Short answer: rent a car if you’re covering multiple regions and want flexibility, use furgons if you’re on a budget and don’t mind a bit of chaos, and book a private transfer for anything with a flight or a hotel check-in attached to it. Albania doesn’t have trains worth mentioning, and there’s no Uber. What it does have is a transport system that works, once you understand the logic behind it.
We hear this question constantly from guests booking their stay at Vila Barbaut on Karpen Beach, usually somewhere between “is this actually safe” and “how do I get from the airport to you.” So here’s the honest version, not the sanitized brochure one.
The four ways to get around Albania
| Option | Cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car | ~€25–45/day | Flexibility, multi-region trips | Aggressive local driving style, patchy roads outside main routes |
| Furgon (shared minibus) | €1–15 per ride | Budget travel, short hops | No fixed schedule, no English guaranteed |
| Intercity bus | €3–20 per ride | Tirana–Durrës–Vlorë main routes | Limited routes, cash only |
| Private taxi/transfer | €25–70+ | Airport pickup, families, no hassle | Agree the price before you get in |
None of these is objectively “best.” It depends on whether you value your time more than your money, and how much you enjoy a bit of adventure.
Renting a car in Albania
If your itinerary includes more than one region — say, the coast and the mountains, or Durrës and Berat — a rental car is genuinely the easiest option. Roads on the main coastal route are in good shape these days, especially since the Llogara Tunnel cut a big chunk off the old mountain pass. Google Maps works fine for navigation.
The part people aren’t prepared for is the driving style. Albanian drivers pass on blind corners, treat lane markings as loose suggestions, and will happily make a U-turn in the middle of a highway. It’s not dangerous in the sense of crime — it’s dangerous in the sense that you need to stay alert. If you’ve driven in southern Italy or the Balkans before, you’ll adapt within a day. If this is your first time driving outside the US, budget some extra patience.
One practical note: parking in Tirana is a headache. If your trip is coast-focused, consider picking the car up on your way out of the city rather than driving it around Tirana itself.
Furgons: Albania’s shared minivans
A furgon is a privately run shared minibus, usually a Mercedes Sprinter seating 8 to 15 people, that runs between towns. There’s no company behind it, no app, no printed schedule. The driver owns the van, collects your cash, and decides when to leave — which is “when it’s full,” not at a set time.
Here’s how it actually works: you find where the furgons for your destination gather (ask literally anyone local, they’ll know), you get in, and you wait. In peak summer that might be five minutes. In November it might be twenty. Along the way, the driver will stop for anyone waving from the roadside, and you can ask to get off anywhere by saying “Ndal” (stop).
Fares run roughly 800–1,200 lek for a typical hop — call it $10–15 USD — which makes this the cheapest way to move between towns by a wide margin. The tradeoff is unpredictability. If you have a flight to catch or a hard deadline, don’t build your day around a furgon.
Intercity buses
For the handful of major routes — Tirana to Durrës, Tirana to Vlorë, Tirana to Shkodër — there are proper buses running more consistently than furgons, though still cash-only and without online booking in most cases. Tirana doesn’t have one central bus station; departures split between two hubs depending on direction, so it’s worth confirming which one you need before you head out.
FlixBus also runs a handful of international routes through Albania if you’re combining this trip with Greece, Montenegro, or North Macedonia.
Taxis and private drivers
Marked taxis are considered safe and are the recommended option for point-to-point travel, according to the US State Department’s Albania travel guidance. They cost more than a furgon but far less than you’d expect coming from Western Europe. Always agree the fare before you get in, since meters aren’t consistently used outside Tirana.
For anything airport-related, a private transfer is worth the extra cost. You skip the uncertainty entirely, and someone is actually waiting for you with your name on a sign.
Getting from Tirana Airport to the Adriatic coast
If you’re staying with us, this is the one that actually matters. Tirana International Airport sits roughly 45 minutes from Vila Barbaut by car, and about an hour from Durrës. Three realistic options:
- Private transfer — the easiest by far, especially after a long-haul flight. Get in touch before you arrive and we can arrange this directly.
- Rental car from the airport — makes sense if you’re planning day trips to Durrës or Tirana during your stay anyway.
- Taxi — available at the airport rank, agree the price up front. Expect somewhere in the €35–50 range depending on traffic and season.
Furgons technically run near the airport too, but they’re not designed for someone landing with luggage after a nine-hour flight. Save that experience for a day trip once you’re settled in.
Getting around once you’re on the coast
Once you’re based at Vila Barbaut, you genuinely don’t need a car for the beach itself — our private beach is a short walk from every room. But most guests want at least one or two days exploring beyond Karpen Beach.
Durrës, with its Roman amphitheatre dating back to the 2nd century, is 25 km away — an easy half-day trip by taxi or rental car. Tirana is about 45 minutes and worth a full day if you’re into museums, restaurants, or just wandering the Blloku neighborhood. Closer to home, the coastline itself is walkable, and several guests rent bikes locally for the flatter stretches. Our Tips for Trips page has more on Bashtova Castle and a few of the quieter spots nearby that don’t show up in most guidebooks.
Our honest take
If we’re being direct about it: for a coast-based stay like the one most Vila Barbaut guests plan, you don’t need a rental car for the whole trip. A private transfer in from the airport, then a rental or a couple of taxi rides for day trips to Durrës and Tirana, covers almost everyone’s itinerary without the hassle of navigating Albanian roads for a week straight. If you’re combining your stay with a wider Albania road trip — down to the Riviera, up to the mountains — then yes, rent the car from day one.
Either way, reach out before you arrive and we’re happy to help you figure out the logistics specific to your dates.
FAQ
Is it easy to get around Albania without a car?
Yes, for the main coastal and city routes. Furgons and buses cover the country reasonably well, though schedules are informal. It gets harder the further you go from main roads — mountain villages like Theth are a different story.
Is driving in Albania safe?
Mechanically and criminally, yes — Albania has ranked as a relatively safe country in global peace indexes. The actual challenge is the local driving style, which is aggressive by US standards. Stay alert, especially around Tirana.
What is a furgon?
A privately operated shared minibus that runs between Albanian towns with no fixed schedule — it leaves once it’s full. It’s the cheapest and most common way locals travel, and tourists use them too.
Does Albania have trains?
Not in any practical sense. The old rail network was retired and never replaced. Furgons and buses fill that role instead.
How do I get from Tirana Airport to Kavajë or Durrës?
Private transfer, rental car, or airport taxi are your three realistic options, roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on your exact destination. Contact us if you’re staying at Vila Barbaut and we’ll help arrange it.
Can you use Uber in Albania?
No. Ride-hailing apps aren’t available. Marked taxis are the standard alternative and are considered safe.