During our exciting tour through Albania, we also made a stop in the capital city of Tirana. After several days in the car, always on the road, it was time for some city life. So we rented a really great accommodation in the city center and explored Albania’s capital on our own.
Albania is generally a less touristy country, but it’s definitely worth a varied tour. Today we’ll show you Tirana’s sights and give you all the tips and information you need for your trip. Enjoy browsing!
What else you should know:
- What else you should know:
- Getting to Tirana
- Accommodation in Tirana
- Sights in Tirana
- Excursions and tours
Getting to Tirana
First of all, you obviously have to get to Tirana, which is no problem at all by car. If you are coming from the Albanian Riviera, it is best to take the SH8, SH4, and SH2 to Tirana. From Vlorë, it is only a 2-hour drive, and from Durrës, only 45 minutes on the SH2.
If you are coming from the north from Shkodra, it is best to take the SH29, which merges into the E762 and A1. In total, this route also takes about 2 hours. Are you at the very bottom in the south in Ksamil? Plan at least 5 hours of driving time for the approximately 300 kilometers.
Of course, there are also buses to Tirana, and you can also travel from Tirana to other cities. The buses depart near Skanderbeg Square, and some others depart near the Clock Tower in Tirana. These are regular city buses or the popular minibuses (furgons).
For example, you can easily travel from Saranda to Gijrokaster and/or Berat and then on to Tirana. The good thing is that the minibuses will drop you off wherever you want. You just have to give them plenty of notice.
Accommodation in Tirana
There are, of course, many accommodations in Albania’s capital. If you take a closer look at the map on Booking.com*, you’ll see the fairly large selection. It’s best to book accommodation right in the city center, as you can then easily explore the city on foot. We stayed at the very good and brand-new Hotel Stela Center*, which is located right in the center. This hotel had just opened its doors, and we were probably among the first guests.
The 4-star hotel is beautifully furnished, with very high-quality furniture and textiles. After several nights in rather simple accommodations, we were able to enjoy a truly high level of comfort here. The room is equipped with air conditioning, a sound system, a TV, a wardrobe, and a table. Our bathroom was very spacious and very clean. Back then, we only paid €40 per night including breakfast for the two of us. Current prices start at €69 per night.
Other accommodations in the center
Sights in Tirana
Tirana has some highlights and sights. We personally didn’t find the city as exciting as other capital cities, but we still had a lovely day with coffee, cake, and relaxing strolls. We’ll reveal the most important spots in the following section.
Central Skanderbeg Square
You’ll hardly miss Tirana’s central square. This square used to be a central meeting place, when Albanians had neither landline telephones nor wristwatches during the communist era. Here you’ll find not only the 11-meter-high equestrian statue of national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg but also the 35-meter-high clock tower. This allowed residents to keep track of time even back then. Since 2017, the square has been a pedestrian zone, was completely renovated, and features 100 fountains surrounding the square.
Around it, you’ll discover many historic and impressive buildings. For example, the National History Museum, the large Palace of Culture with the State Opera, and the National Library are located here. Also a stone’s throw away are the Et’hem Bej Mosque, the new Orthodox Cathedral, and the Catholic Cathedral.
Nature is also given great importance here. The square is home to more than 2,200 trees, 4,500 ornamental plants, and more than 70,000 flowering plants. Concerts, fairs, and the Christmas market are also often held in this central square.
Et’hem Bey Mosque
As already mentioned, the Et’hem Bej Mosque, one of the oldest in the city, is located directly on Skanderbeg Square. Construction began in 1794 but wasn’t completed until 1821. During Enver Hoxha’s campaign, countless mosques, churches, and monasteries were closed, converted to other uses, or even destroyed. The Et’hem Bej Mosque survived the period when Enver Hoxha declared Albania an atheist state.
Only after the religious ban was lifted in 1990 was the mosque one of the first in the country to reopen. The mosque is accessible outside of prayer times, and guided tours are even offered. However, it is currently under renovation, so it cannot be entered. Unfortunately, we do not know when the renovations will be completed.
National History Museum
Here in the center of Albania’s capital is the National History Museum. It is the largest museum in the country, opened in 1981 and declared a cultural monument in 2007. In the museum itself, you can see more than 4,700 objects from various eras, such as objects from antiquity, the Middle Ages, and even the anti-fascist era.
Small City Park Rinia
If you walk about 200 meters from the central square and stroll through the city, you will sooner or later reach the small City Park Rinia, which is particularly lively in good weather. Not only are there green spaces, but also the famous Taivani Restaurant. Every year on March 14, the country celebrates the summer festival, or rather the end of winter. Numerous circus performances take place in Rinia Park to mark the occasion.
BUNK’ Art Museum
Did you know that there are around 170,000 – 200,000 bunkers in Albania? These were built between 1972 and 1984. Enver Hoxha wanted to protect his country from foreign troops and built these bunkers all over the country. Again and again you will come across remains, some of them completely preserved, which look like small, round mushrooms.
Tirana has two great museums that explore bunker history and tell the story of the dark side of Albania’s history. The Bunk’art1 is located on the outskirts of the city in a huge four-story underground bunker. This was supposed to house the entire communist leadership in the event of war.
The Bunk’art2 Museum is located in the city center in a former torture chamber of the Hoxha dictatorship’s secret service. We found the exhibition very informative and comprehensive. If we remember correctly, we paid around 500 LEK entrance fee per person (approx. €4) for our visit to Bunk’art2.
Pyramid of Tirana
What? A pyramid? Yes, exactly! A pyramid! This concrete block is also located near the city center and is a reminder of the communist era, as it was built as a museum for the then leader. Albanians don’t like to talk about that era anyway, which is perhaps even more difficult given that so many buildings still exist that remind them of it. Today, the pyramid is used for events. You can even climb up and explore the graffiti-covered pyramid on your own. Unfortunately, we didn’t take a picture, but you certainly won’t miss it.
Hotspot: Rruga Murat Toptani
One of the most popular pedestrian streets in Tirana is Rruga Murat Toptani. This relatively short street is lined with some cool cafes, small shops, and stalls. In the evening, this street transforms into an avenue lined with colorful lights. Be sure to stop at Noki Café. Here you can get fresh juices, small snacks, and coffee. The nearby Oping’s Cocktails & Beer bar is also very popular. If you want to experience Tirana’s exciting nightlife, you should head to the Blloku area.
The Grand Bazaar Pazari
Where the old bazaar once stood, you will now find a relatively new area with shops and a large market hall in the center. Here you can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, bags, fabrics, spices, and many other things.
All around are restaurants and very cool cafés. From the city’s central square, it only takes about 10 minutes to get to the market. Especially if you want to satisfy your hunger, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. We particularly liked the mix of old and new here.
Grand Park of Tirana
The Grand Park of Tirana is about a 20-minute walk from Skanderbeg Square. This city park is the green lung of the city, a beautiful recreational area with a large, artificial lake.
Here you can relax and unwind or have a picnic. The park itself also contains several buildings, such as the Church of Saint Procopius or the main building of the University of Tirana.
Namazgja Mosque in Tirana
One of the most beautiful mosques in the entire country is the Namazgja Mosque, which, after renovation, will become the largest mosque in the Balkans. Plans call for more than 4,500 worshippers to be accommodated in the mosque. The construction of a central mosque had been planned since 1920, but work only began in 1993.
While we were in Tirana, construction was still in full swing, and work on the mosque will probably continue for quite some time. Even from a distance, this building looks very impressive and beautiful with its four 50-meter-high minarets.
Excursions and Tours
In Tirana, you can take some cool city tours or travel to other hotspots in the surrounding area. Some cities are not far from Tirana, such as Berat, Durrës, Ulza, Kruja, Shkodra, or Elbasan. You can also quickly reach the sea with a rental car, and from Tirana you can drive to the Albanian Alps or the south of the country. Be sure to check out this post: Albania’s Sights and Highlights.
Tirana City Tours
Like in almost every major city, you can also take a Free Walking Tour in Tirana. These take place daily at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., meeting in front of the Opera House. During the two-hour tour, you’ll see the city’s most important highlights and squares. More information here: Free Walking Tour Tirana. You can also book a guided 3-hour walking tour* through GetYourGuide. Tirana also offers some really cool street food tours.
Excursions in the surrounding area
Would you like to get to know the “City of 1000 Windows”? From Tirana, you can take day trips to Berat* and discover this jewel of Albanian history and culture. You can also take a combination tour* through Tirana and the medieval capital Kruja.
Day trips to the city of Shkodra* are also very popular. We also highly recommend the excursion to the Bovilla Reservoir. The large reservoir is located in the Skanderbeg Mountains and is only about 15 kilometers northeast of Tirana.
Local mountain Dajti & Dajti Ekspres
Just outside the city lies Dajti, Tirana’s local mountain, at a height of 1,613 meters. The area is protected and part of the Dajti National Park. You can reach the mountain via a road, from which a beautiful view of the city awaits you – it’s not for nothing that the view is called the “Balcony of Tirana.” The summit itself is a military restricted area and inaccessible, but you can easily climb Maja e Tujanit.
Since 2005, you can also take the “Dajti Ekspres” gondola lift. It is the first and only cable car in Albania and also the longest in the Balkans. In 15 to 20 minutes, you reach the heart of the national park. In summer, the train runs daily (except Tuesdays) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In winter, the doors close at 7 p.m. Tickets are only available at the station and cost €8 for a return trip. Children under 5 travel free.