Tirana Airport to Durrës, Vlorë, Shkodër or the Riviera Without Going Into Tirana

Updated 2026-11-02 · 5 min read · Prices and schedules change — check locally.

Your options from the airport

Direct seasonal buses, taxis, pre-booked transfers or a rental car.

Option	Good for	Tip
Seasonal direct bus	Budget travellers in summer	Look for signs outside arrivals; schedules change every season
Airport taxi	Durrës, Krujë, Shkodër	Agree the full price before leaving
Pre-booked transfer	Late arrivals, families, the Riviera	Fixed price, driver waits if the flight is late
Rental car	Road trips	The motorway starts a few minutes from the terminal

About 30 minutes by road — the easiest first stop.

Taxis and transfers drive straight down the motorway. If no direct bus fits, Durrës has frequent buses onward to the south.

About 1.5 hours by road.

Ask a taxi to drop you at the motorway junction only if you know a bus stops there; otherwise a transfer is simpler, especially at night.

Vlorë is around 2 hours, Sarandë 4–5 hours.

For long trips south a transfer or a night in Durrës or Tirana is often better than arriving late in a small coastal town.

Taxis often take euros, but buses usually want lek.

Use an airport ATM or exchange a small amount for your first bus.