Tirana is a fairly compact city and most of its attractions can be found within its centre. You'll most likely get around the central part of Tirana on foot, which is the most efficient way to get around.

However, to get to the bus stations or the cable car to Mount Dajt, for example, you'll probably have to use some form of public transport.

The 10 best hotels in Tirana

There are only public transport buses in Tirana on around 20 routes. There are no trams, metro or public trains.

Public buses

The city's bus system will be quite confusing at first glance, but in reality you just need to know the location of the main bus stops and you'll soon find that travelling by bus isn't that complicated.

You won't find any information about timetables at the stops, or perhaps even maps or numbers of the lines that pass through the stop. Sometimes it will be quite a problem to find the bus stop itself, which is usually marked only by a sign with a pictogram of the bus, often dingy and not very visible. However, the stops in the centre are clearly marked.

You also have to get used to the actual marking of a particular bus line. The number tends to be stuck in white paint on the top of the windscreen, while electronic banners usually only show the destination (and sometimes, somewhat illogically, the origin) station and sometimes even the registration number of the bus, information that is completely useless to passengers.

The only official map of public transport lines can be found on the city's website tirana.al.

Regular public transport buses do not go to Tirana TIA, where there is a special route with higher fares.

Main public transport stops

The vast majority of lines radiate out from Skanderbeg Square in all directions.

The key to success is always finding the right stop in the mummery of the big square. On the outskirts of town or even in the wider centre, finding a stop is not such a problem, at least on the main streets where there is usually a bus shelter.

In Skanderbeg Square and its close surroundings you can use the following stops:

• Airport direction: east side, Rruga Ludovik Shllaku Street (see location on map)
• direction TEG bus station: stop "Dollari" on the west side of the square (see map)
• direction Veri-Jug bus station for some domestic deliveries: buses of the "Tirane-Kamez" and "L.5/A" or "L.5/B" lines, Rruga Dedë Gjo Luli street behind the museum (see location on map)
• direction Dajti cable car: bus line L.11, opposite the airport bus stop (see location on map)

Public transport tickets and prices

There are no time tickets or tourist day passes in Tirana. It is always the case that 1 ticket = 1 bus journey without changing buses.

Tickets on all lines, regardless of the distance travelled, cost 40 all for one journey.

They are always paid inside the bus to the conductor, who walks through the car and actively collects the money himself. There is no need to report to anyone or to actively look for the conductor. You can get on and off through all doors, the conductor will always find you. You can only pay in cash, but it is not necessary to have an exact amount, the conductor will also give change for larger amounts.

Timetables and intervals

Buses run from about 5:30am to 11pm, most lines with a 15 minute interval, sometimes more often, sometimes a little less. Exact timetables are nowhere to be found, and due to the relatively frequent traffic lights and heavy traffic in the centre, buses run quite irregularly.

The busiest connection from the centre is along Rruga Dritan Hoxha, past the international and main national bus stations, to Kamëz. You can get a ride on this route about once every 5 to 10 minutes.

Taxi

Taxis are ubiquitous in Tirana, not least because of the poor quality of public transport.

Officially, they must always use a meter, so if a taxi driver wants to negotiate a price with you, he's probably trying to get more money out of you than you would pay for a metered ride.

The starting rate is 300 all plus 120 all per mile driven + 25 all per 1 minute ride. So taxis are quite expensive in Tirana, prices are comparable to other big European cities for example.

Uber, Bolt or other similar alternative taxi companies do not operate in Tirana.

Intercity transport

Detailed information about travelling by bus from Tirana to other cities, as well as the exact location of all bus stations, is described in the Albania guidebook and its Transport chapter.