How to get from Tirana to Durres? 2025 Bus, Taxi, Car, Train

If you are planning to travel from Tirana to Durres, this blog is for you. I will share how to get from Tirana to Durres by bus, by taxi, by car or by train.

How to get from Tirana to Durres? You can get from Tirana to Durres by bus, by taxi or by car. A bus ticket costs 1.80-2.50 EUR, buses depart between 6AM-21:15 from the Tirana North and South Bus Terminal. A taxi costs 30-45 EUR. A rental car is at least 20-25 EUR a day. Railways between Tirana and Durres under construction. 

In this blog post, I will share all the info you need to travel from Tirana to Durres confidently. I will share bus timetables, bus terminal locations and bus ticket prices. I will also discuss paying for your bus ticket and booking online. Furthermore, I will discuss what you can expect to pay for a taxi or rental car by comparison. And I will discuss the new railway under construction between Tirana and Durres. 

How can I go from Tirana to Durres?

You can go from Tirana to Durre by bus from the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania”. You can also take a taxi from Tirana to Durres. Or you can rent a car to get from Tirana to Durres. Although a new railway is under construction, this has not opened yet.

Tirana to Durres by bus (summary)

• The direct bus from Tirana to Durres departs from the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania”. 
• The bus terminal is outside the city center, so take a city bus from Skanderbeg Square to “Instituti” or take a short taxi ride to get to the bus terminal.
• Buses from Tirana to Durres depart between 6:00 AM and 21:15 PM. 
• A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 180-250 Leke (1.80 euros – 2.50 euros). You must pay cash to the bus driver.

Tirana to Durres by taxi (summary)

• A taxi from Tirana to Durres may cost you 30-45 euros
• The official Tirana Airport taxi service charges 30-35 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Durres. But the airport is closer to Durres, than Tirana’s city centre.

Tirana to Durres by car (summary)

• A basic rental car at Tirana airport or in Tirana city will cost you at least 20-25 EUR a day.
• Of course, car rental rates are higher in July and August, due to the tourist season. 
• It will take you approximately 45-60 minutes to drive from Tirana to Durres depending on traffic.
• Below you will find a price comparison of rental car prices at Tirana Airport. 

Tirana to Durres by train (summary)

• Right now, there is no train between Tirana and Durres.
• But a new railway connecting Tirana-Tirana airport-Durres is under construction in 2025. 
• Perhaps this new railway will open in 2025.

How to get from Tirana to Durres by bus?

You can get from Tirana to Durres by bus. 

First, you must go to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. The bus terminal is located outside the city centre of Tirana, so you must take a short taxi ride or city bus to get to the bus terminal. From Skanderbeg Square, walk to the back of the National History Museum and take the bus to “Instituti”, which stops at the bus terminal. More detailed info below.

Buses from Tirana to Durres depart between 6:00 AM and 21:15 PM. You can find a detailed bus timetable from Tirana to Durres below. A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 180-250 Leke (1.80 euros – 2.50 euros). You must pay cash to the bus driver. More detailed info below.

The bus from Tirana to Durres will drop you off at the “Durres Bus Terminal” which is close to the city centre of Durres and the Port of Durres. Beaches are located further to the south along the coastline. More detailed info below.

Tirana to Durres bus terminal

Buses from Tirana to Durres depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

• English language: South and North Albania Bus Terminal (Bus Station)
• Albanian language: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut

You can see the location of the bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ls7PuLJ2LFzakVfT7 

This bus terminal is located outside the city centre of Tirana. So if you are staying in a hotel in the city centre of Tirana near Skanderbeg Square, you can take a short taxi ride for 15 minutes to get to the bus terminal. Or you can take a city bus. 

The city bus to the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania” departs at the back of the National History Museum in the Rruga Ded Gjo Luli / Ded Gjo Luli Street. Take the bus in the direction of Instituti, which will stop at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. You can see the location of the bus stop here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7pik7EM176eW4cvK7 

Tirana to Durres bus timetable

Buses from Tirana to Durres depart between 6:00 AM and 21:15 PM. 

You can get on the bus from Tirana to Durres at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 8:45, 9:00, 9:20, 9:40, 10:10, 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, 11:50, 12:10, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:15, 15:30, 16:00, 16:20, 16:40, 17:00, 17:20, 17:40, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 19:45, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00 and 21:15. 

Buses in Albania have a paper in their front window displaying their destination. On the bus terminal it will be busy, but you can find the bus to Durres with a piece of paper displaying “Durres” in their front window.

The bus from Tirana to Durres will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal near the Port of Durres and the city centre. Durres beach is further to the South, so you may need to take a taxi to either Durres Beach or Golem Beach. 

If you plan on travelling onwards to the south of Albania from Durres, you may need to take a city bus to the Plepa Bus Station, where buses to the South of Albania depart. 

Tirana to Durres bus ticket price

A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 180-250 Leke (1.80 euros – 2.50 euros). You cannot book your bus ticket online. Bus drivers expect you to pay cash for your bus ticket, as buses are often not equipped with a card machine. Therefore, we always recommend you carry cash euros and a small amount of Albanian Leke with you in cash whilst travelling in Albania. 

Can I book my bus ticket from Tirana to Durres online?

You cannot book your bus ticket from Tirana to Durres online. National bus drivers in Albania often do not have a booking website and they do not have an online reservation system. Therefore, it is not possible to book your bus ticket online. 

Although this may seem old fashioned, it is common practice for bus drivers in Albania to operate in person only and cash only. 

Therefore, the only way to buy a bus ticket from Tirana to Durres is going to the bus terminal in person and paying for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver. 

You may be wondering how you can guarantee a seat on the bus, if online reservations are not possible. The simple answer is going to the bus terminal in the early morning. Since, buses operate a First Come, First Serve system that is the only way to guarantee a seat on the first available bus.

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Durres?

A taxi from Tirana to Durres may cost you 30-45 euros. The official Tirana Airport taxi service has a price list on their website. They charge 30-35 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Durres. That being said, the city centre of Tirana is further away from Durres, therefore, paying anywhere between 30-45 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Durres would be reasonable.

How much will it cost to rent a car and drive from Tirana to Durres?

You can rent a car at Tirana Airport or in Tirana’s city centre and drive from Tirana to Durres. A rental car at Tirana airport will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day for the most basic rental car available. Of course, rental car rates are much higher in July and August due to the tourist season. 

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 at Tirana Airport. I highly recommend that you reach out to several car rental companies at Tirana Airport before you travel to get a good deal. 

To give you an insight into what it would cost to rent a basic rental car, I did reach out to several car rental companies at Tirana Airport.

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. 

Do reach out to several car rental companies before you travel. I have spoken to tourists who paid 50-70 euros a day for a rental car. So it is best to do your research before you travel.

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 to Durres?

The distance from Tirana to Durres is 38 kilometers by car. There is a direct highway connecting Tirana, Tirana airport and Durres called the “SH2 Highway”. It will take you approximately 45-60 minutes to drive from Tirana to Durres. 

• Tirana to Durres distance – 38 kilometres by car via the SH2 highway

It also depends on your exact destination in Durres, because Durres is a very long city spread along the coastline. The city centre and the Port of Durres are closest to Tirana via the highway, whereas Durres Beach and Golem Beach are further to the South. 

In the summer months, the traffic along the coastline in Durres can be very heavy. As many of Tirana’s locals and tourists try to get out to Durres for a day at the beach. If you want to avoid a busy beach and a busy road, you may consider the Bay of Lazli instead of Durres.

Can I get from Tirana to Durres by train?

Right now, you cannot get a train from Tirana to Durres yet, BUT a new railway is under construction in the year 2025.

• New railway and train between Tirana-Tirana Airport-Durres

The Albanian Government is constructing a new railway track that will connect Tirana with Tirana Airport and Durres. At the time of writing this blog post at the beginning of 2025, the new railway has not opened yet as construction works are on the way. The new railway tracks are visible along the highway connecting Tirana and Durres, but not ready yet. Perhaps the railway will start operating sometime in 2025, but no exact date has been announced. 

At the moment, train travel within Albania’s borders is very limited. There are 2-3 trains a week between Durres and Elbasan. And there is 1 x train per week between Shkoder and Lac. These are the old trains dating back to the communist period in Albania, which ended in 1992. Since the fall of communism, there has been little investment and maintenance on the railways in Albania. Therefore, many old railway tracks are visible in the landscape but not in operation. This changed in 2024/2025, when the Albanian Government started work on a new railway connecting Tirana-Tirana Airport-Durres. 

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

It takes around 45-60 minutes to get from Tirana to Durres. The SH2 highway is a direct highway connecting Tirana’s city centre with Durres’ city centre. 

Bear in mind that Durres is a very long city spread alongside the coastline. The city centre of Durres and the Port of Durres are the closest to Tirana. Durres Beach is to the South of the city centre of Durres, slightly further away. Golem Beach is located to the South of Durres Beach and considered more pretty, but it is a bit of a longer drive. 

In the summer months, traffic along the coastline in Durres can be heavy which will slow your journey down.

How to get from Tirana airport to Durres?

You can get from Tirana airport to Durres by bus, by taxi or by car. There are direct buses from Tirana airport to Durres between 10AM and 21PM, costing 600 LEK (6 EUR) per person. A taxi costs 30-35 euros. A rental car will cost you at least 20-25 EUR a day, more in the summer months due to the tourist high season.

How to get from Tirana airport to Durres by bus?

There is a direct bus from Tirana airport to Durres. 

The bus from Tirana airport to Durres departs at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00. The bus operates every day of the year. And a bus ticket costs 600 Leke (6 euros) per person. 

Buses from Tirana airport to Durres are operated by Adis Travel. You cannot book your bus ticket online. So to get on the bus simply go to the parking area at Tirana airport and pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver. 

The bus from Tirana airport to Durres will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal, which is located near the Port of Durres and the city centre of Durres. Be aware that Durres Beach and Golem Beach are further to the south, so you can either take a city bus or a taxi to get to the beaches. If you plan on travelling onwards by bus from Durres, you may need to go to the Plepa Bus Station for a bus to the South of Albania. 

How much is a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres?

A taxi from Tirana Airport to Durres costs 30-35 euros. The official Tirana Airport Taxi Service has a price list on their website and they charge 30-35 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres. The Tirana Airport Taxi Service always has taxis waiting in the taxi bay in front of the airport terminal building.

Perhaps you could get a slightly lower offer if you do a price comparison with other taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Green Taxi, Lux Taxi or Merr Taxi. And book their taxi in advance for airport pick-up.

How to get from Durres to Tirana by bus?

You can take a bus from Durres to Tirana. Buses from Durres to Tirana depart from the Durres Bus Terminal, which is located near the Port of Durres and the city centre of Durres. You can see the location of the Durres Bus Terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sx6mQadp4K1v1MQE6 

A bus ticket from Durres to Tirana will cost you 180-250 Leke (1.80-2.50 euros) per person. And you are expected to pay cash with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. 

Buses from Durres to Tirana depart at 6:15 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 7:45 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:15 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:25 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 16:15, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:45, 21:00, 21:30 and 22:00. 

How much is the bus fare from Durres to Tirana?

A bus ticket from Durres to Tirana costs 180-250 Leke (1.80 euros – 2.50 euros). You must pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver when you board the bus. 

It is not possible to book your bus ticket online in advance, as bus drivers do not have a website or online reservation system. You cannot pay by card, as buses are not equipped with a card machine. Therefore, I always recommend you carry some cash euros with you whilst travelling in Albania and you exchange a small amount for Albanian Leke. 

Is Durres Albania worth visiting?

Durres Beach is the most conveniently located beach in Albania. Because it is close to Tirana airport and close to Tirana city. So if you are staying in Tirana only and you have a limited amount of time, you may consider a day trip from Tirana to Durres Beach. 

That being said, the most beautiful beaches in Albania are in the South of Albania along the Albanian Riviera Coastline. The Albanian Riviera stretches from Vlore to Saranda/Ksamil in the South of Albania. But these beaches are further from Tirana. It takes 2.5-3 hours to drive from Tirana to Vlore and at least 5 hours to drive from Tirana to Saranda via the inland route. If you are planning to drive from Tirana via the coastal road to Saranda and make some stops en route, it will take you 8-10 hours, like a full day.

So whether or not visiting Durres is worth it for you depends on the time you have available and the rest of your itinerary. If you plan on going to the Albanian Riviera, you can probably skip Durres. However, if you only have 1-2 days whilst staying in Tirana, you may be looking for a closer beach to the capital city and choose visiting Durres, Golem or the Bay of Lalzi for instance.

Can I make a day trip from Tirana to Durres?

You can make a day trip from Tirana to Durres, as it only takes 45-60 minutes to get from Tirana to Durres. You can take a bus from Tirana to Durres from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. Or you can ask a taxi driver to drive you from Tirana to Durres costing between 30-45 euros.

Related Questions

How to get from Tirana to the Durres ferry port? You can get from Tirana to the Durres ferry port by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi may cost you around 30-45 euros. Buses from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to Durres will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal, which is very close to the Durres Ferry Port. From the Durres Ferry Port, you can take a ferry to Bari or Ancona in Italy for instance.

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