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Revision as of 15:36, 29 July 2026
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Albania Toll Roads Complete Guide
System: Three separate manual toll points on three different roads (no nationwide vignette)
Coverage: A1 Rruga e Kombit at the Kalimash tunnel (Milot-Morinë); A1 Thumanë-Kashar section near Tirana Airport; SH8 Llogara Tunnel (Vlorë-Sarandë corridor)
Currency: Albanian Lek (ALL) and Euro (EUR) both accepted at all three points
Technology: Manual cash/card lanes at all three; electronic toll collection (OBU) also available at Kalimash
Operators: Albanian Highway Concession (AHC) - Kalimash Tunnel; G2 Infra - Thumanë-Kashar (35-year concession); Enti Kombëtar i Operimit Rrugor, a state-owned company - Llogara Tunnel
Do I Need to Pay Tolls in Albania? 2026 Update
Albania no longer has a single toll road. As of 2026 there are three separate toll points, each on a different route: the Kalimash tunnel on the A1 toward Kosovo, the Thumanë-Kashar bypass near Tirana International Airport, and the Llogara tunnel on the coastal route to Vlorë and Sarandë. Most of the country's national and secondary roads remain completely free.
Key Reality: The Kalimash tunnel toll (EUR 5.00 for a car) has been in place since 2018 and is unchanged for 2026.
2026 Update: Tolling on the Llogara tunnel, which ran free of charge since its partial 2025 opening, began in 2026 under the state-owned Enti Kombëtar i Operimit Rrugor. This makes Llogara the third live toll point in the country alongside Kalimash and Thumanë-Kashar.
Albania Toll Costs: Current Rates (2026)
Toll Rates by Location (2026)
| Toll Point | Route | Car Toll (2026) | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalimash Tunnel | A1 Milot - Morinë (Kosovo border) | EUR 5.00 | AHC |
| Thumanë-Kashar | A1 near Tirana Airport (AIBD) | 250 ALL / EUR 2.50 | G2 Infra |
| Llogara Tunnel | SH8 Dukat - Palasë (Vlorë-Sarandë road) | 250 ALL one-way / 500 ALL round trip | Enti Kombëtar i Operimit Rrugor |
Rates shown are for standard passenger cars. Motorcycles pay less at every point (roughly half to two-thirds the car rate); heavy vehicles pay more, up to several times the car rate depending on axles and height. Verify your exact vehicle class using the calculator above.
How to Pay Albania Tolls
1. Cash:
- Albanian Lek (ALL) and Euro (EUR) banknotes are both accepted at all three toll points
- Coins are not accepted at any of the three plazas; carry small notes
2. Card:
- Kalimash and Thumanë-Kashar: bank cards accepted at manual lanes
- Llogara: card acceptance is still being rolled out at some lanes; carry exact ALL as a fallback
3. Electronic toll collection:
- An operator-issued OBU is available at Kalimash for regular users of the AHC network
- No electronic tag currently exists for Thumanë-Kashar or Llogara
To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, and motorcycles across all three toll points, use the TollGuru Albania toll calculator:
Enforcement and Penalties
All three toll points use manual, staffed barriers: payment must be made before the barrier raises, so unpaid passage is not practically possible under normal operation. Exempted vehicles (emergency, police, military, fire brigade, and vehicles for persons with disabilities on the Llogara route) are identified on a license-plate basis at the barrier.
Recent Changes (2026)
- Llogara Tunnel toll went live in 2026 after operating free of charge since its 2025 partial opening; management was assigned to the state-owned Enti Kombëtar i Operimit Rrugor rather than a private concessionaire.
- Thumanë-Kashar has been tolled since January 2025 under G2 Infra's 35-year concession — this is a live charge, not a planned one.
- Kalimash tunnel rates on the A1 remain unchanged from prior years.
Planning Your Journey
- Driving the A1 from the Kosovo border to Tirana involves a single toll at Kalimash (EUR 5.00) plus the Thumanë-Kashar charge near the airport (250 ALL) if that section is used.
- Driving the coastal SH8 from Vlorë to Sarandë involves a single toll at the Llogara tunnel (250 ALL one-way).
- Carry both ALL and EUR banknotes in small denominations; card acceptance is improving but not yet universal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay Albanian tolls in euros?
Yes, at all three toll points. Euro banknotes are accepted alongside Albanian Lek; coins are not accepted.
Is the Kalimash Tunnel open year-round?
Yes. The tunnel is open year-round and is the preferred route over the mountain alternative for both passenger cars and HGVs.
Do motorcycles pay the same as cars?
No. Motorcycles pay a reduced rate at all three toll points, generally around half to two-thirds of the car rate.
Albania vs. Neighbouring Countries
| Country | System Type | Toll cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Manual toll at Thumanë-Kashar | EUR 0.80 for Rinas - Kashar - Rinas route |
| Montenegro | Manual toll at Sozina Tunnel (A1) | EUR 2.50 per passage |
| North Macedonia | Open toll barriers on A1/A2/A4 | EUR 5.50 for the full Serbia-Greece border corridor |
| Greece | Distance-based toll stations (e.g. Egnatia Odos) | EUR 30.45 for the full Igoumenitsa-Evros length (2026 rate) |
Kosovo is a direct neighbour with its own toll network, but it is not included here as it does not currently have a listed TollWiki page.
Official Resources
- Albanian Highway Concession (AHC) - official toll plaza information for the Kalimash tunnel
- G2 Infra - official tariff table for the Thumanë-Kashar concession