Quick Summary: Street parking in Tirana costs 100 lek per hour in Zone A, 40 lek in Zone B and 20 lek in Zone C, paid Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 20:00. It is free on weekends and every night. Visitors can pay with the official Tirana Parking app or at a kiosk, or park in a municipal garage such as Skanderbeg Square for 200 lek for up to 3 hours.
Prices verified September 2026 from Tirana Parking, the municipal parking authority.
Tirana parking at a glance
| Option | Price | When you pay | How to pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street parking, Zone A (centre) | 100 lek/hour | Mon–Fri, 07:30–20:00 | Tirana Parking app, kiosk (qioska) or SMS to 50500 |
| Street parking, Zone B | 40 lek/hour | Mon–Fri, 07:30–20:00 | Tirana Parking app, kiosk (qioska) or SMS to 50500 |
| Street parking, Zone C | 20 lek/hour | Mon–Fri, 07:30–20:00 | Tirana Parking app, kiosk (qioska) or SMS to 50500 |
| Municipal garages (Skanderbeg, Sheshi Italia, 7 Xhuxhat) | From 200 lek for 0–3 hours | Every day | At the exit, in the app or at a kiosk (qioska) |
| Municipal garages (Bulevardi i Ri, Zoopark) | From 100 lek for 0–3 hours | Every day | At the exit, in the app or at a kiosk (qioska) |
| Private car parks (Toptani, Ring Center and others) | Set by each car park | Opening hours vary | On site only |
Main parking places in Tirana
Below are the areas visitors drive to most, with the best parking option for each. All the car parks mentioned are pinned on the map above.
Tirana Center – Kavaja Street Area
- Paid street parking during weekday hours
- Close to the city center and offices, with easy access to Skanderbeg Square on foot
- Nearest garage: Skanderbeg Square underground
Traffic is heavy during working hours, so the garage is the better choice for longer stays.
Skanderbeg Square & Toptani Area
- Very limited street parking
- Best options: the Skanderbeg Square underground garage (municipal, open 24 hours) or the Toptani Shopping Center car park (private)
This is the easiest way to visit the historic center.
Air Albania Stadium Area
- Paid street parking and the Sheshi Italia underground garage, right next to the stadium
- One of the best central parking zones
During matches or large events, spaces fill quickly, so arrive early.
Mother Teresa Square Area
- More open space than the inner-center streets
- Nearest garage: Sheshi Italia underground, next to the Air Albania Stadium
- Easier outside peak hours
Artificial Lake of Tirana (Grand Park)
- Several parking areas around the park
- Nearest garages: Sheshi Italia underground and Zoopark underground
- Less traffic and easier access
One of the easiest places to park in Tirana.
Tirana Zoo Park Area
- The Zoopark underground garage, one of the cheapest in the city: 100 lek for up to 3 hours
- Good for families and longer visits
Often combined with a walk around the Artificial Lake.
Blloku Area
- Paid street parking, very limited, especially in the evening
- The Stadiumi Dinamo car park and the Sheshi Italia garage are a short walk away and much easier than searching for a street spot
Tirana parking zones explained
Tirana's paid street parking is run by Tirana Parking, an institution of the Municipality of Tirana. The city is divided into three pricing zones, and the price depends on how central the street is.
Zone A covers the busiest central streets, including Blloku and the streets around the city centre, and costs 100 lek (about €1) per hour. Zone B covers the middle ring and costs 40 lek per hour. Zone C covers the outer parts of the city and costs 20 lek per hour.
Paid streets are marked with blue lines. Payment applies Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 20:00. Outside these hours, and all day on Saturday and Sunday, street parking is free.
Ten minutes before your paid time ends, you receive a reminder and can extend your parking. If your car stays after the paid time runs out, Tirana Parking inspectors check the system and the Municipal Police issue a fine. See our guide to traffic fines in Albania for penalty amounts.
How to pay for parking in Tirana as a visitor
There are three ways to pay for public parking in Tirana, and two of them work for visitors.
At a kiosk (qioska). The small shops selling tobacco, newspapers and phone credit near paid streets and municipal garages also sell public parking. This is the simplest option if you don't want to install an app, and it works for both street parking and the municipal garages.
The Tirana Parking app. Register with your phone number and email; foreign numbers work if you enter them with their country code, and you receive a verification code by SMS. You can add a card from any bank and pay for street parking in all three zones, the municipal garages and the bus terminals. The app also shows live free spaces in the municipal garages, so you can check availability before you drive there.
SMS to 50500. Send your plate number without spaces, a space, and the zone letter, for example AA123AA A. Each SMS pays for one hour. This only works from an Albanian SIM card, so a foreign phone number will not go through.
If you plan to pay at a garage exit booth, carry some cash in lek. Exit booths at some municipal garages accept only cash in lek, not cards or euros.
Free parking in Tirana
Street parking in all three zones is free:
- All day on Saturday and Sunday
- Every night from 20:00 to 07:30
The Sheqer Pikant car park, run by Tirana Parking, charges a flat 100 lek between 07:00 and 23:00, and entry is free outside those hours.
Blue-marked streets outside paid hours are the easiest free option. Never park on yellow lines, sidewalks or unmarked spaces in the centre, as illegally parked cars can be towed.
Municipal garages in Tirana: prices and locations
Tirana Parking runs several garages and car parks with fixed prices. All prices are in lek.
| Car park | Spaces | 0–3 h | 3–8 h | 8–12 h | 12–24 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skanderbeg Square underground (24 h) | 303 | 200 | 500 | 800 | 500 |
| Sheshi Italia underground, Air Albania Stadium (24 h) | 198 | 200 | 500 | 800 | 500 |
| 7 Xhuxhat underground, Rruga e Elbasanit (24 h) | 140 | 200 | 500 | 800 | 500 |
| Stadiumi Dinamo | 84 | 200 | 500 | 800 | 500 |
| Asllan Rusi (Sports Palace) | 72 | 200 | 500 | 800 | 500 |
| Frederik Shopen | 86 | 200 | 500 | 800 | 500 |
| Bulevardi i Ri underground (24 h) | 321 | 100 | 250 | 300 (8–24 h) | |
| Zoopark underground | 140 | 100 | 250 | 300 (8–24 h) |
At the Skanderbeg, Sheshi Italia, 7 Xhuxhat, Dinamo, Asllan Rusi and Frederik Shopen car parks, 12 to 24 hours costs less than 8 to 12 hours, which makes overnight parking good value. Losing your ticket at any municipal garage costs a 3,000 lek fine.
The Avni Rustemi car park is currently closed while a new 210-space underground car park is being built.
Skanderbeg Square underground parking
The garage under Skanderbeg Square was Tirana's first public underground car park, opened in 2017. It has 303 spaces, is open 24 hours, and puts you in the heart of the city, within walking distance of the National History Museum, the Opera, the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the Pyramid. It also has a free charger for electric cars, public toilets and a pay machine. For most visitors, it is the most practical place to park in the centre.
Air Albania Stadium parking (Sheshi Italia)
The underground car park at Sheshi Italia, next to the Air Albania Stadium, is the most modern municipal garage in Tirana. It has 198 spaces and is open 24 hours. It is a good choice for the Grand Park and the Artificial Lake, the Presidency and the Congress Palace. On match and event days, arrive early, as spaces fill quickly.
Private car parks in Tirana
Shopping centres and private companies run their own car parks. These are not part of the public parking system, so you cannot pay for them in the Tirana Parking app or at a kiosk. You pay on site at their own prices.
Toptani Shopping Center – Rruga Abdi Toptani, next to the Castle of Tirana and a short walk from Skanderbeg Square, with underground parking on four levels.
Tirana Ring Center – at the Zogu i Zi roundabout, about five minutes from Skanderbeg Square, with four parking floors and more than 500 spaces.
Both are private car parks belonging to the shopping centres, so their prices and payment options are set by each centre.
Parking tips for rental car drivers
- Prefer the municipal garages or clearly marked blue zones
- Avoid sidewalks, yellow lines and unclear spaces
- Keep your garage ticket safe, since losing it costs 3,000 lek
- Carry some cash in lek for garage exit booths
- Parking a few minutes farther away and walking is often easier
Once you're done exploring Tirana, the most popular next drive is south to the coast. See our full Tirana to Albanian Riviera road trip itinerary for routes, parking at every stop, and drive times. If something does happen to your car in a tight garage or on a busy street, our guide on what happens if you crash a rental car explains how insurance and damage waivers work.
FAQ
Is parking free in Tirana on Sundays?
Yes. Street parking in all zones is free all day on Saturday and Sunday, and every night from 20:00 to 07:30. Municipal and private garages still charge.
How do I pay for parking in Tirana without an Albanian SIM card?
Use the official Tirana Parking app, which accepts foreign phone numbers entered with their country code and cards from any bank, or pay at a nearby kiosk (qioska). SMS payment only works with an Albanian SIM.
Can I pay by card at Tirana's parking garages?
Not always. Exit booths at some municipal garages accept only cash in lek, so carry some lek or pay in advance through the Tirana Parking app or at a kiosk.
How much does parking cost in Tirana city centre?
Street parking in Zone A costs 100 lek per hour on weekdays from 07:30 to 20:00. The Skanderbeg Square underground garage costs 200 lek for up to 3 hours and 500 lek for 12 to 24 hours.
Where is the best place to park in Tirana?
For the centre, the Skanderbeg Square underground garage: open 24 hours, 303 spaces and walking distance to the main sights. For the Grand Park and Air Albania Stadium, use the Sheshi Italia garage.
What happens if my parking time runs out?
Tirana Parking inspectors check the system and the Municipal Police can issue a fine. Illegally parked cars in the centre can also be towed.
Key Takeaways
- Street parking costs 100 lek per hour in Zone A, 40 lek in Zone B and 20 lek in Zone C, Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 20:00
- Street parking is free on weekends and every night from 20:00 to 07:30
- Visitors can pay for public parking in the Tirana Parking app, which accepts foreign numbers and cards from any bank, or at a nearby kiosk (qioska)
- The Skanderbeg Square underground garage is the easiest central option, from 200 lek for 3 hours
- Carry some cash in lek, since some garage exit booths don't accept cards
- Private car parks like Toptani and Ring Center are not part of the public system and set their own prices
Sources: Tirana Parking – street parking, Zone A, and the official garage pages on tiranaparking.al.
