Is There Uber in Albania? No, BUT Here’s How To Get Around
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Wondering how to get around in Albania without Uber?
While there is no Uber in Albania or Tirana because the pleasure of convenience has not yet reached the Balkans, there are a few other safe ways to get around that make more sense for the country, such as private transfers, taxis for the bigger cities, busses, and my favorite – renting a car and going on a big Albania a road trip.
Quick Guide to Getting Around In Albania
➡️ Best Taxi Service: Speed Taxi App works similarly to Uber and is quick, safe, and cheap. Plus, you don’t have to hail a cab off the streets and get overcharged.
➡️ Best Airport Transfer: Great for bigger groups, also very cheap, nice cars with AC (which is important because it’s hot in Albania, and traffic is crazy).
➡️ Best Rental Car Service: I use Discover Cars to compare and book cars all over Europe, and I highly recommend it. In Albania, look for companies that are rated 8 or above and don’t use Zezgo/Final Rentals – they suck; it’s a known scam.
Is There Uber in Albania? Why Not?
No Uber or Bolt in Albania. Just a good old taxi service – old school, but very authentically Balkan, in my opinion.
Simply put, Uber has not secured the right permits to operate in the country. As you can imagine, there are a few hurdles to jump through, such as taxi and labor unions, government bureaucracy and taxes, and safety issues.
Plus, Albania actually has quite a small population for the size of its country, so the demand is not quite there yet, even with increased tourists.
How Do I Get From Tirana Airport to City Center?
You can get from Tirana Airport to the city by private transfer (best for groups), by taxi, by bus, or by rental car.
➡️ This is the Private Transfer Service I recommend from Tirana Airport to the city center. ⬅️
A taxi from the airport to the city center costs €25, and it took me about 30 minutes with traffic (and there’s always traffic). The taxis are all lined up right in front of the airport, so it makes it easy.
Luna Travel operates an hourly bus from Tirana airport to the city center of Tirana between 8 AM and 7 PM – here’s their time schedule. A bus ticket costs 300 Leke (about €3), and you can buy tickets on the bus.
You can also rent a car and bravely drive in the city, but I only recommend this if you’re going on a longer road trip. There’s no need to rent a car if you’re just staying in Tirana.
Best Alternatives To Uber in Albania
So the alternatives to Uber in Albania are pretty straightforward – taxi, bus, or car rental. Here’s my experience and the pros and cons of each, as well as useful links to get you going.
🚖 Taxi Apps in Albania
Taxis are the best alternative to Uber, especially getting to and from the airport and getting around big cities like Tirana, Saranda, Vlore, and Ksmail.
The pro is that taxis are safe and reliable in Albania, which is great. I will say that the con is that most taxis are older cars with very little or no air conditioning, and all my taxi drivers smoked heavily during the ride.
BEST TAXI APPS IN ALBANIA
✅ Speed Taxi App: This is the best taxi app and works similarly to Uber in that you can order, pay, and track your ride on the app. They have 500+ taxis registered and ready to take you around Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, Elbasan, Fier, Saranda, or wherever. Prices and payment are set through the app, and it’s cheap, about $4-5 for a ride in Tirana when I used it.
✅ UPS Taxi App: This is another taxi app I recommend, with similar perks as Speed Taxi, but slightly more upscale – think Mercedes and BMWs from 2010.
There’s always the option of hailing a cab on the streets old school, but as a single lady, I sort of freak out about all the things that could happen (which likely won’t, but you get where I’m coming from).
Just make sure to have the address ready if you do this and your Google Translate app ready, and confirm the price beforehand. You will need to have the local currency on hand (LEK) because most taxi drivers operate in cash only.
✈️ TAXI FROM TIRANA AIRPORT: It cost me about €20 from the airport to my hotel in Tirana, but only €10 from the hotel to the airport, because I asked the front desk to call one. The whole ride took about 30 minutes with some pretty insane afternoon traffic.
🚗 Renting a Car in Albania
I always rent a car when I go to Albania. If you really want to see the country, you just have to. The rental rates are cheap, about €20 to €50 a day depending on the time of year for a small automatic car.
➡️ I recommend checking prices and options at Discover Cars – this is what I use. ⬅️
Driving in Albania is not bad. The roads are good, and traffic rules are similar to those of the rest of the EU and America.
Besides a few unpaved rural mountain roads around Theth National Park and the Llogara Pass in the south, many potholed roads leading to the beaches in the south, and a few traffic jams caused by crossing cows, it’s all smooth sailing.
🚌 Busses in Albania
I would use public transportation buses as a last resort in Albania. They are an option and the cheapest one to get from one city to another, but they’re a bit outdated. The local AC is really just having the windows down, and more than likely, your driver will be smoking while driving.
While they’re safe, the bus stations are in the most random places (with no signs – all Balkan style). You don’t have to buy tickets ahead of time, just when you get there.
Are Taxis Safe in Albania?
Yes, taxis are safe in Albania, and both of the taxi apps I provided are professional taxi drivers employed and verified by their respective companies. They are not independent drivers that just signed up to drive for Speed Taxi or Ups, like it is for Uber.
Which taxi app works in Albania?
These are the best taxi apps that work in Albania, as well as their contact info. You can reach out to them via WhatsApp or just download the app and use it while you’re in Albania to book a ride.
✅ Speed Taxi App: This is the best taxi app and works similarly to Uber in that you can order, pay, and track your ride on the app. They have 500+ taxis registered and ready to take you around Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, Elbasan, Fier, Saranda, or wherever. Prices are also super cheap, about $4-5 for a ride in Tirana when I used it.
✅ UPS Taxi App: This is another taxi app I recommend, with similar perks as Speed Taxi, but slightly more upscale – think Mercedes and BMWs from 2010.
Is it easy to get taxis in Albania?
Yes, you can use the Speed Taxi App or UPs Taxi App to order a taxi safely. This will make sure you’re not cheated or overpriced, and you can track your ride as you might on the Uber App.
You can also just stick your finger out there and hail a cab the old-school way – there are plenty in the big cities. Caps will have that little taxi light on top of the car, so it’s easy to spot. Just make sure you confirm the price before you get in the car, and for the record – you will be overcharged if you do it this way.
Is Bolt working in Albania?
No, similar to Uber, Bolt does not work in Albania.
Conclusion: How To Get Around Albania Without Uber
In conclusion, while there is not Uber of Bolt to make us feel like convenience has arrived in the Balkans, there are a few good alternatives to getting around Albania.
✔️ Best Taxi Service: Speed Taxi App works similarly to Uber and is quick, safe, and cheap. Plus, you don’t have to hail a cab off the streets and get overcharged.
✔️ Best Airport Transfer: Great for bigger groups, also very cheap, nice cars with AC (which is important because it’s hot in Albania, and traffic is crazy).
✔️ Best Rental Car Service: I use Discover Cars to compare and book cars all over Europe, and I highly recommend it. In Albania, look for companies that are rated 8 or above, and don’t use Zezgo/Final Rentals – they suck, it’s a known scam.
So don’t just sit there. Book your trip and get going!
