How to get from Tirana to Kruje? Bus, Taxi, Rental Car

If you are planning to travel from Tirana to Kruje, you might be wondering what is the best way to get from Tirana to Kruje. In this blog post, I will discuss getting from Tirana to Kruje by bus, taxi or rental car.

How to get from Tirana to Kruje? You can get from Tirana to Kruje by bus, by taxi or by rental car. The bus from Tirana to Kruje departs from the Regional Bus Terminal. A bus ticket costs 100 Leke (0.82 euros). A taxi from Tirana to Kruje costs 25-30 euros varying by company. A rental car costs 25 euros per day + 25 euros petrol.

Kruje is a destination definitely worth visiting as a tourist! It is the most famous town in Albania because it was the home of Albania’s national hero. So let me discuss how to get to Kruje by bus, taxi rates or hiring a rental car. Then, I will describe the best things to do when you get to Kruje!

How do I get from Tirana to Kruje?

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

By bus:

• Bus ticket price 100 Leke (0.82 euros)
• Takes 55 minutes from the Regional Bus Terminal to Kruje
• 15-20 minutes to get from the city centre of Tirana to the Regional Bus Terminal
• 15 bus departures between 7:00 AM and 18:00 PM
• More detailed information below

By taxi

• A taxi from Tirana’s city centre to Kruje costs between 25-30 euros
• A list of prices by taxi company below
• A taxi from Tirana airport to Kruje costs 22 euros

By rental car

• A car rental in Albania costs at least 20-25 euros per day
• You need 25 euros worth of petrol for a round trip from Tirana to Kruja and back
• You must be an alert and confident driver to drive as a foreigner in Albania
• More details about getting good car rental deals in Albania below

How to get from Tirana to Kruje by bus?

You can get from Tirana to Kruje by bus with one of the 15 x bus departures every day.

The bus from Tirana to Kruje departs at 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM (2 busses), 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:00 PM, 16:00 PM, 17:00 PM and 18:00 PM. The busses from Tirana to Kruje are operated by A&A Trans, Shpresa-AL and Durresi. By bus, it will take you 55 minutes to get from Tirana to Kruje.

If you want to double-check the bus timetable from Tirana to Kruje, you can go to the website of Gjirafa Autobus here: https://gjirafa.com/autobus

A bus ticket from Tirana to Kruje costs 100 Leke (0.82 euros) for a one-way trip. Please remember to bring cash money with you, because bus drivers in Albania do not accept credit cards or debit cards. Because their old fashioned mini-busses are not equipped with card processing machines.

The bus from Tirana to Kruje departs from the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

The official name of the Regional Bus Terminal is:
Regional Bus Terminal – North and South Albania
Terminali i Autobusave të Veriut dhe Jugut (in Albanian language)

You can see the location of the Regional Bus Terminal on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/uRBTJqdTDAVXaZrY6

It is important to note that the Regional Bus Terminal is not in the city centre of Tirana. Therefore, you must take a short taxi ride or a city bus to get from the city centre to the Regional Bus Terminal.

The city bus from Tirana’s city centre to the Regional Bus Terminal departs close to Skanderbeg Square. Skanderbeg Square is the central square in the city centre of Tirana. If you are standing on Skanderbeg Square, you need to walk to the back of the National History Museum, to the Dede Gjo Luli Street (In Albanian: Rruga Dede Gjo Luli).

From the bus station on Dede Gjo Luli Street (In Albanian: Rruga Dede Gjo Luli), you must take the bus to Instituti Bujqesor. The bus to Instituti Bujqesor makes a stop at the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania. A bus ticket will cost you less than 1 euro, so take some Albanian Leke coins with you.

A taxi ride from the city centre of Tirana to the Regional Bus Terminal costs around 5 euros. By taxi, it will take you approximately 20 minutes to get to the Regional Bus Terminal. But I do recommend that you leave on time! Because traffic in the city centre of Tirana can be heavy and it may slow you down significantly.

How much does a taxi from Tirana to Kruje cost?

A taxi from Tirana to Kruje costs between 25 euros and 30 euros.

• Merr Taxi charges 30 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Kruje
• UPs Taxi charges 3081 ALL (25.50 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Kruje
• Speedtaxi charges 3000 Leke or 25 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Kruje
• City Taxi charges 3000 Leke (25 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Kruje
• Euro Taxi charges 30 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Kruje

By taxi, it will take you between 45 and 60 minutes to travel from Tirana’s city centre to Kruje. If you want to take a taxi from Tirana airport to Kruje, it will cost you 22 euros with the official Tirana Airport Taxi company.

How to get from Tirana to Kruje by rental car?

A rental car in Albania costs at least 20 – 25 euros per day. And for petrol from Tirana to Kruje, I would recommend you calculate around 25 euros for a round trip from Tirana to Kruje and back.

I have recently reached out to many different car rental companies in Tirana and written a blog post about their pricing. So you can see the most affordable car rental companies in my blog post here: https://albaniatourguide.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-rent-a-car-in-albania/

It is important to note that you must reach out to several car rental companies in Tirana before your holiday if you want to get a good deal. Because I have spoken to travellers, who paid 50-70 euros per day for their car rental.

For your route to Kruje, I recommend you start from the central Skanderbeg Square in Tirana. From Skanderbeg Square, you take the highway in the direction of Durres. Get off the highway at the village of Vlore and follow the signage in the direction of Kruje. Although, Google Maps will suggest different alternative routes through the Kamez neighbourhood and by Tirana Airport. The above route is by far the easiest to drive as a foreigner unfamiliar with the local areas.

IMPORTANT: Before you reach Kruje and sightseeing locations, you will first drive through the Fushe-Kruje village. Fushe-Kruje means “Lower-Kruje”, this is the village on the bottom of the mountain. You must drive through Fushe-Kruje to get to Kruje at the top of the mountain, where you can see all the sightseeing locations.

It is important that I note that driving in Albania as a foreigner can be challenging and daunting. The Albanian drivers do have a chaotic and aggressive driving style. Unfortunately, quite a large number of Albanian drivers do not follow the rules of the road. Of course, you are the only one who can determine whether you have the confidence to drive in Albania.

Can I get from Tirana to Kruje by train?

You cannot get from Tirana to Kruje by train, because there is no train operating between Tirana in Kruje.

Unfortunately, travel by train is incredibly unpopular in Albania. The train rails and trains were constructed during the communist period in Albania between the end of the Second World War and 1992. However, these rails and trains have not been upgraded, refurbished or maintained since communism ended.

As a result, there are currently only a few operational trains in Albania, which drive at a very slow speed. So if you are going on a train trip in Albania to experience an old communist train, it may be worth it. However, trains are not an effective manner of getting from A to B in Albania.

How to get from Tirana airport to Kruje?

You can get from Tirana airport to Kruje by taxi or by rental car. Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Kruje.

If you want to take a taxi from Tirana airport to Kruje, you can take one of the official Tirana Airport Taxis. The Tirana Airport taxi service has a set-price list.

A taxi from Tirana airport to Kruje costs 22 euros. This is a very reasonable rate since taxi drivers from Tirana usually charge between 25-30 euros for a taxi from the city centre (which is a bit further away from Kruje). The official Tirana airport taxis are yellow, have a logo of Tirana airport on the side and are parked right in front of the Arrivals Hall at Tirana International Airport.

For bus travellers, there, unfortunately, is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Kruje. So if you really want to take a bus, you would need to take a taxi from Tirana airport to the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

A taxi from Tirana airport to the Regional Bus Terminal costs 13 euros. It will take you 15-20 minutes to get to the Regional Bus Terminal. From the Regional Bus Terminal, you can take a bus to Kruje, as described above.

What is Kruje Albania known for?

Kruje in Albania is known as the hometown of the national hero Skanderbeg.

Skanderbeg was a military commander, who defended Albania against the invasion of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

Skanderbeg was taken as a hostage by the Turkish Sultan as a child. Because the Turkish Ottomans were in the process of taking over Albania and Skanderbeg’s father who was a nobleman in Kruje needed to stay loyal to the Ottoman Turks. So by taking his son as a hostage, the Ottoman Turks could ensure his loyalty to the Ottoman Empire.

Skanderbeg grew up as a hostage by the sultan but actually flourished. He went to military school and joined the Ottoman army, where he advanced in rank quickly. However, in 1443 Skanderbeg deserted the Ottoman army and reclaimed his hometown Kruje in Albania.

For 25 years, from 1444 until 1466 Skanderbeg defended Albania against the Ottoman invasion. He united the different Albanian tribes, which is why he became Albania’s national hero. And although he was often outnumbered by the Ottoman army, he successfully won time and time again due to his strong military insight and strategic decisions.

Is Kruja worth visiting?

Kruje is definitely worth visiting. In Kruje, you can visit the impressive hilltop castle of the national hero Skanderbeg. You can also visit the Skanderbeg Museum and the Ethnographic Museum, which are located inside the castle’s walls. You can explore the Ottoman-style bazaar market on the slope of the hill. And I recommend you drive 20 minutes onward to Mount Sarisalltik for a fantastic view from the top of the mountain.

Kruje Castle

The castle of Kruje is an impressive hillside castle, which is located above the city of Kruje. The castle has breathtaking views of the surrounding area and Tirana city in the distance.

The small medieval castle is famous in Albania because it was the headquarters of the national hero Skanderbeg.

In the 15th century, the powerful Turkish Ottoman empire was conquering the Balkans. However, the Ottoman Turks were not able to break the defences of the Kruje Castle. The rebellion against the Ottomans was lead by Albania’s national hero Skanderbeg. He had serious military skills, and therefore, he was compared to Alexander the Great.

Skanderbeg Museum

The Skanderbeg Museum is one of the most visited & most important museums in Albania. It is named after Skanderbeg, who is Albania’s national hero. Skanderbeg was a warrior and battle commander. He reunited the different Albanian families and tribes. And he created an army that fought against the Ottoman Turks for 25 years.

In the museum, you can experience the story of Skanderbeg’s life and military battles in chronological order. You get to know the story of Albania’s most celebrated national hero!

Ethnographic Museum of Kruja

The Ethnographic Museum of Kruja is a traditional home, where you can get a unique, insight into the traditional Albanian household customs. The house was originally built in the 19th century by the affluent Toptani family.

Inside the museum, you will see how self-sufficient the family was. The family produced its own food, honey, leather, weapons and olive oil. It even has a mini hammam and a little watermill. The house’s wall displays beautiful fresco paintings.

Old Bazaar Market

The Old Bazaar is one of the oldest Ottoman-style markets in Albania. The marketplace was built over 400 years ago and it was recently restored in 2015.

In the bazaar, you can buy souvenirs and traditional handicraft items from Albania. Popular products in the market are traditional Albanian clothing, rugs, copper pots, silver jewellery and embroidered tablecloths. It is a lovely market to stroll around or you can enjoy a coffee at one of the cafes along the street.

The Cave of Sarisalltik

The mountain cave of Sarisalltik is a religious location in Albania. Pilgrims hike up to the cave because the journey has a sacred meaning for them.

The cave of Sarisalltik is at a height of 1176 meters and it has the most amazing view of the surrounding landscape. Inside the cave, you can visit the fountain of holy water, the first Albanian mosque and the grave of Sarisalltik, who was a religious leader.

How much is the Kruja Castle entrance fee?

Kruja Castle does not have an entrance fee, it is free to enter the castle. Of course, you will need to pay an entrance fee, if you want to enter the Skanderbeg Museum or Ethnographic Museum inside the castle.

If you do want to enter the Skanderbeg Museum, you will be charged 500 Leke (4.10 euros) per person. And if you do want to enter the Ethnographic Museum, you will be charged 400 Leke (3.30 euros) per person. However, the Kruje Castle itself is free to enter, no need to pay any entrance fee.

How old is Kruja?

The castle of Kruja as you see it today dates back to the 13th century when Albania was a part of the Byzantine Empire. However, Kruja as a town has been inhabited since ancient times.

Near Kruje, in the village of Zgerdec archaeologists found items dating back to the Illyrian Empire. The town of Kruje was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe called “Albani” in ancient times.

Where to stay in Kruje?

If you plan to stay in Kruje, I highly recommend you stay in Hotel Panorama. This prominent hotel is located right next to the Castle of Kruje and the Old Bazaar Market. The hotel has a fantastic view of the Castle of Kruje and a beautiful view of the valley.

There is however no need to stay in Kruje. Because Kruje is only a 45-60 minute drive from the capital city Tirana, it is a popular day-trip destination. You can easily make a day tour to Kruje and see the main sights in 4 hours time.

Related Questions

How to get from Tirana to Shkoder? You can get from Tirana to Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by rental car. A bus ticket from Tirana to Shkoder costs 400 Leke (3.30 euros). You can check the timetable here: https://gjirafa.com/autobus. A taxi costs between 55-72 euros. A rental car is 20-25 euros per day + 25 euros for petrol.

How to get from Tirana to Vlore by bus? You can get from Tirana to Vlore by bus in 3 hours. A bus ticket costs 500 Leke (4.10 euros). The bus departs every 30 min between 5 AM and 17:30 PM. You can check the timetable here: https://gjirafa.com/autobus. The bus departs from the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

How to get from Tirana to Berat? You can get from Tirana to Berat by bus, by taxi or by rental car. The bus from Tirana to Berat costs 400 Leke (3.30 euros). You can check the timetable here: https://gjirafa.com/autobus. A taxi from Tirana to Berat costs 63-75 euros. A rental car is 20-25 euros per day + 25 euros for petrol.

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