Tirana to Himare – Bus, Timetable, Ticket, Taxi, Prices, Car, Rental, Drive, Car

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

Tirana to Himare – Get from Tirana to Himare by bus, by taxi or by car. Bus tickets 12-15 EUR, buses depart between 5:30 AM – 18:00 PM from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. Tirana to Himare taxi price: around 179 EUR. No train. A rental car costs at least 20-25 EUR a day. 

In this blog post, I will give you all the information you need to plan your trip from Tirana to Himare. I will dive into bus tickets, bus stations, booking your bus, paying for your bus ticket, bus timetables and getting to the bus terminal. Moreover, I will share what you can expect to pay for a taxi and how to get in touch with taxi drivers. And I will discuss travelling from Tirana to Himare by car or rental car. And I will include how you can get from Tirana Airport to Himare. 

How do I get from Tirana to Himare?

You can get from Tirana to Himare by bus, by taxi or by car. No trains available. There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Himare, but you could go to the Tirana Bus Terminal first. Let me give you a summary of the best ways to get from Tirana to Himare here. 

Tirana to Himare bus

• Tirana to Himare bus timetable. Buses from Tirana to Himare depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal at 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 15:30 PM and 18:00 PM. 
• A bus ticket from Tirana to Himare costs 1200 – 1500 LEK (12-15 EUR) per person. 
• In Albania, it is best to pay cash for your bus ticket upon boarding the bus. Use euros or Albanian Lek in cash.
• Some buses from Tirana to Himare have Himare as a final destination. That being said, there are also buses that drive from Tirana via the coastline including Himare to Saranda. Always check the bus route, since many buses to Saranda drive via the inland route, which does not include Himare.
• There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Himare. But you can take a shuttle bus from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania (400 LEK / 4 EUR, 20 min). And then take a bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Himare.
• You can find more detailed bus info from Tirana to Himare further down below. 

Tirana to Himare taxi

• Tirana to Himare taxi = around 179 EUR / 17000 LEK
• This taxi price is based on the price list of the Tirana Airport Taxi Service as published on their website.
• Of course, individual taxi drivers and companies set their own prices, but the Tirana Airport Taxi Service gives a good indication of what you can expect to pay.
• You can find popular taxi companies online like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Green Taxi, City Taxi and Lux Taxi. Or you can find individual taxi drivers on Google Maps and read their reviews.
• Contact taxi drivers via WhatsApp for quick price quotes.
• UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania.

Tirana to Himare train

• There is no train from Tirana to Himare. 
• There is no railway from Tirana to Himare.
• The availability of trains within Albania is very limited. 
• In any given week, there may be as little as 0-4 operational trains within Albania’s borders.
• A new railway is under construction between Durres, Tirana Airport and Tirana. It is unclear when this railway will open.

Tirana airport to Himare bus

• There is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Himare. To travel from Tirana Airport to Himare by bus, you must go to the Tirana Bus Terminal first.
• Step 1: Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal by bus
• Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal to Himare by bus
• There are shuttle buses from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. Price: 300 LEK / 3 EUR per person. 
• Buses from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal depart between 7:00 AM and 18:00 PM. Full bus timetable below.

Tirana to Himare drive

• It may take you around 5 hours to drive from Tirana to Himare.
• Driving route: from Tirana via Durres, Kavaje, Rrogozhine, Lushnje, Fier and Vlore to Himare. 
• The Llogara Pass offers beautiful coastline views. Alternatively, the Llogara Tunnel is shorter.
• Extra stops for sightseeing en route at: Durres Amphitheatre, Ardenica Monastery, Apollonia archaeological park, Zvernec island, Vlore Beach, Dhermi Beach or Jale Beach. 

Tirana to Himare rental car

• A rental car in Tirana or at Tirana Airport will cost you at least 20-25 EUR a day.
• However, car rental prices are higher in the summer due to the tourist season.
• You can find a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport. 
• I recommend taking the phone numbers from the list of car rental companies on the Tirana Airport website and messaging them via WhatsApp to get price quotes before you travel.
• At Tirana Airport, these car rental companies have an office nearby: AA Rent a Car, Auto Rental Albania, Avis, Enterprise Rent a Car, G Rentals, Hertz, Okmobility, Pepa Rent, Prishtina Rent, Rent Point, Rinas Car Rental, Sixt, Sky Rentals, Superior Rental, Teresa Car Rental and Viaggiare Rent. 
• Alternatively, you can search on Google Maps for “makina me qera Tirane”, which is Albanian language for “rental car Tirana”. On Google Maps, you can read reviews. And then reach out to rental car companies via WhatsApp to ask for prices and availability. 

Is there a bus from Tirana to Himare?

There is a bus from Tirana to Himare. Buses from Tirana to Himare depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal at 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 15:30 PM and 18:00 PM. 

• Tirana to Himare bus ticket = 1200 – 1500 LEK (12-15 EUR) per person
• Tirana to Himare bus timetable – Buses depart from Tirana to Himare at 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 15:30 PM and 18:00 PM. 

Some buses, like Riviera Tours, are direct buses from Tirana to Himare. And other buses, like Olgeno Travel & Tours, drive from Tirana via the Himare and the coastline onwards to Saranda. Bear in mind that the vast majority of buses to Saranda drive in the inland route, not Himare and the coastline. So you must check upon boarding to be certain.

The buses from Tirana to Himare depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. This bus terminal is located in the outskirts of Tirana. So if you are staying in the city center of Tirana, you can take a metered taxi for 15-20 minutes to get to the bus terminal. Or you can take the city bus to “Instituti”. The bus to “Instituti” departs at the back of the National History Museum in Rruga Ded Gjo Luli.

A bus ticket from Tirana to Himare costs 1200 – 1500 LEK (12-15 EUR) per person. In Albania, it is best to pay cash for your bus ticket upon boarding the bus. Or you can pay cash at the bus agency at the bus terminal. 

Albania is a cash country. The locals in Albania pay 99% of their expenses with cash. Albanian Lek is the official currency, but euros are widely accepted as well. So if you are travelling by bus in Albania, taking a combination of euros in cash and exchanging a small amount for Albanian Lek is best.

The bus journey from Tirana to Himare takes around 5 hours by bus.

Tirana bus station

Buses from Tirana to Himare depart from 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/REmi9o83LZQH6rmA8 

The Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is near the Casa Italia Mega Outlet. The bus terminal is located outside of the city center of Tirana and it is not within a walking distance. To get from the city center of Tirana to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can take a metered taxi for about 15-20 min. 

Alternatively, you can take a city bus from the city center to the Tirana Bus Terminal. First, go to the central Skanderbeg Square. Then walk to the back of the National History Museum to the Rruga Ded Gjo Luli Street. You will find the bus stop on this street. You must take the city bus to “Instituti”, which makes a stop at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

Himare bus station

Upon arrival in Himare, bus drivers usually drop passengers off along the main SH8 coastline road. You can see the location of the bus stop and bus agency on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FHBr7qvzzAT2MEAM8 

Is there a bus from Tirana Airport to Himare?

There is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Himare. If you want to travel from Tirana airport to Himare by bus, you must take a bus to the Tirana Bus Terminal first. 

Tirana Airport to Himare bus:

• There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Himare, so you must go to the Tirana Bus Terminal first.
• Step 1: Bus from Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania
• Step 2: Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Himare

Note: There are direct buses from Tirana airport to Tirana, Durres, Vlore, Shkoder and Fier. So if you are travelling by bus, you might consider staying in those places, as they have a direct bus connection from the airport. 

Step 1: Take a bus from Tirana Airport to the Bus Terminal

Since there is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Himare, you must first take a bus from Tirana Airport to the Bus Terminal. 

There are shuttle buses from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

The shuttle from the airport to the bus terminal costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. And it takes about 20 minutes to get from the airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

Bus timetable from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal

• The bus from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania departs 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. 

Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can transfer onto a bus from Tirana to Himare. 

Step 2: Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Himare

Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal, you can get on a bus to Himare. Buses from Tirana to Himare depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal at 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 15:30 PM and 18:00 PM. 

The bus from Tirana to Himare costs around 1200 – 1500 LEK (12 – 15 EUR) per person. The bus journey from Tirana to Himare takes around 5 hours. 

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Himare?

A taxi from Tirana to Himare costs around 179 EUR or 17000 LEK. This price is based on the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service. The Tirana Airport Taxi Service has a price list published on their website.

• Tirana to Himare taxi = around 179 EUR / 17000 LEK

Of course, individual taxi drivers and taxi companies set their own prices. That being said, it is a good idea to have a look at the price list of the Tirana Airport Taxi Service, so that you have an idea of what you can expect to pay and what prices are reasonable.

If you are looking for a taxi service, you can contact popular taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Green Taxi, Lux Taxi or City Taxi. Alternatively, you can search for “taxi Tirana” on Google Maps to find individual taxi drivers and to read their reviews. 

I recommend reaching out to taxi drivers via WhatsApp. You will usually get taxi price quotes within minutes.

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although there are some local taxi apps, those apps do charge regular taxi rates, not reduced rates like UBER. And you usually get taxi prices quickly via WhatsApp. 

Can I take a train from Tirana to Himare?

You cannot take a train from Tirana to Himare. There is no railway between Tirana and Himare. There is no train between Tirana and Himare. And there is no train station in Himare.

• Tirana to Himare train – No railway, no train and no train station. 

If you are a tourist planning a holiday to Albania, then realistically traveling by train is not really an option. In any given week, there may be as little as 0-4 trains in operation in the entire country of Albania. 

Sometimes, there are 1-2 trains in operation between Durres and Elbasan. Sometimes there are 1-2 trains between Shkoder and Lac. But usually, the vast majority of old railways are “on maintenance” or “not operational”.

In the communist period in Albania, there were railways connecting Shkoder, Durres, Tirana, Elbasan, Vlore and Pogradec. However, since the fall of communism in 1992, there has been little interest, maintenance and investment in trains. As a result, many old railways are visible in the landscape but not operational. 

So as a tourist travelling through Albania, you will rely on bus travel, taxi travel or renting a car. 

There is some good news. A new railway is under construction between Durres, Tirana Airport and Tirana. But it is unclear when this new railway will open. 

How do I get to Himare from the airport?

You can get from Tirana Airport to Himare by taxi (around 179 EUR / 17000 LEK). There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Himare. So if you want to travel from Tirana Airport to Himare by bus, you must transfer buses at the Tirana Bus Terminal. 

Tirana Airport to Himare bus:

• There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Himare, so you must go to the Tirana Bus Terminal first.
• Step 1: Bus from Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania
• Step 2: Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Himare

If you are travelling by bus, it is actually easier to get to Durres Beach or Vlore Beach, since there are direct buses from Tirana Airport to Durres and Vlore. So that is something to consider, especially after a long flight and long day of travelling. 

Step 1: Take a bus from Tirana Airport to the Bus Terminal

If you want to travel from Tirana Airport to Himare by bus, you must first take a bus to the Tirana Bus Terminal. 

There are shuttle buses from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. The shuttle from the airport to the bus terminal costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. And it takes about 20 minutes to get from the airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.

Bus timetable from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal

• The bus from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania departs 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. 

Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can transfer onto a bus from Tirana to Himare. 

Step 2: Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Himare

Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal, you can get on a bus to Himare. Buses from Tirana to Himare depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal at 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 15:30 PM and 18:00 PM. 

The bus from Tirana to Himare costs around 1200 – 1500 LEK (12 – 15 EUR) per person. The bus journey from Tirana to Himare takes around 5 hours. 

How to drive from Tirana to Himare?

It takes around 5 hours to drive from Tirana to Himare. You can drive from Tirana via Durres, Kavaje, Rrogozhine, Lushnje, Fier and Vlore to Himare. 

As a tourist, you might want to drive over the Llogara Pass. This is the highest point on the coastal road that leads alongside the Albanian Riviera. The Llogara Pass offers beautiful views over the Ionian Sea and Dhermi and Palase at the coastline below. 

That being said, there is also a Llogara Tunnel, which is about 45 minutes quicker than driving over the Llogara Pass. 

You could also take the time to make extra stops en route at sights like the Durres Amphitheatre, Ardenica Monastery, Apollonia archaeological park, Zvernec island, Vlore Beach, Dhermi Beach or Jale Beach. 

Renting a car and driving from Tirana to Himare

If you are looking for a rental car in Tirana or at Tirana Airport, you can find a helpful list of car rental companies with contact phone numbers and emails on the website of Tirana Airport.

At Tirana Airport, these car rental companies have an office nearby: AA Rent a Car, Auto Rental Albania, Avis, Enterprise Rent a Car, G Rentals, Hertz, Okmobility, Pepa Rent, Prishtina Rent, Rent Point, Rinas Car Rental, Sixt, Sky Rentals, Superior Rental, Teresa Car Rental and Viaggiare Rent.

Alternatively, you can search on Google Maps for “makina me qera Tirane”, which is Albanian language for “rental car Tirana”. On Google Maps, you can read reviews. And then reach out to rental car companies via WhatsApp to ask for prices and availability. 

A rental car at Tirana Airport or in Tirana costs at least 20-25 EUR a day for the most basic rental car. That being said, car rental prices are higher in the summer months due to the tourist season. And of course, a larger or more luxurious rental car will cost a lot more. 

I highly recommend you reach out to car rental companies via WhatsApp before you travel. You will usually get price quotes within minutes. And you can ask any questions you may have about insurance, border crossing or routes within Albania quickly as well. And most importantly, you can reserve a car beforehand for a good price.

Is Himare worth visiting?

Himare is mainly a beach town along the Albanian Riviera. So Himare is worth visiting if you want to spend a day or a few days going to the beaches, relaxing under a sun chair and swimming in the sea. 

Himare is a lovely location if you prefer not to stay in a large coastal city. Saranda, Vlore and Durres are all big coastal cities with large flats with apartments and hotels. Whereas Himare is a smaller town with more of a village feel to it. 

Surrounding Himare, there are many smaller beaches you could visit. You could make a trip to the nearby Porto Palermo castle set on a peninsula in the middle of the Bay of Porto Palermo. And you can visit nearby beaches like Livadhi Beach, Jale Beach, Gjipe Beach or Filikuri Beach. 

Is Himare or Vlore better?

Himare is a smaller beach town and Vlore is a big coastal city. Both Himare and Vlore can be reached by bus from Tirana. 

Vlore is closer to Tirana. From Tirana, it takes about 2.5 hours to get to Vlore. So Vlore is also a destination that can be visited as a day trip from Tirana. And there is a direct bus from Tirana Airport to Vlore. 

Vlore has a lot of hotels, apartments, shops, restaurants. You will find all the facilities in Vlore. And there is a lovely promenade along the coastline. 

Himare is a bit further away from Tirana. It might take you 4-5 hours to get from Tirana to Himare. There are buses from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to Himare. 

Himare is a smaller beach town. It is mainly a destination for laying on the beach under a parasol, relaxing and going for a swim in the sea. There are many beaches surrounding Himare that you could visit like Livadhi Beach, Jale Beach, Gjipe Beach or Filikuri Beach. Some beaches like Aquarium Bay or Gjipe Beach are more remote and isolated, so these are quieter and more undisturbed!

Related Questions

What airport is closest to Himare? The two airports closest to Himare are Tirana Airport in Albania and Corfu Airport on Corfu island (Greek). If you fly to Tirana Airport, you can travel from Tirana Airport to Himare by taxi (around 179 EUR). By bus, take a bus from Tirana Airport to the bus terminal (3 EUR) and then a bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Himare (12-15 EUR). 

How to get from Corfu to Himare? If you fly to Corfu airport on the Greek Corfu island, you can take a ferry to Albania. 

• Step 1: Fly to Corfu Airport
• Step 2: Take a taxi or bus to the Port of Corfu (20 min)
• Step 3: Ferry from Corfu to Saranda
• Step 4: Bus or Taxi from Saranda to Himare

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