The 25 best things to do in the unusual European capital of Tirana!
Last updated on September 10th, 2026 at 03:55 pm
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Tirana came as a real surprise to me – it is like no other European capital. Its crazily eclectic mix of architecture is fascinating – and the history behind it all is equally fascinating! You see ancient stone bridges with a backdrop of incredible modern skyscrapers – it is like a wonderful architectural playground!
Tirana also sits near some pretty neat mountains, lakes, beaches and countryside, so has some great day trips on offer. If you have any interest in seeing something uniquely different in amongst the European capitals or have an architectural bent, as well as an interest in seeing some countryside, then its definitely worth a few days of your time! It genuinely became one of my most favorite European cities – just because it is so refreshingly different!
Contents
Two minutes of architectural history
The 20 best things to do in Tirana!
Frequently asked questions about Tirana
Trip Planning Checklist
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All in one – if you want to book flights and accommodation as a package, use expedia
Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight cheaper than booking direct with the airline!
Accommodation – I use booking.com for hotels, Hostelworld for a hostel, and Vrbo for holiday houses.
Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.
Tours and Activities – book with Viator or GetYourGuide. My top picks for Tirana are:
- Communist History & Stories Walking Tour with a Local
- From Tirana: Berat UNESCO & Belshi Lake Full-Day Tour
- Local food experience & walking tour of Tirana
Car rental – I usually use DiscoverCars
Insurance – I usually use EKTA , but another good option, especially if you are from the US is SafetyWing. EKTA works well as they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!
Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is often my first option for buses, ferries and trains – they are expanding worldwide but are very strong in Asia. They cover parts of Europe like Germany and France, and Australia and Latin America – especially Argentina.
Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!
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Two minutes of architectural history
Tirana / Albania has had it all! Founded in 1614 as a small Ottoman village, it has seen all sorts of transformations and ideologies from then until now. In the early 1900s Italians brought in grand neo-Renaissance ministries along the central boulevard, which were then superimposed with brutalist and austere concrete buildings of the post-WWII communist regime (under the iron-fisted rule of dictator Enver Hoxha). Following the collapse of communism, in the early 2000’s, the city got global attention due to its artist-turned-mayor, Edi Rama. He orchestrated a famous campaign to paint the drab, socialist-era apartment blocks into vibrant, kaleidoscopic colors to inject hope and civic pride into the community. What a great thing to do!!
This has morphed into Tirana becoming a major regional hub for innovative contemporary design. The city has a master plan, Tirana 2030, which focuses on dense, sustainable development, is being transformed, as you will see, by world-renowned international architecture firms. You will see architecture like the Skanderbeg Building which is built with balconies that are used to produce a stylized face of the national hero – Skanderbeg. Then there is Downtown One which has a stylized map of Albania on one side, the Alban Tower which mimics a tree, the twisting red Barcelona Tower, and the Puzzle Tirana building which looks like a puzzle of houses! And so it goes on…..
The 25 best things to do in Tirana
These 25 cool things to do in Tirana are in no particular order except the first one (a good starting point) and the five great day trips you can do which I left to the end in case you are exploring more of Albania on a longer trip!
I do highly recommend you start with a city tour from Skanderbeg Square to get your bearings and learn about the city and its history – its quite fascinating and will give you a much greater appreciation of the quite fantastic architecture you will see around you!
These walking tours are such good value (cheap) that I went on two and think both were excellent!
- Communist History & Stories Walking Tour with a Local
- Tirana , Guided Walking Tour in French/Italian/English
But check out the different options as well – it looks like they are all pretty good!
And if you don’t want to do that I will do my best to give you a bit of info about the best things to do here. As you can see in the map above most are very central and very walkable.
Okay, so here we go…..
1. Get to the heart of the city at Skanderbeg Square
Skanderbeg Square is a good place to start exploring Albania. Its a huge square lined with an eclectic array of interesting buildings! It used to be a huge (no doubt horrible) roundabout until Tirana started its amazing architectural transformation, culminating in 2017 in this amazing space!
But start right in the center to see the Skanderbeg Monument, which is a massive bronze statue of Albania’s national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti (also known as Skanderbeg). Gjergj Kastrioti is a legendary 15th-century military commander who united Albanian principalities and managed to resist the expansion of the Ottoman Empire for over two decades! A pretty impressive feat, so he deserves the statue!
The other (cool) things to note about the square are that it is made of natural stones which come from all across Albania – it is a stone mosaic! And underneath is a system of water fountains to keep the stones cool in summer! Also when you walk to the middle of the square you will find you are slightly elevated (by 1.8 meters) on a very flat pyramid shape. It allows you to stand in the middle and look ‘down’ at the surrounding historic buildings! Super cool.
As I said there are some interesting buildings lining the square to wander around and take a closer look at – including 2, 3, and 4 below. But you will also see:
- The Palace of Culture (Opera House) which was built as a gift from the Soviet Union in the 1960s! It is not only the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet but also the National Library.
- The Italian styled Government Ministries built in the 1920s – 30s.
- The semi-circular brick Bank of Albania.
2. Et’hem Bey Mosque
Right on the square, somehow this 18th-century Ottoman mosque survived the communist era!! It has some really beautiful nature frescoes outside – for all you nature lovers like me! In fact some are quite important and worth seeing as they are still-life paintings of waterfalls and bridges etc which very rare in traditional Islamic art.
Tip – In my opinion do not bother going inside – there was an aggressive man at the door demanding 5€ donations to enter the one room you can visit (hopefully this will change). But you can just take a look at the lovely frescoes outside and move on!
3. Tirana Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit)
Right by the mosque is this (more welcoming and cheaper at about $2.50) 35 meter (115 feet) tall clock tower! You can climb up the 90 narrow spiral stairs of tower for great views down over the square and the city! This was originally built in 1822 by the same Ottoman-Albanian nobleman who built the mosque to give the city a way of regulating time – for work and prayers! In 1928 it was modernized and given a German clock (not Swiss!) along with four large clock-faces. A good place to get your steps in!
Tip – Don’t go if you don’t like pigeons!
4. National History Museum
This is a funky looking building on the square that you can’t miss because of the giant Albanians mosaic above its entrance! At the time of writing it is now closed until 2028 for a massive reno job! Once it reopens you can bet its going to be impressive – it has all sorts from from ancient Illyria to the post-communist era! Check out the mural for now. It is a typical piece of Soviet glorification of the proletariat.
Tip – The mosaic looks great at night!
5. Bunk’Art 1 and Bunk’Art 2
Bunk’Art 1 is literally a huge bunker you find on the outskirts of the city (close to the Dajti cable car). It was built in case of nuclear attack by the former Albanian communist dictator Enver Hoxha. It had five floors with 106 rooms and an assembly hall, but is now an historical and art center called “Bunk’Art” where you can see art installations as well as the the dictator’s personal quarters. There are lots of interactive displays to learn from.
To get the perspective of a local and help you understand all that is in Bunk’Art 1 you can go on one of these tours:
- Communist Albania Tour, BunkArt1 & Military Museum
- Bunk’Art Bunker Guided Tour with Transport Option from Tirana
Right by Skanderbeg Square is a much small bunker. This is Bunk’Àrt 2 with a mere 24 rooms! It was originally built as a secret shelter for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Inside you can learn about the history of the communist-era secret police (Sigurimi).
6. House of Leaves Museum
And if you are intrigued by life during the communist era like me, you can also go to the House of Leaves Museum. the museum is in the former headquarters of the secret service, enough to make you shudder alone! You can see all about the reality of life with all the surveillance, wiretapping, and spying that went on! The interrogation rooms are not pretty. It also ha an underground bunker.
7. Postbllok (Checkpoint Monument)
Finally, on the same theme and close to the Pyramid of Tirana, is the Postbllok Monument which is a small outdoor memorial with:
- Some pillars that were salvaged from the notorious Spaç prison, a brutal forced-labor camp where political prisoners were forced to mine copper
- A bunker that used to guard the entrance to the restricted “Blloku” neighborhood where elite communist officials lived
- And a piece of the Berlin Wall! (Bits of that wall really have got around the world!)
8. Visit the Blloku District (The Block)
The block or neighborhood that was reserved for the communist elite (as in no. 7 above), is now Tirana’s trendiest area, packed with very buzzy cafes, bars, and street art. It is upscale but in comparison to the rest of Europe it is not too pricey, and importantly, cocktails come relatively cheap! Its worth a wander – and maybe a drink or two!!
9. See the Vila 31 x Art Explora!
Vila 31 x Art Explora is a pastel-colored 1960s-style brutalist/communist-era style villa in the middle of Blloku! Back in the day, it was the private residence of Enver Hoxha – that dictator again! It has now been turned into a contemporary art space as a private living and working facility for international artists! You cannot just walk in unless there is an event day. You can see if there are any events coming up when you visit on the official Art Explora Residencies Page.
10. Hope to see the National Gallery of Fine Arts!
This gallery has been closed for a while, for major renovations, like the National History Museum. Hopefully it will open again soon!
For now you can walk through “The Cloud” outside the National Gallery. It is a transparent art installation designed by Sou Fujimoto that was originally built as a temporary pavilion for London’s Serpentine Gallery in 2013!
Meanwhile an alternative art gallery option that gets great reviews is the Art Museum Thanas Papa. Take a look and let me know what you think – I missed it!
11. Walk over Tanners’ Bridge
Hiding in amongst all the modern architecture is this cute little stone footbridge. It is an 18th-century Ottoman bridge that used to cross the Lana River. Its a nice relic of the past and not far from Tirana Castle.
12. Get inside the Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral
This is a big, unusual, modern, and stunning cathedral with a unique dome and wonderful interior! There is not much else to say other than go and see it!
13. See what’s left of Tirana Castle (the Fortress of Justinian)
You can walk beside the remaining fortress walls of the castle, through a high-end (posh) pedestrian street. Tbh the walls are nice to see, but it wasn’t really my cup of tea – although you might like it!
14. Stroll around the Pazari i Ri (New Bazaar)
This new bazaar / market was more interesting to me. It is under a cool glass roof architectural structure and is the main hub for fruit, vegies, spices and meat etc. It is vibrant and colorful and you can get cheap local beers and seafood!
15. Climb the Pyramid of Tirana and see the Peace Bell
The pyramid was built in the 1980s as a museum for dictator Enver Hoxha (again). But now this iconic structure has been repurposed into a bright and colorful tech hub. You can walk to the top for a fantastic panoramic city view – its a great place to spend a slow while to take in all the architecture around you! Its also nice for sunset! (See the feature photo – this is the pyramid!)
Right by the pyramid is the Peace Bell – I love what it signifies! It is a bell made out of thousands of melted bullet cartridges collected after the civil unrest of 1997! Check it out while you are there.
16. Chill out at Tirana Lake Park and wander the Royal Gardens of the Palace of Brigades!
Tirana Lake may be an artificial lake but it is pretty big and so the park and lake are a nice place to get some air and exercise and see the locals doing their thing! You can rent a bike just outside and inside the park and take your time to cruise around the lake. there are all sorts of things to see in the park around the lake including
- The Holocaust Memorial – for the citizens of Albania who bravely protected Jewish refugees during World War II.
- The British and Commonwealth War Graves – for the British soldiers and personnel who lost their lives in Albania during World War II.
- The Memorial to the German Soldiers – for the fallen German soldiers from WWII.
- Tombs and scuptures – there are lots of modern sculptures and tombs of prominent Albanian historical figures.
Its very lovely at sunset too if you go to Lake View Point!!
Nearby, on the weekend, you can also wander the Royal Gardens of the Palace of Brigades (which is the Presidential Palace in Tirana and the former Royal Palace)! You cannot go inside, but on weekends (10am- 8pm) you can wander through and explore its gardens. You will find fountains, sculptures, and all kinds of formal and informal gardens and pathways – including a hedge maze.
Note: You need to bring your ID or passport to enter the grounds.
17. Focus on the Architecture
The architecture – I talked about it earlier, but I need to add this as it takes a while to just take it all in. This is a little walking tour to get you started – these buildings are all marked in green on the map at the top of the post!
Start: Skanderbeg Square
See the pearly-white Skanderbeg Building (also knowns as Tirana’s Rock) with its hero’s face. Nearby is the Book Building, mimicking staggered, open books.
Next, walk down past the House of Leaves museum (and the stunning Orthodox Cathedral of Resurrection) and right next door is the twisting red Barcelona Tower! Just a bit further along is the Alban Tower splitting into its tree-like, 13-color shifting segments.
Head down to the river, turn left and walk along to the Pyramid – make sure you go up the Pyramid as you get great views of the surrounding architecture like the MET Tirana which is across the river – apart from it being fascinating in itself! A bit further along continuing to the left is Downtown One with its Albanian map!
But before you go there you can do a loop to the side to the Blloku neighborhood and then back a couple of clocks toward Tirana Lake and see the Tirana Marriott and stadium building and the Vertical Forest residential building. In the Blloku neighborhood you can find the results of the annual MurAL Fest – Tirana now invites global artists every year to paint massive, multi-story illustrative murals directly over old Soviet blocks!
18. Try the local food and / or take a cooking class
Food in Albania has a mix of influences – Mediterranean, Balkan and Ottoman!
While you are here, make sure you try some of the local staples:
- Fërgesë / Tavë Dheu (another clay-pot stew)
It is made with red bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and local cottage cheese or feta, and is baked and served bubbling in a clay pot. Make sure you have a good slice of bread to dip into the dish – yum. Its my other favorite. - Byrek (an iconic savory pastry and personal favorite!)
A real staple that locals will eat for breakfast, snacks or lunch. It is made with thin flaky pastry filled with spinach and curd cheese, or minced meat and onions. Delicious! - Tavë Kosi (a real comfort food)
This is generally considered the national dish of Albania! It is a slow-baked casserole of lamb baked in a clay pot with rice, yogurt and eggs. - Raki (The national spirit)
Drinking raki is a long time cultural ritual. It is a clear fruit brandy and very strong! Try it – slowly!
I can recommend going on a food tour – even if you are not much of a foodie like me. This is a great tour I went on: Local food experience & walking tour of Tirana, but there are plenty of other highly rated tours too – Tirana Food Tours.
Even better, if you are a foodie and like to learn to cook some new dishes, try one of these classes!
Traditional Albanian Cooking Class Unlimited Wine & Raki
Cooking Classes and Traditional food tasting in Tirana
19. Dance at Albanian Night!
You can get into the dance culture in Tirana at Albanian Night – not only do you get to see a really good performance but you can join in, wear the traditional clothes, and learn some of the local moves. Check out this Albanian Night Cultural Dance & Music Experience.
20. Ride the Dajti Ekspres cable car (and go hiking)
You can ride the longest cable car in the Balkans from Tirana up to Mount Dajti National Park. I would not bother with this except if you want to hike to Tujanit peak which gives you a nice 6km (2.7miles) walk through forest and the rocky karst area to great views!
There is a zipline and mini-golf etc up there but this is more for locals to get out of the city and its quite pricey for Tirana! But it is worth it for the hike!
Day Trips from Tirana
The next five things to do in Tirana are actually day trips – the last three being long ones. I’m including them all as I think they are all worth seeing and it just depends on your preferences. Note that you can do combo tours which will cut down the days needed:
- Hiking to Gamti, Bovilla Lake and Kruja Day Trip from Tirana (combines 21 and 22)
- Private Day Tour of Berat & Gjirokaster UNESCO (combines 24 and 25)
21. Castle of Kruja
Krujë Castle & Old Bazaar: Travel one hour north to explore the hilltop medieval fortress of Skanderbeg. Afterward, browse the highly colorful, wooden Ottoman bazaar below for handcrafted rugs and antiques.
22. Day trip to Lake Bovilla and Gamti Mountain
North of Tirana this day trip gets you into the mountains where you can hike up the steel steps of the Gamti Mountain Viewpoint for fantastic views of turquoise lakes and the surrounding peaks. Honestly after going on this trip I don’t think I would want to drive up there myself! I went on this trip:
Bovilla Lake & Gamti Mountain Hiking Tour
But honestly there are so many highly rated options on Viator and GetYourGuide you just have to pick one!
However, if I was going again and kneew what I know now, I would chose this one which also takes you to Kruja and gives you a lot of the history of Albania:
Hiking to Gamti, Bovilla Lake and Kruja Day Trip from Tirana
Note: They all say hiking, but its not much of a hike so be prepared that it is just a walk to a viewing platform!
23. Head to the coast and the Blue Eye!!
Down on the southern Albania’s Riviera there are plenty of crystal clear waters to be had and it makes a great day trip! First there is the coast and the bubbly city of Sarander, but better is Ksamil island and its great beaches and crystal Med water. Then back on land there is the famous Blue Eye Spring. If you are short on time then a day trip is the answer and these three are all very good value:
- Ksamil Islands, Saranda, & Blue Eye Day Trip
- Saranda, Blue Eye & Ksamil Tour
- Ksamil, Saranda and Blue Eye Day Tour
24. See the City of a Thousand Windows – Berat
Berat is a UNESCO-listed town known as the “City of a Thousand Windows and for its unique Byzantine and Ottoman architecture and long-standing religious harmony. You can walk through the white Ottoman houses covering the hillside, and up to the ruins of Berat Castle.
You can take local buses to get there from Tirana, or go on a day tour. These tours are great value:
- Berat UNESCO Heritage & Belshi Lake Tour (this is great value)
- Berat UNESCO & Belshi Lake Full-Day Tour (also great value!)
- Private Day Tour of Berat & Gjirokaster UNESCO (a great combination)
25. And see the Stone City – Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster is another stunning UNESCO-listed stone city – nicknamed the “City of Stone” because of all its rare, well-preserved Ottoman architecture, distinctive gray slate-roofed houses, and steep (definitely steep) stone-paved streets. Its highlights are the massive Gjirokastër Castle and all its Cold War tunnels (and a USA airforce plane!), the Old Bazaar, and the historical Ottoman tower houses. You can also tour 17th-to-19th-century Ottoman mansions like the Zekate House or Skënduli House which have beautiful woodwork.
You can take local buses to get there or go on a day tour from Tirana.
- From Tirana: Gjirokastër Castle, Cold War Tunnel & Bazaar
- Gjirokaster – The Stone City of UNESCO, Private Tour from Tirana
- Tirana: Private Day Tour of Berat & Gjirokaster UNESCO (a great combination)
Tip: If you decide to go on your own spend the time to stay a night – and trust me, stay at the fabulous Stone City Hostel (budget /backpacker). Or if you want higher end, the The Stone Sky Hotel or Rose Garden Hotel are superb options.
Where to stay in Tirana
There are plenty of options. I stayed in the hostels below (on separate visits) but have also selected highly rated options to suit different budgets and styles:
High End – Maritim Hotel Plaza Tirana or Central Tirana Premium Penthouse
Mid Range – Xheko Imperial Luxury Hotel & SPA or Palmar Inn
Budget – GenAl Apartaments or Three doors apartments, Strawberry Studio
Backpacker – The Bearded Dad Hostel and Mosaic Home are both great – no complaints!
What to pack for Tirana
These are the things I had and used /needed on my trip:
- Lightweight layers for summer and shoulder season (take warmer clothes in winter).
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A very lightweight day pack as well – this one to be exact!
- A reusable insulated water bottle to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
- High-SPF Sunscreen (SPF 50+) and cap or sunhat in summer
- Swimwear and Quick-Dry Microfiber Towel if you plan to day trip to the coast
- Your camera/phone and power bank for day trips! Plus a water-proof pouch for your phone if you are beaching for a day.
- Secure wallet / travel pouch for money and cards
- Travel plug adapter if you are from outside Europe.
Frequently asked questions about Tirana
Q: Is Tirana safe for tourists?
A: Yes very safe – except the traffic. Don’t cross the road without double-checking.
Q: Can I use Euros, or do I need local currency?
A: Top end restaurants, hotels, and taxi drivers in Tirana will accept Euros but the rate will be poor. Exchange your money to the local currency – the Lek before you go or get some at the airport. Credit cards are not accepted everywhere – especially not in smaller shops and restaurants.
Q: How do I avoid massive local ATM fees?
A: Most Albanian bank ATMs charge around $7–$8 USD per transaction- except Credins Bank ATMs!. Always decline the ATM’s “Dynamic Currency Conversion” rate and choose to be charged in local Lek.
Q: Does my EU/US phone roaming plan work in Tirana?
A: No. I used a yesim eSim but check Airalo too.
Q: Can I drink the tap water in Tirana?
A: Its ok for washing and teeth brushing but best to buy bottled water.
Q: How do I get from the airport to the city center?
A: The best option, apart from a taxi, is the LUNA Airport Shuttle Bus, which runs 24 hours a day. It leaves every hour on the hour from outside the terminal and drops off directly behind the Opera House at Skanderbeg Square. You can buy ahead or pay the driver at the time.
Travel tips for Tirana
- Use local buses or walk for most of the sights – its very walkable and local buses are cheap!
- But if you need to take a taxi Always agree on a price with the driver before getting into the taxi to avoid unexpected “premium surcharges.”
- Don’t get an expensive sim at the airport. Download before you go. I used a yesim eSim but check Airalo too.
- To book buses if you want to move onward in Albania, the most reliable platform is Gjirafa Travel.
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