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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.
Car rental reviews in Durres
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.
Skoda Fabia in Albania
Everything is super Great trip Thank you
Mercedes-Benz A-Class in Albania
Everything was good, everything was smooth and very clear
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.
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
Everything was great! No comments or questions. The registration and return were super fast. Erald is super!!!!
Hyundai Accent in Albania
Everything went well. We took the car without any problems and returned it without any problems. Everything was explained clearly and communicated politely. Thank you! The only moment, we replaced the car, but it did not affect our vacation.
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)
Ford Fiesta in Albania
Everything went just fine !!! I liked that we were met at the airport and immediately taken to the car and we did not waste time looking for it in the parking lot. The manager spoke excellent English, we completed all the documents on the spot in 5 minutes and hit the road! Also, there were no problems with returning the car. I threw off our geolocation to the manager and he approached the car within 5 minutes! On the spot we were returned a deposit of 50 euros and EVERYTHING !!! Good service and most importantly no deposit !!!
Ford Fiesta in Albania
Everything was ok
Ford Focus in Albania
It went well.
Volkswagen Caddy in Albania
The rental car was presented on time, at the exact time and place (Tirana airport) During the rental period there were no complaints about the technical condition of the car. I would like to mention the excellent work of your manager Erald. Thank you
Ford Fiesta in Albania
It was very good
Ford Fiesta in Albania
We had a good experience. The communication went very well via whatsapp. Fast response time even in the evening. They have a great drop-off and pick-up service. We used different locations. Everything was possible, even if it was a three hour drive form there office. Unfortunately our car broke down after a week. The customer service responded quickly and immediately sent a new car while we went for lunch. Thing like this can happen. More important is how it is solved. They solved it nicely. In short, I recommend this company because of the good service, car and decent prices.
BMW 320d in Albania
I rented a BMW 320d, but we ended up getting a VW Passat. It was a nice change for a nice vacation. I would have preferred to have a real car, but whatever. Clean, functional car, attractively priced, I recommend it.
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.