Shkoder to Tirana airport – By bus, Taxi, Car, Prices, Timetables

If you are looking for the best way to travel from Shkoder to Tirana airport, look no further. In this blog post, I will outline how you can get from Shkoder to Tirana airport by bus, by taxi or by car.

Shkoder to Tirana airport – You can travel from Shkoder to Tirana airport by bus, taxi or car. Buses from Shkoder to Tirana airport depart at 3:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 14:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 18:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 10-13 EUR. A taxi may cost you 70-75 EUR. A rental car is at least 20-25 EUR a day.

In this blog post, I will give you all the information you need to travel from Shkoder to Tirana airport confidently. I will share bus timetables, bus agency location, bus ticket prices and how to book/pay for your bus ticket. I will also give you insight into how to book a taxi and what you can expect to pay. And discuss renting a car and driving independently.

Getting from Shkoder to Tirana airport by bus, by taxi or by car

You can get from Shkoder to Tirana airport by bus, by taxi or by car. Let me give you a quick overview of the best ways to get from Shkoder to Tirana airport. You can always find much more detailed information further down below.

Shkoder to Tirana airport by bus

• The direct bus from Shkoder to Tirana airport departs at 3:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 14:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 18:00 PM. 
• A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana airport costs 1000 Leke – 1300 Leke (10-13 euros) per person.
• Buses from Shkoder to Tirana airport depart from the Hermes Airport Agency in Shkoder.
• You are expected to pay cash for your bus ticket, this is common practice in Albania.

Shkoder to Tirana airport by taxi

• For a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana airport, you could expect to pay around 70-75 euros. 
• This is the rate that the official Tirana Airport taxi service charges for a ride between Tirana airport and Shkoder. 
• UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. 
• You can get taxi phone numbers via Google Maps and request quotes via WhatsApp.

Shkoder to Tirana airport by car

• A rental car at Tirana Airport will cost you at least 20-25 euros a day. 
• Prices of rental cars are higher in the summer months, like July and August, as this is the tourist season.
• There is a helpful list of car rental agencies on the website of Tirana Airport. You can message them via email or WhatsApp to get price quotations.
• Driving in Albania as a foreigner can be challenging, due to the chaotic and sometimes aggressive style of driving. So if you are in doubt, I recommend you travel by bus or taxi instead.

Shkoder to Tirana airport by train

• There are no operational trains from Shkoder to Tirana airport.
• There are no operational trains from Shkoder to Tirana city.
• During the communist period (until 1992), there were trains between Shkoder and Tirana city. However, many of the old railways are currently not in operation, due to a lack of investment and maintenance.
• As of 2024, a new railway is being constructed between Durres-Tirana Airport-Tirana. However, this railway will only be opened in 2026. 

How to get from Shkoder to Tirana airport by bus?

You can get from Shkoder to Tirana airport with a direct bus. The direct bus from Shkoder to Tirana airport departs at 3:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 14:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 18:00 PM. 

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana airport costs 1000 Leke – 1300 Leke (10-13 euros) per person. Basically, the early morning buses 3 AM and 5:30 AM cost 1300 Leke (13 euros) per person. And the remaining day time buses cost 1000 Leke (10 euros) per person.

Buses from Shkoder to Tirana airport depart from the Hermes Airport Agency in Shkoder. You can see the location on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU2JriJzPb4SJtSM7 

You can buy a bus ticket in person at the Hermes Airport ticket office or you can pay for your bus ticket with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. 

The bus journey from Shkoder to Tirana airport takes approximately 2 hours. However, in the summer months traffic on the roads can be heavier due to the tourist season and this can slow your journey down. So plan extra time especially in the summer months, so that you can get to Tirana airport on time to catch your flight.

Shkoder to Tirana airport bus timetable

This is the bus timetable for buses from Shkoder to Tirana airport. The direct bus from Shkoder to Tirana airport departs at 3:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 14:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 18:00 PM. 

Of course, you can also take a bus in the opposite direction. You can take a direct airport bus from Tirana to Shkoder departing at 5:00, 9:20, 10:45, 12:45, 15:30, 17:30, 20:10 and 22:15.

Shkoder to Tirana airport bus ticket price

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana airport costs 1000-1300 Leke (10-13 euros) per person. The early morning buses at 3:00 AM and 5:30 AM cost 1300 Leke (13 euros) per person. Whereas the remainder of the buses during day time hours cost 1000 Leke (10 euros) per person. 

You are expected to pay cash for your bus ticket at the Hermes Airport ticket office in Shkoder or with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. 

Shkoder to Tirana airport bus station

Buses from Shkoder to Tirana airport are operated by Hermes Airport. Therefore, buses depart from the Hermes Airport ticket office in Shkoder. You can see the location of the Hermes Airport ticket office on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU2JriJzPb4SJtSM7 

How much is a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana airport?

For a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana airport, you could expect to pay around 70-75 euros. This is the rate that the official Tirana Airport taxi service charges for a ride between Tirana airport and Shkoder. 

Of course, this is merely a price indication, as individual taxi drivers can charge their own rates. What you can do is contact several taxi drivers in Shkoder via WhatsApp. Taxi drivers in Albania may not have a website, but they usually add their number on Google Maps, so that is a great place to start. 

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although there are taxi apps like the Speed Taxi App, UPs Taxi and Taxi AL. These taxi apps do offer regular taxi prices, not discounted rates.

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

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. You can quickly request car rental prices and ask questions via WhatsApp. Add several car rentals at Tirana Airport on WhatsApp and compare rates.

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.

Insider Tip: If you are driving from Shkoder to Tirana airport, you could make a stop at these places en route:

–The lagoon of Patok – You drive over a road with water from the lagoon on both sides and the sea in front of you. Have lunch in one of the little wooden cabins built on top of the water.

–Mrizi i Zanave – Restaurant Agroturizëm – This destination restaurant in the small village of Fishte has beautiful surroundings, deliciously fresh food and is worth a detour!

–Shiroke village – The village of Shiroke on the shore of Lake Shkoder has a lovely boulevard along the lake with terraces and restaurants overlooking the water, so relaxing and pretty.

How to get from Tirana airport to Shkoder by bus?

There is a direct bus from Tirana airport to Shkoder. Buses from Tirana airport to Shkoder depart at 5:00 AM, 9:20 AM, 10:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 15:30 PM, 17:30 PM, 20:10 PM and 22:15 PM. 

A bus ticket from Tirana airport to Shkoder costs 1000 Leke-1300 Leke (10-13 euros) per person. Only the bus departing at 5:00 AM in the early morning costs 1300 Leke (13 euros) per person. The other day time buses cost 1000 Leke (10 euros) per person.

You can buy your bus ticket in cash when you board the bus. In Albania, it is still common practice to pay cash for bus tickets. So I always recommend bringing some euros cash with you or withdrawing some cash from the ATM. You can also exchange some foreign currency in a city centre.

The bus journey from Tirana Airport to Shkoder takes approximately 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic. 

Buses from Tirana airport to Shkoder are operated by Hermes Airport. Hermes Airport has an office in Shkoder. And their phone number is +355 676097542.

It is also helpful to add Hermes Airport on WhatsApp, as you can see their latest bus timetables as their profile picture. In case you wanted to double check at the time you are travelling.

Tirana airport to Shkoder bus timetable

This is the bus timetable for buses from Tirana airport to Shkoder. Buses from Tirana airport to Shkoder depart at 5:00 AM, 9:20 AM, 10:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 15:30 PM, 17:30 PM, 20:10 PM and 22:15 PM. 

How much is a taxi from Tirana airport to Shkoder?

You can expect to pay around 70-75 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Shkoder. This is the price that the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service advertises on their website. Of course, individual taxi drivers from Tirana may charge slightly more or less as they set their own prices.

You can get taxi quotes quickly via WhatsApp. You can message taxi companies like Tirana Airport Taxi Service, Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Lux Taxi or Green Taxi via WhatsApp and you will usually have replies in several minutes. 

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although there are taxi apps from companies like Speed Taxi or Merr Taxi, these offer regular taxi prices, not discounted rates.

How to get from Shkoder to Tirana city by bus?

You can get on a bus from Shkoder city to Tirana city from the “Shkoder Bus Station”. The Shkoder Bus Station is located near the Sheshi Demokracia / Democracy Square in Shkoder. You can see the location of the bus stop on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hTjWa7ENbd5AQWP27 

Buses from Shkoder city to Tirana city depart at 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:45 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:45 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00. 

A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana costs 500 Leke (5 euros) per person. You must pay cash with the bus driver, as the bus drivers do not have an online reservation system. 

The bus journey from Shkoder to Tirana takes approximately 2 hours, but could last longer in the summer months due to a lot of traffic on the road. Upon arrival, you will be dropped off at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, which is outside the city center of Tirana. 

You can exist the bus terminal, cross the street towards the petrol station and get on a bus to “Qender” which means city centre. 

Related Questions

How much is a taxi from Tirana airport to the city? A taxi from Tirana airport to the city centre may cost you around 22-28 euros. This is the price the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service charges and gives you a good indication of what you can expect to pay. Of course, independent taxi drivers set their own prices.

How long is the bus from Shkoder to Theth? The bus journey from Shkoder to Theth takes approximately 2 hours. The first bus from Shkoder to Theth departs at 7:00 AM and arrives at 9:00 AM. The second bus from Shkoder to Theth departs at 14:00 PM and arrives in Theth at 16:00 PM. You can book with Komani Lake Ferry Berisha.

How to get from Tirana to Tirana airport? You can get from Tirana’s city centre to Tirana airport with the direct airport bus. Buses depart from the bus station at the back of the Palace of Opera and Ballet on Skanderbeg Square. Timetable every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A bus ticket costs 400 Leke (4 euros) per person.

How to get from Tirana airport to Vlore? There is a direct bus from Tirana airport to Vlore. Buses depart at 00:45, 3:30, 9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 and 22:15. Bus tickets cost 1200-1500 Leke (12-15 EUR) per person. A taxi from Tirana airport to Vlore costs around 110 euros.

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