{"id":7170,"date":"2026-09-07T09:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T07:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/getting-around-albania"},"modified":"2026-09-07T09:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T07:00:15","slug":"getting-around-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/getting-around-albania","title":{"rendered":"Getting Around Albania: Buses, Furgons and Cars"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.sayna-article .quick,.sayna-article .tip{background:#f4f7fb;border-left:4px solid #467AFF;border-radius:8px;padding:14px 18px;margin:20px 0}.sayna-article .tip{background:#fff7ef;border-left-color:#ff7900}.sayna-article .h{font-weight:700;font-size:1.05em;margin-bottom:6px;color:#0a0a0b}.sayna-article table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:18px 0}.sayna-article th{background:#eef1f7;text-align:left;padding:10px 12px;font-weight:700;border-bottom:2px solid #dfe3ec}.sayna-article td{padding:10px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #eef1f7}.sayna-article .faq details{border-bottom:1px solid #e5e8ee;padding:4px 0}.sayna-article .faq summary{font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;padding:9px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box{background:#fff5ec;border:1px solid #ffd8b0;border-radius:12px;padding:22px;text-align:center;margin:26px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box a{display:inline-block;background:#ff7900;color:#fff;padding:12px 26px;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700;margin-top:8px}<\/style>\n<div class=\"sayna-article\">\n<div class=\"quick\">\n<div class=\"h\">\u26a1 In short<\/div>\n<p><strong>Getting around Albania<\/strong> runs on <strong>furgons<\/strong> (shared minibuses, 3 to 8 \u20ac, leave when full) and <strong>intercity buses<\/strong>. For freedom, hire a <strong>car<\/strong> (35 to 60 \u20ac\/day) to reach coves and villages. In cities, a <strong>local ride-hailing app<\/strong> beats street taxis (Uber and Bolt do not run here). Skip the trains. Driving is assertive but the main highways are newly rebuilt, and your <strong>EU or UK licence<\/strong> works.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\"><span class=\"h\">Stay connected on arrival<\/span> Set up your <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/albania\">eSIM for Albania<\/a> before you go: 100% online activation, no physical SIM to swap.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<nav aria-label=\"Contents\" class=\"toc\">\n<div class=\"h\">Contents<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#furgon\">Furgons: the local backbone<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#buses\">Intercity buses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#car\">Hiring a car<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#driving\">Driving in Albania<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#bolt\">Ride-hailing and taxis in cities<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ferries\">Ferries: Koman, Corfu and Italy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#airport\">From Tirana airport into the city<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#choose\">Which option to choose<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#connected\">Navigating and staying connected<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p>Albania has no slick national transport network, and that is part of its charm. You get around on shared minibuses, rebuilt highways and the occasional ferry across a fjord-like lake. It works, once you understand the unwritten rules.<\/p>\n<p>Here is how to move around the country, town to town and coast to mountain, with the real costs and the quirks worth knowing before you set off.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"furgon\">Furgons: the local backbone<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>furgon<\/strong>, a shared minibus, is how most Albanians travel and how you will too. It is cheap, at <strong>3 to 8 \u20ac for most intercity trips<\/strong>, and covers routes the buses do not.<\/p>\n<p>The rule to accept: a furgon <strong>leaves when it is full<\/strong>, not to a timetable. That means turning up early at the departure point, usually a specific street or lot rather than a formal station, and being ready to wait. Ask your guesthouse the night before where the morning furgon leaves from and roughly when, since the good runs go before lunch and dry up in the afternoon.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"buses\">Intercity buses<\/h2>\n<p>On the busier routes, larger <strong>air-conditioned coaches<\/strong> run alongside furgons, with something closer to a fixed schedule (allow for a 15 to 30 minute delay). Tirana to Saranda, for example, costs about <strong>15 to 18 \u20ac<\/strong>. These are more comfortable for long hauls and worth choosing over a cramped furgon when you have the option.<\/p>\n<p>There is no single national timetable site you can fully trust, so confirm departures locally the day before, and be at the stop early.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"car\">Hiring a car<\/h2>\n<p>For reaching the wild coves, mountain villages and the best of the Riviera, nothing beats your own car. Expect <strong>35 to 60 \u20ac a day<\/strong> for an economy vehicle in summer, plus fuel. A standard saloon handles the main routes fine, you do not need a 4&#215;4 for the classic southern loop.<\/p>\n<p>Your <strong>EU or UK driving licence<\/strong> is accepted, and the minimum hire age is usually 20. For two people planning a lot of coast and mountains, a car often works out barely more than furgons once split, and buys you the freedom buses cannot.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"driving\">Driving in Albania<\/h2>\n<p>Driving here has a reputation, and it is half deserved. The good news: the main highways (Shkod\u00ebr-Tirana, Tirana-Durr\u00ebs, Tirana-Saranda) have been rebuilt and drive well. Off those, expect potholes, wandering livestock and confident overtaking.<\/p>\n<p>Practical advice: drive defensively, keep your distance, and <strong>avoid the mountain roads after dark<\/strong>, where unlit bends and oncoming traffic make for a nervous evening. The <strong>Llogara pass<\/strong> down to the Riviera is the most spectacular drive in the country, so save it for daylight and a clear head.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"bolt\">Ride-hailing and taxis in cities<\/h2>\n<p>Within cities, a <strong>local ride-hailing app<\/strong> is your friend. Neither Uber nor Bolt operates in Albania, so use one of the homegrown apps instead, such as <strong>Speed Taxi<\/strong>, <strong>Vrapon<\/strong> or <strong>Patoko<\/strong>. Rides cost around <strong>2 to 4 \u20ac<\/strong>, with a clear price shown before you book, so you skip the taxi haggling entirely. Street taxis exist but insist on the meter or agree the fare first, as tourist-area drivers will quote high.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"ferries\">Ferries: Koman, Corfu and Italy<\/h2>\n<p>Three ferries are worth knowing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lake Koman ferry<\/strong>: one of Europe&#8217;s great boat rides, through a steep, fjord-like gorge, and the usual way into the Valbona-Theth hiking region.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saranda to Corfu<\/strong>: 30 minutes to an hour across to Greece, easy as a day trip, passport required.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Italy to Durr\u00ebs<\/strong>: overnight ferries from Bari and Ancona, popular for bringing a car.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"tip\">\n<div class=\"h\">\ud83d\udca1 Good to know<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Furgons leave when full. Turn up early and ask your guesthouse for the departure point.<\/li>\n<li>Skip the trains. The network is minimal and very slow.<\/li>\n<li>A standard saloon is enough for the southern loop, including the Llogara pass.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid mountain roads after dark, and save the Llogara pass for daylight.<\/li>\n<li>In cities, use a local ride-hailing app (Speed Taxi, Vrapon) over street taxis for a fair, upfront price.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"airport\">From Tirana airport into the city<\/h2>\n<p>Most trips start at Tirana International Airport (Rinas), about 18 km northwest of the centre. Three ways in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>airport bus<\/strong> (Rinas Express) runs to the centre roughly every hour for a few euros, the cheapest option and fine if you travel light.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>taxi<\/strong> is quick but pricier, and airport drivers quote a fixed fare rather than run the meter, so agree it before you get in.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>local ride-hailing app<\/strong> can be cheaper than an airport taxi if you can catch a signal on arrival, which is exactly the moment a pre-installed eSIM pays off.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you have booked a hire car, the desks are in the terminal, so you can pick up and drive the rebuilt highway straight into town or south toward Berat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"choose\">Which option to choose<\/h2>\n<p>Here is the quick decision guide by traveller type.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>You are<\/th>\n<th>Best option<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>On a tight budget, flexible on time<\/td>\n<td>Furgons + intercity buses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>A couple or group wanting freedom<\/td>\n<td>Hire a car<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>City-based (Tirana, Saranda)<\/td>\n<td>Ride-hailing app + walking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Heading to the northern Alps<\/td>\n<td>Bus to Koman + the lake ferry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Bringing your own car from Europe<\/td>\n<td>Italy to Durr\u00ebs ferry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"connected\">Navigating and staying connected<\/h2>\n<p>However you travel, you will navigate on your phone: checking furgon points, following rebuilt highways that maps sometimes lag behind, calling a ride, and reading real-time driving directions on mountain roads. On exactly those roads, the signal is at its weakest, so reliability matters.<\/p>\n<p>Albania is outside the EU, so your Europe roaming plan will not help. Set up an <a class=\"cta-inline\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/albania\">eSIM for Albania<\/a> before you go, and thanks to our negotiated roaming agreements it connects to several local networks and picks the best available signal, which is exactly what you want on a switchback above the Riviera.<\/p>\n<p>With Orange, the service used by <strong>over 300 million customers<\/strong>, you keep your bearings everywhere: <strong>200+ destinations<\/strong> covered, quick activation by app or QR code, <strong>24\/7<\/strong> human support, and <strong>100% refunded<\/strong> if you do not use your eSIM.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-box\">\n<p>Ready to travel Albania end to end without losing the signal?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/albania\">Discover the Albania eSIM by Orange Travel<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<section aria-label=\"Frequently asked questions\" class=\"faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>What is the best way to get around Albania?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">For flexibility, hiring a car reaches the coves and villages buses miss. For budget travel, furgons and intercity buses link the main towns cheaply. In cities, a local ride-hailing app beats street taxis (Uber and Bolt do not operate in Albania).<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>What is a furgon in Albania?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">A shared minibus, the backbone of Albanian public transport. It costs 3 to 8 euros for most intercity trips and leaves when full rather than to a timetable, so turn up early at the departure point.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Is it safe to drive in Albania?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Manageable but assertive. Main highways are newly rebuilt and drive well, while rural roads have potholes, livestock and confident overtaking. Drive defensively, avoid mountain roads after dark, and an EU or UK licence is accepted.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Are there trains in Albania?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">A few slow trains exist, but the network is very limited and best skipped. Buses and furgons are far faster and more frequent between towns.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>How do you get from Italy to Albania?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Overnight ferries run from Bari and Ancona to Durr\u00ebs, popular for bringing a car, taking roughly 8 to 16 hours depending on the port and vessel.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ilinks\">\n<div class=\"h\">Read also<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/albania\">Albania eSIM<\/a> <span>\u00b7<\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/albania-road-trip-itinerary\">Albania road trip itinerary<\/a> <span>\u00b7<\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/albania-travel-budget\">Albania travel budget<\/a> <span>\u00b7<\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/albania-travel-apps\">Albania travel apps<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":7169,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Getting Around Albania: Buses, Furgons &amp; Cars (2026) | Orange Travel","_seopress_titles_desc":"Getting around Albania in 2026: furgons, intercity buses, car hire, ride-hailing and ferries explained. 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