Getting Around Albania – Car, Train, Bus & Taxi

Albania Transportation

Albania is a breathtaking example of the beauty of the Balkans. Whether you are driving or taking a bus or train, enjoying the scenery laid out before you will be well worth the journey. Fortunately getting around Albania is fairly straightforward and cheap, with many different transportation options to suit your needs so that enjoying the view is that much easier.

Train

The trains in Albania are very old and never fast, though they do offer unique views. Though there are trains, it is more common to travel by bus or car in Albania now, and the schedules for the trains are questionable at best.

Bus

Buses in Albania are cheap and a great way of meeting people, and you see much more of the countryside than you would squashed up, hurtling along in a furgon, but they tend to take a long time. Road work continues even on Sundays and the roads can be quite bad. Buses also often stop on the way to pick people up or let them off, unlike furgons, which don’t start until they’re full, then only stop occasionally for snacks. The timetables at bus stations are fairly accurate and the buses are reasonably comfortable which makes them a great way for foreigners to navigate the country. It’s best to get yourself a bottle of water – pronounced oowi – before you set off.

Minibus or Furgon

Some visitors to Albania have a great time on the Furgons. These minibuses usually go the same routes as buses, but pick people up until they are full and then make no stops except when people need to get off, making them much faster on certain routes. However, because Furgon timetables are more focused on the number of people riding, arrival or departure times can vary. Pay attention to always get on the furgon with the most people, because that’s the one that will leave first. There will more than likely be several drivers trying to get you to take their furgon but be warned, if you choose one because it looks comfortable but has no one else in it, you could end up waiting for 45 minutes. Furgons are amazing because you can literally go cross-country for about 1o euros.

Rental Car & Taxi

Taxis are common and easy to grab when getting from place to place. Though they are more expensive than buses or furgons, they are not prohibitive for most travelers. Another popular thing to do in Albania is to simply rent a car. You can rent a 4×4 which is very capable of handling the roads and there are some good off-road driving opportunities along the coast and in the mountains.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about getting around Albania.