Despite the well-developed bus service throughout the region, bus stations are not so simple - there are several terminals. The largest are three. They can be found under the names Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, Tirana East Bus Terminal and Tirana City Bus Station. Let's go into more detail.
Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania
Most intercity destinations within Albania, such as Shkoder, Durres, Vlora, Gjirokastra and Saranda, are served by the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania or also known as Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut, located in the Kamez area, about 4 km from the center. Another name is the bus terminal South and North Albania.
- This bus terminal of Tirana on the map: 8QVG+PQ2, Kashar, Albania
The Casa Italia Mega Outlet shopping center is nearby. You will have to take a cab or a city bus to get from the center - you can't get there on foot. There is a bus stop near the National History Museum on Rruga Ded Gjo Luli, where the bus to Instituti runs. It stops at the bus station. It is recommended to have small cash to pay the fare.
Tirana bus station is not a classic big station with a covered building, but rather an organized parking lot with a small pavilion and minimal amenities. But it is gradually growing in infrastructure and less and less resembles a chaotic parking lot, which cannot but please locals and tourists.
Tirana East Bus Terminal
The Tirana East Bus Terminal or TEG is used for international flights. It opened in 2023 and is adjacent to the Tirana East Gate shopping center, which is located at the southern section of the ring road, off the A3 highway and SH3 road. The shopping center is connected to the center of Tirana by several bus routes.
- Address: 7VM3+9W2, Lundër 1, Albania
To get to Tirana Bus Station, you can take a cab or a city bus. Buses #2 and #8 run from the city center to the TEG shopping center. Bus #2 leaves from the former train station north of Skanderbeg Square and passes through the Tirana Zoo to TEG. Bus #8 also departs from the former train station, but travels through the city center, Sauk district and the sanatorium to TEG. You can walk from the shopping center to the bus station.
The infrastructure is better here, because everything you need can be found in the mall itself. In addition to stores, restaurants and restrooms, it has a skating rink, bowling alley, cinema and other entertainment, and nearby is one of the largest SPA-centers in the country. The mall's parking lot has about 3,300 spaces.
This Tirana bus station is the main transportation hub for trips to neighboring countries. Popular destinations:
- Kosovo (Prizren, Pristina)
- North Macedonia (Ohrid, Strumica, Skopje)
- Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki, Ioannina)
- Montenegro (Podgorica, Kotor, Budva)
- Italy (Milan, Bari, Trieste)
- Germany, Croatia and others, depending on the season and carriers
There are also buses from here to the southeast of Albania - Korca, Elbasan and Pogradec.
Tirana city bus station
Tirana city buses and airport buses leave from the terminal near Skanderbeg Square. It takes only 2-3 minutes to walk behind the Palace of Culture towards the Plaza Hotel. The terminal is also called Tirana city buses and airport buses.
- Address: 8RHC+98 Tiranë, Albania
Routes to major attractions, like the Dajti Express cable car or the BunkArt 1 museum, as well as to the airport and the South and North Albania bus terminal, start from here. Buses to the airport usually run every hour around the clock.
Buying bus tickets
You can buy tickets for international flights in advance, but not always for intercity flights. In addition, the current schedule may change. Domestic routes are usually operated by independent companies. These may be individual drivers who don't have websites, apps or online booking, so you'll have to buy tickets directly from the bus. This is why it pays to carry cash with you.
For international flights, tickets can be booked online or bought with cash directly on the spot at the offices at Tirana East Terminal in the TEG shopping center.
Tips for tourists
Keep in mind that because buses are driven directly by drivers, schedules can change. For example, the driver may leave early if the bus is already full, or wait if there are still few passengers. Therefore, if you are traveling this route, we recommend arriving early. It is also the only way to get a better seat - you won't be able to choose one right away.
