Albania operates no passenger rail network as of 2024. The government suspended the last remaining route between Durrës and Tirana in 2013. Freight rail exists on limited sections of track inherited from the communist era, but tourists cannot access these services.
Furgons serve as the primary intercity transport method. These are privately operated minivans that depart when full rather than on fixed schedules. They connect all major cities and many smaller towns. Furgons from Tirana to Berat take approximately two hours. Tirana to Shkodër requires roughly two hours. Tirana to Gjirokastër takes five to six hours. Drivers typically wait at designated lots near city centers until twelve to fifteen passengers board. No advance booking system exists for most routes. Payment happens directly with the driver in Albanian lek.
The SH1 highway connects Tirana to the Kosovo border via Kukës. The SH2 runs from Fier through Vlorë to Sarandë along the coast. The SH4 links Tirana to North Macedonia through Elbasan. The SH8 follows the Adriatic coast from Shkodër through Durrës to Vlorë. Pavement quality varies significantly. The coastal road between Llogara Pass and Sarandë includes steep grades and narrow sections without guardrails. The road to Theth and Valbonë Valley remains unpaved gravel requiring high clearance vehicles. Mountain roads close regularly during winter months due to snow.
Car rental agencies operate in Tirana and Durrës. International companies include Hertz, Avis, and Europcar. Local agencies offer lower prices but variable vehicle conditions. Manual transmission vehicles predominate. An international driving permit alongside a home country license satisfies legal requirements. Insurance coverage requires careful verification as many policies exclude unpaved roads and mountain areas. Fuel stations concentrate in cities and along major highways. Remote areas like the Albanian Alps have gaps exceeding fifty kilometers between stations.
Buses serve some intercity routes but less frequently than furgons. The company Gjirafa Travel operates scheduled buses from Tirana to Pristina, Kosovo. The trip takes approximately five hours. Other companies run from Tirana to Thessaloniki, Greece. Domestic bus schedules change without published notice. The North-South Highway construction project begun in 2006 improved travel times between Tirana and Kosovo but remains incomplete in sections as of 2024.
Taxis operate in all cities. Tirana taxis use meters by legal requirement as of 2018 though enforcement remains inconsistent. Drivers sometimes refuse to activate meters for tourists. The ride-sharing application Bolt functions in Tirana and Durrës. Traditional taxis charge approximately 300-400 lek for trips within Tirana center. Airport transfers to the city center run 2,000-3,000 lek depending on negotiation.
Durrës serves as Albania's only significant ferry port. Companies including Adria Ferries, European Ferries, and Ventouris Ferries operate routes to Bari, Italy with crossing times of eight to ten hours. Ancona, Italy connections take fifteen to seventeen hours. Ferries run year-round with reduced frequency November through March. Foot passengers pay 50-70 euros one-way depending on season. Vehicle transport adds 60-100 euros. Sarandë offers seasonal ferry service to Corfu, Greece. The crossing takes thirty minutes and operates April through October with multiple daily departures in summer reducing to one daily in shoulder season.
Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza sits thirteen kilometers northwest of the capital. It serves as Albania's only international airport handling scheduled passenger flights. Ryanair, Wizz Air, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines operate regular routes. The Rinas Express bus connects the airport to Tirana center every hour from 0600 to 1800 for 400 lek. Travel time is thirty to forty minutes depending on traffic. No rail connection exists.
Urban public transport in Tirana consists of buses only. The municipality operates approximately 150 buses on fifteen routes. A single ride costs 40 lek paid to the driver. Buses run from approximately 0530 to 2200. No metro, tram, or trolleybus system exists. The cable car Dajti Ekspres opened in 2005 connecting Tirana to Dajti Mountain. The trip takes fifteen minutes and costs 1,000 lek return. It operates 0900 to 2000 in summer and 0900 to 1700 in winter when weather permits.
Cycling infrastructure remains minimal. Tirana added bike lanes on several central streets starting in 2020 but the network does not connect comprehensively. Mountain biking routes exist informally in Dajti National Park and the Albanian Alps. No bike-sharing system operates in any Albanian city as of 2024. Bike rentals are available through private shops in Tirana, Shkodër, and Berat.
Domestic flights do not operate within Albania due to the country's small size and limited airport infrastructure. Helicopter charter services exist primarily for emergency medical transport rather than tourism.