How To Get From Tirana Airport To The City Center 2026

Here you’ll find out how to get from Tirana Airport to the city center. From private transfers to taxis and public transport, keep on reading to learn the best way to go from  Tirana International Airport to the city and vice-versa.

In recent years, tourism has increased in Albania. Thanks to social media, people are discovering the beauty of the Albanian coast, the historic towns and the growing cafe culture in the capital.

Tirana International Airport, also known as Rinas Airport, is the main gateway to the country. In this post, I will show you how to get from Tirana Airport to the city center, with all the options available.

There are many options of transport from Tirana Airport to the city and, which one to choose, will depend a lot on your budget, the level of convenience you need and where your accommodation is.

About Tirana International Airport

Tirana International Airport (TIA) is located only 18km from the city center. It is quite a small airport, considering that it is the main one in the country.

Many of the flights arrive in the early hours, so knowing how to get from Tirana airport to the city center in advance is crucial, so you have enough time to plan your transport.

Tirana Airport offers free wifi. When you go through the arrivals gate, you will find a small crowd waiting for passengers.

There are a few shops and cafes separating the arrivals hall and the check-in area. If you go to the right, you will be in the check-in area, where there are some ATM machines. Going to the left, you will leave the airport.

At Tirana International Airport, duty-free shops can only be found in the departures area, after passport control.

Getting From Sofia Airport To The City Center

How To Get From Tirana Airport To The City Center

Unlike many small airports around the world, the Airport has a good infrastructure. Departing passengers can even do a PCR test at Tirana Airport – I will cover that here, as well.

There are a few money exchange bureaux and car rental companies outside. As for transport for getting from Tirana airport to the city center, these are the options.

Tirana Airport Transfer

To avoid headaches, I booked my Tirana Airport transfer to the city in advance. I used Kiwi Taxi, a company I have been using for years at different airports around the world.

I booked my transfer from Tirana Airport to the city on the same day I was traveling and, about one hour later, I was contacted by the driver via Whatsapp, confirming his name and where at the airport he would be standing. I was much more relaxed, having the driver’s number and arriving the details with him.

My Tirana Airport transfer cost me 24 euros in an economy car, but there are other options if you prefer a luxury car service.

Cheap Tirana Airport transfer to the city center: from 24 euros.

Comfort  Airport-City Centre: from 29 euros for up to four people and three bags.

Tirana Airport Taxi

Another choice of transport from Tirana Airport to the city center is using the airport taxi. I’m used to traveling to certain destinations and finding several unlicensed cab drivers waiting by the arrivals gate.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this doesn’t happen in Albania. You can get your Tirana airport taxi outside, the arrivals terminal.

Taxis at Tirana Airport have a set fee of 2500 leke (around 20 euros.

Tirana Airport Bus

Bus From Tirana Airport To The City

Let me tell you how to get from Tirana Airport to the city center in the cheapest way possible. It will be using the regular Tirana Airport bus service.

I guess there is no need to explain that it is not the most convenient way, depending on where your hotel is located.

The Tirana Airport shuttle bus runs once an hour, from 8am to midnight. If your flight arrives between 11pm and 6am, you may want to choose another option.

This service is done by minibuses, which are quite comfortable and fast, not by normal bus lines.

The bus departs from just outside the airport. As you leave the arrivals hall, walk straight ahead for about 50 meters and you will see the dark silver minibus. The far on the Tirana Airport bus is 300 leke (around 2.5 euros) and you can pay either in leke or in euros, in which case they will charge you 3 euros, for rounding sake.

Bus From The City To Tirana Airport

When going back to Tirana Airport by bus, go to the small park behind Skanderbeg Square. The exact location is here. The Tirana Airport shuttle bus departs from 7am to 11pm, every hour.

Tirana Hotel Suggestions

In Tirana, I stayed at Lot Boutique Hotel, located bang in the city center, a few meters from Skanderbeg Square and super convenient if you are taking the Tirana Airport bus to the city. The hotel is very comfortable and great value for money. Booking.com customers rate it 9.2/10.

Another option is VH Premier AS Tirana Hotel. This is a budget hotel in the city center, around 2km from the airport bus stop. Although rated 7.8 by Booking.com guests, I found the hotel very good for the price they charge.