
How to get from Tirana to the beach? Without car, bus, taxi, prices, rental
If you are staying in Tirana and you are looking for the best way to get from Tirana to the beach, this blog is for you. I will outline in detail how you can get from Tirana to the beach by bus, by taxi or by car.
How to get from Tirana to the beach? You can get from Tirana to the beach by bus, by taxi or by car. Buses depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, from 6 AM until 21:15, a ticket costs 1.75 EUR p.p. A taxi costs 30-35 EUR. A rental car is at least 20-25 EUR a day. Durres Beach, Golem Beach and Lalzi Bay are close.
In this blog post, I will detail how you can get from Tirana to the beach by public transport, by taxi or by car. I will detail bus timetables, bus terminal locations, how to get to the bus terminal, bus ticket prices and travel times. I will also compare taxi prices for a taxi from Tirana to Durres beach. And I will outline how much it will cost you to rent a car and drive from Tirana to the beach independently.
How to get from Tirana to the beach without a car?
You can get from Tirana to the beach without a car by bus or by taxi. Let me give you a quick summary of your options, if you are planning to go from Tirana to the beach without a car.
- Tirana to the beach by bus. You can get from Tirana to Durres beach by bus in 45 minutes. Buses depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, which is located outside the city centre. But you can take a city bus or short taxi ride to get to the bus terminal. Buses from Tirana to Durres depart between 6:00 AM and 21:15, every 15-30 minutes, detailed timetable below. A bus ticket will cost you 180 LEK (1.75 EUR) per person. You are expected to pay in cash in person to the bus driver when boarding the bus.
- Tirana to the beach by taxi. A taxi driver will charge you 30-35 EUR for a taxi from Tirana to Durres Beach. You can also choose to go from Tirana to the Bay of Lalzi, which is roughly the same distance, but it offers a smaller and quieter setting, compared to the busy coastal city of Durres.
- Tirana to the beach by train. At the time of writing this blog post, at the end of 2024, there is a new railway under construction connecting Tirana-Tirana Airport-Durres. However, this railway has not opened yet. So as of right now, there is no train between Tirana and the beach.
Of course, you can also rent a car and drive from Tirana to Durres independently. I have more detailed information about this below.
Download the Albania Bus Timetable App
Tirana to the beach by bus
You can get from Tirana to Durres beach by bus. You can take a bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to Durres. And once you are in Durres, you can go to Durres beach.
Buses from Tirana to Durres depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. However, this bus terminal is a 15 minute taxi ride or bus ride from the city centre of Tirana.
So if you are staying in a hotel near the central Skanderbeg Square, you can call a taxi or go to the bus stop. Taxi drivers will switch on the metre for a 15 minute ride to the bus terminal. If you want to take a bus, walk to Skanderbeg Square, go to the street on the back of the National History Museum and get on the bus to “Instituti”, which stops at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.
Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can get on the bus to Durres.
Buses from Tirana to Durres depart at 6:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 8:45 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:20 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:30 AM, 10:50 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:30 AM, 11:50 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:30 PM, 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.
A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 180 LEK (1.75 EUR) per person. You are expected to pay cash for your bus ticket with the bus driver. You cannot book your bus ticket online in advance. Bus drivers in Albania often do not have a website or online booking page, so bring some cash money with you to pay for your bus ticket in cash in person.
A bus ride from Tirana to Durres takes approximately 40-45 minutes.
The bus from Tirana to Durres will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal. The Durres Bus Terminal is located near the Port of Durres. And Durres Beach is to the south of the Port, so you must take a short taxi ride to get to the beach from the bus terminal. You can see the location of the Durres Bus Terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LL2Gopy1sM18yHn29
Because the main beach in Durres can be very busy in the summer months, you could consider going from Tirana to Golem Beach instead. Golem Beach is just to the South of Durres Beach. So it may take you 1 hour instead of 45 minutes.
To get from Tirana to Golem Beach, you must go to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. To get from Tirana to Golem, you must take a bus from Tirana that drives via Golem to Kavaje. And ask the bus driver to drop you off at Golem.
Buses from Tirana via Golem to Kavaja depart at 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:30, 14:00, 15:00 and 17:00. A bus ticket from Tirana to Golem costs 300 LEK (approximately 3 euros) per person. You must pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver.
Download the Albania Bus Timetable App
Tirana to the beach by taxi
You can take a taxi from Tirana to Durres beach, which costs 30-35 Euros approximately.
- Merr Taxi Tirana has a price list on their website and they mention 3520 LEK (35 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Durres.
- Tirana Airport taxi has a price list on their website and they mention 30-35 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Durres.
If you are taking a taxi, another option is going to the Bay of Lalzi. The Bay of Lalzi is located to the North of Durres. And the Bay of Lalzi is a quieter beach compared to Durres. In Durres, you will find many hotels, apartments, restaurants and shops all around the beach. Because Durres is a big coastal city.
Whereas the Bay of Lalzi has only a handful of small restaurants and the beach is surrounded by pine trees. So if you are travelling in the summer months, it may be worth going to the Bay of Lalzi instead, so you will feel less of a crowd. A taxi from Tirana to the Bay of Lalzi will cost you approximately the same as Durres, around 35 euros.
Tirana to the beach by train
Right now, you cannot get from Tirana to the beach by train. Because there are no trains in operation between Tirana and Durres beach.
However, a new railway is under construction between Tirana – Tirana airport – Durres. Perhaps in 2025, the new railway between Tirana and Durres will open and allow for train travel to Durres to go to the beach.
How to get from Tirana to the beach by car?
Driving from Tirana to the beach by car is very straightforward. There is a direct highway from central Skanderbeg Square in Tirana leading to Durres. Signage from Tirana to Durres is clearly indicated. And if you flew to Tirana airport, you have already been on the highway that connects Tirana, Tirana airport and Durres.
How to drive from Tirana to the beach?
That being said, if you have a car, you have the luxury to decide what beach near Tirana you would like to visit. Although Durres Beach is the most well-known and closest beach city, you could make another choice.
If you would prefer a smaller setting, then you may really like the Bay of Lalzi, which is to the North of Durres. The Bay of Lalzi has some smaller shack-like restaurants alongside the beach and there are beach chairs on the beach. However, the beach is surrounded by a pine tree forest. Which is very different from the hundreds of hotels and apartment buildings you will see in Durres.
The Bay of Lalzi is a 45 minute drive from Tirana, just like Durres Beach. But instead of following the highway all the way to Durres, you must turn off the road at Maminas. And you will drive along a winding road through little villages to get to the Bay of Lalzi.
Tirana to the beach by rental car
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 seaside town is near Tirana?
The nearest seaside town to Tirana is Durres Beach. Durres is a big coastal city near Tirana, it takes approximately 45 minutes by car, by taxi or by bus to get to Durres.
Apart from Durres, you could go to Golem Beach, which is to the South of Durres, and takes approximately 60 minutes by car. Or you could go to the Bay of Lalzi, which is to the North of Durres, and takes approximately 45 minutes by car from Tirana.
Tirana is near Durres beach
The most well-known and nearest beach to Tirana is Durres Beach. Durres beach is a large coastal town. So expect a lot of hotels, apartments, restaurants and shops surrounding the beach area.
In the summer months, you can expect Durres Beach to be very busy. The beach is full of beach chairs and parasols. And it is busy in the restaurants and cafes.
To get from Tirana to Durres beach, you can take a taxi, a rental car or a bus. A taxi from Tirana to Durres beach will cost you around 30-35 euros one-way. To get on the local bus from Tirana to Durres, you must take a city bus or short taxi ride to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 180 LEK (1.75 EUR) per person and buses depart from 6:00 AM until 21:15 very regularly.
Tirana is near Golem beach
Because Durres Beach is usually very busy in the summer months, many of the locals prefer going to Golem Beach. Golem Beach is located to the South of Durres, so it will take you approximately 1 hour to get from Tirana to Golem Beach.
You can take a bus from Tirana to Golem. First, you take a city bus or a short taxi ride from the city centre of Tirana to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. You can see the location of the bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WL9PMcuGLXviTV186
Once you are at the Bus Terminal, you must take a bus from Tirana via Golem to Kavaja. And ask the bus driver to drop you off at Golem.
Buses from Tirana via Golem to Kavaja depart at 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:30, 14:00, 15:00 and 17:00. A bus ticket from Tirana to Golem costs 300 LEK (approximately 3 euros) per person. You must pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver.
Tirana is near the Bay of Lalzi beach
Apart from Durres Beach and Golem Beach, you can also go to the Bay of Lalzi from Tirana. The advantage of the Bay of Lalzi is that it is a much smaller setting.
Durres and Golem are a large coastal city. So the beach is surrounded by hotels, apartments, shops and restaurants. These are busy places in the summer months.
The Bay of Lalzi is quite different. There are some small “shack-like” restaurants and beach chairs on the beach, but is less built up. The beach is actually surrounded by a pine tree forest, rather than hundreds of hotels. So if you are looking for a smaller setting and a bit less crowded, you may prefer the Bay of Lalzi over Durres.
You can expect a taxi driver to charge you anywhere between 30-40 euros for a taxi from Tirana to the Bay of Lalzi.
How to get from Tirana to Durres?
You can get from Tirana to Durres by bus, by taxi or by car.
Buses from Tirana to Durres depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. Unfortunately, the bus terminal is located outside the centre of Tirana. Therefore, you must take a city bus or short taxi ride to get to this bus terminal. To get on the city bus, walk to the street behind the National History Museum and get on the bus to Instituti. This bus will stop at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South. Taxi drivers offer a metered taxi, not a set price for a 10-15 minute drive to the bus terminal.
Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can get on a bus from Tirana to Durres. Buses from Tirana to Durres depart at 6:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 8:45 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:20 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:30 AM, 10:50 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:30 AM, 11:50 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:30 PM, 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.
A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 180 LEK (1.75 EUR) per person. You are expected to pay cash for your bus ticket with the bus driver. You cannot book your bus ticket online in advance. Bus drivers in Albania often do not have a website or online booking page, so bring some cash money with you to pay for your bus ticket in cash in person.
A bus ride from Tirana to Durres takes approximately 40-45 minutes. And the bus driver will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal. The Durres Bus Terminal is located to the North of the Port of Durres. And Durres beach is to the South of the Durres Bus Terminal. So it is best to take a short taxi ride to get to the beach.
How to get from Tirana to Golem beach?
You can get from Tirana to Golem beach by bus, by taxi or by car.
Buses from Tirana to Golem depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. This bus terminal is located outside the city centre of Tirana. So if you are staying in a hotel near Skanderbeg Square, then you must take a city bus or a short taxi ride to get to the bus terminal first. There is a city bus that departs from the street on the back of the National History Museum to Instituti, this bus stops at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.
You can see the location of the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WL9PMcuGLXviTV186
When you arrive at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you must take a bus from Tirana via Golem to Kavaje. Ask the bus driver to drop you off in Golem, when boarding the bus.
Buses from Tirana via Golem to Kavaja depart at 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:30, 14:00, 15:00 and 17:00. A bus ticket from Tirana to Golem costs 300 LEK (approximately 3 euros) per person. You must pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver.
A taxi from Tirana to Golem will cost you between 35 – 50 euros. Taxi drivers usually charge around 30-35 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Durres, but Golem is a bit further than Durres, so it will be pricier. A taxi from Tirana to Kavaja costs around 50 euros, and Kavaje is very close to Golem. So anywhere between 35 – 50 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Golem is reasonable.
What are the best beaches near Tirana?
Let me give you a quick overview of the best beaches near Tirana.
- Durres Beach is the easiest to get to from Tirana. Convenient location and regular bus services. But Durres beach is very crowded in the summer months. It takes around 45 minutes to get to Durres Beach.
- Golem Beach is located to the south of Durres beach and generally considered more pretty. And therefore preferred by the locals over Durres Beach. Take a bus to Kavaje and get off in Golem. It takes around 60 minutes to get to Golem Beach.
- The Bay of Lalzi is located to the North of Durres. The Bay of Lalzi offers a smaller and more natural setting. Less hotels and apartments, a few small restaurants and the beach is surrounded by pine trees. It takes 45 minutes to get to the Bay of Lalzi by taxi/car from Tirana.
- Generali Beach is a smaller beach to the South of Durres. It will take you longer to get to Generali Beach from Tirana, perhaps 2 hours. But you will find a much smaller setting and less of a crowd.
- Spille Beach offers a large sandbank and it is not deep, therefore, it is very suitable for small kids. It takes about 2 hours to get to Spille beach from Tirana.
- Rana e Hedhun or Thrown Sand Beach is further to the North near Lezhe and Shengjin. This beautiful rolling beach has a large sand dune running into the sea. It is very pretty and offers a smaller setting than Durres. It may take you 1.5-2 hours to get there by car or taxi from Tirana.
Which city in Albania has the best beaches?
The city in Albania with the best beaches nearby is either Saranda or Vlore. Although Durres Beach is near Tirana, so it is conveniently located, it is not the best beach. The most beautiful beaches in Albania are located along the coastal road that leads by the Albanian Riviera. This coastal road leads from Vlore to Saranda and Ksamil.
Saranda is a large coastal city in the South of Albania. From Saranda, you can take a short taxi ride or bus ride to Ksamil Beach. Ksamil Beach is considered the “pearl of the Albanian Riviera”, because it is the prettiest beach in Albania. Ksamil beach has perfect white sand, 4 little islands in front of the coastline, wooden shutters and turquoise clear water.
That being said, Ksamil is a small beach village and it gets very busy in July and August for the high season. So if you are looking for a quiet place, then you may be better off choosing a lesser known beach.
Vlore is also a large coastal city in Albania. It is located at about a 2.5 hour drive from Tirana, so it is easier to get to than Saranda/Ksamil, which takes a 5 hour drive.
Vlore city has a beach right in the city. There is a promenade alongside the seaside called Lungomare. And there are some sandy public beaches where you can go swimming right in Vlore. Perhaps you can even book a hotel with direct access to the sea for swimming.
Apart from cities, you could travel to smaller beach villages along the Albanian Riviera. Places like Dhermi Beach, Jale Beach or Himare Beach offer pretty beaches for a relaxing summer vacation.
Related Questions
How to get from Tirana to Ksamil? You can get from Tirana to Ksamil by direct taxi, by rental car or by transferring buses. A taxi costs 210-220 EUR. A rental car at least 20-30 EUR a day. By bus, go to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, take a bus to Saranda (15 EUR per person), then take another bus from Saranda to Ksamil (1.50 EUR per person).
How much is a taxi from Tirana to Ksamil? A taxi from Tirana to Ksamil will cost you 210-220 euros for a one-way ride. The official Tirana airport taxi service offers a rate of 210 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil. Merr Taxi Tirana charges 220 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Ksamil. Other taxi drivers will offer a similar rate.

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