Saranda to Tirana Airport – Bus, Timetable, Taxi, Price, Transfer buses, Distance, Train, Rental car, Flight, Getting to airport

If you are looking for the best way to get from Saranda to Tirana airport, this blog is for you. I will describe how you can get from Saranda to Tirana airport by bus, by taxi or by car. 

Saranda to Tirana Airport – A taxi from Saranda to Tirana Airport costs around 200 EUR. No direct airport bus. Step 1: Saranda to Tirana Bus Terminal bus. Price: 15 EUR, duration: 5 hours,  5:00 AM – 22:00 PM. Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana airport. Price: 3 EUR, duration: 20 min, 7:00 AM – 18:00 PM. 

In this blog post, I will give you all the information you need to confidently plan a trip from Saranda to Tirana Airport. I will include bus agencies, bus terminal info, bus timetables, bus ticket prices and different bus operators. Moreover, I will explain what price you can expect to pay for a taxi and how to book a taxi. And I will discuss info like travel distance, duration of the journey, car rentals, flights and trains in Albania. So let’s dive in. 

How do I get from Saranda to Tirana airport?

You can get from Saranda to Tirana Airport by bus (1 x transfer), by taxi or by car. No train connection. Let me give you an overview of the best ways to get from Saranda to Tirana Airport.

Saranda to Tirana Airport bus

• There is no direct bus from Saranda to Tirana Airport. So first, you take a bus from Saranda to the Tirana Bus Terminal. Then a bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport. 
• Step 1: Saranda to Tirana bus (drops-off at Tirana Bus Terminal)
• Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport
• Saranda to Tirana Airport bus timetable – Saranda to Tirana bus timetable: 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 17:00 PM, 18:00 PM, 21:00 PM and 22:00 PM. Step 2: Buses from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to Tirana Airport depart at: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:00 PM, 16:00 PM, 17:00 PM and 18:00 PM. 
• A bus ticket from Saranda to Tirana costs 1500 LEK (15 EUR), this bus drops you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal. A bus ticket from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport costs 300 LEK (3 EUR). 
• You are expected to pay cash for your bus tickets. I recommend carrying a combination of euros in cash and a small amount of Albanian Leke in cash. 
• Buses depart from the Trans Butrinti and Trans Dea bus agencies in the city center of Saranda.
• More detailed bus info can be found below (scroll down). 

Saranda to Tirana Airport taxi

• Saranda to Tirana Airport taxi price = around 200 EUR
• This price is based on the Tirana Airport Taxi Service. The Tirana Airport Taxi Service has a price list online that gives you a good indication of what you can expect to pay for a taxi from Saranda to Tirana Airport. 
• Of course, individual taxi drivers set their own prices. So you will need to agree on a price with your individual taxi driver. 
• There is no UBER Taxi in Albania. 
• To book a taxi, you can ask your receptionist at your Saranda hotel. Or you can search for “taxi Sarande” on Google Maps to find taxi driver phone numbers and read reviews. 
• The easiest way to contact taxi drivers is via WhatsApp, where you will usually get quotes within minutes. 

Saranda to Tirana Airport distance

• The distance from Saranda to Tirana Airport is approximately 260 kilometers. 
• It will take you around 4.5 or 5 hours to drive from Saranda to Tirana Airport by car or by taxi. 
• By bus, it might take you longer, because the bus from Saranda to Tirana will drop you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal (5 hours) and then you need to take another bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport (20 minutes). And bear in mind you will spend time waiting at the bus terminal. 
• Google Maps often underestimates how long it actually takes to drive through Albania. According to Google Maps, it takes 3 hours and 26 minutes to drive from Saranda to Tirana Airport. That is not possible. At least 4.5 hours are required, considering traffic and some national roads en route.

Saranda to Tirana Airport train

• There is no Saranda to Tirana train. 
• There is no train station in Saranda.
• There are no railway tracks leading to or from Saranda.
• In the communist period, there were railways connecting Shkoder, Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Pogradec and Vlore. Saranda never had a railway, station or train.
• However, these days the vast majority of these old railways are visible in the landscape, but not in use due to a lack of investment and maintenance.
• There is a new railway under construction between Tirana city, Tirana Airport and Durres, which may open in 2026 or 2027. 

Saranda to Tirana Airport rental car

• A rental car in Saranda costs at least 20-25 EUR a day. However, in the summer months, rental car prices may be higher due to the tourist season. 
• Renting a car makes sense if you are planning a round trip. 
• One-way car rental in Albania tends to be very expensive, and may cost you a 150-300 EUR drop-off fee for dropping off at a different location. 
• I highly recommend doing your research before you travel. You can type “makina me qera sarande” in Google Maps to find local car rental companies in Saranda. 
• Then message car rental companies via WhatsApp to get price quotations. 
• Some travellers have messaged me saying they paid 50 EUR or 70 EUR a day for a car rental, so doing research before you travel is important.

Saranda to Tirana Airport flight

• You cannot book a flight from Saranda to Tirana Airport. 
• A new airport called “Saranda airport” is currently under construction near Saranda. However, it is unclear when the new airport will open and what routes will be offered.
• The closest airport to Saranda is “Corfu airport” on Corfu island. Although Corfu island is a Greek island, it is actually very close to Saranda and Ksamil at the Albanian coastline. 
• From Corfu island, you can take a ferry to Saranda which takes between 35 min and 1H15min depending on the type of ferry you book.
• Driving from Saranda to Tirana Airport takes at least 4.5 or 5 hours. 

How to get from Saranda to Tirana airport by bus?

There is no direct bus from Saranda to Tirana airport, therefore, you must transfer buses at the Tirana Bus Terminal. First, you take a bus from Saranda to Tirana. This bus drops you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. Then, you take a bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana airport. 

Getting from Saranda to Tirana Airport by bus:

• Step 1: Saranda to Tirana bus (drop-off at Tirana Bus Terminal North & South Albania)
• Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport by bus

So let me give you an overview of the bus timetables. First, you take the bus from Saranda’s city centre to Tirana. The bus from Saranda to Tirana departs at: 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 17:00 PM, 18:00 PM, 21:00 PM and 22:00 PM. 

Saranda to Tirana Airport bus timetable

• Step 1: Saranda to Tirana Bus (drops-off at the Tirana Bus Terminal). Saranda to Tirana bus timetable: 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 17:00 PM, 18:00 PM, 21:00 PM and 22:00 PM.
• Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana airport bus. Once you are at the Tirana bus Terminal you can take a shuttle bus to the airport. Buses from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to Tirana Airport depart at: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:00 PM, 16:00 PM, 17:00 PM and 18:00 PM. 

Buses from Saranda to Tirana are operated by 3 x bus agencies. Two bus agencies have an office in the city centre of Saranda: Trans Butrinti and Trans Dea. And you can find Olgeno Travel & Tours online. 

Trans Butrinti Bus Agency
Trans Butrinti is one of the bus agencies in the city centre of Saranda, where you can get on a bus from Saranda to Tirana. Trans Butrinti has buses from Saranda to Tirana at 5:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM, 14:00 PM, 17:00 PM and 22:00 PM. 

Trans Dea Bus Agency
The other bus agency in the city centre of Saranda is called Trans Dea. Trans Dea is more of a cafe where buses stop in front of the cafe along the street. Trans Dea offers buses from Saranda to Tirana at 5:30 AM and 21:00 PM. 

Olgeno Buses (takes longer: drives via coastline)
The final option is taking a bus from Olgeno Travel & Tours from Saranda via the coastline to Tirana. Olgeno operates buses from Saranda via the coastline to Tirana at 6:00 AM, 13:00 PM and 18:00 PM. For Olgeno, you can have a look at their website online. The bus journey takes longer, as buses from Olgeno drive via the beautiful Albanian Riviera coastline (not the inland highway), so this is not a good option if you are trying to catch your flight.

How much is the bus ticket from Saranda to Tirana Airport?

• Step 1: The bus from Saranda to Tirana costs 1500 LEK (15 EUR) per person. This bus will drop you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 
• Step 2: The bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. 
• So the total price to get from Saranda to Tirana Airport with the two buses will be approximately 1800 LEK (18 EUR) per person. 

Most buses drive from Saranda to Tirana via the inland highway (not Olgeno buses). Via the inland highway, it takes between 4 hours and 20 minutes and 5 hours to get to Tirana. 

Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you must look for the bus that goes to Tirana Airport. The bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport is operated by Luna Travel. Luna Travel buses have a logo on the side of the bus, a sign saying airport in the window and there is a sign with a bus timetable displayed at the bus terminal.

I am telling you all this information, because the Tirana Bus Terminal can feel overwhelming. There are a great number of buses in many different directions. It is sometimes messy and feels unorganized. Bus drivers may also approach you asking where you are going to see if you are a passenger for their bus or not. 

The bus journey from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to Tirana Airport takes only 20 minutes. Buses depart at: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:00 PM, 16:00 PM, 17:00 PM and 18:00 PM. The bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. 

You must pay for your bus tickets in cash and in person. In Albania, it is expected that you pay for your bus tickets in cash. Therefore, I recommend you carry a combination of euros, which are widely accepted, and a small amount of Albanian Leke. You pay for your bus ticket with the bus driver upon boarding the bus.

Booking bus tickets online is often not possible, as bus drivers do not have a website or online reservation system. You will see that 99% of passengers pay cash for their bus tickets anywhere, so that is what I would recommend you do as well. 

The best way to guarantee a seat is to simply show up early at the bus station and ask locals where exactly the bus will depart. 

How much is a taxi from Saranda to Tirana airport?

A taxi from Saranda to Tirana airport will cost around 200 EUR. The price is based on the Tirana Airport Taxi Service pricing list online. It is good to have a look at their online price list as it gives you a good indication of what you can expect to pay for a taxi in Albania.

• Saranda to Tirana airport taxi price = around 200 EUR 

Of course, independent taxi drivers in Saranda set their own taxi prices. So you will need to agree on a price with your individual taxi driver. 

• Is there Uber in Saranda, Albania? Uber Taxi does not exist in Saranda or in Albania.

Uber Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although there are some local taxi apps, those apps charge regular taxi prices, not reduced rates. 

• How to book a taxi from Saranda to Tirana Airport? You can book a taxi from Saranda to Tirana Airport by looking for taxi phone numbers on Google Maps, reading reviews and messaging drivers via WhatsApp. Or you can ask your hotel receptionist to book a taxi for you.

To book a taxi from Saranda to Tirana airport, you have a few options. Firstly, you could ask your hotel receptionist in Saranda to book a taxi for you. Secondly, you can look on Google Maps for taxi driver phone numbers. Simply search “taxi Sarande” to get the phone numbers and read their reviews. Then message individual taxi drivers via WhatsApp to get price quotes. You usually get responses within minutes.

What is the distance from Saranda to Tirana Airport?

The distance from Saranda to Tirana Airport is approximately 260 kilometers. By car or by taxi, it will take around 4.5 or 5 hours to get from Saranda to Tirana Airport. 

• Saranda to Tirana Airport distance = approximately 260 kilometers
• How long does it take to travel from Saranda to Tirana Airport? It takes 4.5 – 5 hours by car or by taxi. By bus, it takes 5 hours by bus from Saranda to Tirana Bus Terminal + waiting time at the bus terminal + 20 minutes by bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport.

If you are travelling by bus, it will take you longer, because there is no direct bus from Saranda to Tirana Airport. So you will first take a bus from Saranda to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, which takes around 5 hours. And then you will wait at the bus terminal for the bus to Tirana Airport. The bus journey from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport takes 20 minutes.

Google Maps often underestimates how long it actually takes to drive through Albania. According to Google Maps, it takes 3 hours and 26 minutes to drive from Saranda to Tirana Airport. That is not possible. At least 4.5 hours are required, considering traffic and some national roads en route.

Can I take a train from Saranda to Tirana Airport?

You cannot take a train from Saranda to Tirana Airport. There are no trains from Saranda at all. Basically, Saranda does not have a train station and no railway tracks. 

• Saranda to Tirana airport train – No trains from Saranda to Tirana airport at all
• Saranda to Tirana train – No trains from Saranda to Tirana city at all
• Saranda does not have a train station and there are no railway tracks.

In the communist period, there were trains between Shkoder, Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Pogradec and Vlore. These old trains never went as far south as Saranda. That being said, nowadays many of these old train tracks are visible in the landscape, but not in use. Due to a lack of investment and maintenance, many old railways are out of order. 

At the moment, there may be as little as 2-3 trains operational in the entire country. If you are interested in experiencing one of the old trains, you can check the homepage of Hekurudha Shqiptare (Albanian Railways) here: https://hekurudha.al/ But bear in mind that usually taking a bus is quicker.

There is some good news. A new railway is under construction between Tirana, Tirana Airport and Durres. Perhaps this new railway will open in 2026 or 2027.

Can I rent a car and drive from Saranda to Tirana Airport?

Renting a car in Saranda will cost you at least 20-25 EUR a day. That being said, in the summer months, renting a car will be much more expensive due to the tourist season.

For the most part, renting a car only makes sense if you are planning a round trip. For instance, from Tirana Airport to Saranda and back to Tirana Airport. Because car rental companies in Albania are often small independent companies, they usually expect you to bring the car back to the same location. Dropping off a rental car from Saranda at Tirana Airport may cost you an additional fee of 150-300 EUR for dropping off at a different location. 

If you do want to rent a car in Saranda, I highly recommend doing your research before you travel. You can find local car rental companies on Google Maps by typing “makina me qera Sarande”, which means “rental car Saranda” in the Albanian language. You can find phone numbers and read reviews on Google Maps. 

Then, once you have some phone numbers, I recommend messaging via WhatsApp. You will usually get price quotes in minutes. And this allows you to compare prices, so you won’t get surprised by a high rental rate, like 50-70 EUR, upon arrival. 

International car rental companies usually add a 20-30% commission, so that will usually end up being more expensive. 

There are two routes to drive from Saranda to Tirana Airport. The quickest route is via the inland highway. From Saranda drive via Kardhiq Castle, Tepelene, Fier and Durres to Tirana Airport. This may take 4.5 or 5 hours. Google Maps will underestimate the time it actually takes to drive in Albania. So bear that in mind if you are trying to catch a flight.

Alternatively, you can drive via the scenic and beautiful Albanian Riviera route. Along the coastline, you can make stops at Porto Palermo Castle in the Bay of Porto Palermo, Himare Beach, Jale Beach, Dhermi Beach, the Llogara Pass (or Llogara Tunnel), Zvernec island, Vlore Beach, Apollonia and Durres Amphitheatre. This route will take you a full day with an early start at 8:30 AM, you may be at the airport around 19:00 PM or 20:00 PM. So I would only consider this if you book an airport hotel and depart the next day. 

Can I book a flight from Saranda to Tirana Airport?

You cannot book a flight from Saranda to Tirana airport. There is a new airport under construction in Saranda. However, as of right now, the new Saranda airport is not open yet. It is unclear when Saranda airport will open and what flight destinations will be offered in the future. 

Therefore, at the moment, the closest airport to Saranda is actually Corfu Airport. Corfu Airport is located on Corfu island, which is a Greek island. If you fly to Corfu Airport, you can take a bus or taxi to the Port of Corfu (15-20 minutes) and then a ferry from the Port of Corfu to Saranda. 

The ferry journey from Corfu to Saranda takes 35 minutes by speed ferry or 1H15min by the slower car & passenger ship. Ferries from Corfu to Saranda are operated by Ionian Seaways and Finikas Lines.

The only operational airport in Albania is Tirana Airport. Tirana Airport is a 4.5 – 5 hour journey by car or by taxi from Saranda. 

Related Questions

How much is a taxi from Saranda to Tirana? A taxi from Saranda to Tirana costs around 200 EUR. This is based on the price list of the Tirana Airport Taxi Service. This online price list generally gives you a good indication of what you can expect to pay for taxis in Albania. Of course, independent taxi drivers set their own rates. 

How do I get to Tirana airport early in the morning? If you have to get from Tirana city to Tirana Airport in the early morning, you can take a taxi (around 20-25 EUR) or take the airport shuttle bus. Airport buses depart from the bus station at the back of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet / Palace of Culture. Airport buses depart every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bus ticket costs 400 LEK (4 EUR). 

How to get from Vlore to Tirana Airport? There is a direct bus from Vlore to Tirana Airport, or you can take a taxi. A taxi from Vlore to Tirana Airport may cost you around 110 EUR. Buses depart from Vlore to Tirana Airport at 1:30 AM, 3:30 AM, 5:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 15:00 PM, 16:00 PM, 17:00 PM and 19:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 1200 – 1500 LEK (12-15 EUR). 

How to get from Ksamil to Tirana Airport? A taxi from Ksamil to Tirana Airport costs around 210 EUR. There is no direct bus from Ksamil to Tirana Airport, you must transfer 2 x times. Step 1: Ksamil to Saranda bus (1.50 EUR, 7AM – 19:30 PM). Step 2: Saranda to Tirana bus (15 EUR, 5 AM – 22:00 PM, 5 hours). Step 3: Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport (3 EUR, 7:00 AM – 18:00 PM, 20 min). 

How do I get from Tirana airport to Saranda? A taxi from Tirana Airport to Saranda costs around 200 EUR with the Tirana Airport Taxi Service. There is no direct bus. Step 1: Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal (20 min, 3 EUR). Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda (15 EUR, 5 hours). 

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