Albania’s Key Travel Routes: Airports, Ferries, and Road Links Explained

Albania is increasingly becoming a sought-after destination for tourists, expatriates, and retirees alike. One often-asked question is how well the country is connected to the rest of the world. The answer is: surprisingly well! The main Albania airport in Tirana has daily connections to key European hubs such as London and Rome, and another airport is about to be opened in Vlorë.

In this comprehensive article, we delve into the intricacies of Albania’s airports, ferries and road links. As usual, if you have any additional questions about this or other topics, feel free to ask our Magic AI at the bottom of the page.

Flying To The Main Albania Airport In Tirana (TIA)

Albania’s capital, Tirana, and its international airport (TIA), boast direct air links to a plethora of major cities worldwide. Detailed below are key cities directly connected to Tirana:

• Austria: Vienna (VIE)
• Belgium: Brussels (BRU), Brussels S. Charleroi (CRL)
• Bulgaria: Sofia (SOF)
• Croatia: Dubrovnik (DBV)
• Czech Republic: Brno (BRQ), Prague (PRG)
• France: Various locations including Paris (Beauvais-Tille, BVA; Charles de Gaulle, CDG; Orly, ORY), Nice (NCE), Lyon (Saint Exupery, LYS)
• Germany: Broad coverage in Berlin (BER), Bremen (BRE), Cologne/Bonn (CGN), Dortmund (DTM), Duesseldorf (DUS), Frankfurt (FRA and Hahn), Hamburg (HAM), Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB), Memmingen (FMM), Munich (MUC), Nuremberg (NUE), Stuttgart (STR), Weeze (NRN)
• Greece: Athens (ATH) and several islands like Chania (CHQ), Irakleion (HER), Kerkyra (CFU), Kos (KGS), Mytilini (MJT), Rhodes (RHO), Thessaloniki (SKG), Zakynthos Island (ZTH)
• Hungary: Budapest (BUD)
• Israel: Tel Aviv-Yafo (TLV)
• Italy: Extensive links including Milan (Bergamo/Orio al Serio, BGY; Malpensa, MXP), Rome (Ciampino, CIA; Fiumicino, FCO), Venice (Marco Polo, VCE; Treviso/Sant’Angelo, TSF), alongside cities like Ancona (AOI), Bari (BRI), Bologna (BLQ), Brindisi (BDS), Catania (CTA), Florence (FLR), Genoa (GOA), Naples (NAP), Palermo (PMO), Pisa (PSA), Turin (TRN), Verona (VRN)
• Kuwait: Kuwait (KWI)
• Malta: Malta (MLA)
• Netherlands: Eindhoven (EIN)
• Norway: Oslo (Gardermoen, OSL and Sandefjord-Torp, TRF)
• Poland: Gdansk (GDN), Katowice (KTW), Krakow (KRK), Warsaw (WAW), Wroclaw (WRO)
• Romania: Bucharest (Henri Coanda, OTP)
• Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (RUH)
• Serbia: Belgrade (BEG), Pristina (PRN)
• Slovakia: Bratislava (BTS)
• Spain: Key cities such as Barcelona (BCN), Madrid (MAD), Malaga (AGP), Valencia (VLC)
• Sweden: Stockholm (Arlanda, ARN and Skavsta, NYO), Malmo (MMX)
• Switzerland: EuroAirport French (Mulhouse/Basel, MLH), Geneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH)
• Turkey: Istanbul (IST and Sabiha Gokcen, SAW), Antalya (AYT)
• United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi (AUH), Dubai (DXB)
• United Kingdom: London (Gatwick, LGW; Heathrow, LHR; Luton, LTN; Stansted, STN), Birmingham (BHX), Edinburgh (EDI), Liverpool (LPL), Manchester (MAN)

While you won’t be able to get direct flights to Tirana from NYC and other airports outside Europe, links to LHR, FCO and other key airports make travel between the United States and Albania very much possible.

Ferries To And From Albania

Albania, with its extensive coastline, also offers robust sea connections, primarily through its ports like Durrës, Sarandë, and Vlorë. These ports facilitate regular ferry services to various destinations, enhancing Albania’s connectivity:

• Italy: Regular ferries link Durrës and Vlorë with Italian cities such as Bari, Brindisi, and Trieste, providing vital trade and travel routes.
• Greece: Sarandë offers frequent ferry connections to the Greek island of Corfu, strengthening ties with Greece.
• Additionally, the Greek port of Igoumenitsa, which boasts excellent connections to both the rest of Greece and Italy (Ancona and Brindisi), is conveniently located a short drive from the southern Albanian border. This proximity further strengthens Albania’s maritime links with its Greek and Italian neighbors.

Road Connections In And Out Of Albania

Albania’s road network has seen significant improvements, offering better connections with neighboring countries, especially Greece and Macedonia:

• Greece: The Qafë Botë-Kakavia border crossing is a major route for travelers and commerce between Albania and Greece, connecting Ioannina in Greece to Gjirokastër in Albania.
• Macedonia: The Qafë Thanë border crossing is a vital link, connecting Albania with Macedonia, thereby facilitating trade and travel between the two nations. This route leads to Skopje, Macedonia’s capital, and is increasingly popular among tourists and business travelers.

Future Developments

The Albanian government has been investing heavily in the internal road network, while foreign investors have been financing port upgrades in Durrës and Vlorë. As we mentioned, a new airport in Vlorë will see the light in 2024, hosting carriers such as Ryanair. We are still missing – unfortunately – a direct air link to Malta where our main office is based, but that should come soon too.

While the state of Albanian infrastructure is not a match for cutting-edge Western European countries (yet) we see powerful improvements underway.

Also Read:

• Tirana Airport (official website with schedules)
• Albania Awaits: The Essential Visa and Residency Permit Guide
• Americans in Albania: A Guide for US Expats and Retirees on Benefits, Tax, and Living Costs