Hotels in Rinas: Airport, Culture and Nature near Tirana

Rinas combines airport history, Albanian culture and nature destinations in the surrounding area. Rinas Airport, now called Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, was built from 1955 to 1957. Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza began operations on 23 April 2005.

Getting there

Tirana International Airport is located 17 kilometres outside Tirana, the capital of Albania. Depending on traffic, the taxi ride from the airport to the centre of Tirana takes 20 to 25 minutes. The bus service between Tirana and Rinas Airport operates around the clock in both directions. A regular bus service connects Rinas Airport with Albania’s South and North Bus Stations.

From Tirana, the airport can be reached via the Tirana–Durrës motorway on the SH2 and then via the SH60, also known as Rruga e Aeroportit. Access to the airport leads from the SH2 via the SH52 and then via the SH60, Rruga e Aeroportit. Licensed airport taxis are available in front of the terminal and in the terminal’s pick-up area. AHA offers transfers between Tirana Airport and all cities in Albania for individuals and groups.

On site

The passenger terminal at Tirana International Airport offers free Wi-Fi and power sockets for charging devices. The Business Lounge is located on the second floor of the passenger terminal on the departures side. The Business Lounge features an exhibition on Albanian folklore. The airport also offers various restaurants and bars, each with its own style.

Culture

There are also cultural connections beyond the airport’s daily operations. On 24 November 2018, Tirana International Airport hosted a special concert on the airport grounds featuring 20 Albanian musicians from the Albanian Orchestra of Excellence. Next to the terminal, a red-painted historic Antonov-2 aircraft in the colours of the Albanian flag was put on display to mark the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Albania. The initiative The Airport Is You used the airport as a setting for art, creativity, architecture and social issues.

The nearby Prezë Castle is a small medieval fortress and part of a historic network of fortifications and communications between Durrës, Krujë and Petrelë. The castle has a restaurant and a bar-café; it is located very close to Nënë Tereza Airport in Rinas. Prezë Castle offers views over the Tirana plain.

Nearby Krujë is about 30 minutes from Tirana Airport. Door-to-door pick-up is offered for a guided tour of the castle and bazaar. Inside the fortress of Krujë, the Ethnographic Museum is housed in a building constructed in 1764 by the Toptani family. It contains around 1,000 authentic objects. The Skanderbeg Museum within the walls of the Krujë fortress presents the life and work of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg through historical objects, illustrations, weapons and other displays. The nearby Krujë Castle also houses a museum with a library, as well as documents and publications about Gjergj Kastrioti.

Nature

The nearby Qafë-Shtamë National Park offers opportunities for hiking, nature walks, photography and exploring mountain trails. The nearby Sari-Salltik mountain offers hiking trails and panoramic views of Krujë and the surrounding fields. A nearby canyon hike follows an old stone path through a gorge to a natural arch, emerald-green pools and a hidden waterfall.

A nearby guided tour offers door-to-door pick-up at Tirana Airport (Rinas).

More destination pages

More destination pages: Kruja District, Durrës, Tapizë, Maminas, Shetaj, Fushë-Kruje, Shkallnur, Shijak.

To the higher-level travel overview: Durrës County.