Holiday apartment in Rinas: castles, museums and mountain trails

Rinas is a place where Tirana’s international airport meets a diverse surrounding area of fortresses, museums, mountains and nature trails. Rinas Airport is now called Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza and was built from 1955 to 1957. As Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, it began operations on 23 April 2005.

Arrival and routes

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. A bus service operates around the clock in both directions between Tirana and Rinas Airport. A regular bus route also connects the airport with Albania’s South and North bus stations.

From Tirana, the airport can be reached via the Tirana–Durrës motorway using the SH2 and then the SH60, which is also called Rruga e Aeroportit. Access to the airport leads from the SH2 via the SH52 and then 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.

Airport and culture

The passenger terminal itself also has its own amenities. Free Wi-Fi and power outlets for charging devices are available there. The Business Lounge is located on the second floor of the passenger terminal on the departures side. The lounge features an exhibition on Albanian folklore. The airport offers various restaurants and bars, each with its own style.

The airport has also been used as a setting for cultural projects. The initiative The Airport Is You used it for art, creativity, architecture and social issues. 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 An-2 aircraft in the colours of the Albanian flag was placed to mark the celebrations of Albania’s 100th anniversary.

Culture and history

The nearby Castle of Prezë 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 as well as a bar-café, and is located very close to Nënë Tereza Airport in Rinas. The Castle of Prezë offers views across the Tirana plain.

Krujë also brings together several historic sites. The Ethnographic Museum of Krujë is housed in a building erected in 1764 by the Toptani family within Krujë Castle and contains around 1,000 authentic objects. The Skanderbeg Museum within the walls of Krujë Castle presents the life and work of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg through historical objects, illustrations, weapons and other displays. The nearby Castle of Krujë also contains a museum with a library, documents and publications about Gjergj Kastrioti.

Nature and trails

Several different landscapes open up around Rinas. 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 gate, emerald-green pools and a hidden waterfall. A nearby guided tour offers door-to-door pick-up at Tirana Airport (Rinas). 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.

Further destinations

Other destinations in this selection include Shijak, Durrës, Fushë-Kruje, Shkallnur, Tapizë, Shetaj, Maminas and Kruja District.

To the higher-level travel overview: Durrës County.