Driving in Albania

Ready to explore Albania by car? Here’s what you need to know before hitting the road

Looking to rent a car for a perfect vacation in Albania and don't know where to start? Look no further. Read all you need here!

Car rentals

There are plenty of rental cars in the country. A lot of them have a presence at the Tirana airport. I would recommend to get your car in the city itself as it will be a bit cheaper. All the big providers are there, but our choice was Select Rent a Car in the city center of Tirana. Amazing service , a nice car, and zero hussle. The 5 stars they have on Google are completely justified. They do require quite a high deposit (800EUR for an SUV) but they do return it fully if nothing happened with the car.

Drivers

If you are planning to drive in the city then be prepared for some aggressive drivers. I actually was worried after reading some of the reviews I found, but after driving there I have to say that it is nowhere near what you would experience in Latin America. If you have driven there then you will definitely be ok. Also, once you get out of the city the roads get quite empty, at least during our visit in November, so you can enjoy a quiet ride.

Roads

In general, the roads in Albania are quite good. In the more touristy areas there are bigger highways connecting the bigger cities. If you choose to drive to the mountains you will discover that the roads there are well maintained as well. Take your time on these serpentine roads and enjoy the views the nature presents.

If you are planning a more adventurous ride, the roads are turning into dirt roads that are very passable for the most part. There are some place that would require an off road vehicle but these are usually more into the national parks.

Speed limit

The highway limit is 90-110 kph, depending on the section. Most of the other intercity roads are 80 kph. The roads are well signed, although sometimes without much sense (like seeing an 80 sign just before getting into a curve on a serpentine road that even formula 1 drivers will not be crazy enough do drive it that fast) but for the most part it is marked well.

If you are using Google maps, the speed limits are up to date,but be careful when navigating, as it might take you through an off-road paths that you can't pass with a regular vehicle just because it is shorter. It is best to ask a local to verify that you won't be getting stuck.

Parking

This is the biggest issue I have found with driving in Albania. Everywhere we went there were cars parking everywhere and no parking spot in sight. With all the empty roads I was driving on I felt that people in Albania are buying cars to park them not to drive them.

Whenever possible, look for accommodation with a private parking or look for paid parking as those tend to have a place. Whatever you do, do not park where you are not supposed to. Parking is also heavily enforced and soon you will find a police officer writing you a ticket. We got lucky to fall on a nice policeman that cancelled the ticket he wrote us once he spoke to us and saw that we are traveling with a baby, can't promise the same would happen to you.

Final thoughts

The overall final verdict is that the driving in Albania is quite nice. Having a car is the best way to get around, the roads are well maintained and the views while driving are amazing. As long as you avoid the big cities and park smartly, you will have a good time driving. So what are you waiting for? Go for a drive! Tell us how it went.