Is there a direct bus from Tirana airport to Saranda?
No. The airport's own list of bus services has six lines, to central Tirana, the South and North Bus Terminal, Durrës, Fier, Vlorë and Shkodër, and none of them goes to Sarandë.
By public transport the journey is therefore two legs: an airport bus to the South and North Bus Terminal, then an intercity bus south. The airport says that terminal line exists to connect passengers with buses to cities in the south and north of the country.
Leg one: the airport bus to the bus terminal
It leaves the airport every full hour from 08:00 to 18:00, costs ALL 300 and takes 20 min–30 min, according to the airport.
Land after the last one and this leg is gone until morning. The separate line to central Tirana, which stops behind the Palace of Opera and Ballet, runs round the clock, every full hour, for ALL 400.
These are all the lines the airport lists that head south or into Tirana:
| Line | Leaves the airport | Fare | Journey |
|---|---|---|---|
| South and North Bus Terminal | Every full hour, 08:00–18:00 | ALL 300 | 20 min–30 min |
| Central Tirana (Opera and Ballet) | Every full hour, day and night | ALL 400 | 30 min–40 min |
| Fier (shuttle) | 08:00 · 09:00 · 10:00 · 11:00 · 12:00 · 14:00 · 15:30 · 16:30 · 17:30 · 19:30 · 21:00 · 01:00 | ALL 1,000 | — |
| Vlorë (shuttle) | 03:30 · 11:00 · 12:30 · 14:00 · 16:00 · 18:00 · 20:00 · 22:15 | ALL 1,200 | — |
Leg two: where is the Tirana–Sarandë bus timetable?
On eTransport, the national platform that, in the airport's words, gathers all the official bus lines, stations and schedules in Albania.
We do not copy those times here, because the official platform is where they are kept up to date. Look up your travel date there before you land, and leave room for the change at the terminal.
Landing late: what still runs south?
The last terminal bus leaves the airport at 18:00. After that, the airport's list still has shuttles to Fier at 19:30, 21:00 and 01:00, and to Vlorë at 20:00 and 22:15.
Neither town is Sarandë, so you would still need a connection from there. At any hour, the options the airport lists are the round-the-clock bus to central Tirana and the official taxi.
How much is a taxi from Tirana airport to Saranda?
The airport does not publish that fare. Its official taxis are run by Auto Holiday Albania (AHA), which, says the airport, specialises in transfers between the airport and all Albanian cities, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The only price on the airport's page is about ALL 2,200 one way to central Tirana, a ride of 20 min–25 min. For Sarandë, ask for the fare when you book through the operator's online form.
Use only licensed taxis: the airport describes them as yellow, with the Auto Holiday Albania logo and the airport logo on both sides.
Before the first night in Sarandë
Fares on the airport's list are in lek, so carry some or read our guide to lek and euros first. Heading for Dhërmi rather than Sarandë? The Llogara Pass and Dhërmi picks up the road from Vlorë.
Once you arrive, Sarandë by day covers the seafront and the castle above it, and Sarandë's clubs take over after dark. The border papers are in entering Albania with an ID card.
