Tirana → Shkodër
Bus- Duration
- 2h
- Bus fare
- 500 ALL ≈ €5
- Frequency
- Every 30–60 min, 06:00–18:00
Tirana North & South Bus Terminal (Kamëz / Autostrada)Open in Maps
The most reliable route in the country. Sit on the left for Lake Shkodër views.
Getting around
Buses & furgons in Albania
Albania has almost no passenger trains. Here is where the buses actually leave from, roughly when, and what you should expect to pay in cash.
Official sources for up-to-date times
- eTransport.al — the government's official list of intercity bus lines, stations, timetables and operator phone numbers (also an app).
- Google Maps — official intercity timetables are now in Google Maps: choose the bus icon for directions.
- luna.al — Tirana Airport bus: 400 lek to the centre every hour, 24/7; 300 lek to the North & South terminal.
- DPSHTRR — official bus fares are set by distance (for example about 500 lek for 100 km and 910 lek for 200 km).
Mountain vans (Theth, Valbona) and some furgons are not on official lists — book through your guesthouse.
17 routes
Shkodër → Theth
Furgon- Duration
- 3h–3h30
- Bus fare
- 1,200–1,500 ALL ≈ €12–15
- Frequency
- One or two departures, around 07:00
Shkodër bus and furgon stop (Rus / Democracy Square area)Open in Maps
4x4 minibus on a mountain road. Book the night before through your guesthouse — there is no ticket office and no ATM in Theth.
Shkodër → Koman (ferry pier)
Furgon- Duration
- 1h45
- Bus fare
- 700–1,000 ALL ≈ €7–10
- Frequency
- Timed to the 09:00 ferry
Shkodër bus and furgon stop (Rus / Democracy Square area)Open in Maps
Combined furgon + ferry + Valbona transfer tickets are sold by Shkodër hostels and are usually the easiest option.
Koman → Fierzë (Valbona)
Ferry- Duration
- 2h30
- Bus fare
- 1,000–1,500 ALL ≈ €10–15
- Frequency
- Usually 09:00 daily, plus a second summer sailing
Shkodër bus and furgon stop (Rus / Democracy Square area)Open in Maps
The Komani Lake crossing is one of Europe's great boat rides. Cars cost extra and need booking ahead.
Tirana → Berat
Bus- Duration
- 2h–2h30
- Bus fare
- 570 ALL ≈ €6
- Frequency
- Every hour, 06:30–17:00
Tirana North & South Bus Terminal (Kamëz / Autostrada)Open in Maps
Ask to be dropped at the last stop, then take a local bus up to Mangalem.
Tirana → Sarandë
Bus- Duration
- 5h–6h
- Bus fare
- about 1,250 ALL ≈ €13
- Frequency
- Roughly every 2h in summer, plus a night bus
Tirana North & South Bus Terminal (Kamëz / Autostrada)Open in Maps
The direct bus is far more comfortable than changing in Vlorë. Take a jumper — the air conditioning is enthusiastic.
Tirana → Ksamil
Bus + furgon- Duration
- 6h–7h
- Bus fare
- about 1,350 ALL ≈ €14
- Frequency
- Change in Sarandë; local bus every 30–45 min
Tirana North & South Bus Terminal (Kamëz / Autostrada)Open in Maps
There is no useful direct service. Take the Sarandë bus, then the Ksamil/Butrint local bus from the waterfront.
Sarandë → Ksamil
Bus- Duration
- 30 min
- Bus fare
- about 100 ALL ≈ €1
- Frequency
- Every 30–45 min, 07:00–20:00 in summer
Sarandë bus stop (near the ZEKATE / municipality)Open in Maps
The same bus continues to Butrint. Pay the conductor in cash, small notes.
Sarandë → Gjirokastër
Bus- Duration
- 1h30
- Bus fare
- about 280 ALL ≈ €3
- Frequency
- Around 6 departures a day
Sarandë bus stop (near the ZEKATE / municipality)Open in Maps
Several services stop at the Blue Eye turn-off — say "Syri i Kaltër" when you board.
Sarandë → Corfu (Greece)
Ferry- Duration
- 30 min–1h15
- Bus fare
- 2,400–3,200 ALL ≈ €24–32
- Frequency
- 2–5 sailings daily, more in summer
Sarandë bus stop (near the ZEKATE / municipality)Open in Maps
Bring your passport and arrive 45 minutes early for border control. Book online in July and August.
Vlorë → Himarë / Dhërmi
Furgon- Duration
- 1h30–2h
- Bus fare
- about 335 ALL ≈ €3.50
- Frequency
- Every 1–2h in summer, rare in winter
Sarandë bus stop (near the ZEKATE / municipality)Open in Maps
The road crosses the Llogara Pass. Sit on the right going south for the big sea view.
Tirana → Pogradec (Lake Ohrid)
Bus- Duration
- 3h
- Bus fare
- about 655 ALL ≈ €7
- Frequency
- Roughly hourly in the morning
Tirana East Terminal (near TEG / Zoo)Open in Maps
Leaves from the East terminal, not the main one. Continue to Korçë by furgon in about an hour.
Tirana → Korçë
Bus- Duration
- 3h30–4h
- Bus fare
- about 830 ALL ≈ €8.50
- Frequency
- Several morning and afternoon departures
Tirana East Terminal (near TEG / Zoo)Open in Maps
Korçë sits at 850 m and is cool in the evenings even in August.
Tirana Airport (TIA) → Tirana centre
Bus- Duration
- 30–40 min
- Bus fare
- 400 ALL €4.50
- Frequency
- Every full hour, 24 hours a day (Luna Travel)
Tirana International Airport (TIA) bus stopOpen in Maps
In Tirana the bus stops behind the Palace of Opera and Ballet, Skanderbeg Square. Pay cash or card on board, or online at luna.al.
Tirana Airport (TIA) → Tirana North & South terminal
Bus- Duration
- 20–30 min
- Bus fare
- 300 ALL €3.50
- Frequency
- Every full hour, 08:00–18:00 from the airport (07:00–18:00 from the terminal)
Tirana International Airport (TIA) bus stopOpen in Maps
Go straight from your flight to buses for Berat, Vlorë, Sarandë and Shkodër without entering the centre.
Berat → Gjirokastër
Bus + furgon- Duration
- 3h–4h
- Bus fare
- about 700 ALL (plus changes) ≈ €7
- Frequency
- Limited; often a change in Tepelenë or Fier
Berat terminal (on the Tirana road)Open in Maps
One of the trickier connections. Start before 09:00 or consider a private transfer.
Shkodër → Ulcinj / Podgorica (Montenegro)
Furgon- Duration
- 1h30–2h30
- Bus fare
- 800–1,500 ALL ≈ €8–15
- Frequency
- Several morning departures
Shkodër bus and furgon stop (Rus / Democracy Square area)Open in Maps
Border queues are worst on summer weekends. Keep your passport handy, not in the luggage hold.
Terminals
Tirana North & South Bus Terminal (Kamëz / Autostrada)
Serves: Shkodër, Lezhë, Kukës, Vlorë, Sarandë, Gjirokastër, Berat, Përmet
The main long-distance terminal, about 15 minutes northwest of the centre. City bus or a 700–1,000 ALL taxi. Buy from the driver or the kiosk, in cash.
41.3696, 19.7727 · Open in MapsTirana East Terminal (near TEG / Zoo)
Serves: Pogradec, Korçë, Elbasan, Librazhd, Ohrid (North Macedonia)
Used for the eastern lake routes. Furgons to Pogradec leave roughly hourly in the morning.
41.2857, 19.8318 · Open in MapsTirana International Airport (TIA) bus stop
Serves: Tirana centre (Skanderbeg Square), some direct coast buses in summer
Luna Travel buses leave bays 9 and 10 every full hour: 400 ALL to the centre (24/7), 300 ALL to the North & South terminal (08:00–18:00). Taxi about 2,000–2,500 ALL.
41.4147, 19.7206 · Open in MapsShkodër bus and furgon stop (Rus / Democracy Square area)
Serves: Theth, Koman ferry, Tirana, Ulcinj and Podgorica (Montenegro)
The Theth minibus leaves around 07:00 from near the Radio Shkodra roundabout. Book through your guesthouse the night before.
42.0664, 19.5122 · Open in MapsSarandë bus stop (near the ZEKATE / municipality)
Serves: Ksamil, Butrint, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Vlorë, Tirana
The Ksamil and Butrint local bus runs every 30–45 minutes in summer, 100–150 ALL, pay on board.
39.8756, 20.0053 · Open in MapsBerat terminal (on the Tirana road)
Serves: Tirana, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Çorovodë (Osumi Canyon)
A local bus or a 300–400 ALL taxi connects the terminal with Mangalem old town.
40.7128, 19.9669 · Open in MapsGjirokastër roadside stop (lower town, national road)
Serves: Sarandë, Tirana, Berat, Përmet, Ioannina (Greece)
Buses stop on the main road below the old town. It is a steep 20-minute walk or a 300 ALL taxi up to the bazaar.
40.0758, 20.1389 · Open in MapsPogradec lakeside stop
Serves: Tirana, Korçë, Elbasan, Lin, Ohrid border
Furgons to Korçë leave when full, roughly every hour until mid-afternoon.
40.9022, 20.6558 · Open in MapsHow it works
What a furgon actually is
A furgon is a shared minibus with 8–16 seats. Most have no fixed timetable: they leave when full, which in the morning means every 20–40 minutes and after 15:00 may mean not at all. Wave one down from the roadside, tell the driver your stop, and pay in cash when you get off or shortly after boarding.
Mornings only
Albanian intercity transport is a morning business. Most long routes have finished for the day by mid-afternoon, and mountain routes often run once a day, very early. If you have a long journey, plan to travel before noon.
Cash, small notes
Drivers take lek in cash and rarely have change for a 5,000 ALL note. Keep 100, 200 and 500 ALL notes for fares. Euros are sometimes accepted at a poor rate.
Official timetables, no trains
The government publishes licensed bus lines and timetables on eTransport.al (also shown in Google Maps). Bus fares are set by law by distance. Mountain vans and many furgons are not listed, so ask your guesthouse host the evening before.
Bus fares follow the official government distance table (decision no. 92 of 2024); furgon, ferry and border prices are typical figures. Times change without notice, so check eTransport.al or your guesthouse the evening before.
Questions travellers ask
Is there a bus timetable app for Albania?
There is no official national timetable app. LoveAlbania's route finder lists the main bus and furgon routes with terminals, typical departure times and fares.
Where do buses leave from in Tirana?
North and south routes use the North & South Terminal near Kamëz; Elbasan, Korçë and Pogradec use the East Terminal.
How do I get from Shkodër to Theth by public transport?
Take the morning furgon around 07:00 (about 3 hours, 1,200–1,500 ALL). Your guesthouse can reserve a seat.