All you need to know about Tirana

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Tirana, Albania’s capital is full of surprises. Located in Europe, Tirana isn’t a typical European city like Frankfurt or Pisa. It falls more towards the Asian type like Istanbul.

We found exploring Tirana quite interesting. Starting from busy streets with jam-packed shops, bustling coffee shops, restaurants, and late-night activities you have it all. Strolling through the streets is lively.

Palace Albania

On top of all, Tirana is very affordable with private rooms from 20€/night very close to the city center. Food is dirt-cheap; doner costs ~ 1.7€.

Can it get any better?

Here are the top things you need to know before visiting Tirana. These essential Tirana travel tips help you as a travel guide during your visit.

What’s the first thing you do when you reach the destination airport?

Hit the ATM, withdraw some cash, and then look out for a sim card store.

Currency exchange in Tirana

The official currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek (ALL or lek). But Euro is widely accepted except in public buses.

  • 1 Euro ~ 122 ALL
  • 1 Indian rupee ~ 1.39 ALL

Tirana international airport has one currency exchange point and a few ATMs. We reached the airport around 12 am and found the exchange point still open for tourists. But as expected the exchange price was low, 1 Euro ~ 118 ALL.

There are a few ATM machines adjacent to the exchange center.

Best ATM: At the city center, use your cards at the CREDINS Bank ATM. They offered a good exchange price for my Wise card.

Sim card selection

Three major operators rule in Albania. They are

  1. Vodafone
  2. One Telecommunications
  3. ALBtelecom

Vodafone is the cheapest compared to the other two and offers very good coverage.

  • 1 gb data – 500 ALL
  • 3 gb data – 1000 ALL

To know more, check this guide to buy a sim card in Tirana.

Tirana Bus station

Tirana has two main bus stations to travel inside the country.

  1. Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut or North Terminal
  2. Terminali i Autobuzëve Juglindje or Southeastern Albania Regional Bus Terminal

Albania is a very small country, you can reach anywhere within five hours. Buses to famous cities like Durrës, Berat, Shkodër, Fier depart from the North Terminal bus station.

Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut

Once you reach the bus station, don’t imagine a big bus waiting to take you to the desired city. The country’s population is a little less than 3 million. So most of the routes from Tirana operate through a minivan or Furgon. They depart to all major cities or towns every half an hour.

This North terminal was earlier located at the Dogana roundabout but not anymore. Therefore we ended up getting down two stops before the destination.

Once you get on the bus, just ask someone to help you when Casaitalia comes. It is a big shopping store in front of the main bus station.

Pro-tip: Never ask a local, ‘Which bus to take for terminali?’ Since both bus stations are Terminali, there are good chances that they may misguide you. Better ask showing google maps. 

Terminali i Autobuzëve Juglindje

Similar to the North terminal, a smaller version of the bus station exists in Southeastern Tirana. Buses to places like Pogradec, Korçë depart from here.

Both the bus stations have plenty of Furgons waiting to leave. Each one has the destination written on it.

If you can’t find your Furgon, don’t worry. The drivers are calling out the city name loud and clear. Mostly the owners are the drivers.

Pro-tip: There are no night buses operating from Tirana or any city in Albania. 18.00 or 18.30 should be the last bus. So have a look at the time table and plan accordingly. 

International bus travel

Apart from the two bus terminals for domestic travel, the terminal at Terminali i Autobuzave Ndërkombëtarë is for International travel. You can find a lot of travel agencies clustered on one side.

For International travel

Public transport

Tirana public transport is highly efficient taking you to all corners of the city. Most of the important tourist attractions in Tirana are reachable by foot. You will need the buses only to reach the three bus terminals, the Bunk art Museum or a cable car ride (Dajti Ekspres).

The public buses in Tirana are a bit confusing for a tourist. Almost all buses pass through Skanderberg square. Since the Square is a big circle, there are multiple bus stops around it. So first know in which direction you should go and then ask locals for the bus number.

Google Maps also don’t show you the bus numbers which makes it even harder. For the most important destinations, I have marked the bus stop

Prices:
All public buses have only one price – 40 lek. It doesn’t matter how long you travel, the price is fixed at 40 leks.

Unlike other European cities where you can either buy the ticket directly with the driver or use a transport card, Tirana has a conductor.

Once you get on the bus, no matter how crowded the bus is, the conductor will find you. Pay him directly and buy the ticket. There is no one-day ticket, but you can find monthly passes which aren’t useful for a tourist.

Pro-tip: Apart from numbers, buses in Tirana are differentiated with colors. So try getting a local’s help with color. 

Tirana International airport (TIA) to the city center

Airport Shuttle runs from Tirana city center every day to the airport and vice versa. During busy hours, large buses operate and during other times, the shuttle is a minivan or furgon.

Once you come out of the terminal, head straight to the parking place to find a furgon with the board TIRANA or get a local’s help to guide you.

Shuttle price and timings

  • Price: 300 lek/person one way, buy directly with the driver
  • Tirana –> TIA – 7.00 to 23.00 every hour
  • TIA –> Tirana – 8.00 to 24.00 every hour

Pro-tip: Even if you arrive late night, just inform the shuttle operator (LUNA) by e-mail ([email protected]; [email protected]). He will wait until you arrive. 

Taking a taxi from the airport will cost you about 20€. Tirana-airport website has all information you need to know about airport shuttles, renting a car, or taxi.

In case you have any questions during your stay, visit the Tirana tourist information center.

Ice cream

Almost every street in Tirana has an ice cream shop and every shop has its own unique flavors. The prices range from 50 – 80 lek and the taste is totally worth it.

 

You must definitely try the Baklava or Kadaif ice cream at the Embeltore BEHARI, the best we have had on our trip.

Restaurants, coffeeshops

What’s the prettiest thing you will see in Tirana? Definitely the coffee shops. Albanians start their day with Raki (an alcoholic drink) and coffee. Mornings are the busiest times in Tirana. Tirana’s local cuisine is delicious.

Prices

  • Cappuccino ranges from 150 – 200 lek
  • Takeaway Espresso should cost ~40 lek.
  • Chocolate cake ~ 200 lek
  • Coffee powder ~ 125 lek

Time of visit: June 2021

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