Tirana

The visa policy of Albania is closely aligned with the Schengen Area's regulations. It allows 90-day visa-free entry for citizens of Schengen member states, with the exception of individuals from some extra-European territories. Additionally, Albania grants visa-free access to citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kuwait and Turkey. Notably, citizens of the United States can enter Albania without a visa for up to a year. Individuals holding a valid, multiple-entry visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen Area country, the United States, Cyprus, Ireland, or the United Kingdom can also enter Albania visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you leave the Republic of Albania and must have been issued within the last 10 years.

Nënë Tereza (Mother Theresa) airport, also known as Rinas Airport or Tirana International Airport, lies 26 kilometres northwest of the city in the town of Rinasi. There is a regular bus line that offers daily 24-hour service between the airport and the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania in Tirana. The trip takes around 30 minutes. A taxi from the airport to the city centre takes about 20-25 minutes. Be certain to fix a price before you get into the taxi.

Downtown Tirana is not too big to explore on foot, but you can also use a number of intra-city bus lines going round the city and to and from the shopping centres. The tickets are cheap, but keep in mind that the buses don't go fast. Buses in Tirana run from 6am to 11pm. For longer bus journeys there are shared buses/mini-vans called "furgons" that depart for a destination once they are filled with passengers. Because of the ongoing construction in Tirana the bus and furgon depots change regularly, so it is very important to check the locations with your hotel.

There are taxi stands scattered across the city. There is a fixed price for a ride anywhere inside Tirana, so discuss the price before entering the car. Patoko app is similar to Uber and offers a safe and convenient way to summon a car.