Tirana airport to Shkoder – Bus, Timetables, Tickets, Taxi, Car, Prices

If you are planning to travel from Tirana airport to Shkoder, this blog is for you. I will describe how you can travel directly from Tirana airport to Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by car.

Tirana airport to Shkoder – 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. A bus ticket is 10-13 EUR. A taxi costs around 70-75 EUR. A rental car costs at least 20-25 EUR a day, more in the summer months. No trains.

In this blog, I will outline all the information you need to plan your journey from Tirana airport directly to Shkoder. I will detail bus timetables, bus ticket prices, bus operator details and journey times. I will also explain what you can expect to pay for a taxi or rental car, in case you are considering those. Let’s plan your trip to Shkoder!

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

You can travel from Tirana airport to Shkoder with the direct airport bus, by taxi or with a rental car. Let me give you a quick overview of your options and then I will go into further detail down below.

Tirana airport to Shkoder bus

• 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. 
• 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.

Tirana airport to Shkoder taxi

• You can expect to pay around 70-75 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Shkoder. 
• You can get taxi prices quotes quickly via WhatsApp. 
• Send a message to companies like Tirana Airport Taxi Service, Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Lux Taxi or Green Taxi. 

Tirana airport to Shkoder 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.

Tirana airport to Shkoder train

• There is no train from Tirana airport to Shkoder.
• A new railway is under construction between Durres-Tirana Airport-Tirana. However, this new railway will only open in 2026. 
• Apart from the new railway under construction, train travel in Albania is very limited. At any given time there are 2-3 trains a week between Durres and Elbasan and 1-2 trains a week between Shkoder and Lac. These are very old railways dating back to the communist times (before 1992).

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 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. The bus will drop you off in Shkoder approximately 1.5-2 hours later.

Tirana airport to Shkoder bus ticket

A bus ticket from Tirana airport to Shkoder will cost you 1000 Leke (10 euros). You can pay in cash with the bus driver in foreign currency or Albanian Leke. You can also reserve a bus ticket by phone or on the website of Hermes Airport. But it is not necessary, as paying bus tickets in cash with the bus driver is still the standard in Albania.

Can I book a bus ticket from Tirana airport to Shkoder online in advance?

You can book a bus ticket from Tirana airport to Shkoder online on the website of Hermes Airport. However, it is not necessary. Because in Albania it is still very much the standard to pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. 

In many foreign countries, you have to book bus tickets online in advance and print the ticket or show it on your mobile phone. This is not common practice in Albania. In Albania, everybody has cash in their pocket and pays for bus tickets with cash. So I suggest you do as the locals do and pay cash for bus tickets. You can pay euros if you like, they will accept that.

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

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 Tirana airport to Shkoder, 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 – Restorant Agroturizëm – This destination restaurant in the small village of Fishe 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 Shkoder to Tirana airport?

You can get from Shkoder to Tirana airport by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi from Shkoder to Tirana airport may cost you around 70-75 euros. Of course, individual taxi drivers make their own prices, so this is just an indication.

There is a direct bus from Shkoder to Tirana airport. You can buy a ticket at the Hermes Airport ticket office in Shkoder. You can find the location of the ticket office on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BZc2E5GBE2ebjs1H7 

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 from Shkoder to Tirana airport costs between 1000 Leke-1300 Leke (10-13 euros). You pay 10 euros during day time hours. And 13 euros in the early morning, for buses at 3:00 AM and 5:30 AM. 

You can pay cash for your bus ticket at the Hermes Bus Agency or with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. Paying for your bus ticket in cash is common practice in Albania. So I suggest you do as the locals do.

How do I get from Tirana to Shkoder?

You can get from Tirana city to Shkoder by bus, by taxi or by car. 

A taxi might cost you around 70-75 euros. You can request taxi prices quickly via WhatsApp. Simply message companies like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Lux Taxi, Green Taxi and City Taxi.

If you are in Tirana’s city center, you must go to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to get on a bus to Shkoder. Buses from Tirana to Shkoder depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, which is located outside of the city centre. 

To get to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can take a short taxi ride on the taxi meter (this is usually meter, not a set price). Or you can go to Skanderbeg Square, walk to the Rruga Ded Gjo Luli behind the National History Museum and get on a city 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 a bus from Tirana to Shkoder. Buses from Tirana to Shkoder depart at 5:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 13:00 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:00 PM, 17:30 PM and 18:00 PM. 

A bus ticket from Tirana to Shkoder costs 500 Leke (5 euros) per person. You are expected to pay cash with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. You cannot book your bus ticket online in advance, as the bus driver does not have a booking website. 

The bus journey from Tirana to Shkoder takes approximately 2 hours depending on traffic. In the summer months it sometimes takes 2.5 or 3 hours as traffic on the road is heavy.

How to get from Shkoder to Tirana?

You can get from Shkoder to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi from Shkoder to Tirana may cost you around 70-75 euros. 

Buses from Shkoder to Tirana depart from the Shkoder Bus Station. The Shkoder Bus Station is located near “Sheshi Demokracia” or Democracy Square. Expect a bus stop with a sign next to the street, instead of a large bus terminal. You can see the location of Shkoder Bus Station here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dQZhpC2ncbvJg9Sk7 

Buses from Shkoder to Tirana 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 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 17:00 PM. A bus ticket from Shkoder to Tirana costs 500 Leke (5 euros) per person. You can pay cash with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. You cannot book your bus ticket online, as the bus driver does not have a booking website. 

The bus journey from Shkoder to Tirana may take around 2 hours, depending on traffic. Upon arrival the bus driver will drop you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

The Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is located outside the city centre of Tirana. Exit the bus terminal, cross the street to the petrol station and Terminal Hotel, and find the bus stop in front of the petrol station. From this bus stop, you can get on a bus to “Qender”, which means city centre in Albanian language.

How much is a taxi from Shkoder to Tirana?

A taxi from Shkoder to Tirana may cost you around 70-75 euros.

Related Questions

Is there a bus from Tirana airport to the city centre? There is a direct bus from Tirana airport to the city centre. The bus departs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round. Bus tickets cost 400 Leke (4 euros), you can pay cash with the bus driver. Buses depart at 1:00 AM, 2:00 AM, 3:00 AM, 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00 and 24:00. 

Tirana airport to Tirana bus – Buses from Tirana airport to Tirana depart at 1:00 AM, 2:00 AM, 3:00 AM, 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00 and 24:00. 

How to get from Tirana airport to Vlore? You can get from Tirana airport to Vlore by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi costs roughly 110 euros. Buses from Tirana airport to Vlore depart at 00:45 AM, 3:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 and 22:15. A bus ticket from Tirana airport to Vlore costs 1200-1500 Leke (12-15 euros) per person. 

How to get from Tirana airport to Durres? You can get from Tirana airport to Durres by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi costs roughly 30-35 euros. Buses from Tirana airport to Durres depart at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 17:00 PM, 19:00 PM and 21:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 600 Leke (6 euros) per person. Buses are operated by Adis Travel and Tours.

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