How to get around Albania — bus, car, ferry, plane

Albania is small enough to cross in a day and varied enough that how you move shapes the whole trip. There is no domestic passenger rail worth planning around and almost no internal flights, so the real choice is between shared road transport and your own set of wheels. Get the balance right and you can pair the cheap, sociable rhythm of local buses with a few days of freedom in the mountains.

Buses and the furgon

Intercity buses and their smaller cousin, the minibus known locally as the furgon, cover nearly every route between towns. They are inexpensive, run frequently on busy corridors like Tirana–Shkodër or Tirana–Sarandë, and thin out sharply on Sundays and in the evening. Timetables are loose; furgons often leave when full rather than on the clock. Pay the driver in cash, keep small lekë notes handy, and ask your guesthouse where the departure point is, since stops are informal and can move.

Renting a car

A car unlocks the two places buses struggle to reach: the Riviera and the Alps. The coastal road over the Llogara Pass and the switchbacks toward Theth reward you with scenery no bus window can match. Roads have improved fast, but expect the occasional pothole, livestock on mountain lanes, and confident local overtaking. An international permit is wise, fuel stations are common on main routes, and you will want a smaller car for tight village streets.

Ferries

The most memorable ride in the country is the Koman Lake ferry, a slow morning crossing through a fjord-like reservoir that links the road network to Fierzë and the trailheads near Valbonë. On the coast, seasonal boats hop between Riviera coves and across to Corfu. Book the Koman ferry ahead in summer.

Putting it together

Many travellers do a hybrid: buses or furgons for the cities, then a rental for a mountain or Riviera loop. Whatever you choose, build in slack — Albanian journeys almost always take a little longer than the map promises.