Tirana to Vlore – Bus, Taxi, Train, Bus Timetable, Price, Airport, Car, Rental, Bus Station, Getting from Tirana to Vlore

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

Tirana to Vlore – You can get from Tirana to Vlore by bus, taxi or car. The bus from Tirana to Vlore departs every 25-30 min between 5AM and 17:30PM (timetable below) from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. A taxi from Tirana to Vlore costs 110 EUR. A rental car starts from 20-25 EUR, more in summer. 

In this blog post, I will give you all the info you need to confidently plan your trip from Tirana to Vlore. I will include bus timetables, bus station location, bus ticket prices, how to pay for your bus ticket and more. Moreover, I will explain what you can expect to pay for a taxi and how to get a taxi. And I will detail what you can expect to pay for a car rental and how to get a good deal. So let’s dive in. 

How to get from Tirana to Vlore?

You can get from Tirana to Vlore by bus, by taxi or by car. Trains are not operating. Vlore Airport has not opened yet. Let me give you a quick overview of the best ways to get from Tirana to Vlore.

Tirana to Vlore bus

• Tirana to Vlore bus station – Buses from Tirana to Vlore depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.
• The Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is located outside the city centre, so you must take a city bus departing close to Skanderbeg Square (more details below) to the Bus Terminal. Or you can take a metered taxi. 
• Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can get on a bus from Tirana to Vlore.
• Tirana to Vlore bus timetable – Buses from Tirana to Vlore depart at 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 5:55 AM, 6:20 AM, 6:45 AM, 7:10 AM, 7:35 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:25 AM, 8:50 AM, 9:15 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:05 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 and 17:30 PM. 
• Tirana to Vlore bus ticket price – A bus ticket from Tirana to Vlore costs 700 LEK (around 7 EUR) per person.
• The bus drivers from Tirana to Vlore do not have a booking website. So you are expected to pay cash for your bus ticket with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. Carrying a combination of euros in cash and a small amount of Albanian Leke is usually best.

Tirana to Vlore taxi

• Tirana to Vlore taxi price = around 110 EUR 
• A taxi from Tirana to Vlore cost around 110 EUR. This is based on the price list published online by the Tirana Airport Taxi Service. 
• Of course, individual taxi drivers in Albania set their own prices. So you will have to agree on a price with your taxi driver. But the price list of the Tirana Airport Taxi Service is a good indication of what you roughly expect to pay for a taxi from Tirana to Vlore.
• The taxi journey from Tirana to Vlore takes approximately 2.5 hours. 
• If you are looking for a taxi driver in Albania, you can contact popular taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Lux Taxi and Green Taxi via WhatsApp. 
• You can also search Google Maps for “Tirana Taxi” to find phone numbers of individual taxi drivers. Or ask your hotel in Tirana to arrange a taxi driver for you. 
• If you are taking a taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore, you can take the Tirana Airport Taxi Service.
• UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. But you can contact taxi drivers via WhatsApp to get price quotes quickly. 

Tirana to Vlore train

• There are no trains in operation between Tirana and Vlore. 
• In the communist period, there were trains and rails connecting Tirana and Vlore. However, due to a lack of interest, maintenance and investment, there are now no trains between Tirana and Vlore. 
• You can only travel from Tirana to Vlore via the road by bus, by taxi or by (rental) car. 
• A new railway is under construction between Tirana city, Tirana Airport and Durres city, so that is good news for the Albanian Railways. However, this won’t extend to Vlore.

Tirana to Vlore by car

• A rental car at Tirana Airport or in Tirana city costs at least 20-25 EUR a day. 
• However, rental car prices tend to be much higher in the summer months due to the high season.
• There is a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport. The list includes email and phone numbers for each company. You can message the companies via WhatsApp to get quotes quickly.
• Driving from Tirana to Vlore is very straightforward. First, you drive from Tirana to Durres via the SH2 Highway. Then, you take the SH4 from Durres via Kavaje, Rrogozhine and Lushnje to Fier. And finally, you take the SH8 to Vlore. 
• It will take you around 2.5 hours to drive from Tirana to Vlore via the highways mentioned above.

Tirana Airport to Vlore

• A taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore costs 110 EUR, according to the Tirana Airport Taxi Service price list online.
• There are direct buses from Tirana Airport to Vlore. 
• A bus ticket from Tirana Airport to Vlore costs 1200 – 1500 LEK (12-15 EUR) per person.
• Buses from Tirana Airport to Vlore depart at 1:20 AM, 3:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 17:00 PM, 18:30 PM, 20:00 PM, 22:15 PM and 23:30 PM.
• In Albania, it is expected you pay for your bus ticket in cash upon boarding the bus. Bring some cash euros, which are widely accepted. Then you can exchange a small amount for Albanian Leke once you are in the city centre. 

Vlore Airport

• A new airport is under construction in Vlore. 
• Although, there were publications in 2025 about the airport in Vlore opening soon. 
• It is currently 2026, and the airport in Vlore is not operational yet. 
• It is unclear when the new airport in Vlore will start operating and what destinations will be offered.

How to get from Tirana to Vlore by bus?

There are direct buses from Tirana to Vlore. However, these buses depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. This Tirana Bus Terminal is not within a walking distance of the city centre, it is a bit in the outskirts of Tirana. So if you are staying in a hotel in the city centre, you would need to take a bus or taxi to get to the bus terminal, where the bus from Tirana to Vlore departs.

• Tirana to Vlore bus station = Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania.
• Take a taxi or city bus to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal in the outskirts of the city.
• You can see the location of the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rJ9ND4EFPotvTE6s8 
• The Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is near the Casa Italia Mega Outlet. 

Since the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania is within Tirana, taxi drivers usually switch on the taxi meter for this journey. 

If you want to take a city bus to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal, you can go to the central Skanderbeg Square. On Skanderbeg Square, you will see the National History Museum. You must walk to the back of the museum to the Rruga Ded Gjo Luli Street and locate the bus stop. From the bus stop, you must take a bus to “Instituti”, this bus will stop at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. It is best to have some Albanian Leke in cash with you to pay for the bus.

Once you have arrived at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can get on a bus from Tirana to Vlore. I will say that the Tirana Bus Terminal may feel a bit overwhelming as a foreigner. There are small minibuses parked everywhere and bus drivers may approach you to ask where you are going. 

• Tirana to Vlore bus timetable = 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 5:55 AM, 6:20 AM, 6:45 AM, 7:10 AM, 7:35 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:25 AM, 8:50 AM, 9:15 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:05 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 and 17:30 PM. 

Buses from Tirana to Vlore depart between 5:00 AM and 17:30 PM. There is a bus departure from Tirana to Vlore every 25-30 minutes. You can see the Tirana to Vlore bus timetable above.

• How much is a bus from Tirana to Vlore? A bus ticket costs 700 LEK (around 7 EUR) p.p.
• Tirana to Vlore bus ticket price = 700 LEK (around 7 EUR) per person

A bus ticket from Tirana to Vlore costs 700 LEK (around 7 EUR) per person. In Albania, buses must be paid in cash. So if you plan on travelling in Albania by bus, I recommend you have some cash with you. I recommend a combination of euros, which are widely accepted and a small amount of Albanian Leke. The bus from Tirana to Vlore cannot be booked and paid online.

 

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Vlore?

A taxi from Tirana to Vlore will cost you around 110 EUR. This price is based on the price list of the Tirana Airport Taxi Service. The Tirana Airport Taxi Service is one of the few taxi companies in Albania, who have a taxi price list on their website. 

Of course, individual taxi drivers set their own prices. So you will need to agree on a price for a taxi from Tirana to Vlore with your taxi driver. But if you are planning to travel by taxi in Albania, I highly recommend having a look at the taxi price list from the Tirana Airport Taxi Service, so you have an idea beforehand of what price you can expect to pay.

• Tirana to Vlore taxi price = around 110 EUR per taxi
• Tirana to Vlore taxi duration = roughly 2.5 hours
• How long is the taxi from Tirana to Vlore? The taxi journey from Tirana to Vlore takes approximately 2.5 hours. 

The taxi journey from Tirana to Vlore takes approximately 2.5 – 3 hours depending on traffic. A large section of the road from Tirana to Vlore is a highway, so the journey is straightforward. 

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although there are local taxi apps, those do not offer discounted rates, like UBER taxi does. 

If you are looking for a taxi driver in Albania, you can first ask your hotel in Tirana to book a taxi for you. Alternatively, you can contact popular taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Lux Taxi or Green Taxi via WhatsApp. Or you can search Google Maps for “Taxi Tirana” to get phone numbers of individual taxi drivers in Tirana. 

If you are taking a taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore, you can take a taxi from the Tirana Airport Taxi Service. The Tirana Airport Taxi Service is the official taxi service of the airport. The taxis from the Tirana Airport Taxi Service have the airport logo displayed on both sides of the taxi and they are waiting in the official taxi bay in front of the airport. 

Taxi drivers in Albania strongly prefer getting paid in cash. And many taxi drivers may not have a card machine onboard. Therefore, I recommend you carry a combination of euros in cash, which are widely accepted in Albania. And exchange a small amount of currency for the Albanian Leke upon arrival in Albania. Usually, small currency exchange offices in the city center (not at the airport) offer the best rates.

 

Can you fly into Vlore?

Right now, you cannot fly to Vlore Airport. Because Vlore Airport is still under construction and not operational yet. 

New airports are under construction in Vlore and in Saranda. However, the airport in Vlore is still under construction and not operational yet. And the airport in Saranda is still under construction and not operational yet. 

In 2025, there were publications online that suggested Vlore Airport would soon start operating. However, it is currently the spring of 2026 and Vlore Airport is not operational yet. The opening of Vlore Airport has been delayed and it is currently unclear when Vlore Airport will start operating. And if it starts operating, what destinations and routes will be offered.

Can I take a train from Tirana to Vlore?

You cannot take a train from Tirana to Vlore. Although the old railway tracks dating back to the communist period in Albania are visible in the landscape. There are no trains in operation between Tirana and Vlore. 

• Tirana to Vlore train = No trains between Tirana and Vlore.
• You cannot take a train from Tirana and Vlore, as the railway has been closed due to a lack of interest, maintenance and investment. 
• You can only travel from Tirana to Vlore by road with a bus, taxi or car. 

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

At the moment of writing this blog post, there are zero operational trains within Albania. If you look on the website of Hekurudha Shqiptare (Albanian Railways), you will see that all the railway tracks are currently “on maintenance”. This summer, there may be 1-3 operational trains per week between Durres and Peqin, Shkoder and Gjorme or Lushnje and Rrogozhine.

If you are a tourist and you want to experience the old communist railway in Albania, you can check the homepage of Hekurudha Shqiptare HSH for updated train timetables. 

There is some good news for the Albanian Railways. A new railway track is being constructed between Tirana, Tirana Airport and Durres. Perhaps this train and railway will open in 2026. 

How to get from Tirana to Vlore by car?

You can get from Tirana to Vlore by car in about 2.5 hours. The driving route from Tirana to Vlore is quite straightforward. First, you drive from Tirana to Durres via the SH2 Highway. Then, you take the SH4 from Durres via Kavaje, Rrogozhine and Lushnje to Fier. And finally, you take the SH8 to Vlore. 

If you are looking for a rental car. You can find a list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport. Or you can search for “makina me qera Tirane” (meaning: rental car Tirana) on Google Maps. 

Once you have some phone numbers, you can reach out to car rental companies via WhatsApp. And you will usually have several price quotes in minutes. 

INSIDER TIP: I highly recommend doing your research and requesting quotes before you travel. As I have spoken to other travellers who were charged 50-70 EUR a day for a rental car. So it is better to arrange something beforehand via WhatsApp. 

Also whilst driving through Albania by car, it is always good if you have a combination of cash euros and cash Albanian Leke with you. Albania is a cash country. Petrol stations, hotels and restaurants strongly prefer cash. 

How to get from Tirana Airport to Vlore?

You can get from Tirana Airport to Vlore by direct bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore costs 110 EUR. There is a direct bus from Tirana Airport to Vlore which costs 1200 – 1500 LEK (12-15 EUR) per person.

Tirana Airport to Vlore bus

There is a direct bus from Tirana Airport to Vlore. The bus departs from Tirana Airport to Vlore at 1:20 AM, 3:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 17:00 PM, 18:30 PM, 20:00 PM, 22:15 PM and 23:30 PM. A bus ticket from Tirana Airport to Vlore costs 1200 LEK (12 EUR) during day time hours or 1500 LEK (15 EUR) during night time hours. 

You do not need to book your bus ticket online in advance. In Albania, passengers pay for their bus tickets in cash with the bus driver upon boarding the bus. So take some cash euros with you, so that you can pay the bus driver in euros. And then once you are in Vlore, you can exchange a small amount of currency for Albanian Leke. Euros are widely accepted in Albania, so you only need a small amount of Albanian Leke.

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

Tirana Airport to Vlore taxi

A taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore costs 110 EUR. The Tirana Airport Taxi Service is the official taxi service for the airport. The advantage of taking the Tirana Airport Taxi Service is that they have a price list published online, so you always know what you can expect to pay. 

• How much is a taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore? A taxi from Tirana Airport to Vlore costs 110 EUR. 

If you are planning to take a Tirana Airport Taxi, you don’t need to book in advance. The airport taxis are always parked at the taxi bay in front of the terminal building. You can recognize the taxis as they have airport logos displayed on both sides of the taxi.

If you are looking to compare prices, you can reach out to popular taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Green Taxi and Lux Taxi. Or you can find individual taxi driver phone numbers via Google Maps. If you message taxi drivers via WhatsApp, you usually get price quotes within minutes.

 

Is Vlore, Albania worth visiting?

Vlore is worth visiting if you are looking for a coastline city in Albania with beautiful seaviews and lovely restaurants along the promenade. 

Vlore is mainly a beach destination for tourists in the spring and summer months. Its main attraction is the Lungomare Promenade along the beach, where there are palmtrees, many restaurants with seaview and a lovely sandy beach stretching out to the sea. 

Vlore has a round bay with a coastline road leading by the water. The road turns and twists along rock formations and sandy beaches, it is very pretty.

Vlore city is a large coastal city. So you can expect many hotels, apartments, restaurants and shops along the coastline. 

If you are flying to Tirana Airport, going to Vlore Beach is often a great option as it is a 2.5 hour drive from Tirana. On the other hand, Saranda is a 5 hour drive, which is long. If you go to Vlore, you only have a 2 or 2.5 hour drive, which means you can be in Vlore for lunch time, if you start in the early morning. 

Vlore also has a historical city centre, where you can visit Flag Square and the Independence monument. A large statue that symbolizes when Albania declared independence. 

How to spend a day in Vlore?

Here are my top tips for spending a day in Vlore. The highlights I would recommend you visit are Zvernec island, the Lungomare boulevard along the coastline, the independence monument and the museum of independence or take a boat trip to the Karaburun peninsula. 

Zvernec island

Zvernec is a tiny hidden island. The island is a bit hidden, you need to take a small national road for about 20 minutes from the centre of Vlore to get to the island. You can also hire a taxi, if you don’t have a rental car available. 

It is so worth the drive though! When you arrive at Zvernec island, you will immediately see that this is a very picturesque spot. From the mainland you will see a 270 meter long wooden bridge that connects the mainland to the tiny island of Zvernec.

The island is only 430 meters long and 300 meters wide and mostly covered in pine tree forest. But at the front of the island, there is a clearing with a few buildings and a little monastery.

The water surrounding the island is not actually the sea, but rather a lagoon. The Narta Lagoon is a body of water that was separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land.

This destination is mainly a spot to take great pictures. Take some pictures from the mainland looking over the wooden bridge towards the island and then cross the foot bridge to visit the tiny monastery. The Monastery of St. Mary dates back to the 13th-14th century and survived the communist period in Albania.

Insider tip: If you enjoy nature and bird watching this area has Pelicans and Flamingos!​

The Lungomare Boulevard

Vlore is primarily a beach destination. Along the coastline, you can walk along the Lungomare boulevard with its palm trees along the beach. This is a great place for a coffee stop or a lunch with seafood whilst enjoying the sunshine.

Vlore is a large natural bay. It is also worth driving further along the bay for beautiful seaviews and for smaller restaurants with private beaches for swimming. 

The Independence Monument

The Independence Monument is located on Flag Square in Vlore. The large statue is a symbol of Albania’s fight for independence and freedom. 

The statue shows Ismail Qemali, who is proudly holding the Albanian flag. It is basically telling the story of Albania declaring its independence in 1912. The statue is very large and worth a visit during the day or in the evening as the area is lit up. 

The National Museum of Independence

The National Museum of Independence shows Albania’s history and story of the country declaring independence from the Ottoman Empire. It is a traditional museum displaying pictures and documents from Albania’s path to independence after having been part of so many empires like the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. 

Karaburun Peninsula

If you have time, it is worth taking a boat trip from Vlore to the Karaburun Peninsula. By speedboat from Vlore, you can reach some remarkable and remote destinations like Grama Bay and the Blue Cave. Where you can snorkel in stunning blue waters and explore hidden caves. This is well worth your time!

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