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Fun Things to Do in Tirana, Albania

Mosque on a downtown street corner in Tirana.

Tirana, Albania, isn’t at the top of most travelers’ lists. Even in Europe, it has a rather checkered reputation. Those who have heard of it usually haven’t heard much positive. However, these past associations die hard. We found the Albanian capital city to be a fun and lively place. Here are some amazing things to do in Tirana, whether you have a weekend or longer.

Any article on Albania has to cover both sides of the story. Albania’s history isn’t a great one. Trampled by the Axis Powers during World War II, the country was left unstable after the war. Falling into a totalitarian communist regime under Enver Hoxha, the country languished because of his paranoia. He erected thousands of bunkers around the country to protect it from an invasion that would never come from an enemy that did not exist.

Concrete bunker.
One of nearly 800,000 concrete bunkers

After the breakup of the Communist Bloc in the 1990s, Albania faltered. The country became a hotbed of organized crime (mostly the smuggling of stolen automobiles from elsewhere in Europe) and sex trafficking. Albania was, and remains, one of the poorest countries in Europe.

But things are looking up in Albania and in the capital of Tirana. Tourism is increasing for good reason–it makes an extremely economical travel destination, and there are lots of beautiful places to see across the country. We had a chance to visit and here are our recommendations.

Exterior of a building with a mosaic showing a group of people.
One of the excellent museums, the National Historical Museum of Albania

See Skanderbeg Monument and Skanderbeg Square

Skanderbeg was an Albanian statesman and general who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire from 1443-1468. His rebellion gave a birth to the notion of an independent Albanian state (which wouldn’t come until 444 years later, in November 1912). For his military success and creation of an Albanian identity, he is honored as a hero in Albania.

Statue of a man on a horse in a city square.
Skanderbeg Square

Skanderbeg Square, complete with a statue of him atop his horse, is in the center of the city–a replacement for the communist era statue of Joseph Stalin that once stood on the spot. Many of the city’s important roads intersect here, and the square is flanked by important government buildings and museums. This square is the heart and soul of the Albanian people.

Visit Et’hem Bey Mosque

Interior of a mosque with decorated walls.
The Et’hem Bey Mosque

Et’hem Bey Mosque, a small mosque next to Skanderbeg Square, is an important house of worship for the Muslim majority in Albania. Completed in the 19th century, it was unused during the Communist era since all religion was banned. We were fortunate enough to meet the local imam and hear from him first-hand how life in Albania has changed and improved. The mosque is not to be missed, especially the paintings on the walls.

Ride Dajti Express Cable Car on Mount Dajti

Cable cars high above a mountain.
The Dajti Express Cable Car to the top of Mount Dajti

Mount Dajti towers above Tirana. The summit can be reached by a 1-kilometer cable car which whisks visitors to the summit 800 meters above in just under 15 minutes. At the summit, there is a network of trails for hiking, a traditional Albanian restaurant (which is excellent!) and a tourist hotel. The views alone make this trip to the summit worth it.

Explore BUNK’ART

At the base of Mount Dajti is a small military base built into the side of the mountain. This military bunker, once highly classified, was to be the home for military and government elites in the event of invasion or nuclear war.

Room with a stage and red chairs.
Inside the auditorium of BUNK’ART

Today, inside the highly protected walls, a mixed-use art and history museum called BUNK’ART documents and explains the country’s troubling Communist-era past.

Our guide explained to us, “People don’t like to talk about Communism,” so the museum is an important introduction to the atrocities of the past. This museum is one of the best things to do in Tirana and was the highlight of our visit.

See the Pyramid of Tirana

While BunkArt’s location is remote, the Pyramid of Tirana could not be more centrally located. It is right on the main road leading from Skanderbeg Square to the Presidential Palace on the banks of the Lanë River.

Pyramid-shaped building with windows.
The Pyramid before its renovation

This squarely designed and completely out-of-place building was designed to be a museum to Communist dictator Enver Hoxha. For many years, it sat empty, with the back covered by murals by local graffiti artists. On a daily basis, passing tourists and locals climbed its sloping sides, literally walking on the legacy of the reviled former leader.

The Pyramid has now been completely transformed using the original structure as the basis for a park, and staircases rise up the angled facade for visitors to continue their climbing. Both inside and outside, workshops, studios, cafes, and offices are housed in brightly colored container-like structures, completely revitalizing the area.

Stroll Tanners’ Bridge

Old arched stone bridge over grass.
The Tanners’ Bridge

This primitive bridge was near our hotel and we got to see it every day. Originally built in the 1700s, it is one of the oldest surviving structures in Tirana and one of the few left from the Ottoman era. The bridge originally spanned the Lanë River, but the river was redirected when modern city planners started laying out the city in the early 20th century. The bridge is a small piece of history in a rapidly modernizing city.

Visit The Block

The Block (or Blloku) is a trendy section of southwest Tirana filled with bars, shops, and restaurants. This area has always been home to the city’s elite. During the Communist era, high ranking party officials all had homes here. Now, the Block is where Tirana comes to party.

Cartoon spray painted on an electrical box.
All the electrical boxes in the Block had these cartoon-like paintings

Each night we found ourselves in the Block hitting up a bar for a drink. Each establishment is packed with young Albanians and expats dressed in their finest. The Block is the place to see and be seen. If you’re looking for things to do in Tirana, put on your best and rub elbows with the locals at Smoke House Bar & Grill, Mediterranean spot Kripe Dhe Piper, or one of the other great spots in the neighborhood.

Explore Durres

About 30 minutes west of Tirana is Albania’s ‘first city’: Durrës. This is one of Albania’s oldest cities with a deep, rich 3,000-year-old tradition. The compact city center is easy to explore on foot.

Stone tower surrounded by palm trees.
The Venetian Tower in Durres.

The Durres Amphitheatre is one of the largest Roman amphitheaters in the Balkans, accommodating over 20,000 people. Part of the town’s old town wall (and fortress fortification) still exists. The wall leads down to the port, where the Venetian Tower stands guard at the entrance to the city. This fortification dates back to the 5th century when it was the anchor of the Durres Castle. The Tower and the port saw heavy fighting in the early days of World War II when locals resisted the Italian fascist invasion.

Most people coming to Durres head to the broad sandy beaches south of the city known as the Albanian Riviera. This is where people from Tirana come for the weekend to soak in the sun and cool in the water. The beaches are some of the largest we’ve seen anywhere.

Visit Kruja

A short drive from Tirana, the mountain-side town of Kruja has always had an independent spirit. It was the capital of the first independent Albanian state. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Albania and later resisted Ottoman rule. During the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, the town staged a rebellion for independence.

Buildings on a hillside.
The hillside town of Kruja, Albania

Today, visitors come for the charming handcraft bazaar which sells traditional carpets and woodworks as well as the Kruja castle. The castle complex contains the Skanderbeg Museum containing objects from this famous Albanian’s past as well as the national museum, which shows the traditional life of Albanians. At the base of the hills, several wineries produce remarkable vintages.

Explore the Albanian wine region

Albanian wine. The phrase doesn’t roll off the tongue. Albania isn’t exactly known as a major wine producing region. However, there’s a growing viticulture scene focusing on the production of organic wines.

Bunches of grapes on the vine.
The vines at Uka Winery

We visited the Uka Wine on the outskirts of the city where we sampled Merlot and Kallmet (an indigenous grape varietal to the Balkans). The winery is small at just 4 acres but produces a full, bold, and lovely wines in beautiful surroundings. The open restaurant is perfect for sampling the wines and delicious grilled meats.

Walk Rruga Murat Toptani

This pedestrian street cuts across the central part of the city. It runs past what is left of the Tirana Castle (sometimes called the Kalaja or the Fortress of Justinian). The street runs past tourist shops and the art museum and is frequently commandeered for special events. During our visit, the street was covered with hundreds of picnic benches and big screen TVs broadcasting soccer matches. No trip to Tirana is complete without traversing the Rruga Murat Toptani at least once.

We visited Albania as guests of JayWay Travel, specialists in custom tour packages across destinations in Central and Eastern Europe. All opinions of the unusual and unexpected are our own.

Plates of Albanian food on a table.
We discovered that Albanian food is awesome!

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Dobromir

Thursday 22nd of August 2019

Please revise your paragraph about Skanderbeg. The way it is written sounds like he helped for the liberation of the Albanians from the Ottoman Empire. Even a quick glance at him - his clothes and arms - is enough for one to see that he lived a number of centuries ago. Yes, he is a hero but he was fighting against the Ottomans when they were conquering the Balkans, not at the time Albania got independence from them.

Lance Longwell

Tuesday 27th of August 2019

Thanks for the comment. Just to be clear, the article is accurate as written. He led an uprising against the Ottoman Empire (the Skanderbeg Rebellion lasting from November 1443-January 1468). And his efforts "gave a birth to the notion of an independent Albanian state." Put differently, he helped create the idea of an "Albanian identity" that led to an independence movement. We don't say anywhere that he delivered independence to Albania. However, we have added the dates to help clarify.

Vicki Mattingly

Monday 21st of November 2016

I was just there last week and loved it--the modernity and tradition and even the traffic chaos. I didn't get a chance to go on the cable car or spend nearly as much time exploring Tirana and other parts of Albania as I would have liked. Next time. I definitely want to return to Albania and see more someday.

Stacey

Tuesday 25th of October 2016

Great suggestions for people considering Albania!

We visited about 18 months ago and LOVED it. I am still telling friends and colleagues that they need to go, despite all their warnings before we went that it is so dangerous (it's not).

You are right about it being an economical place to visit and even the airfare wasn't that bad from the US.

I hope people really give Albania some consideration when planning a trip. It's a little gem that deserves a visit.

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