio from 2021.
Easy Rent Tirana charges 30 euros per day for a Fiat Panda.
Eagle Rent Car Renting Albania charges 20 euros per day for a manual Volkswagen Up.

IMPORTANT – If you are travelling to Albania in July or August, it is the absolute top of the high season. So you will most likely pay more for a rental car since the cheapest cars won’t be available anymore. And as a result, you will only be able to rent a more expensive rental car.

IMPORTANT – I highly recommend you reach out to car rental companies in Albania before you travel. I have received messages from travellers who paid 50-70 euros per day for a rental car. There might be a better deal out there for you, but you must reach out to several car rental companies and compare their offers, to get a good deal.

IMPORTANT – Driving in Albania as a foreigner can be daunting and challenging. Albanian drivers have a chaotic and sometimes aggressive driving style. 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.

How to drive from Tirana to Berat?

You can drive from Tirana to Berat via this route: Tirana -> Durres -> Kavaje -> Rrogozhine -> Lushnje -> Berat.

If you look at Google Maps, you may think that the route from Tirana via Elbasan to Berat is shorter. However, these are older roads. Therefore, the buses, taxis and tour leaders actually choose the road from Tirana to Durres and then from Durres to the South.

The road via Durres, Kavaje, Rrogozine and Lushnje to Berat is in a good condition. Many of the sections are either highways or good quality national roads through a beautiful landscape. Since the area around Berat is an agricultural area, you will see a lot of the local produce, like watermelons, grapes and vegetables along this beautiful route.

Can I get from Tirana to Berat by train?

You cannot get from Tirana to Berat by train. On your journey from Tirana to Berat, you will actually see some of the old railway tracks alongside the road in the landscape. However, these railways are not currently in use. And these railways do not lead to Berat, so it is not possible to travel to Berat by train.

Albania has as little as 2-3 trains operational trains per week in the entire country. The railways and trains were constructed during the communist period from the end of the Second World War until 1992. Since the fall of communism, there has been little investment and no interest in the railway network. Therefore, many of the railways are currently not in use. Although these railways are still present in the landscape.

Albania does not offer international passenger trains and Albania is not connected to the European railway network. Because during the communist period when the railways were built, Albania was isolated similar to North Korea today. So there was no interest from the communist regime in connecting the railways to other Balkan countries.

How far is it from Tirana to Berat?

Tirana is 130 kilometres from Berat if you drive the route from Tirana -> Durres -> Kavaje -> Rrogozhine -> Lushnje -> Berat. This route may seem longer on Google Maps. However, this is a good quality road, so it will give you a more enjoyable and speedy journey.

The route from Tirana via Elbasan to Berat is shorter and is only 97 kilometres. However, the roads on this route are older, so this will slow your journey down.

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

It does take approximately 2.5 hours to get from Tirana to Berat by bus, taxi or by car. Berat is located to the South of Tirana, but buses and taxis drive from Tirana to Durres (which is at the coastline) and then from Durres via Lushnje to Berat. This route takes 2.5 hours. However, in the summer months, traffic can be heavy near Durres at the coastline and in the city centre of Tirana, which can slow your journey down some.

How many days should I stay in Berat?

To visit Berat, you can make a 1-day trip from Tirana or you can stay 1-2 nights in Berat. The main sights in Berat can be visited during an easy day trip. But of course, you can use Berat as a base for 1-2 days and explore more sights around Berat.

Tirana to Berat day trip

If you plan a day trip from Tirana to Berat, you can see all the main sights in Berat. You can start your day by visiting the hilltop Berat Castle, which takes approximately 1 hour. Inside the Berat Castle, you can also visit the National Iconographic Museum Onufri, which shows icons painted by Albanian masters. Then you can descend to the valley, where you will see the old town centre known as “the city of a thousand windows”. You can go for some lunch in the town centre. And then in the afternoon, you can visit the Ethnographic Museum, which is a traditional Albanian house turned into a museum about culture and traditions.

Staying overnight in Berat

If you stay 1-2 nights in Berat, you can visit more sights in the area around Berat. There are some lovely wineries and vineyards near Berat. So if you enjoy a nice glass of wine and a traditional lunch, that is a great option. Berat is also near the Bogove Waterfall, so you can go for a day of nature exploring near Berat. If you decide to stay multiple days in Berat, you will enjoy your time there, because there are beautiful restaurants and cafes. And the old town centre is beautiful at nighttime with all the little houses lighting their windows at night.

Is Berat worth visiting?

Berat is absolutely worth visiting. Berat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its old and historic town centre. But aside from that, Berat is always in the “Top 10 of the best things to do” in the Lonely Planet or Bradt Travel Guides about Albania.

In my personal experience as a tour guide in Albania, I would say that Berat city should be at the top of your list of places to visit whilst in Albania!

What is Berat Albania known for?

Berat is known for being “the City of a Thousand Windows”. Basically, Berat has two old neighbourhoods that were built during the Ottoman Period. These old neighbourhoods were built on the slopes of two hills opposite each other.

From the valley, it looks as though all the 1000 x little windows look down on you from the two hillsides. That is why it is the city of a thousand windows.

Berat is breathtakingly beautiful and very charming. The little houses are not ruins at all, these houses have been lived in and used from the Middle Ages until today. Many have been converted into hotels and restaurants with terraces, which are very beautiful. Berat is very picturesque, so you will go home with some beautiful pictures of your day in Berat.

Things to do in Berat

The best things to do in Berat are visit the Berat Castle, the Holy Trinity Church, the Museum of Iconography, the National Ethnographic Museum of Berat, the Mangalem neighbourhood, the Gorica neighbourhood and the Gorica Bridge.

Berat Castle

The Berat Castle (also called: Kala fortress) is an enormous castle on the top of the hill in Berat. From the castle, you will have an amazing panoramic view in all directions. From the hilltop, you will see the old city, the river and the surrounding mountain landscape.

Within the castle walls, you will walk through a village-like neighbourhood, called Kala. Until this day, some people are still living within the castle walls. The castle dates back to the 13th century and there are many Byzantine churches within the walls and two Ottoman mosques.

Holy Trinity Church in Berat

The Holy Trinity Church is one of the best-preserved churches inside the Berat castle. It will be one of the first buildings you see, as you walk up the hill towards the upper castle. The church is very beautiful and quite an eye-catcher. It was built in the 14th century and still remains beautiful until this day.

Museum of Iconography “Onufri”

The Museum of Iconography is a museum with religious paintings from several Albanian monasteries. The museum is located within the castle walls in the largest church on the premises, called “the Church of the Dormition of St. Mary”. The museum is named “Onufri” after the Albanian fresco and icon-painter.

National Ethnographic Museum of Berat

Just down the hill from the Berat castle, you can visit the National Ethnographic Museum of Berat. The museum is inside a beautiful 18th-century Ottoman house. On the ground floor, you can see a traditional medieval bazaar with embroidery, woodcarving and metalworking shops. On the second floor, you can visit a traditional house with a guest room, a kitchen and a work room.

Mangalem Quarter & Gorica Quarter

The Mangalem & Gorica Quarters are the traditional neighbourhoods built on the side of the hill. You will see hundreds of little white Ottoman-style houses. From the bottom of the hill, it looks like the little houses are stacked on top of each other. Therefore, Berat is called “the city of a thousand windows”. In short, Berat is a very romantic city with an Italian atmosphere.

Gorica Bridge of Berat

The Gorica Bridge is one of the most beautiful Ottoman bridges in the Balkan region. The bridge is stunning work of architecture, which is 130 meters long and it has 7 supporting arches.

The Gorica bridge is very picturesque and it connects the two old neighbourhoods of Berat: the Mangalem neighbourhood and the Gorica neighbourhood. The bridge crosses the bright blue Osumi river in the valley underneath Berat castle.

The bridge was originally built in 1780 by Ahmed Kurt, who was the Pasha (local leader) of Berat. But it was damaged at the end of the First World War. Luckily, the bridge went through a beautiful reconstruction in the 1920s.

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.

Book my Skype Session