Tirana to Saranda – Bus, Ticket, Price, Taxi, Car, Flight, Ferry, Train

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

Tirana to Saranda – Buses from Tirana to Saranda depart from the bus terminal between 5:30 AM and 22:00 PM, choose: coastline route or quicker inland route, cost: 15 EUR. A taxi costs around 200 EUR. Rental car at least 20-25 EUR a day. No trains. Alternative:  fly to Corfu Airport -> ferry to Saranda. 

In this blog post, I will give you a nice overview of how you can travel from Tirana to Saranda. I will include bus terminal location, getting to the bus terminal, bus ticket prices, booking bus tickets, paying for your bus ticket in cash, bus timetables and coastline vs inland route. I will also share what you can expect to pay for a taxi or rental car. And different routes of driving to Saranda. And finally, I will discuss train travel, flying to Corfu airport and taking a ferry to Saranda. Let’s dive in.

How do you get from Tirana to Saranda?

You can get from Tirana to Saranda by bus, by taxi or by car. There is no train. There is no ferry. There is no airport. Let me give you a quick overview of the best ways to get from Tirana to Saranda.

Tirana to Saranda bus

• Buses from Tirana to Saranda depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 
• The bus terminal is located outside the city centre. Along the highway that connects Tirana’s city centre and Tirana airport. You can take a city bus or taxi to get to the bus terminal. 
• There are quick buses via the inland road and scenic buses via the Albanian Riviera coastline. 
• The quick buses depart at 5:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. 
• Buses from Tirana via the Albanian Riviera to Saranda depart at 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 15:30 PM.
• A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 1500 LEK (15 euros) per person. You are expected to pay cash in person with the bus driver. 

Tirana to Saranda taxi

• You can expect to pay at least 200 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda. 
• The drive from Tirana to Saranda takes 4.5-5 hours via the inland road.
• UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania.
• The quickest way to get taxi prices is via WhatsApp, text companies like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Green Taxi, City Taxi or Lux Taxi.

Tirana to Saranda by car

• A rental car at Tirana airport will cost you at least 20-25 euros a day. But much more in the summer months due to the tourist high season. 
• There is a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport with email and phone numbers.
• Reach out to car rental companies via WhatsApp to request and compare quotes. 
• Reserve a rental car beforehand to avoid excessive charges. 

Tirana to Saranda train

• There is no train between Tirana and Saranda.
• There are no train rails leading to Saranda or the South of Albania. 
• Currently, there is no train station in Tirana as the former train station was demolished and has not been rebuilt.
• A new train connection between Durres-Tirana Airport-Tirana is under construction. Expected to open in 2026. 

Tirana to Saranda ferry

• You cannot take a ferry from Tirana to Saranda. As there are no ferries along the Albanian coastline.
• You can get to Albania from a foreign country by ferry. 
• Popular routes are from Italy to Albania. Overnight ferries from Bari, Italy to Durres in Albania. 
• Or you could fly to Corfu airport on the Greek Corfu island and take a ferry from Corfu to Saranda. 
• But there are no ferries from Tirana/Durres to Saranda. That does not exist.

Tirana to Saranda flight

• You cannot fly to Saranda, because there is no airport in Saranda.
• A new airport is under construction in Saranda. 
• However, construction is still ongoing and it is unclear when a new airport in Saranda will open.

How to get from Tirana to Saranda by bus?

You can take a bus from Tirana to Saranda. Buses from Tirana to Saranda depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

The Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is located outside the city centre of Tirana. If you are in the city centre you can take a short taxi ride of about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal. Taxi drivers usually switch on the taxi meter for the short taxi ride to the Bus Terminal. 

Alternatively, you can take a city bus to get from the city centre of Tirana to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. In the city centre, go to the central Skanderbeg Square and look for the National Historical Museum. Walk to the back of the Museum to Rruga Ded Gjo Luli and locate the bus stop. Get on bus line 5B to “Instituti Bujqesor” or simply “Instituti”, this bus line 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 Saranda. 

There are quick buses that drive from Tirana to Saranda via the inland road in about 4 hours and 20 minutes. The quick buses depart at 5:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. These buses are operated by Tisa Travel. Tisa Travel has a little office at the bus terminal. You are expected to pay for your bus ticket in cash upon arrival at the bus terminal.

If you would like to take the more scenic route, you can take a bus from Tirana to Saranda that drives via the Albanian Riviera coastline road. Buses from Tirana via the Albanian Riviera to Saranda depart at 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 15:30 PM. The coastline route is longer, it will take approximately 6 hours to get from Tirana to Saranda. Buses are operated by Olgeno Travel and Tours.

A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 1500 LEK (15 euros) per person. You are expected to pay cash in person with the bus driver. 

In Albania, it is common practice to pay for bus tickets in cash in person. Locals do not book their bus tickets online, so I recommend you do as the locals do and pay cash in person.

Tirana to Saranda bus station

The buses from Tirana to Saranda 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/MZGWcELhFw9ZSM418 

In the Albanian language, this bus terminal is called: Terminali i Autobusave të Veriut dhe Jugut. 

The Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is located outside the city centre of Tirana. If you are in the city centre you can take a short taxi ride of about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal. Taxi drivers usually switch on the taxi meter for the short taxi ride to the Bus Terminal. 

Alternatively, you can take a city bus to get from the city centre of Tirana to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. In the city centre, go to the central Skanderbeg Square and look for the National Historical Museum. Walk to the back of the Museum to Rruga Ded Gjo Luli and locate the bus stop. Get on bus line 5B to “Instituti Bujqesor” or simply “Instituti”, this bus line stops at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

Tirana to Saranda bus timetable

This is the Tirana to Saranda bus timetable: 

• Buses from Tirana to Saranda via the quicker inland road depart at 5:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. These buses are operated by Tisa Travel.
• Buses from Tirana to Saranda via the longer Albanian Riviera coastline route depart at 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 15:30 PM. These buses are operated by Olgeno Travel and Tours. 

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Saranda?

A taxi from Tirana to Saranda may cost you around 200 euros. And a taxi from Tirana to Ksamil may cost you around 210 euros. These prices are based on the price list from the Tirana Airport Taxi Service. 

• Tirana to Saranda taxi price – approximately 200 euros

Of course, individual taxi drivers can charge their own rates and it may be more or less. You can quickly request taxi prices via WhatsApp. Popular taxi companies in Tirana include Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Lux Taxi, Green Taxi and City Taxi. 

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Taxi apps do exist, but these offer regular taxi prices, not discounted rates. If you book with a company like Booking COM, you will be charged an additional 20-25% commission on top of the local rates.

How to drive from Tirana to Saranda by car?

You can drive from Tirana to Saranda via two routes: the faster inland route or the longer coastline route.

• Option 1: Driving from Tirana to Saranda via the quicker inland route.
  The quickest way to drive from Tirana to Saranda is from Tirana via Durres, Fier, Tepelene and Kardhiq Castle to Saranda. This route may take you 4 hours and 20 minutes or 5 hours non-stop.
• Option 2: Driving from Tirana to Saranda via the scenic coastline route (longer).
  You can also take the longer route from Tirana to Saranda via the Albanian Riviera coastline. From Tirana, drive via Durres and Fier to Vlore. Once you are in Vlore, you can get on the main coastal road from Vlore via Himare to Saranda. You can choose to drive over the high Llogara Pass for the views or take the quicker Llogara Tunnel underneath the mountain.

As a tourist, it is worth driving via the coastline road and making stops en route in places like Vlore, the Llogara Pass, Dhermi Beach, Jale Beach, Himare and Porto Palermo. The coastline has lovely little villages with old houses, olive groves and beautiful sea views. Driving along the coastline from Tirana to Saranda takes a full day. You may leave Tirana around 8:30 AM and arrive in Saranda around 19:00 PM.

A rental car in Tirana or at Tirana airport will cost you at least 20-25 euros, but more in July and August during the tourist season. You will find a helpful list of car rental companies including phone and email addresses on the website of Tirana airport. I highly recommend you reach out to several car rental companies before you travel to get a good deal. Because if you do this last minute you may end up paying 50-70 euros a day for a rental car instead.

Driving in Albania can be challenging as a foreigner. Locals have a chaotic and sometimes aggressive style of driving. You would need to be an experienced, confident and alert driver. If you have any doubts, I would recommend taking a taxi or bus instead.

Can I take a train from Tirana to Saranda?

There is no train from Tirana to Saranda. Currently, there is no train station in Tirana and there are no train rails leading to Saranda, so it is not possible to travel from Tirana to Saranda by train. 

Train travel within Albania’s borders is very limited. At the moment, there are 2-3 trains per week between Durres and Elbasan. And there are 1-2 trains per week between Shkoder and Lac. Bear in mind that these are old trains dating back to the communist period. 

A new train rail is under construction between Tirana, Tirana airport and Durres. However, this train connection is not operational yet. It is expected to open in 2026. 

Can I take a flight from Tirana to Saranda?

You cannot take a flight from Tirana to Saranda. Because there is no airport in Saranda yet. 

A new airport is under construction in Saranda. However, this airport is not operational yet. So it is not possible to fly to Saranda at the moment. 

Sometimes, tourists fly to Corfu airport on Corfu island. Corfu is a Greek island, but it is very close to the Albanian coastline. From Corfu island, you can take a ferry boat to Saranda. Ferry boats take 35min-1H15 min, depending on whether you book the speed boat or the car ferry. And tickets cost 19-25 euros per person.

Can I take a ferry from Tirana to Saranda?

You cannot take a ferry from Tirana to Saranda. There are no ferries along the Albanian coastline from Tirana/Durres to Saranda. 

The ferries that arrive in Durres or Saranda come from foreign countries. Popular ferry routes are Bari to Durres, Ancona to Durres, Brindisi to Vlore and Corfu to Saranda.

To get to Saranda by ferry, you can fly to the Greek Corfu island and take a ferry from the Port of Corfu to the Port of Saranda. A ferry boat journey will take only 35 minutes by speed ferry/hydrofoil or it takes 1 hour and 15 minutes with the car ferry boat. Flying to Corfu and taking the ferry to Saranda is quicker than driving 5 hours from Tirana airport to Saranda.

What is the distance from Tirana to Saranda?

The distance from Tirana to Saranda is 265 kilometers via the quicker inland route. This would be driving from Tirana to Saranda via Durres, Fier, Tepelene and Kardhiq Castle. This driving route may take you between 4H20 min and 5 hours non-stop. 

• Tirana to Saranda distance – 265 km via the inland route or 280 km via the longer coastline route.

If you drive from Tirana to Saranda via the coastline route the distance is 280 kilometers. However, the coastline route takes longer as the road turns and twists along the coastline, you must drive slowly on this route. This journey takes a full day. If you leave Tirana at 8:30 AM, make some stops en route for coffee, sightseeing and lunch, you may be in Saranda around 19:00 PM. The views are worth it though!

How long does it take to get from Tirana to Saranda?

It takes at least 4 hours and 20 minutes to drive from Tirana to Saranda. The quicker inland buses that drive from Tirana via Durres, Fier, Tepelene and Kardhiq Castle to Saranda offer a journey of 4 hours and 20 minutes. However, realistically, I have personally driven this route in around 5 hours. 

If you plan on driving from Tirana to Saranda via the coastline, I would suggest you plan a full day of driving. As tour guides we have driven the route from Tirana via Durres, Fier, Vlore and Himare to Saranda regularly. And it takes a full day, departing Tirana at 8:30 AM and arriving in Saranda at 19:00 PM. Obviously with making stops along the road for coffee, petrol, lunch and taking some pictures.

Bear in mind that Google Maps underestimates the driving distance in Albania. Driving from Tirana to Saranda in 3 hours is not possible. Although there are some highways, there are also older sections of road and traffic that slows your journey down. Particularly along the coastline road it is not possible to drive fast as the road descents, turns and twists along the coastline.

How to get from Tirana airport to Saranda?

You can get from Tirana airport to Saranda by bus (transfer), by taxi or by car. A direct taxi from Tirana airport to Saranda may cost you around 200 euros. There is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Saranda so these are your options: 

• Option 1: Tirana airport to Saranda by bus, via Tirana Bus Terminal
• Option 2: Tirana airport to Saranda by bus, via Vlore

Let me discuss travel from Tirana airport to Saranda by bus in more detail below.

Is there a bus from Tirana airport to Saranda?

There is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Saranda. So you will need to transfer buses to travel from Tirana airport to Saranda. You have two possible routes that you can choose from:

• Option 1: Tirana airport to Saranda by bus, via Tirana Bus Terminal
• Option 2: Tirana airport to Saranda by bus, via Vlore

Since there is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Saranda, you can either transfer buses at the Tirana Bus Terminal or in Vlore. Let me discuss both options in greater detail.

Option 1: Tirana airport to Saranda by bus, via the Tirana Bus Terminal

There are no direct buses from Tirana airport to Saranda. Instead, buses from Tirana to Saranda depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. So you would first need to take a bus from Tirana airport to the Bus Terminal and then a bus from the bus terminal to Saranda.

• Step 1: Bus from Tirana airport to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.
• Step 2: Bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda

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

Once you arrive at Tirana airport, you must take the shuttle bus that takes you to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

Buses from Tirana airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania depart at 6:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:30 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:30 PM, 20:30 PM, 21:30 PM and 22:30 PM.

The bus journey from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania takes 20 minutes.  A bus ticket costs 300 Leke (3 euros). You are expected to pay cash for your bus ticket upon boarding the bus. 

Buses from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania are operated by Luna Travel. 

Step 2: Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania to Saranda

Once the bus driver drops you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can transfer onto a bus from Tirana to Saranda. 

Two options: 

• Quick bus: Tirana to Saranda via the inland route (4 hours and 20 min)
• Scenic bus: Tirana to Saranda via the coastline route (6 hours +)

There are quick buses that drive from Tirana to Saranda via the inland road in about 4 hours and 20 minutes. The quick buses depart at 5:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. These buses are operated by Tisa Travel. Tisa Travel has a little office at the bus terminal. You are expected to pay for your bus ticket in cash upon arrival at the bus terminal.

If you would like to take the more scenic route, you can take a bus from Tirana to Saranda that drives via the Albanian Riviera coastline road. Buses from Tirana via the Albanian Riviera to Saranda depart at 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 15:30 PM. The coastline route is longer, it will take approximately 6 hours to get from Tirana to Saranda. Buses are operated by Olgeno Travel and Tours.

A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 1500 LEK (15 euros) per person. You are expected to pay cash in person with the bus driver. In Albania, the standard is to pay cash for your bus ticket. Booking online and paying by card is not common.

Option 2: Tirana airport to Saranda by bus, via Vlore

Since there is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Saranda and you will be transferring buses, you can also choose to travel via Vlore.

Step 1: Tirana airport to Vlore by bus

Since there is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Saranda, you can take a bus from Tirana airport to Vlore first and then transfer buses. 

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 PM, 16:00 PM, 18:00 PM, 20:00 PM and 22:15 PM. 

A bus ticket from Tirana airport to Vlore costs 1200-1500 Leke (12-15 EUR). Buses departing during the night at 00:45 AM, 3:30 AM and 22:15 PM cost 1500 Leke (15 euros). And the remaining day time buses cost 1200 Leke (12 euros) per person.

The bus journey from Tirana airport to Vlore takes approximately 2.5 hours. Buses are operated by Hermes Airport. 

Step 2: Vlore to Saranda by bus

Once you are in Vlore, you can transfer onto a bus to Saranda. Buses from Vlore to Saranda depart from the “Vlore Bus Terminal”, which is located in Rruga Demokracia in Vlore. You can see the location of the bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N16wyrrD5emEqYXH7 

Buses from Vlore to Saranda depart at 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:00 PM and 14:30 PM. A bus ticket costs 1000 Leke (10 euros) per person. You must pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. You cannot book this bus online.

The buses at 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM and 13:00 PM drive via the inland route which is quicker, maybe 2-2.5 hours. The buses at 11:30 AM and 14:30 PM drive via the beautiful coastline route, which takes longer. Buses are operated by Interbuz Vlore. 

The bus driver will drop you off in the centre of Saranda near Friendship Park and the archaeological ruins. 

How much is a taxi from Tirana airport to Saranda?

A taxi from Tirana airport to Saranda will cost you approximately 200 euros. This is because the journey from Tirana airport to Saranda is around 4.5-5 hours by car. 

You can book a taxi with the Tirana airport taxi service in advance online or you can simply take one of the airport taxis waiting in front of the Airport Arrivals Hall.

You can also reach out to several taxi drivers via WhatsApp before you travel. Popular companies are Speed Taxi, Lux Taxi, Merr Taxi, Green Taxi and City Taxi. Usually, you will get price quotes quickly via WhatsApp.

If you contact international companies, like Booking COM, you can expect to pay a commission of around 20-25% on top of the regular taxi pricing.

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although, there are taxi apps like Speed Taxi App, Taxi AL or UPs taxi these do not offer discounted rates.

Can I rent a car at Tirana airport and drive to Saranda?

You can rent a car at Tirana airport and drive to Saranda. Car rental companies charge at least 20-25 euros per day for a basic rental car, but bear in mind that car rental rates are much higher in the summer months due to the tourist season. 

You can find a helpful list of car rental companies with email and telephone numbers on the website of Tirana airport. I suggest messaging several car rental companies via WhatsApp and comparing their rates. Booking a car in advance directly with the car rental company may save you money.

The drive from Tirana airport to Saranda will take you at least 4.5-5 hours. The quickest driving route is via the inland road. Drive from Tirana airport via Durres, Fier, Tepelene and Kardhiq Castle to Saranda. 

If you drive via the coastline route, you will have beautiful views. But it may take you all day from 8:30 AM in the morning to 19:00 PM in the evening, if you make stops along the coastline route for coffee, lunch and taking pictures. The coastline route is from Tirana airport via Durres, Fier, Vlore and Himare to Saranda. 

Renting a car at Tirana airport and driving to Saranda only makes sense if you are going on a round trip back to Tirana airport. 

I have had several travellers reach out to me about a one-way car rental from Tirana airport to Saranda, where they want to drop the rental car off in Saranda. And usually car rental companies in Albania charge a high fee for dropping off the car in Saranda like 150-200 euros, so that is usually not worth it. 

Is Saranda, Albania expensive to visit?

Saranda is one of the most popular coastal destinations in Albania in the summer months. As a result, hotel prices and taxi prices tend to be high particularly in July, August and September.

That being said, visiting Saranda is still possible on a budget. If you choose to travel from Tirana to Saranda by bus, this will cost you 15 euros, rather than 200 euros for a taxi. If you take the bus from Saranda to Ksamil, this will cost you 1.50 euros, rather than 25 euros or more for a taxi. And if you buy Byrek pastry or bread at a bakery this may cost you only 2-3 euros, rather than eating at a fancy restaurant. 

Is Saranda worth visiting?

Saranda is worth visiting if you enjoy staying in a large coastal city with all the facilities and restaurants. In the summer months, Saranda is a buzzing place. There are many hotels, restaurants, apartments, shops, cafes and bars along the coastline promenade in Saranda. 

From Saranda, you can make day trips to destinations like Butrint UNESCO and Ksamil beach to the South. And you can visit destinations like the Blue Eye Spring and Gjirokaster UNESCO city towards the East. 

That being said, if you are looking for a quiet place to stay, Saranda is not for you. You will be better off booking a hotel in one of the smaller villages along the Albanian Riviera. 

What is the best way to get around Saranda?

You can get around Saranda by bus, by taxi or by car. The easiest and most convenient way to get to sightseeing spots around Saranda is by taxi. Taxi drivers can offer to bring you to the Blue Eye Spring or Butrint and wait for you to visit and bring you back to Saranda. But of course, a taxi is relatively expensive. Drivers may charge you 60 euros or more for a day trip/round trip. And taxi drivers may charge you 25 euros or more for a visit to Ksamil beach.

If you are travelling on a budget, you can take a bus from Saranda to Ksamil for 1.50 euros. You can take a bus from Saranda to Butrint for 2 euros. And you can take a bus from Saranda via the Blue Eye spring to Gjirokaster for 4 euros.

Related Questions

How to get from Tirana to Ksamil? A taxi from Tirana to Ksamil may cost you around 210 euros. There is no direct bus from Tirana to Ksamil, you must transfer buses in Saranda. Take a bus from Tirana to Saranda at 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 15:30 PM,  16:00 PM and 22:00 PM, 15 euros. Then take a bus from Saranda to Ksamil, 1.50 euros. 

How to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil? A taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil may cost you around 210 euros. There is no direct bus. Option 1: Tirana airport -> Tirana Bus Terminal -> Saranda -> Ksamil. Option 2: Tirana airport -> Vlore -> Saranda -> Ksamil. Bus tickets will cost you 20-30 euros.

How to get from Saranda to Ksamil? To get from Saranda to Ksamil, you can take a taxi or bus. A taxi may cost you 25 euros or more. Buses from Saranda to Ksamil depart at 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM and 17:30 PM. A bus ticket from Saranda to Ksamil costs 150 Leke (1.50 euros) per person. 

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