Tirana Airport to City Centre: Bus, Taxi & Transfer Prices 2026

The cheapest way from Tirana Airport to the city centre is the airport bus run by Luna: it leaves every hour, around the clock, takes 30–40 minutes to the stop behind the Palace of Opera and Ballet near Skanderbeg Square, and costs ALL 400 (≈ €4). The quickest door-to-door option is an official airport taxi at about ALL 2,200 (≈ €23), taking 20–25 minutes. To have a driver waiting in arrivals instead, compare operators on our Tirana Airport transfers page.

Tirana Airport to city centre: quick comparison

Option	Price	Journey time	Runs	Best for
Airport bus (Luna, “Rinas Express”) to the centre	ALL 400 (≈ €4)	30–40 min	Every hour, 24/7	Solo travellers, light luggage
Airport bus to the North and South bus terminal	ALL 300 (≈ €3)	20–30 min	Hourly, daytime only	Onward buses to Saranda, Berat and other towns
Official airport taxi	About ALL 2,200 (≈ €23)	20–25 min	24/7	Door-to-door, late arrivals
Local taxi apps	Price shown in the app	As taxi	Supply varies	App users
Pre-booked private transfer	Fixed price agreed in advance	As taxi in town	24/7	Families, groups, Durrës and the coast

Albania uses the lek (ALL), not the euro. Euro figures here are approximate conversions at about €1 = ALL 97. Bus fares are per person; taxi and transfer prices are per vehicle.

How to get from Tirana Airport to Tirana city centre

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA), often called Rinas after the nearby village, lies about 17 km north-west of central Tirana, just off the Tirana–Durrës motorway. There is no train or tram to the terminal yet, so you will travel by road: airport bus, taxi or a pre-booked car. The centre, around Skanderbeg Square, the Blloku district and the Grand Park, is compact, so most hotels are a short walk or taxi ride from the bus stop.

Tirana Airport bus (Rinas Express) to the city

The airport bus is operated by Luna (LU-NA shpk) and is still widely known by its old name, Rinas Express. According to the airport, it runs 24 hours a day in both directions, leaving every hour on the hour. The fare is ALL 400 (≈ €4) for every passenger, paid on board; carry small notes in lek, as change for large notes or euros is not guaranteed. The ride takes 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.

The bus waits outside the terminal building – follow the bus signs after you leave arrivals. In the city it stops behind the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet (Palace of Culture), on the east side of Skanderbeg Square, which is within walking distance of many central hotels. For the return trip, board at the same spot; buses leave the city every hour too.

Airport bus to the North and South bus terminal

Luna also runs a separate airport line to Tirana’s North and South bus terminal, where intercity buses leave for the rest of the country. It costs ALL 300 (≈ €3), takes 20–30 minutes and runs hourly in the daytime: from the airport roughly 08:00–18:00 and from the terminal roughly 07:00–18:00. Take this one if you are heading straight on to Berat, Gjirokastër or Saranda by bus.

Tirana Airport taxi price

The official airport taxis are yellow, carry the “TAXI Tirana Airport” branding with the operator and airport logos on both sides, and wait in front of the terminal and at the pick-up area. The airport gives the fare to Tirana centre as about ALL 2,200 one way (≈ €23), with a journey time of 20–25 minutes depending on traffic. They operate 24/7 and can also be booked by phone or online through the operator.

The fare is per car, so for two or three people sharing it is not much more than the bus per head. Confirm the price with the driver before setting off and check whether card payment is possible; carrying enough lek in cash avoids arguments. Avoid unmarked cars and drivers who approach you inside the terminal – stick to the branded taxis at the rank or a transfer you have booked.

Uber, Bolt and taxi apps in Tirana

Uber and Bolt do not operate in Albania. A few local apps cover Tirana and the airport, and show a price before you book, but availability can be patchy, especially at night. If you plan to use one, install it and register before you travel. For an arrival with no surprises, the official taxi or a pre-booked transfer is simpler.

Is there a train from Tirana Airport?

Not yet. A new electrified railway between Tirana and Durrës, with a branch of about 5.7 km to the airport, has been under construction for several years. Albanian reports in 2026 describe the planned service as taking about 20 minutes from Tirana to the airport and about 36 minutes from Tirana to Durrës, but passenger trains are not expected before 2027. Until it opens, ignore any guide that suggests taking a train from Rinas.

Pre-booked private transfers from Tirana Airport

Into central Tirana, the bus and the official taxi cover most needs. A pre-booked transfer is worth considering if:

• you arrive late at night and want certainty rather than waiting for the hourly bus;
• you are travelling with children and need child seats;
• you are a group of five or more, or have a lot of luggage, and need a minivan;
• you are going straight on to Durrës, the Riviera, Saranda or Shkodër, where a fixed price for a long drive is easier than agreeing a taxi fare on the spot;
• you want a driver to meet you in arrivals with a name sign and track your flight if it is delayed.

Our Tirana Airport transfers page lists local operators you can contact and book directly. They include Tirana Airport Shuttle, T-Run Taxi Tirana, Albania VIP Transfer, Minibus.al and AMS Taxi Durrës. Ask whether the quoted price is per vehicle, in lek or euros, and how long the driver will wait if your flight is late. For getting around the capital after you arrive, see our Tirana transfers and taxis page.

Getting from Tirana Airport to Durrës, Shkodër, Saranda and Vlorë

Tirana Airport to Durrës

Durrës, Albania’s main port and nearest beach resort, is about 30 km from the airport, roughly 30 minutes by car in normal traffic; summer weekends can be much slower. A direct airport coach run by Adis costs ALL 600 (≈ €6) and, according to the airport, leaves the airport at 08:30, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00 and 23:00. For a door-to-door ride to a beach hotel, see our Durrës transfers page.

Tirana Airport to Shkodër

Shkodër, the gateway to Lake Shkodër and the Albanian Alps (Theth and Valbona), is to the north. A direct airport coach by Hermes costs ALL 1,000 (≈ €10), with four departures a day from the airport listed by the airport at 11:15, 12:45, 17:30 and 20:10. By car allow roughly two hours.

Tirana Airport to Saranda

Saranda, on the southern coast facing Corfu, is about 260 km away. Expect around 4.5–5 hours by car on the inland road via Fier and Tepelenë, longer on the scenic coastal road over the Llogara Pass. There is no direct bus from the airport: take the Luna terminal bus (ALL 300) and then an intercity bus from Tirana, which costs around ALL 1,500 (≈ €15) and takes four and a half to five hours or more. Many travellers to Saranda book a transfer for the whole trip.

Tirana Airport to Vlorë and Fier

Airport coaches also run to Vlorë (ALL 1,200, ≈ €12) and Fier (ALL 1,000, ≈ €10) several times a day; check the latest timetable on the airport website before travelling. A new airport near Vlorë was scheduled to receive its first seasonal flights from June 2026, so if you are heading to the southern coast it may be worth checking whether any flights from your country now land there instead.

Getting back to Tirana Airport for your flight

For the return trip, the Luna airport bus leaves from the same stop behind the Palace of Opera and Ballet every hour. Because it runs only once an hour, check the next departure and leave a generous margin: aim to reach the terminal at least two hours before a flight outside the Schengen area, which covers all flights from Albania. A taxi from the centre takes 20–25 minutes in normal traffic, but the airport road can back up in the morning and evening rush hours. If you are staying in Durrës, the Adis coach leaves Durrës for the airport at fixed times between 06:00 and 21:00, according to the airport timetable.

Tips for arriving at Tirana Airport

• Night arrivals: the airport says the Luna bus runs hourly through the night, but check the latest timetable, and after a long flight with bags a taxi or pre-booked transfer is usually easier.
• Cash: withdraw some lek from an ATM in arrivals for the bus and small purchases. Euros are accepted in some tourist places, but change is usually given in lek.
• Payment by card: do not assume a taxi accepts cards; ask before you get in.
• Unlicensed drivers: use only the branded yellow airport taxis or a company you booked in advance, and agree the price before the trip.
• Tipping: not required; rounding up the fare is common for good service.
• Traffic: the airport road and the Tirana–Durrës motorway get busy at rush hour and on summer weekends, so allow extra time when you fly out.