Day Trips from Durrës by Car: Krujë, Apollonia and Rodon |

Durrës makes a good base for a day behind the wheel. The coast road runs north, Apollonia lies to the south, and Tirana is close enough for an afternoon in the capital. The distances below are all measured from Durrës, and the drive times are routing estimates: traffic, roadworks and a wrong turn can add a lot, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise and leave earlier than you think you need to.

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Krujë

Krujë sits about 45 km inland from Durrës, roughly 53 minutes by car in a no-traffic estimate, and longer when Fushë-Krujë is busy. It is a short drive and makes an easy half-day. Go early to avoid the worst of the morning traffic, and fill the tank before you leave if you plan to carry on somewhere else afterwards.

Apollonia

Apollonia is about 89 km from Durrës and roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by car via Fier and the village of Pojan. This is the longest drive in this list, so give it a full day and start in the morning. The route leaves the main road for Pojan at the end, so allow a little extra time for that stretch on the way back.

Cape Rodon

Cape Rodon is about 51 km north of Durrës, around 75 minutes in a no-traffic estimate, and slower in practice because the roads narrow through olive country. That last stretch is the point of the trip: it is a coastal drive rather than a highway run, so allow more time than the number suggests and avoid rushing it after dark.

Tirana

Tirana is 37 km from Durrës and takes 45 to 60 minutes by car; from Skanderbeg Square it is about 45 minutes to the centre of Durrës. It is the simplest city day out, though parking in the centre takes a little planning. Use a public car park instead of circling for street space, and keep some cash or a bank card ready, depending on the car park.

A one-day loop

For a single day that takes in both the hills and the coast, start early and head inland to Krujë first, while the road through Fushë-Krujë is still quiet. Come back down towards the coast in the late morning, then turn north for Cape Rodon, where the road narrows through olive country. Finish with the run back down the coast to Durrës. The timings above are measured from Durrës, so add the legs between the stops and check a map before you set off; this is a full day, not a morning.

If you would rather have two shorter days, pair Krujë with Tirana and keep Apollonia or Cape Rodon for another outing. Both pairings keep the driving manageable and leave time to actually stop.

Practical tips

Speed limits are 40 km/h in towns and villages, 80 km/h on secondary and local roads outside towns, 90 km/h on main roads between towns and up to 130 km/h on motorways where signed. Albania has zero tolerance for alcohol, and dipped headlights are compulsory at all times outside towns. Keep your licence and the car’s papers with you.

Paid street parking in Durrës is Zone A at 100 ALL an hour, about €1.10, and Zone B at 40 ALL, about €0.44. From 1 June to 30 September it applies every day from 08:00 to 20:00; from 1 October to 31 May it applies Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00. At the public car parks at Jorgji Ziu Square, Vollga Square and the Ramazan Njala Sports Palace the first five minutes are free and payment is by bank card only, with 100 ALL for up to two hours, 200 ALL for two to five hours, 300 ALL for five to eight hours, 400 ALL for eight to twelve hours and 500 ALL for twelve to twenty-four hours.

Parking where it is not allowed brings a police fine of 1,000 to 3,000 ALL, and where a sign warns of it the police can tow or clamp the car until the fine is paid on the spot. Beyond parking, two things catch people out on a day trip: fuel and mileage. If your rental is full-to-full, fill up before you return, and check your daily allowance before a long loop, since one local company includes 250 km a day and charges €0.15 for each extra kilometre. Carry a little cash for small car parks and roadside stops, and check your insurance before heading for the hills.

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