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Europe > Balkans > Albania > Northeastern Albania > Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (Rinas International Airport, TIA  IATA) is near Tirana, Albania.

Understand

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This is Albania's main airport with numerous connections to all over Europe and a few connections to Asia and the Middle East.

Flights

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The following airlines and cities connect to Tirana:

Ground transportation

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By bus

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  • 1 LU-NA shpk (Tirana) (Luna airport bus stop (city)), ~Skanderbeg Square (In the city, southeast of the Opera, east of Skenderbeg Square. 2 At the airport, leave the airport left out from arrivals (i.e. south) and follow the footpath passing by the rental car kiosks and after about 200 m the Luna bus or minibus will be waiting.), ☏ +355 693794848, +355 695727261, +355 692054002, +355 692098908, . 24/7, every full hour. The city operates an official shuttle bus from the airport to Skanderbeg Square and vice versa. The bus takes 30-40 min with regular traffic, but barely ever more than 50 min. Payment is possible with cash, card and via website before. 400 lek. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 3 Airport Bus No. 2. As of 2023, a second bus company also runs an airport bus for the same price as Luna just 100 m northwest from the Luna city stop. It is not clear what is the exact schedule or advantage of taking this bus, but this company also has a bus at 01:30 and 03:20 to the airport, and consequently might go back to the city when Luna is not running—it is however unclear from where exactly. (updated Mar 2024)
  • Furgons to/from Shkoder, Fier and Durres. At the airport they leave next to the LU-NA Tirana airport bus. Alternatively, if you want to go to Shkoder cheap, just walk to the highway west of the airport where many local buses/furgons will go by. Durres: 600 lek. (updated Dec 2024)
Budget transportation, or heading to Shkoder or Kruja
  • In case you want to bring down the costs for the trip to downtown Tirana to 100 lek, try catching a regional bus from the main road right/north out from the terminal. Some regional buses do a detour by the airport (called Rinas for them), because it is faster to get into the city this way than to go through Kamëz. On the way to the airport, there should be buses from the Northern Bus Terminal running through Rinas (it even states it in the time table, but this is unconfirmed).
  • Alternatively, if you got time, you can always go through Kamëz (pronounced Kamza)—buses between Kamëz and Skanderbeg are 40 lek and go regularly during the day. Between Kamëz and the airport it is 7½ km along a side road, but many cars use it, and you can likely find someone to hitchhike with until Kamëz (or even Tirana).
  • Also, to leave from or arrive to the airport cheap or to arrive from or leave to destinations north of Tirana (like Shkoder or Kruja), you could walk (3½ km) north around the airport to/from the main highway, which runs east of the airport. Many regional buses go along this highway (Fushe Kruja, Shkoder, Lezhe). From/to this sideroad to/from Tirana it should be 50 lek on a regional bus via the Northern Bus Station. Hitchhiking to Tirana or at least to Kamëz from here is also easy.

By thumb

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Especially at night or in case no bus is going from the airport, just wait outside the airport where many cars go by. Someone locals or an unofficial taxis will offer to take you downtown. Don't pay more than 300-500 lek (per person). If the driver does not agree, just wait for the next guy—there are many. Have the exact change ready and pay attention to the rules for unofficial taxis.

By taxi

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Taxi prices (per ride not person) start at 1,100 lek (as of 2023) — tell them time and location via WhatsApp: ☏ +355 698444487. They take 20–25 min.

A regular taxi to the centre right outside the terminal is about 2,500 lek (Jan 2018).

By rental car

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Options to rent a car outside the airport to travel around in Albania are numerous. Most offices are located just south of the south exit of the airport. The pickup/parking will often be a few hundred meters outside of the fenced airport area.

It is probably not worth going with a known provider from Western Europe, because they are more expensive and less well received. Local providers are often better, but always check the rating beforehand.

The following are recommended:

Wait

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The MonChéri café (see below) in the middle has a nice roof top area inside the terminal, in case you want to sit somewhere more quiet and unbothered. Inside the terminal there are some couches near the first toilets, but they might be café customers only.

There is a KFC, one or two restaurants and several cafés in or around the terminal.

  • 1 KYC, ☏ +355 695055555. The only fast food restaurant of that sort at the airport. (updated Dec 2024)
  • 2 Runway35, ☏ +355 692065699. A relaxing restaurant and café right outside south of the airport terminal. (updated Dec 2024)
  • 3 Mon Chéri, ☏ +355 683020955. The usual tourist prices, but they have a great and unobtrusive seating area ontop. (updated Dec 2024)

Drink

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  • 1 Bar. A little café right outside the airport with more local prices. Staff and taxi drivers take a break here. (updated Dec 2024)

Money

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Right next to the baggage carousel in arrivals there is the airport’s tourism information desk, an ATM and a currency exchange office—with bad rates, only exchange €5-10 here. Also in the main hall, exchange bureaus and ATMs can be found.

Change your money in the center of Tirana or Durres — the rates there are much more competitive with barely 0.5% markup/fee.

Shopping

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Facilities in the terminal include a press shop and several cafés.

There are also cheaper cafés (€0.80/espresso) just (right) outside the fenced airport area, where taxi drivers go for a drink.

Connect

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Free Wi-Fi is available in the airport, but not always reliable.

Internet

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Vodafone and One are selling SIM cards inside the airport, but these only include packages which are the most expensive ones on offer in Albania—starting at 2,300 lek for 40 GB. They claim that they do not offer the usual entry SIM/package for 800 lek (including 3–6 GB). So, unless you really need 40 GB, wait until you arrive in downtown Tirana and get a regular package there—see Albania#Connect.

  • 1 ONE Albania (at the southwestern corner of the airport right in front of where you exit the luggage collection area). (updated Dec 2024)
  • 2 Vodafone (just right of ONE). (updated Dec 2024)

Cope

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  • 3 Copyshop (just south of the KFC). In case you need to print out your boarding pass. Though, its opening times do not seem very reliable. If you urgently need to print anything, just ask in one of the small car rental office just around the corner of this copy shop. In case they are not busy, they will probably help you for the right price (50–100 lek). (updated Mar 2024)

Boarding pass

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Since 2024, printed boarding passes are allowed to be used to enter the departure hall. Sometimes though, you will not be provided with a printable boarding pass and need to get yours at the check-in. If it says that you have to print your boarding pass or/and check-in only, it is better to do so — airlines like Ryanair and Wizzair also live of fees they charge if you don't adhere to their rules.

Sleep

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Many hotels and guesthouses are in walking distance to the airport.

Nearby

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  • 1 Preza Castle (Kalaja e Prezës) (a 4-km hike from the airport to the west), . A castle with a good view over the surrounding area and the airport. (updated Dec 2024)
  • 1 Thermal Bath "Ibrahim Kupi", Bilaj (about 9 km north of the airport), ☏ +355 682221172. A thermal bath and sanatorium. Maybe relax here for a couple of days before flying back. (updated Dec 2024)
  • Krujë – A mountain city and former de facto capital of Skanderbeg
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