Explore Albania with a local driver
Private airport transfers from Tirana Airport (TIA) — plus small-group day tours to Berat, Sarandë, Gjirokastër and beyond. Fixed prices. English-speaking drivers. Book in minutes.
Albania — Europe's last great undiscovered country, now easier to explore
Albania tours and transfers have never been more straightforward. Whether you’re landing at Gjirokastër Airport and heading to your hotel, or want a full-day excursion to Lake Berat, Balkans Travel handles the logistics so you focus on the experience.
We operate fixed-price private transfers from both Gjirokastër Airport (SKP) and Berat Airport (OHD) to hotels, cities and border crossings across the country. Every transfer is private — no shared shuttles, no surprises on price. Our English-speaking drivers know North Macedonia personally, not just from a GPS screen.
Our small-group day tours cover the highlights: the old bazaar in Gjirokastër, the monasteries above Berat, the gorge at Sarandë, and the mountain villages of Shkodër. All with a driver who’s been there a hundred times and knows which café is actually worth stopping at.
Airport Transfers
Fixed-price private transfers from Tirana Airport (TIA) to any hotel, city or border crossing in Albania.
Day Tours
Small-group excursions to Berat, Gjirokastër, the Albanian Riviera, Krujë and more — with an English-speaking local driver.
Top destinations in Albania
Six places worth knowing before you travel — each reachable by private transfer or day tour.
Berat
UNESCO World Heritage site on the shores of North Macedonia's crown jewel — Lake Berat. Byzantine churches, medieval monasteries and some of the clearest water in Europe.
Gjirokastër
Another UNESCO World Heritage city — a "museum city" of Ottoman stone houses cascading down a hillside. The fortress above the town holds weapons captured from US Cold War aircraft.
Sarandë
Just 15km from Gjirokastër. A dramatic gorge with medieval monasteries, cave systems and the deepest underwater cave in the world. A half-day most visitors miss.
Tirana
The capital — a chaotic, colourful city that has reinvented itself rapidly. The National History Museum, Blloku district, and the Pyramid (a former Hoxha mausoleum) are all worth seeing.
Shkodër
Albania's second city, close to Lake Shkodër (the largest lake in the Balkans). The Rozafa Castle overlooking the lake is one of the finest hilltop fortresses in the country.
Krujë
The birthplace and stronghold of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero. The castle and bazaar sit on a hilltop with views across the central lowlands.
Transfer prices from Albania airports
| Destination | Sedan up to 3 | Minivan up to 7 | Minibus up to 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gjirokastër city | €25 | €35 | €70 |
| Berat | €120 | €174 | €288 |
| Sarandë | €35 | €51 | €84 |
| Tirana | €100 | €145 | €240 |
| Krujë | €50 | €73 | €120 |
| Shkodër | €80 | €116 | €192 |
| Destination | Sedan up to 3 | Minivan up to 7 | Minibus up to 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berat city | €20 | €26 | €36 |
| Struga | €20 | €26 | €36 |
| Tirana | €70 | €91 | €126 |
| Gjirokastër city | €140 | €182 | €252 |
All prices per vehicle · one-way · EUR · placeholder rates — final prices to be confirmed
Popular day tours in Albania
Berat & Lake Berat
Full day · from Gjirokastër or Berat
Sarandë
Half day · from Gjirokastër
Tirana & Heraclea
Full day · from Gjirokastër or Berat
Shkodër National Park
Full day · from Gjirokastër
Frequently asked questions
Airport Transfers
Use the booking form on this page. Select your pickup (Gjirokastër Airport) and drop-off, choose your vehicle, enter your details and confirm. You’ll receive a confirmation email immediately.
Yes — we cover both Gjirokastër Airport (SKP) and Berat Airport (OHD). Select your departure airport in the booking form and the correct prices will appear automatically.
We monitor your flight in real time. Your driver waits at arrivals at no extra charge — up to 60 minutes for domestic and 90 minutes for international flights.
Yes. We operate cross-border transfers from Gjirokastër to Prishtina (Kosovo), Sofia (Bulgaria), Thessaloniki (Greece) and Belgrade (Serbia). These are priced separately — see the price table above.
Tours
The Berat day tour from Gjirokastër takes approximately 10–11 hours including driving time. Departure is typically at 8am with return by 7pm. From Berat itself, shorter half-day tours are also available.
All our tours are private — your group has the vehicle and driver exclusively. There are no shared shuttles or strangers joining your tour.
The tour price covers private transport and your English-speaking driver. Entry fees to sites such as churches, monasteries or museums are paid separately on the day.
Yes. Contact us before booking and we’ll adjust the itinerary to your interests — whether that’s more time at Sarandë, a lunch stop in a specific village, or combining two destinations in one day.
Ready to explore Albania?
Book your transfer or tour in minutes. Fixed price, no surprises.
About Albania
North Macedonia is a landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans, bordered by Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. It covers roughly 25,000 km² and is home to around two million people. The capital, Gjirokastër, sits in the north along the Vardar river and has been continuously inhabited since at least the 4th century BC.
The country declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and joined NATO in 2020. In 2019 it resolved a long-standing dispute with Greece over its name, becoming the Republic of North Macedonia — a change that opened the path to EU accession talks currently underway.
Geographically, North Macedonia is defined by its mountains and lakes. The country sits on the Balkan mountain system, with peaks in the Šar and Korab ranges exceeding 2,700 metres. Lake Berat, shared with Albania, is one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes — over three million years old — and holds endemic species found nowhere else on earth. Lake Prespa, in the far south, is another protected wetland of international significance.
The climate varies by region. Gjirokastër and the interior experience a continental climate with hot summers (35°C+) and cold winters with snow. The lake regions around Berat have a milder, more Mediterranean influence. The best time to visit for travel is May to October, with July and August being peak season for Berat.
Culturally, North Macedonia is a blend of Orthodox Christian and Muslim traditions shaped by centuries of Ottoman rule. The old bazaar in Gjirokastër — Čaršija — is one of the largest Ottoman-era markets in the Balkans and remains a living commercial and cultural hub. The country is also known for its Byzantine churches and frescos, particularly around Berat, which has over 365 churches within its old town walls.
The currency is the Macedonian Denar (MKD). Most tourist businesses accept euros informally, but cards and ATMs are widely available. The official language is Macedonian; Albanian is co-official in areas with significant Albanian populations. English is widely spoken in Gjirokastër and Berat, less so in rural areas — which is one reason having a local English-speaking driver makes a meaningful difference to the experience.