The Tirana to Himare bus takes 4-5 hours and costs €12-15. Four to eight buses depart daily depending on season, with the 9AM departure offering the best timing—you avoid the pre-dawn chaos and arrive in Himare by 2PM with afternoon beach time available.
The journey covers 215km through mountain passes and coastal roads before descending to the Ionian coastline. Expect basic bus service with no assigned seating, variable AC, a single rest stop, and dramatic mountain-to-sea views as you travel from Albania’s capital to one of the Riviera’s most authentic beach towns.
Cost Comparison: Bus, Taxi, or Rental Car
Your transport options from Tirana to Himare:
Bus: €12-15, 4-5 hours. Cheapest option but schedules vary by season, terminal navigation is confusing, and departure times aren’t always reliable. Once in Himare, you’re limited to the main beach unless you hire taxis to reach nearby coves.
Private Transfer: €140-190, 3.5-4 hours. Door-to-door service, no terminal stress, can request photo stops at coastal viewpoints if arranged in advance. Worth considering if traveling with luggage or tight arrival timelines — book a private transfer
Rental Car: €40/day + fuel (€30-40), 4 hours. Best for exploration—stop at Dhermi and Drymades Beach on your schedule, explore hidden coves around Himare, drive the famous coastal road through Llogara Pass without rushing. The mountain switchbacks require confident driving — compare rental car prices
Budget solo travelers typically choose the bus. Couples and groups often prefer transfers for convenience. Most travelers planning to explore multiple beaches rent a car for flexibility along the Riviera.
Finding the Terminal
Tirana’s South & North Terminal is notoriously chaotic—multiple ticketing offices scattered around a parking lot, bus companies shouting destinations, minimal English signage, and some buses leaving from completely different nearby locations. First-time travelers regularly miss buses because they went to the wrong departure point.
Location: Rruga e Kavajës, about 2km south of Skanderbeg Square Getting there: Taxi from city center: €3-5 / 10 minutes
Finding your bus: Look for offices with “Himare” (or “Himara”) on hand-written signs. Don’t trust the first person who says “Himare”—multiple companies operate from different spots. Ask “Himare? Ora sa?” (What time?). When buying tickets, confirm the EXACT pickup location, not just the departure time.
Some Himare buses depart from company-specific offices near the main terminal. Confirm this when booking.
Arrive 30-40 minutes early. Budget extra time for confusion—this terminal overwhelms even frequent travelers.
How to Book
You have three booking options:
Option 1: Book Online (Recommended for Guaranteed Seat)
Check live prices and availability →
Click through to see all departure times for your dates. Albania’s main booking platform shows every bus company on this route, so you can compare schedules and grab the timing that works.
What you get:
- Real-time availability across all operators
- Compare departure times (4-8 daily depending on season)
- Book your preferred schedule (€12-15)
- Pay with international card (instant confirmation)
- PDF ticket emailed immediately
- Print it (essential—many drivers won’t accept phone screens)
Skip the terminal chaos. Book now, show up 30 minutes before departure with your printed ticket, and you’re guaranteed a seat.
Option 2: Buy at the Terminal (Day-of Travel)
Show up, find the Himare office, ask for the next departure, pay cash (€12-15 or 1,200-1,500 lek). This works in low season (October-May) but gets risky June-September when buses fill up quickly.
Online booking guarantees your seat and eliminates terminal stress. Day-of booking offers flexibility if plans change but comes with uncertainty.
Option 3: Bookaway (International Platform)
Book via Bookaway if you prefer an international booking interface with English customer support. They partner with Albanian bus companies and charge the same €12-15 base fare plus a small booking fee.
Advantages: Payment in your currency, English support, easier refunds Disadvantage: Still need to print tickets
Schedule & Best Departure Times
Peak season (June-September): More frequent departures, typically 7AM, 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, 3:30PM, sometimes additional afternoon buses
Off-season (October-May): 4-6 departures, usually 7AM, 9AM, 11AM, 1PM (times vary by company and sometimes cancel without notice)
Recommended departures:
- 9AM: Arrives Himare ~2PM, afternoon available for beach and settling in
- 11AM: Arrives ~4PM, check in and catch sunset from the promenade
- Avoid 3:30PM: Arrives after dark, harder to find accommodation
The 7AM bus fills with tour groups and locals. The 9AM departure offers better sleep and still provides afternoon beach access.
The Journey Hour by Hour
Hour 1 (Tirana → Lushnjë): Flat highway through farmland. The AC will be either freezing or broken—dress in layers.
Hour 2 (Lushnjë → Vlorë): Continued flat terrain as you approach the coast. Some buses make a quick rest stop near Vlorë.
Hour 2.5-3 (Vlorë → Llogara Pass): The scenery transforms. You begin climbing through dramatic switchbacks up Llogara National Park. Dense pine forests, mountain views, and hairpin turns. If you’re prone to motion sickness, sit in front and take medication before departure.
Hour 3-3.5 (Llogara Pass → Palasa): The famous descent—one of Albania’s most spectacular coastal roads. The mountains suddenly open to reveal the Ionian Sea far below. The bus descends through continuous switchbacks with turquoise water views. This is the section everyone photographs.
Hour 4 (Palasa → Dhermi → Himare): Coastal driving through Riviera towns. You’ll pass Palasa Beach, Dhermi village, and Drymades Beach before arriving in Himare.
Arrival: The bus stops at Himare’s bus stop at the crossroads of SH8 and Rruga 25 Marsi across from Big Market. Walk to nearby accommodations or take a taxi (€2-3) to hotels further from the center.
Onboard Amenities
Seats: Comfortable enough for 5 hours. No assigned seating—first come, first served. Arrive 20 minutes early for a window seat (essential for the Llogara Pass descent views).
AC: Wildly inconsistent—some buses are freezing, others sweltering. The driver controls it. Bring layers.
Luggage: One checked bag (stored underneath) + one carry-on included. Extra bags sometimes cost €2-3.
Bathrooms: Some buses have them, most don’t. The rest stop is your guaranteed opportunity.
Wi-Fi: Advertised but rarely works. Download content beforehand.
Outlets: Sometimes work, often don’t. Charge devices before departure.
Snacks: Not sold onboard. Bring water and snacks or buy at the rest stop.
Important Details
Terminal arrival time: Get there 30-40 minutes early—not for check-in (there isn’t one), but to find your bus company’s office, confirm exact departure location, and claim a good seat.
Cash for luggage: Some drivers charge €2-3 for checked bags despite tickets including luggage. Have small bills ready.
Print that ticket: PDF on your phone has a 50/50 acceptance rate. Print it to avoid buying a duplicate at the terminal.
Bathroom strategy: Use the terminal bathroom before boarding. Use the rest stop facilities even if you don’t feel the need—it’s your only guaranteed chance.
Exact pickup point: Confirm whether your company departs from the South Terminal or their own nearby office. This is critical for Himare buses.
Window seat strategy: The right side offers better views during the Llogara Pass descent (when traveling south from Tirana to Himare). Arrive early to claim it.
Common Questions
Is it safe? Yes. Albanian bus drivers navigate mountain roads aggressively but competently. The Llogara Pass looks dramatic but drivers know it well. Accidents and theft are both rare.
Do I need to speak Albanian? No. “Himare” (or “Himara”) is universally understood. Point at your printed ticket and you’ll manage.
Can I store luggage in Tirana before the bus? Most hotels offer luggage storage for guests. Hostels usually charge €1-2. The terminal has no left-luggage service.
What if I miss my bus? Buy a ticket for the next departure (usually 2-4 hours later depending on season). This is one advantage of day-of booking—more flexibility.
Is food included? No. The rest stop café sells sandwiches (€3-4), coffee (€1), and packaged snacks. Quality varies—bring your own if particular.
Do all buses stop in Dhermi? Most do, but not all. If you want to stop in Dhermi, ask when booking. Some buses are full by the time they reach Dhermi and won’t pick up additional passengers.
Can I break the journey in Vlorë? Yes, but you’ll need to buy separate tickets (Tirana → Vlorë, then Vlorë → Himare). There’s no through-ticketing with stops.
Arrival in Himare
The bus drops you at Himare’s main bus stop on the crossroads of SH8 and Rruga 25 Marsi, near Big Market.
From here:
To the main beach: 5-10 minute walk downhill To most hotels: 5-15 minute walk or €2-3 taxi To the old town (Kastro): 10-15 minute walk uphill To southern beaches (Livadhi, Potami): €5-8 taxi
Himare spreads along several kilometers of coastline. The main beach (Spile Beach) is walkable from the bus stop. Southern beaches like Livadhi require taxis or rental scooters (€15-20/day).
Getting around Himare:
- Main beach area is walkable
- Taxis for distant beaches: €3-8
- Scooter rental: €15-20/day
- Bicycle rental: €10/day (challenging due to hills)
Why Visit Himare
Himare offers a different Albanian Riviera experience than Saranda—less developed, more authentic, with dramatic mountain-meets-sea scenery.
Beaches in Himare:
- Spile Beach - Main town beach, pebbles, clear water, tavernas
- Livadhi Beach - 2km south, white pebbles, shallow water, beach clubs
- Potami Beach - Remote, accessed by steep path, nearly empty even in August
- Gjipe Beach - 30 minutes by boat or 45-minute hike, hidden between cliffs
What makes Himare different: Unlike Saranda’s developed waterfront, Himare maintains its fishing village character. The old town (Kastro) sits on the hillside with Byzantine castle ruins, narrow stone streets, and traditional houses. The mountains come right down to the sea, creating dramatic scenery.
Best for:
- Travelers seeking authentic coastal villages
- Beach lovers who want multiple swimming spots
- Hikers (trails to Gjipe, Old Town, nearby mountains)
- Those avoiding Saranda’s development and crowds
The Tirana to Himare bus takes you through some of Albania’s most spectacular coastal scenery, especially the Llogara Pass descent where mountains plunge into turquoise water. The five-hour journey trades convenience for affordability, delivering you to one of the Riviera’s most authentic beach towns.
Bring motion sickness medication if prone to it (the Llogara switchbacks are real), pack snacks and water, download entertainment for offline use, wear layers for unpredictable AC, and claim a right-side window seat for the best views.
The beaches waiting for you in Himare are worth every minute of the journey.
Safe travels (rrugë të mbarë).