How to Get to Albania — All Routes Compared

Albania used to be the Balkans' hard-to-reach corner. Not anymore. Between a fast-growing main airport, a second coastal airport, revived Adriatic ferries and good overland links to every neighbour, there are more ways in than ever — and the right one depends on where you are coming from and where you want to land.

By air

Tirana International Airport (TIA), at Rinas just north of the capital, is the country's main gateway, with year-round flights across Europe and seasonal low-cost routes that multiply in summer. A second airport at Vlorë, on the southern coast, has opened to shorten the journey to the Riviera, and a small airport at Kukës in the north-east handles limited routes. From TIA, Tirana centre is around 30–40 minutes by taxi or the airport bus.

By ferry from Italy

The Adriatic crossings are a scenic, car-friendly option. Overnight and daytime ferries link Bari and Brindisi to Durrës and Vlorë, with longer routes from Ancona and Trieste. Crossings from Bari take roughly eight hours; bringing a vehicle is straightforward and popular with travellers touring the wider Balkans.

By sea from Corfu

In the warm months, fast passenger ferries run between Corfu and Sarandë in well under an hour — the quickest way to fold Albania into a Greek-island trip.

Overland

Buses connect Tirana with Pristina (Kosovo), Skopje and Ohrid (North Macedonia), Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece), and towns in Montenegro. Driving is the same story: the smoothest border is with Kosovo via the modern motorway, while Montenegro brings you in near Shkodër for the Alps.

Which to choose

Fly into TIA for the capital and the north, into Vlorë for the Riviera. Take the ferry if you want your own car or a slower approach. Come from Corfu if you are already in Greece. Whatever the route, allow a little extra time at land borders in peak summer.