Albania’s capital used to regularly top lists for Europe's worst city. Decades of Stalinist rule left Tirana grey and grim, lacking in both infrastructure and services. Today Tirana is – while still often chaotic – a very pleasant little city, and the cultural, entertainment, and political centre of Albania. Here's our pick of the best things to do in Tirana, Albania.
Many visitors to Albania find themselves welcomed with invitations for coffee or rakija (a traditional plum brandy). This custom reflects the country's culture of hospitality. Having been less connected to international tourism for several decades, many locals are genuinely interested in meeting and conversing with travelers from various parts of the world.
While Albania may not be the first destination that comes to mind for many travelers, it offers a wealth of unique experiences. See our guide to the best things to do in Albania, and you may find yourself adding this charming country to your must-visit list.
As it’s a small city, you can easily cover Tirana's central area in a day. But as well as a leisurely exploration of the handful of museums, monuments, historic buildings and parks, make some time to marvel at the city's concrete housing estates. Yes, really. Painted in rainbow colours, they add brightness to what was once a rather monochrome cityscape.
Apart from visiting Tirana, discover some of the best travel experiences in Albania.
Brightly painted apartment buildings in Tirana © Ligak/Shutterstock
While Albania's cuisine may not be internationally famous yet, it offers a delightful culinary experience worth exploring. Look out for the excellent coffee and beer, alongside tasty pastries and gelato. Cafés are also the perfect place for people-watching — set to a soundtrack of Albanian and Euro-pop.
Visiting Skanderbeg Square, named after the national hero who briefly ensured Albania was independent of the Ottoman Empire in the fifteenth century, is undoubtedly one of the things to do in Tirana.
There is a large bronze statue of Skanderbeg on horseback (imagine Alexander The Great meets Thor) in the middle of the square, and the Et'hem Bey Mosque, one of the nation's most treasured buildings that dates back to the late eighteenth century, sits in the southeast corner. Also situated here are the nation's major museums, including The National Historic Museum adorned with a huge socialist mural of victorious partisans.
The National Museum in Skanderbeg Square © RossHelen/Shutterstock
You’ll find Tirana’s concrete pyramid, Piramida, a short walk from Skanderbeg Square. Built in 1987 by the daughter of Albania’s dictator Enver Hoxha (who tyrannically ruled Albania from 1944–85) as a museum to her father, it now sits derelict, stripped of the tiles that once covered it and splattered with graffiti. There is talk of demolishing it, but some argue that it should be kept intact as an apt monument to Stalinism's ugly spirit.
The controversial concrete pyramid in Tirana © Jody/Shutterstock
Blloku, The Block, is where Enver Hoxha lived and was once off limits to all but the Communist party’s inner circle. Now it's the epicentre for Tirana’s beautiful people. Today you’ll find expensive hotels, designer cafés, restaurants and shops. Take in the contemporary glitz from Sky Club, a rotating bar high in the air offering 360-degree views across the city.
Tirana’s nightlife scene moves up a notch each year and the city’s clubs, largely situated around Blloku, vary greatly in theme and atmosphere. They are best visited by a local who knows which ones to attend (and which to avoid). Be mindful, however, that Albania is still a traditional society.
Tirana's waterfront © Edvin Rushitaj/Shutterstock
This large, wooded park is where many of Tirana's citizens head for a bit of time out, whether it’s fishing in the artificial lake, picnicking on the lawns or kicking-back in one of the many café-bars. Considering how oppressive Tirana's traffic can get, this park allows the city's Mediterranean ambience to shine.
Walking through the Parku i Madh among refreshing things to do in Tirana © By Alla Simacheva/Shutterstock
If you are wondering what to do in Tirana away from the city centre, head to Mount Dajti National Park, popular with Tirana's residents for fresh air and countryside walks. You can either take an Austrian-built cable car (expensive) or the city bus (cheap) and once there you’ll find hotels, guest-houses and restaurants if you feel like staying overnight.
Among best things to do in Tirana outside the city is visiting the historic city of Durrësi on the Adriatic Sea. These days it’s largely Kosovar tourists who make use of the plentiful cheap hotels and restaurants along the seafront. Things are rough and ready, but Durrësi is lively, inexpensive and easily accessible.
Picturesque drone view of seaside cityscape of Durresi in Albania on Adriatic coast © AdobeStock
The Et'hem Bey Mosque is one of the few mosques to have escaped destruction by the Communists, which had resulted in any kind of religious institution being either closed, demolished or converted into warehouses or schools by the end of 1967.
Despite resistance from the communist authorities, around 10,000 people entered the mosque on 18 January 1991. This event was one of the important milestones in the revival of religious freedom and the fall of communism in the country.
Today, visitors can enjoy the mosque's beautiful architecture and its delicate decorations of wall and ceiling paintings in the oriental traditions. The mosque's frescoes depict trees, waterfalls and bridges, and still lifes, which are rare in the Islamic arts.
The clock tower is a symbol of the municipality of Tirana and, in an ensemble with the Et'hem Bey Mosque, is a unique architectural landmark.
The Clock tower was built by the same man who built the Et'hem Bey Mosque. It is a cultural monument that shows the time in Tirana since 1822. You have a great chance to see the main square of Tirana and beyond it by climbing the steps and reaching the top of the tower.
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Skanderbeg square with flag, Skanderbeg monument, The Et'hem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower in the center of Tirana city, Albania © AdobeStock
Bunk’Art is a massive bunker built by the communist dictator is now a museum. It was built on the orders of Enver Halil Hoxha, the dictator who ruled Albania for some 50 years, as a hideout in the event of war.
Today the bunker is open to visitors and is a monument to Albania's communist past. A walk through the bunker's dark, spooky corridors is one of the best things you can do in Tirana.
Bunk'art 2 in the Center of Tirana, Albania © AdobeStock
One of the most unusual museums in Albania, the House of Leaves is the look-alike equivalent of the Stasi headquarters in the former East Germany. Visiting this landmark should be on your list of things to do in Tirana.
Once inside the headquarters of the infamous National Intelligence Service, also known as the House of Spies, there's a good chance you'll be speechless. Inside the House of Leaves, you will learn the monstrous side of the dictatorial regime in Albania and the stories of the persecuted people who were not afraid to speak out against the government.
New Bazaar is one of the most historic and oldest neighbourhoods in the Albanian capital, which takes its name from the food market that is located in the area.
Here you'll find a huge variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, seafood, and spices, and the farmers of the New Bazaar will not only help you find the best products but also tell you about the history of this bustling market.
One of the best things about Tirana is its compactness, which makes it a great place to walk around, and although it's not the biggest city, there are plenty of places to explore on foot, including Skanderbeg Square, the National History Museum, Skanderbeg Monument, Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower of Tirana, BunkArt 2, Murat Toptani Road, and Tirana Castle.
The Palace of Culture, Skanderbeg Square in Tirana © AdobeStock
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written by
Garth Cartwright
updated 01.10.2024
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