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Car rental in Durrës is one of the easiest ways to combine beach time with day trips across Albania. Tirana is around 40 minutes away via the toll-free AK1 motorway, TIA airport roughly half an hour, Krujë about an hour, and UNESCO-listed Berat around 90 minutes. Durrës is Albania’s second-largest city and the country’s main ferry port, with year-round connections to Bari and Ancona.
In the TakeCars Durrës catalogue you’ll find dozens of local rental partners, many offering delivery directly to the ferry terminal, hotel or apartment. Prices are usually on par with Tirana and noticeably lower than on the Riviera, while during summer the selection of automatic cars is almost as strong as in the capital.
If you’re flying into TIA, Durrës is actually closer than central Tirana itself. Half an hour on the AK1 and you’re already by the sea.
Some travellers arrive from Italy by ferry and collect the car straight at the port. The same setup works perfectly in reverse.
How to reach Durrës and where to collect the car
Durrës does not have its own airport. Albania’s main air hub is Tirana International Airport (TIA), located around 30–40 minutes away via SH60 and AK1. It’s the most convenient airport-to-seaside connection in the country, which is exactly why many travellers choose Durrës as their first base before continuing south.
Arriving at TIA and heading straight to the coast
This is the classic summer route. Collect the car at the airport and you can be at the beach within half an hour. The AK1 motorway is completely toll-free and Albania has no vignette system.
Ferry from Italy
Durrës is Albania’s main ferry gateway. Services from Bari and Ancona operate throughout the year. Some travellers arrive with their own car from Italy, while others collect a rental directly at the port after arrival.
One-way routes
A common itinerary is to collect the car at TIA, spend a night in Tirana and continue to Durrës afterwards. One-way fees with local partners are usually between €0–20.
The AK1 is Albania’s busiest motorway, especially on Sunday evenings when Tirana residents head back from the coast. During summer it’s wise to allow extra travel time.
If you’re arriving by ferry from Bari or Ancona, simply send the ferry details on WhatsApp in advance — the paperwork can usually be completed at the pier within 10–15 minutes.
Volkswagen Golf Plus in Albania
Everything went beautifully
SEAT Altea in Albania
thanks, it went fine, but the car is not in very good condition and it was claimed to be a different make.
Hyundai Elantra in Albania
I would like to thank you for the vacation in Albania, because without a car you can not see the whole country. I am very happy with the company and the car, we received the car very quickly. The guys are always in touch. The car is very convenient, roomy and comfortable. Thank you very much)
Skoda Fabia in Albania
Everything is super Great trip Thank you
Peugeot 207cc in Albania
We never received the car we had ordered on the website: it turned out that the car was stalling in first gear, so of course we gave up on a faulty car. After spending 2 hours, having reviewed many options, which were lower class and in worse condition than the car we ordered, we were still offered a good option to replace it. Although the main reason for ordering Peugeot 207cc was because we wanted a convertible. And the replacement was with a normal roof. But the main thing is that it is fully technically working. So my impressions of the lease were mixed, to be honest.
Volkswagen Passat Variant in Albania
It went well.
Ford Fiesta in Albania
Everything went as expected. The car itself is pretty worn and has a number of issues like the tank doesn't close, windshield spray doesn't work, right mirror outer plastic cover fell off once etc. However, it drives and that's what mattered. Communication with the rental was quick and easy. Overall, I can recommend the company.
Volkswagen Golf Plus in Albania
very satisfied with your services. Delivery and receipt of the car all on time.
Skoda Fabia in Albania
everything is ok, I changed the wiper on the driver's side, I didn't clean the windshield petr
Ford Fiesta in Albania
It was an amazing experience to rent a car from Aldi car rental. Everything was perfect. He (car rental owner) was very kind and everything went smooth. We are very satisfied. 10/10 service and car.
Volkswagen Golf 5 in Albania
it was in general ok. The staff were friendly and ready to help. I have to point out that we got an alternative car (Ford Fiesta with a 15 min delay) and not Golf 5, which was a bit of a surprise, since I didn't expect that to happen. The car was ok and I can recommend other people to use TakeCars for a car rental.
Volkswagen Passat Variant in Albania
Everything went great. When we fly to Albania again, we'll definitely rent a car from you again.
Volkswagen Passat Variant in Albania
everything was very good. I am really satisfied and if I come to Albania again, I would consider renting a car from there again. Thanks. :)
Where to drive from Durrës: easy day trips
Durrës sits almost in the middle of the country, making it an excellent base for exploring Albania.
Tirana — with Skanderbeg Square, Blloku and Mount Dajti — is roughly 40 minutes away via AK1. Krujë, famous for its fortress and old bazaar, is about an hour away on SH27. Berat, known as the city of a thousand windows, takes around 90 minutes via SH4.
South of Durrës you’ll find the ancient ruins of Apollonia and quieter seaside spots such as Golem and Spille. If your plans include the Albanian Riviera and the Llogara Tunnel, expect a drive of around 2.5–3 hours each way.
Most day trips from Durrës are perfectly manageable with a standard economy car such as a Skoda Fabia, VW Polo or Hyundai i20. Four-wheel drive is unnecessary for typical routes.
The easiest way to visit Tirana is to leave early in the morning, spend the day there and return to the coast around sunset. Sunday evening traffic on the AK1 can be particularly heavy.
Durrës beaches and what to know about parking
The city’s main beach, Plazhi i Madh — the Big Beach — stretches for around ten kilometres south towards Golem. The sand is soft, the sea entry shallow and the infrastructure extensive, with beach bars, cafés and restaurants throughout.
It’s widely considered Albania’s most family-friendly beach area. During July and August it becomes especially popular with visitors from Italy, Poland and Tirana.
Parking in summer can be challenging. Free municipal spaces are limited and usually full by mid-morning. Most hotels and beach cafés operate private car parks, typically charging €1–3 per day in cash.
At night, parking is generally free almost everywhere except a few central tourist streets.
There’s also a useful free municipal car park near the amphitheatre in the historic centre, ideal if you’re visiting the Roman amphitheatre or Byzantine walls.
Avoid parking directly on the sand at Plazhi i Madh. After rain, cars regularly get stuck and towing can be expensive. Stick to proper surfaced parking areas.
On Sunday evenings, traffic back towards Tirana can become slow. Leaving before 17:00 or after 21:00 usually makes the drive easier.
Rates in Durres vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length.
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How expensive is renting a car in Durres: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes.
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Parking in central Durrës
Central Durrës combines free streets with paid blue parking zones. Paid areas operate on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00 and can be paid via the TPay app or parking meters. SMS payment works only with Albanian SIM cards.
Free municipal parking
Near the amphitheatre there’s a free public car park popular with day visitors. From there it’s only a short walk to both the old town and the promenade.
Beach parking in summer
In July and August, many beachside hotels and cafés organise informal parking areas charging €1–3 per day. Spaces tend to disappear early in the morning during peak season.
Blue parking zones become free overnight, on Sundays and on public holidays — useful if your hotel doesn’t have private parking.
Parking near the ferry port is limited. After arriving from Bari or Ancona, it’s usually easier to drive to the hotel first and return to the harbour on foot if needed.