Plan · logistics
Getting to Albania
One airport with scheduled flights, two sea routes, and a land border in every direction. Which one you use decides where your trip starts.
- Assume Tirana unless you have a reason not toTirana is the only Albanian airport with scheduled commercial passenger service. Vlora International had none as of July 2026, so a flight search that offers it is offering a plan rather than a timetable.
- From Corfu, take the boatSarandë is 30 to 45 minutes across on the hydrofoil, and it is the fastest way into the far south from anywhere in Greece. Ionian Seaways and Joy Lines run year round on a reduced winter timetable; Finikas runs 1 June to 15 October.
- From Italy, take the ferry to DurrësDurrës is the main Italian ferry terminus and the usual entry point for a self-drive trip, which makes it the right arrival if the car matters more than the hour saved.
- Decide the arrival by where the trip isTirana is two hours from Berat and about the same from Shkodër, so it suits the Alps and the inland towns. Sarandë is half an hour from Butrint and Ksamil and two from Gjirokastër, so it suits the south. Arriving at the wrong end costs half a day at each end of the trip.
The figures
| What | Value | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled airports | Tirana is the only Albanian airport with scheduled commercial service; Vlora had none as of July 2026 | 2026-08-25 · AeroRoutes, NS26 schedule tracker (Vlora service cancelled) |
| Corfu to Sarandë | Finikas 1 June to 15 October; Ionian Seaways and Joy Lines year round on a reduced winter timetable | 2026-08-25 · Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways, operator timetables |
Asked about this
Can I fly into Vlora?
Not on a scheduled service. The airport exists and had no scheduled commercial passenger flights as of July 2026, so treat any itinerary built on it as unconfirmed until an airline publishes a timetable.
Can I bring a Corfu hire car over on the ferry?
No. A rental vehicle cannot be transported from Corfu to Albania. Cross as a foot passenger and hire on the Albanian side, or drive in from another direction.
Which arrival is best for the Albanian Alps?
Tirana, then Shkodër. The Alps are reached through Shkodër whichever way you go in, by the Koman ferry or by the Theth road, and both start there.