Buses and furgons
The backbone of Albanian transport is the furgon — a shared minibus that plies a fixed route but has no fixed schedule. Flag one down anywhere along its route and pay cash when you arrive. For long-distance travel, regular buses connect the major cities: Tirana to Saranda takes about 5 hours (500–800 lek), Tirana to Shkodër about 2 hours. Schedules are loose; the app/site Gjirafa is the most reliable source for departure times. Bus stations in Tirana are spread around the city by destination rather than consolidated in one terminal.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Metered taxis operate in Tirana and other cities. Agree on a price before getting in, or use the Bolt app, which works in Tirana. Uber does not operate in Albania.
Driving
If you want to explore the country at your own pace — especially the Albanian Riviera, the Accursed Mountains, or the interior — a rental car is the best option. Roads have improved enormously since the 1990s but mountain roads can be narrow and unmarked. Albania has zero tolerance for drink-driving. International driving licences are accepted.
Getting around cities
Tirana is compact and walkable. Other cities like Berat, Gjirokastër, and Shkodër are also best explored on foot once you're there.