Search Flights from San Francisco to Tirana

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

Tirana, giving a grasp of Ottoman culture to its visitors by the mosque and Turkish bath from the 17th century, is the capital of Albania. Tirana has a small surface area, and a low population ratio. Passengers wanting to visit Tirana use the transportation to the city from Tirana International Airport.

The transportation service provided by public transport in Tirana is very weak. As of 2013, the train line that runs along the coastline of the city has been closed. There is no public transport means except for the bus. Train services are only used for transportation to neighboring cities.

A tourist information office is located in the Rruga Ded Gjo Luli district, north of Skanderbeg Square, known as the city center of Tirana, to make it easier for visitors to use public transport within the city. We recommend that you visit this office. Office staff speaks English, telling you in detail what you need to do through the maps to make your transportation easier. If you do not want to use public transport, it would ease your trip to take a taxi or rent a car.  

Other than that, you can also explore the city center on foot. However, as there is often construction going on in the city square, your journey can be halved. In some parts of the city bicycle rental points are located. With the bike you can rent from here you can have a more enjoyable trip.

Options for public transport from Tirana International Airport to the city are quite limited. It will be much easier to get to your destination by renting a car or taking a taxi.

Bus

There are buses named Rinas Express which takes you to the Rruga Durres area, a few minutes' walk from Skanderbeg Square. After passing through the exit gates of the airport, you can follow the car park area and find the bus departure point behind the taxi stops. These buses operate between 6 am and 6 pm, with hourly intervals. Moreover, buses are the only means of public transport in the city. The times of departure change frequently, so it is worth checking before you take the bus. Apart from Rinas Express, there is no other bus departing from the airport. So if you are thinking of going to another part of the city, you have to use other bus lines passing through the city center.

Train

Train lines that no longer serve in urban transport are used only for intercity transport, although limited. Using these lines you can travel to Durres, Shkodra, Elbasan Vlore and Librazhd.

Taxi

It is possible to easily find a taxi from the taxi stop right outside the airport. In addition, there are two taxi stops serving the city transport: MerrTaxi, SpeedTaxi. For our passengers who want to use taxi, we recommend these two. Pirate taxis are often found in the city, but their fees may be higher than the normal taxis. You can come across those who do not use taximeters among these pirate taxis. We recommend you to be careful in this regard for a more comfortable transport.

Car Rental

Car rental is a less preferred alternative to taking a taxi. There are many vehicles in many parts of the city. It is therefore possible to have difficulty parking your vehicle. Also, the asphalt is not well laid out on the road. Driving can also be very challenging because traffic signs are not very well prepared.