Practical info · Gjëra praktike

✈️ Flights

The main airports are Prishtina International Airport Adem Jashari (PRN) in Kosovo and Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) in Albania. From the US, most routes connect through a European hub such as Istanbul, Vienna, Munich, Zurich or Frankfurt. Summer fares rise fast, so book early.

• From the US: there are no nonstop flights to PRN or TIA. Common one-stop options are Austrian (via Vienna), SWISS (via Zurich), Lufthansa (via Frankfurt or Munich) and Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul).
• From Canada: Air Transat flies Toronto–Tirana nonstop, once a week in summer (the 2026 season ran June 18 to October 8). Air Transat announcement.
• Vlorë airport (VLO): built but not open to passenger flights. Certification was never completed, the planned 2026 flights were cancelled, and in August 2026 the government started ending the concession. Fly into Tirana for the south coast.

🚗 Driving routes & border crossings

• Kosovo ↔ Albania: the Rruga e Kombit highway (Prishtina–Prizren–Kukës–Tirana), crossing at Vërmicë/Morinë. In summer, expect queues at peak weekends.
• Driving down from Western Europe: many families drive through Serbia, North Macedonia or Montenegro. Each border has its own rules for documents and insurance.
• Insurance: foreign-plated cars entering Kosovo usually have to buy local border insurance, because Kosovo is not part of the Green Card system. Check what your policy covers.
• Documents: carry your passport, license, registration and insurance papers. An International Driving Permit is recommended.

Kosovo border insurance for a regular car is €15 for 15 days. Buy it at the border or online from the Kosovo Insurance Bureau (BKS online policy).

💶 Money: euro vs lek

• Kosovo uses the euro (€), even though it is not in the EU.
• Albania uses the lek (ALL). Euros are often accepted in tourist areas, but usually at a worse rate, so carry some lek.
• Cards work in cities. Cash is still king in villages, markets and small cafés. ATMs are common, so watch the fees.
• Tell your US bank before you travel.

📱 SIM cards & data

Local prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to get at the airport and in phone shops; bring your passport for registration. US roaming plans can be expensive in the Balkans, so check before you go. Kosovo and Albania are separate networks, so check roaming if you cross.

Main mobile networks: Vala and IPKO in Kosovo; One and Vodafone in Albania. Compare their tourist packages in the shop or at the airport.

🚌 Buses between Kosovo and Albania

Buses run daily from Prishtina's main bus station to Tirana, several times a day. Operators include Kabashi Tours, Albani Tours, Sharr Travel, Memi Reisen and Arditi Tours. Times change, so check at the station or on CheckMyBus, and confirm which Tirana terminal your bus uses.

🚙 Car rental

Rentals are available at PRN, TIA and in the major cities. Book early for summer. If you plan to cross between Kosovo and Albania, or into other countries, ask for cross-border permission and the right insurance, because not every company allows it. Mountain and coastal roads can be narrow and winding, so take your time.

• Tirana (TIA): the airport lists Avis, Europcar, Rinas Car Rental and RentPoint as partners. Enterprise also has a desk in the terminal. Airport partner list.
• Prishtina (PRN): Enterprise, Alamo, National, Europcar, Hertz and SIXT have airport locations, plus many local companies.
• Expect a credit-card deposit hold. Ask the amount and the cross-border fee when you book.