ROUTE NOTEBOOK
From Tirana to the Ionian
Five days, up to four bases and one connection worth settling before you book the second night.
Night 2 after visiting Berat
Berat → Gjirokastra depends on your date. Argjiro
Day 5 from Saranda
Choose how you want to end the trip.
- Day 1 Published connection
From the airport to the centre
TIA airport → Tirana
- Pick the city-centre bus
- The airport has two lines: one arrives behind the Opera, the other goes to the South–North Terminal. To sleep in the centre, look for the first.
- A first walk on foot
- From Skanderbeg Square, link the Pyramid and Blloku if your arrival time allows.
Where to sleepTirana
Before you set offSave your arrival point in the centre and the address of the intercity terminal for tomorrow. They are different stops.
Read the guide · TiranaSources for this leg ·
- Day 2 · If your departure is confirmed Published connection
Climb to the citadel
Tirana → Berat → old town
- Leave from the intercity terminal
- Confirm the departure to Berat from Tirana's South–North Terminal. In Berat, the bus ends about 3 km north of the old town.
- Cover the last stretch
- The city bus links the terminal with the centre and has stops near Mangalem and the Gorica bridge. If you are short on time, ask about a taxi from the terminal.
Where to sleepBerat, if the day 3 connection is confirmed.
Before you set offConfirm the Berat departure to Gjirokastra with Argjiro before booking tonight.
Read the guide · BeratSources for this leg ·
- Day 2 · Alternative via Tirana Published connection
Visit Berat and return to Tirana
Tirana ⇄ Berat
- Plan the way there and back
- Confirm both intercity journeys. In Berat, connect with the city bus near Mangalem or the Gorica bridge.
- Leave a margin to get back to the terminal
- If time is tight, walk Mangalem and Gorica along the lower part. Work out the trip back to the terminal before climbing up to Kala.
Where to sleepTirana
Before you set offCheck the last bus back to Tirana and the departure to Gjirokastra the next day.
Read the guide · BeratSources for this leg ·
- Day 3 · If your departure is confirmed Confirm before booking
From one historic town to another
Berat → Gjirokastra
- Settle the connection before you travel
- Argjiro publishes Berat → Gjirokastra and also Tirana → Gjirokastra. Ask for confirmation of your date, departure point and seat before you pay for the night in Berat.
- From the lower town to the bazaar
- Argjiro's listing identifies Ura e lumit in Gjirokastra. Expect a climb up to the old town. If you have luggage, arrange the last stretch with your accommodation.
Where to sleepGjirokastra
Before you set offIf the Berat departure is not confirmed, use Tirana as your base on night 2 and set off from there on day 3. Check that departure for your date too.
Read the guide · GjirokastraSources for this leg ·
- Day 3 · Alternative via Tirana Confirm before booking
Leave Tirana for Gjirokastra
Tirana → Gjirokastra
- Confirm the intercity bus from Tirana
- Argjiro publishes this connection. Verify the departure, the seat and the boarding stop for your date.
- Climb up from the lower town
- Confirm the arrival point and arrange the climb to the old town with your accommodation if you have luggage.
Where to sleepGjirokastra
Before you set offSave the arrival stop for the day 4 trip to Saranda.
Read the guide · GjirokastraSources for this leg ·
- Day 4 Published connection
Head down to the Ionian Sea
Gjirokastra to Saranda
- Go back to the boarding point
- Argjiro publishes the trip to Saranda. From the old town of Gjirokastra, leave time to come down with your luggage and confirm the exact stop.
- Get your bearings by the coast
- When you arrive in Saranda, find the city bus stop for Ksamil and Butrint. Keep the harbour walk for the afternoon.
Where to sleepSaranda
Before you set offIf you return to Tirana on day 5, add Ksamil to this day only if you have already sorted the way back to Saranda. For an early flight on day 5, go back from Gjirokastra on day 4 and sleep in Tirana.
Read the guide · SarandaSources for this leg ·
- Day 5 Published connection
Choose a stop on the coast
Saranda ⇄ Ksamil or Butrint
- Take the line to Butrint
- Saranda's tourist office publishes a line from the centre that passes through Ksamil and ends at Butrint. Confirm at the stop where to get off for your visit.
- One visit first, then the other
- Pick the coves of Ksamil or the archaeological site of Butrint. Combine them only if you can get back to Saranda with time to spare.
Where to sleepSaranda. Keep day 6 for getting back to Tirana if you fly out of TIA.
Before you set offConfirm the last return to Saranda. If you fly early from Tirana, book a night near the capital before the flight.
Read the guide · KsamilSources for this leg ·
- Return on day 5 Published connection
Keep the day for the journey back
Saranda → Tirana → TIA, if needed
- Sort out the intercity bus first
- Olgeno publishes the Saranda → Tirana connection and the boarding points. Confirm your departure, the arrival stop and the margin for any connection.
- The airport is a separate leg
- Check which link to TIA suits you from the stop where your bus arrives. Avoid an early flight on the same day you come back from the coast.
Where to sleepTirana if your flight is the next day.
Before you set offIf the flight leaves early on day 5, cut the coast short and sleep in Tirana on day 4. If you have all of day 5 to travel back, keep Ksamil as an option for day 4.
Read the guide · TiranaSources for this leg ·
