Tirana to Durres: How to get there, Bus, Taxi, Worth it, Beach, Day Trip, Train

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

Tirana to Durres – You can get from Tirana to Durres by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi from Tirana to Durres costs 30-50 EUR. A bus ticket is 2 EUR per person. Buses depart between 6AM and 21:15 PM from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania outside the city center. A rental car costs at least 20-25 EUR a day. 

In this blog, I will answer all the frequently asked questions about travelling from Tirana to Durres. I will include bus timetables, bus ticket prices, how to book/pay for bus, bus terminal information and bus journey times. I will also explain what you can expect to pay for a taxi or rental car. And discuss if Durres is worth visiting as a day trip destination from Tirana. Let’s get into the blog.

How to get from Tirana to Durres?

You can get from Tirana to Durres by bus, by taxi or by car. A new railway is under construction, but not operational yet. 

Tirana to Durres bus

• Buses from Tirana to Durres depart from the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania”.
• This bus terminal is not within a walking distance of the city center. So you can take a city bus to “Instituti” or a short taxi ride to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal.
• Buses from Tirana to Durres depart every 15-30 minutes between 6:00 AM and 21:15 PM.
• Tirana to Durres bus price = 200 LEK (2 EUR) per person
• You must pay cash for your bus ticket with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. Bus drivers do not have a website or online reservation system.
• The bus journey from Tirana to Durres takes roughly 40-45 minutes. 
• Upon arrival in Durres, the bus driver will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal, which is near the Port of Durres and the old train station.

Tirana to Durres taxi

• Tirana to Durres taxi price = around 30-50 EUR
• Of course, individual taxi drivers set their own prices.
• The official Tirana Airport Taxi Service has a price list on their website stating that a taxi from Tirana Airport to Tirana costs 30-35 EUR. However, the airport is a bit closer to Durres, than the city centre of Tirana. So 30-50 EUR from Tirana to Durres is reasonable.
• You can contact taxi drivers quickly via WhatsApp, usually you get replies and price quotes in several minutes.
• UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Local Taxi apps do exist, but do offer regular taxi prices, not reduced rates like UBER Taxi.

Tirana to Durres train

• A new railway is under construction between Tirana, Tirana Airport and Durres.
• The new railway is not operational yet. Therefore, it is not possible to travel by train from Tirana to Durres right now.
• Perhaps the new railway between Tirana and Durres will open in 2026. 
• New railway tracks have been laid between Tirana and Durres, but no train has been driven on the track yet. 

Tirana to Durres day trip

• Durres is very close to Tirana, as it is only a 45 minute drive, it is an easy destination as a day trip.
• If you are staying in Tirana for your entire holiday, you might want to go for a day trip to the beach. In that case, you could go to Durres Beach or Golem Beach. Of course, these beaches are popular in the summer, so expect them to be busy.
• If you are looking for a quieter and smaller beach, you might consider the Bay of Lazli to the north of Durres or Rana e Hedhun beach near Lezhe and Shengjin. 
• I will say that if you are going to the Albanian Riviera in the South of Albania during your holiday, you can probably skip Durres, as the Albanian Riviera is considered the most beautiful coastline area in Albania. 
• For sightseeing, you can visit the Roman Amphitheater in Durres for about 20 minutes before going to the beach or continuing onwards to Berat city. 

Tirana to Durres by rental car

• A rental car in Tirana’s city center or at Tirana Airport costs at least 20-25 EUR a day. 
• However, rental car prices tend to be much higher in the Summer holidays or Christmas holidays as these are the peak seasons.
• There is a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport with phone numbers and email addresses.
• Alternatively, to find local car rental companies in Tirana, you can also try typing “makina me qera tirane” into Google Maps to find phone numbers.
• I recommend you message a handful of car rental companies on WhatsApp to ask for prices. You can take the phone numbers from the list on Tirana Airport’s website or Google Maps.
• Driving in Albania can be challenging as a foreigner, as the Albanian drivers tend to have an aggressive style of driving and often don’t follow the rules on the road. So you need to be a confident, alert and experienced driver. If you have any doubt don’t do it, take a local bus, taxi or book a tour including transport.

Tirana to Durres distance

• The distance from the city center of Tirana to the city center of Durres is 37 kilometers. 
• It takes approximately 45 minutes to drive from Tirana to Durres.
• Driving from Tirana to Durres is very straightforward, because the SH2 highway connects Tirana and Durres. 
• If you are going to the beach, you can drive to Durres Beach. Of course, the main beach can be busy. 
• So locals usually prefer to drive onwards to Golem Beach, which is further to the south and generally considered more beautiful. 

Can you get a bus from Tirana to Durres?

You can get a bus from Tirana to Durres from the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania”. The Tirana Bus Terminal is located outside of the city center of Tirana, so you must first get to the bus terminal.

• Step 1: Bus/Taxi from Tirana’s city center to “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania”
• Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Durres

Below, I will describe how you can get from Tirana’s city centre to the Tirana Bus Terminal. And once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal, you can get on a bus from Tirana to Durres.

Step 1: Bus from Tirana’s city center to “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania”

To get from Tirana to Durres by bus, you must first go to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. The bus terminal is located outside the city centre and not within a walking distance. So you can take a taxi or city bus to get to the bus terminal.

You can see the location of the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CjMndPYNfiST9bDZA 

The Albanian name for this bus terminal is: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut

A taxi from Tirana’s city centre to the Tirana Bus Terminal will be a metered taxi. I have personally asked several taxi drivers for their rate, but they each informed me that there are no set prices for destinations within Tirana. So the driver will switch on the taxi meter and you will pay accordingly. The drive from Tirana’s city centre to the Tirana Bus Terminal normally only takes 15-20 minutes, but of course, traffic may slow your journey down.

Since the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is not within a walking distance of the city centre, you could take a city bus to get to the bus terminal. Let me explain where the city bus departs.

From your hotel, walk to the central Skanderbeg Square. At Skanderbeg Square, you will see the gigantic National History Museum. Walk to the back of the museum to the Rruga Ded Gjo Luli and locate the bus stop. You must get on a bus to “Instituti”. The bus to “Instituti” will make a stop at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Durres

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 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:00 PM, 15:15 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:20 PM, 16:40 PM, 17:00 PM, 17:20 PM, 17:40 PM, 18:00 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:00 PM, 19:30 PM, 19:45 PM, 20:00 PM, 20:30 PM, 21:00 and 21:15 PM. 

The bus journey from Tirana to Durres takes roughly 40-45 minutes. 

A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 200 LEK (2 EUR) per person. The bus driver expects you to pay cash upon boarding the bus. Bus drivers accept Albanian Leke or foreign currencies like Euros (notes, not coins). 

You cannot book your bus ticket online. Bus drivers in Albania often do not have a booking website or online reservation system. So the bus driver will only take cash payments upon boarding the bus. So I always recommend you carry some cash euros and a small amount of Albanian Leke with you whilst travelling by bus through Albania.

Upon arrival in Durres, the bus driver will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal. The Durres Bus Terminal is located in the city center of Durres near the Port of Durres and the old train station of Durres. 

If you are looking to go to Durres Beach, this is located to the South of the Port of Durres. So you may need to take a short taxi ride to get to the beach. If the main beach is very busy, you could consider going to Golem Beach further to the South, which is usually considered more beautiful amongst locals in Albania.

How much is the bus from Tirana to Durres?

The bus from Tirana to Durres costs 200 LEK (2 EUR) per person. You must pay cash with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. 

• Tirana to Durres bus price = 200 LEK (2 EUR) per person.
• You must pay cash for your bus ticket upon boarding the bus.

Bus drivers in Albania expect you to pay cash on the spot. You can pay in Albanian Leke (200 LEK) or foreign currency like euros. Bus drivers can accept foreign currency notes, as they can easily be exchanged in Albania. And you may be given change in Albanian Leke.

Buses within Albania are often not equipped with a card machine. So if you only have a credit card or debit card, you would need to go to a cash machine nearby.

You cannot book your bus ticket online in advance. Because bus drivers in Albania often do not have a booking website or an online reservations system. So they only board passengers “first come, first serve” and take cash for each passenger upon boarding the bus.

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Durres?

A taxi from Tirana to Durres might cost you around 30-50 euros. Of course, individual taxi drivers set their own prices. 

• Tirana to Durres taxi price = around 30-50 EUR
• Tirana Airport to Durres taxi price = 30-35 EUR, Airport is closer to Durres

The official Tirana Airport Taxi Service has a price list on their website. And they charge 30-35 EUR for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Durres. However, Tirana Airport is a bit closer to Durres, than the city centre of Tirana. So anywhere between 30-50 EUR is reasonable for a taxi from Tirana to Durres.

If you are looking for a taxi driver, you can reach out to drivers via WhatsApp. You can search for popular taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Smart Taxi, Green Taxi, City Taxi or Merr Taxi. Or you use Google Maps to find taxi drivers in Tirana. And once you have the phone numbers, you can message them via WhatsApp.

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although there are some local taxi apps, those apps charge regular taxi prices, not reduced rates like UBER. So you might as well use a messaging app that you are already using like Messenger or WhatsApp.

How long is the transfer from Tirana to Durres?

It takes about 45 minutes to transfer from Tirana to Durres. The distance between Tirana and Durres is about 37 kilometers. And there is a direct highway, the SH2, which connects Tirana’s city center with Durres city center. 

Also Tirana Airport is located along the SH highway that connects to both Durres and Tirana. So you might consider going from Tirana Airport to Durres straightaway. 

In the city center of Durres, you can visit the Roman Amphitheater which is a UNESCO world heritage site. You only need about 20 minutes to visit the amphitheater. I would say that buying a ticket is optional. Because there is a cobblestone path above the theater from where you can look into the theatre from above without buying a ticket. Then if you are very interested you can go to the ticket office and explore the theatre from the inside as well. There is also a Venetian Tower near the Roman Amphitheatre.

To the South of the Port of Durres, you will find Durres Beach. Durres Beach gets very busy in the summer months, since Durres is the most conveniently located beach for residents and tourists in Tirana. 

Therefore, locals in Tirana usually prefer to go to Golem Beach which is a bit further to the South of Durres. Golem Beach offers pretty white sand beaches with parasols and is quite pretty. 

My personal recommendation is the Bay of Lalzi. The Bay of Lalzi is a much smaller setting. The beach is surrounded by pine trees and there are a handful of smaller shack-like restaurants. If you want to avoid the busy coastal city of Durres, the Bay of Lalzi is a great option! You can also combine this destination with the Cape of Rodon as they are located along the same road.

Can I get from Tirana to Durres by train?

You cannot get from Tirana to Durres by train, as the railway is under construction. 

A new railway is under construction between Tirana, Tirana Airport and Durres. The new railway tracks are in place and are visible in the landscape. However, no trains are operational yet. Perhaps in 2026, the new trains and railway will start operating. 

• Tirana to Durres train – A new railway is under construction between Tirana, Tirana Airport and Durres, but it is not operational yet.

In the meantime, as the new railway is still under construction and not operational, you can travel from Tirana to Durres by bus, by taxi or by car.

In the communist period, there used to be trains between Shkoder, Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Vlore and Pogradec. However, since the fall of communism in 1992, the old railway network did not receive a lot of investment and maintenance. Therefore, many old railways are visible in the landscape but not operational. As a result, buses are the main public transport available in Albania. As there are between 0-3 trains in operation in Albania per week. 

If you are interested in the old communist trains, you can check for timetables on the homepage of HSH Hekurudha Shqiptare here: https://hekurudha.al/ 

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

A rental car in Tirana will cost you at least 20-25 EUR a day. However, car rental rates can be high in the summer months. So do your research before you travel.

I have spoken with travelers, who were charged 50-70 EUR a day for a rental car, which does add up if you rent a car for several days. So I recommend you reach out to car rental companies before you travel and agree on a price. 

You can find a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport including phone numbers and email addresses. You can also try to find local car rental companies by typing “makina me qera tirane” into Google Maps. 

Take the phone numbers and contact car rental companies via WhatsApp. Ask a few companies and you will receive quotes for rental cars within minutes. 

International car rental booking websites usually have a 20-30% commission, so you can expect the prices on those websites to be much higher. 

A note on driving in Albania. Driving in Albania can be challenging as a foreigner, as the Albanian drivers tend to have an aggressive style of driving and often don’t follow the rules on the road. So you need to be a confident, alert and experienced driver. If you have any doubt don’t do it, take a local bus, taxi or book a tour including transport.

Tirana to Durres day trip

A day trip from Tirana to Durres is a great option if you are staying in Tirana. In the morning, you could visit the Roman Amphitheater and the Venetian Tower in the centre of Durres. Then, you could spend your afternoon relaxing at the beach. 

Insider Tip: The former Albanian king has a palace in Durres which is currently under reconstruction. If you are visiting Durres as a tourist, it is worth having a look at the palace as well. In the past, the palace was closed to the public, but last month we were able to get in! No guarantees, but worth a try!

How to get from Tirana Airport to Durres by bus?

There is a direct bus from Tirana Airport to Durres. 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 LEK (6 EUR) per person. The bus from Tirana Airport to Durres departs from the Parking Area/Bus Station at Tirana Airport. The bus journey from Tirana Airport to Durres lasts about 30 minutes. You can pay cash for the bus upon boarding the bus.

Is Durres worth going to?

Durres is worth going to if you are looking for a beach near Tirana. In short, Durres is the most conveniently located beach near Tirana city. It only takes about 45 minutes to drive from Tirana to Durres, depending on traffic.

In general, the beaches along the Albanian Riviera in the South of Albania are considered the most beautiful beaches in Albania. That being said, the Albanian Riviera starts in Vlore and a coastal road leads all the way to the south to Saranda and Ksamil. However, the Albanian Riviera is at least a 2.5 hour drive from Tirana if you are going to Vlore. And driving to Saranda takes you 5 hours via the quicker inland road. 

So if you won’t have time to travel to the Albanian Riviera, you might be looking for a beach near Tirana. In that case, Durres is an obvious choice as it is only a 45 minute drive. 

In Durres, you can expect a big coastal city with many restaurants, hotels and apartments located along the beach. Durres main beach is a busy place. So locals often go to Golem beach a bit further to the south, which is about a 1 hour drive from Tirana.

If you are looking for a quieter and smaller beach near Tirana, I personally prefer the Bay of Lalzi. At Lalzi, the beach is surrounded by a pine tree forest and there are only a few slack-like restaurants at the beach. So it is more of a beach village kind of atmosphere, in comparison to the big coastal city of Durres.

If you are going to the Albanian Riviera, you can probably skip Durres, since you will already be visiting pretty beaches in the South of Albania.

Is it better to stay in Tirana or Durres?

It is better to stay in Durres if you want to stay at a beachside resort and go swimming. It is better to stay in Tirana if you are looking for some culture and history. Tirana and Durres are both close to Tirana Airport, but they are totally different.

Durres is a beach city. So you can expect many apartments, hotels and resorts along the coastline. In Durres, you can book a resort with a swimming pool and near the beach, so you can go swimming every day. Durres main beach can be busy, so going a bit further to the south to Golem Beach is worth it.

Tirana is the capital city, so in Tirana you can expect more culture and history. You can walk along the government boulevard, see the big museums, go to the trendy Blloku neighbourhood for fancy restaurants, take the Dajti Ekspres Cable Car up to mount Dajti or enter the secretive Bunk’Art Bunker Museum.

In the summer months, both Durres and Tirana are buzzing with people. If you are looking for a quieter place near Tirana Airport. I recommend you have a look at the Bay of Lalzi.

How to get from Tirana to Durres beach?

You can get from Tirana to Durres beach by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi from Tirana to Durres beach will cost you 30-50 EUR. Of course, taxi companies set their own prices, so you would need to agree on a taxi price with the driver.

To get from Tirana to Durres beach by bus, take these three steps.

• Step 1: City center to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania by bus
• Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Durres Bus Terminal by bus
• Step 3: Durres Bus Terminal to Durres Beach

The bus from Tirana to Durres departs from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. So your first step is to get to the bus terminal. Then, you can take a bus from the bus terminal to Durres. And once you arrive in Durres, you must get from the bus terminal to the beach.

Step 1: City center to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania by bus

The bus from Tirana to Durres departs from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. This bus terminal is located outside the city center of Tirana and it is not within a walking distance. 

So you could take a taxi to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal. Usually, taxi drivers will switch on the taxi meter, since it is a destination with Tirana. 

You could also take a city bus from the city center to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal. First, you must go to the central Skanderbeg Square. On Skanderbeg Square, you will see the large National Museum of History. You must walk to the back of the museum to “Rruga Ded Gjo Luli” and locate the bus stop. From this bus stop, you can take a bus to “Instituti”, this bus will stop at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Durres Bus Terminal by bus

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 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:00 PM, 15:15 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:20 PM, 16:40 PM, 17:00 PM, 17:20 PM, 17:40 PM, 18:00 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:00 PM, 19:30 PM, 19:45 PM, 20:00 PM, 20:30 PM, 21:00 and 21:15 PM. 

The bus journey from Tirana to Durres takes roughly 40-45 minutes. 

A bus ticket from Tirana to Durres costs 200 LEK (2 EUR) per person. The bus driver expects you to pay cash upon boarding the bus. Bus drivers accept Albanian Leke or foreign currencies like Euros (notes, not coins). 

You cannot book your bus ticket online. Bus drivers in Albania often do not have a booking website or online reservation system. So the bus driver will only take cash payments upon boarding the bus. So I always recommend you carry some cash euros and a small amount of Albanian Leke with you whilst travelling by bus through Albania.

Upon arrival in Durres, the bus driver will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal. The Durres Bus Terminal is located in the city center of Durres near the Port of Durres and the old train station of Durres. 

Step 3: Durres Bus Terminal to Durres Beach

The bus from Tirana to Durres will drop you off at the Durres Bus Terminal. The bus terminal is to the North of the Port of Durres, whereas Durres beach is to the South of the Port of Durres. 

You can walk to Durres beach, take a taxi to Durres Beach or take a bus to Durres Beach.

From the Durres Bus Terminal, walk to the “Durres-Plepa” bus stop in Rruga e Deshmoreve (Deshmoreve Street) near Sheshi Demokracia (Democracy Square). From the bus stop Durres-Plepa, you can take a bus to the Plepa Bus Station for 40 Leke (0.40 EUR) per person. This bus departs every 20-30 minutes. The bus drives along the coastline southwards and passes along Durres Beach. 

Related Questions

How much is the bus from Durres to Tirana? The bus from Durres to Tirana costs 200 LEK (2 EUR) per person. Bus drivers expect you to pay cash. So I recommend you carry some Albanian Leke or Euros in cash with you whilst travelling in Albania by bus.

How do you pay for buses in Albania? You pay for buses in Albania by cash. Buses in Albania are independently owned. The bus driver owns the bus and takes cash from passengers upon boarding. Many bus drivers do not have a website or online reservation system. You can only get on those buses in person and pay cash on the spot.

Is there Uber in Albania? There is no UBER Taxi in Albania. Although there are some local taxi apps, those apps charge regular taxi prices, not reduced rates like UBER. I recommend reaching out to taxi companies via WhatsApp to get price quotes quickly.

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