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Car rental in Durrës is the easiest option for travellers who want both the beach and cultural day trips: 40 minutes to Tirana on the toll-free AK1, 30 minutes to TIA airport, one hour to Krujë fortress, 1 hour 30 minutes to UNESCO-listed Berat. Durrës is Albania's second city and its main seaport, with year-round ferries from Bari and Ancona.
If you fly into TIA, Durrës is closer than the Tirana centre itself. Thirty minutes on the AK1 and you're at the sea.
In our Durrës catalogue you'll find dozens of local partners, many of whom deliver the car to the pier or to the hotel. A couple landing at TIA in early July met the host by flight number, signed the contract on the bonnet and were on the AK1 within ten minutes. Prices are on a par with Tirana and below the Riviera, and in high season Durrës almost matches the capital for automatic supply.
Getting to Durrës
Durrës has no airport of its own — the country's main air hub is TIA, 30–40 minutes away on SH60 + AK1. This is the most convenient sea-to-airport link in Albania, which is exactly why many travellers pick Durrës as their first base, even if they later head south.
TIA arrival + 30 minutes to the sea
The standard summer pattern. Pick the car up at TIA and you're on the beach within half an hour. The AK1 (38 km) is fully toll-free; no national vignette to buy.
The AK1 is the busiest road in Albania on Sunday evenings, when the capital drives back from the sea. Add 30 minutes in summer.
Ferry from Italy to Durrës
Durrës is Albania's main ferry port: routes from Bari and Ancona run year-round. You can either bring your own car from Italy or pick up a rental from us at the pier on arrival.
If you arrive by ferry from Bari or Ancona, send the ferry number in WhatsApp — we'll meet you at the pier and finish the paperwork in 10–15 minutes.
One-way drops from Tirana or Sarandë
Many customers run a loop: car at TIA, a night in Tirana, then Durrës as the start of the beach leg. One-way drop fee with our partners is €0–20, often free within one region.
Volkswagen Passat-CC in Albania
the trip went well. The only issue was that the car seemed to have a problem with the transmission or clutch—it would roll backward on hills even though it has an automatic transmission. Other than that, everything was great.
Hyundai Accent in Albania
I left the car very satisfied. It's very reliable. 👍
Audi A4 in Albania
The car was REALLY great, there was no troubles at all :) It was really good for driving and very comfortable :) I enjoyed the drive. The car quickly became the "part of our group". There was a little problem, the right back door could not be opened from inside, but we quickly got used to it :) Thank you so much again!
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
Everything was fine. The car was delivered to the address, clean, and the driver was friendly. I recommend it.
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
Very good, for my next trip I will use also this company
Hyundai Tucson in Albania
All was ok 👍😊
Mercedes-Benz C220 in Albania
It went well.
Opel Astra in Albania
I had a great time, excellent service and very fast and punctual delivery of the car. I will always use your car rental agency for my next trips to Albania, thank you.
Volkswagen Polo in Albania
We rented a VW Polo from TakeCars in Tirana. Our contact was Elton and everything went very well. Elton was very accommodating and easy to get in touch with. We were transferred to a VW Golf, the car was a few years old but we really liked it. Would love to have it again.
Opel Meriva in Albania
excellent quality, price, helpful staff.
Opel Zafira in Albania
Everything went well, everything was normal. Prompt service.
Volkswagen Golf Plus in Albania
Everything was very good. Thank you!!!!
Ford Fusion in Albania
Everything was fine. The manager brought the car in time to the airport. Gave some tips about driving in Albania. Pretty fast answering on all questions. We liked everything. Thank you. Regards.
Plazhi i Madh and summer parking
The main beach is Plazhi i Madh, the "Big Beach", stretching ten kilometres from the city centre south to Golem. The sand is fine, the entry into the water gentle, the infrastructure dense: sun loungers, bars, pizza on every corner. This is Albania's most family-friendly beach, and in July and August it fills with Italian and Polish families plus weekenders from Tirana.
Never park on the sand of Plazhi i Madh — you'll bog down in the first downpour and pay the towing bill. Hard surface at a café only.
Summer parking is its own story. Free municipal spots along Plazhi i Madh are limited and gone by 10:00. Most beach cafés and hotels run their own private lots, charging €1–3 per day in cash to the attendant. A family staying at a hotel in Golem last August paid €2 a day for shaded parking inside the property and never moved the car until check-out. At night you can park almost anywhere for free, except for a handful of tourist streets with 24-hour restrictions.
In the historic centre there's a free municipal lot near the amphitheatre — the smart choice if you've come to see the Roman amphitheatre and the Byzantine wall.
When heading back to Tirana on the AK1 on a Sunday evening, allow an extra 30–40 minutes. Either leave before 17:00 or after 21:00.
For the busier July weekends, leaving the city at 06:00 and grabbing breakfast at a Golem beachfront café is the simplest way to dodge both heat and queues.
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.
Why book with TakeCars
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Delivery to the ferry pier and to TIA
Convenient for travellers who fly into the capital and head straight to the sea, or who arrive by ferry from Bari or Ancona — the car is waiting on the spot.
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"No deposit" tariffs and cash on arrival
Especially valuable in summer, when some beach-area ATMs are unreliable and paying in cash euros is simpler.
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Italian, Polish, Greek and English-speaking managers
Durrës is a summer hub for Italian and Polish families plus longer-stay visitors from across Europe — our partner roster matches the audience.
Parking in central Durrës
Central Durrës streets split into paid blue zones and free streets. Paid zones run weekdays 8:00–20:00; pay through the TPay app or at street meters. SMS to 50500 only works with an Albanian SIM.
Free municipal parking
Near the amphitheatre there's a free municipal lot — the natural choice if you've come for a day in the historic centre. It's a five-minute walk to the amphitheatre and ten minutes to the seafront, with Plazhi i Madh another 10–15 minutes' walk along the promenade.
Beach parking in summer
In July and August informal café and hotel lots along Plazhi i Madh charge €1–3 per day. Spaces are gone by 10:00 — arrive before 9:30 in summer or use the free municipal lot and walk over.
Paid blue zones are free at night, on Sundays and on public holidays. Useful for travellers staying at a central hotel without its own car park.
If you've arrived from Bari or Ancona, drive to the hotel or to the municipal lot first and walk back to the pier; parking is tight in the port itself.
Frequent Questions
No. Durrës has no airport. The country's main air hub is Tirana International (TIA), 30–40 minutes away on the toll-free AK1 motorway. The alternative is the ferry from Bari or Ancona straight into Durrës port; ferries run year-round and we deliver the car to the pier.
30–40 minutes on SH60 and AK1, around 35 km. The AK1 is fully toll-free — Albania's most convenient sea-to-airport link. On Friday and Sunday evenings allow an extra 20–30 minutes for capital traffic. The non-driving alternative is the ALSA bus from TIA to Durrës bus station.
Yes. Durrës is Albania's main ferry port. Regular routes go to Bari (about nine hours) and Ancona (about 18 hours), running year-round. Tickets are sold by Adria Ferries, Grimaldi and Ventouris. Many Italian visitors use this route as an alternative to flying.
No. Most of our partners do not allow taking the rental beyond Albania by ferry — this isn't their rule, it is the ferry operators' and the insurers'. If you need to drive to Italy, you'll need your own car or a special long-term contract from a major international brand.
Plazhi i Madh — the Big Beach — runs ten kilometres south of the city centre to Golem village. From the old town to the start of the beach is five minutes by car; ten to fifteen minutes to the southern stretches. The sand is fine and the entry shallow — Albania's most family-friendly beach.
Most beachside cafés and hotels run private lots at €1–3 per day, paid in cash to the attendant. Spaces are gone by 10:00 — in summer, arrive before 9:30. The alternative is the free municipal lot at the amphitheatre in the centre, with a 10–15 minute walk to the beach along the promenade.
Yes. There's a free municipal lot at the amphitheatre in the historic centre — perfect for a day trip. It's a five-minute walk to the amphitheatre and ten to the seafront. Paid blue zones in the centre are also free at night, on Sundays and on public holidays.
To central Tirana — 40 minutes on the AK1, around 35 km. To Berat (UNESCO "city of a thousand windows") — 1 hour 30 on SH4, about 100 km. For a day trip to Berat, leave in the morning and return on the same SH4 + AK1. Sunday evening is the busiest traffic of the week on the AK1.
Top three: Tirana with Skanderbeg Square, Blloku and Mount Dajti (40 minutes), UNESCO Berat (1 hour 30), Krujë fortress with the Skanderbeg statue (one hour). Beyond that — Apollonia archaeological park to the south (1 hour 30) and the quieter beaches of Golem and Spille.
Basic CDW does not cover unpaved roads, beach sand or several national parks. Contracts typically forbid the roads to Theth, Valbona, Lake Bovilla and Mount Tomorri. If your plan includes the mountains, take Super CDW and check with the manager which routes your specific partner permits.
Yes, the AK1 carries regular police posts — especially at the Tirana exit and the Durrës entry. Speed cameras forward fines automatically to the rental supplier, who passes them on with a €15–30 admin fee. Keep all seatbelts on, dipped headlights and documents handy — this defuses 90% of issues.
Yes. Most of our partners deliver the car to the pier free of charge or for €10–15. Convenient for travellers arriving from Bari or Ancona. Send the ferry number and arrival time in WhatsApp ahead of time — a representative meets you at the pier and finishes the paperwork in 10–15 minutes.
Usually yes. Durrës and TIA are the most competitive segment of the Albanian market, so prices stay below coastal Sarandë and Vlorë in high season. Economy in Durrës in summer runs €15–25 per day vs €25–40 in Sarandë. In the shoulder seasons the gap narrows: €10–15 vs €15–25.
A B-class compact (Skoda Fabia, VW Polo, Hyundai i20) is the optimal choice for Durrës: easier on parking and on AK1 fuel use. For families with children and luggage, a C-class sedan (Skoda Octavia, Hyundai i30) or a mid-size SUV. Four-wheel drive isn't needed — every day-trip route is on tarmac.
Yes. Long-term rental is popular with Italian remote workers and longer-stay visitors from Northern Europe. The 28-day discount is 20–35% off the daily rate. Economy from €350 a month, mid-size with an automatic gearbox €500–700. Winter is quieter and cheaper than summer — ideal for a calm seaside base.