If you're renting a car in Albania, parking is the part most visitors underestimate, especially in Tirana. The short answer: in central Tirana, use an underground garage or pay for blue-line street parking by SMS to 50500. Free parking exists, but mostly outside the centre. This guide covers where you can park for free, where you need to pay, which garages are worth it, and which areas to avoid, plus parking in Durrës, Vlora and Shkodër.
Tirana Parking Map
Paid hours are on the sign on each street. Evenings, Sundays and public holidays are free.
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Skanderbeg Square Underground200 Lek / 3h
Right under the square. 303 spaces, EV charger, 500 Lek for 3 to 8 hours.
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Sheshi Italia Underground200 Lek / 3h
Next to Air Albania Stadium, a short walk to Blloku and the Grand Park.
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7 Xhuxhat Underground200 Lek / 3h
Rruga e Elbasanit, close to the Castle of Tirana and the Pyramid.
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Bulevardi i Ri Underground100 Lek / 3h
New Boulevard, north of the centre. 321 spaces, one of the cheapest.
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Zoo Park Underground100 Lek / 3h
By the zoo and the Artificial Lake. Good for a day in the park.
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Blloku, Rruga Abdyl Frashëri40 Lek / hr
Blue-line spaces near cafés and restaurants. Busy in the evening.
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Rruga Lek Dukagjini40 Lek / hr
Around Air Albania Stadium. Plenty of spaces, Blloku within walking distance.
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Grand Park and Artificial LakeFree
Free spaces near the lake and zoo. Quiet and good for families.
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Pay for street parking by SMS
Type your plate and pick the zone. On your phone, the button opens a ready-to-send SMS to 50500. Each SMS pays for one hour.
How paid street parking in Tirana works
Parking in Tirana's centre is run by Tirana Parking, the municipal agency. Paid spaces are marked with blue and white lines. The city is split into three Tirana parking zones, and the closer you are to Skanderbeg Square, the more you pay.
| Zone | Area | Price per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Zone A | Skanderbeg Square, the main boulevard, ministries | 100 Lek |
| Zone B | The next ring out, including around Blloku | 40 Lek |
| Zone C | The rest of the inner city | 20 Lek |
Paid hours are shown on the sign on each street. They usually cover weekday daytime hours, while evenings, Sundays and public holidays are free. A few central streets are no-parking or tow zones at all times, so always read the sign on your block.
How to pay by SMS
- Send an SMS to 50500.
- Write your licence plate without spaces. In Zone B or C, add a space and the zone letter. Example:
AA123BB B - You'll get a confirmation SMS. Each message pays for one hour.
- Before your time runs out, you get a reminder. Send another SMS to extend.
The easiest way to pay is from a local Albanian SIM. A cheap prepaid SIM from the airport works well; keep it in the car just for parking and maps.
If your paid time runs out, inspectors and the municipal police can fine you, so extend before the reminder expires.
Underground and public parking garages in Tirana
For most visitors, a garage is the easiest Tirana parking option in the centre. You take a ticket at the entrance, pay when you leave, and don't need an Albanian SIM. The municipal garages below are run by the city, are open 24 hours, and use fixed prices.
| Garage | Near | Spaces | Up to 3 hours | 3 to 8 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skanderbeg Square Underground | Skanderbeg Square, National History Museum, Opera | 303 | 200 Lek | 500 Lek |
| Sheshi Italia Underground | Air Albania Stadium, Grand Park, Blloku | – | 200 Lek | 500 Lek |
| 7 Xhuxhat Underground | Rruga e Elbasanit, Castle of Tirana, Pyramid | 140 | 200 Lek | 500 Lek |
| Bulevardi i Ri Underground | New Boulevard, north of the centre | 321 | 100 Lek | 250 Lek |
| Zoo Park Underground | Tirana Zoo, Grand Park and Artificial Lake | 140 | 100 Lek | 250 Lek |
| Dinamo Stadium parking | Dinamo Stadium | 84 | 200 Lek | 500 Lek |
Longer stays cost more, so check the price board at the entrance. Losing your ticket in a municipal garage costs a 3,000 Lek fine, so keep it with you.
The Skanderbeg Square garage also has a free charger for electric cars and public toilets. To get in, drive to the end of Rruga e Kavajës, go straight through the lights at the square, and take the ramp down. It's easy to miss, and circling back takes a while.
If you rented a van or a large SUV, check the height sign at the entrance before you drive down the ramp.
Other car parks in Tirana
These private car parks are also popular. Prices and hours vary, so check at the entrance:
- Toptani Shopping Center parking
- Arena Center Underground Parking
- P2 Parking Qerekë
- Parking Për Ju (Car Park For You)
- Parking Koko 2
- Parking Plaza
- Parking 24/7
Which garage for which plan
- Sightseeing around Skanderbeg Square, the mosque and the museums: Skanderbeg Square Underground. You come up right in the square.
- Castle of Tirana, New Bazaar and shopping: 7 Xhuxhat or Toptani Shopping Center.
- Blloku, the Grand Park or a match at Air Albania Stadium: Sheshi Italia Underground or Arena Center. On match days, arrive early.
- A day at the zoo or the lake: Zoo Park Underground, one of the cheapest options in the city.
- Overnight near your hotel: any 24-hour municipal garage. You don't need to move the car in the morning.
Free parking in Tirana
Free parking in central Tirana is rare during paid hours. Where you can realistically find it:
- Blue-line spaces outside paid hours: in the evening, on Sundays and on public holidays, the same spaces you pay for during the day are free.
- Around the Grand Park and Artificial Lake: free spaces near the lake and zoo. Quiet, and good for families.
- Residential streets outside the inner ring: free, but read the signs. Some spaces are for residents only.
- Your hotel: many central hotels and apartments include parking or offer a guest rate. Ask before you book.
Don't take a free-looking space in the centre without checking. Unmarked streets and yellow lines are where most fines and blocked cars happen.
Garage or street parking: which should you choose?
Choose a garage when you're staying overnight, parking for more than two hours in Zone A (three hours on the street costs 300 Lek, the same garage slot costs 200 Lek), don't have an Albanian SIM, or are driving a newer rental car you don't want scratched.
Choose street parking for short stops in Zone B or C, when you have a local SIM, or outside paid hours.
Best areas for parking in Tirana
- Around Air Albania Stadium (Rruga Lek Dukagjini): plenty of spaces and reasonable Zone B rates, with Blloku within walking distance.
- Rruga e Elbasanit: street parking and private lots, cheaper than the centre. Good for longer stays.
- Blloku (Rruga Abdyl Frashëri): paid parking close to cafés and restaurants. Busy in the evenings, so arrive early.
Areas to avoid
- The city centre core (Rruga Myslym Shyri, Rruga e Barrikadave, Rruga e Kavajës): very crowded, and finding a street space takes time. Use a garage instead.
- Streets without clear signs or markings: high risk of a fine or the car being blocked by the municipality.
If you're also planning your route through the city, our guide to driving in Tirana covers rush hours, roundabouts and the live traffic map.
Parking in other Albanian cities
Parking in Durrës
- Near the Vollga promenade: public parking with limited spaces, close to the beach and city centre.
- Currilat area: quieter and less crowded, good for travellers.
- Neighbourhoods 1 and 4: residential areas with on-street parking.
Parking in Vlora
- Lungomare: the seaside boulevard has many spaces, most of them paid in summer.
- Uji i Ftohtë: less crowded, a good choice if you're heading to the quieter beaches.
Driving down from the capital? See our Tirana to Vlorë route guide.
Parking in Shkodër
- Around Rozafa Castle: free parking for visitors.
- City centre (Rruga Kol Idromeno): busy, with a few private paid lots.
- Parrucë and Bahçallëk: quiet neighbourhoods, good for longer parking.
Parking tips for rental car drivers in Albania
- Don't park on yellow lines or in spaces reserved for emergency services, taxis or disabled drivers.
- Keep your garage ticket with you, not in the car. You'll need it to pay and leave.
- If you pay by paper ticket, leave it visible on the windscreen.
- Take a photo of where you parked and of the parking sign. It helps if you get a fine you don't agree with.
- Don't leave bags or valuables visible in the car.
- Under our rental terms, the driver pays any parking fees and fines received during the rental.
- Save the rental company's phone number in case the car gets blocked.
For more on the roads outside the city, read our full guide to driving in Albania.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay for parking in Tirana?
By SMS to 50500 with your plate number. In garages, take a ticket and pay when you leave.
How much does parking in Tirana cost?
100 Lek per hour in Zone A, 40 Lek in Zone B and 20 Lek in Zone C. Municipal garages cost 100 to 200 Lek for up to three hours.
Is there free parking in Tirana?
Yes, in the evening, on Sundays and public holidays, and around the Grand Park and Artificial Lake.