The scrappy, down-to-earth capital of Albania might not be a household name like Rome or Paris, but don’t underestimate Tirana. The city has a wealth of things to do and is built for exploring on foot, starting with sprawling, monument-filled Skanderbeg Square and its Ottoman-era stone mosque, Et’hem Bey. Once behind the Iron Curtain, the Balkan nation opened to tourists in the late 1980s. Visitors can still find reminders of its communist past, including artful commemorations—from the eerie, subterranean bunkers converted into galleries to the astonishing House of Leaves museum, documenting surveillance practices under the dictatorship.
The capital can get scorching hot in summer and bitterly cold (and rainy) in winter, making April, May, September, or October the most pleasant months for visiting. If you come in September, you can also catch screenings at TIFF, the Tirana International Film Festival, held yearly. For book lovers, there’s TILF, the Tirana International Literature Festival, at the end of October.
Tirana is a compact capital, and most downtown attractions can be covered on foot. For anyone looking to get further afield, there are inexpensive ride-sharing apps like Merr Taxi or Speed Taxi, plus a whole fleet of intercity buses that make Tirana a cinch to navigate. The city is also quite flat, making it easy to explore by rental bike—wear a helmet and watch out for traffic.
Due to its geographic position at the crossroads of many different food cultures, Albania is famous for its diverse Mediterranean and Ottoman-influenced cuisine. Head to New Bazaar in Tirana, a renovated pedestrian heritage street filled with restaurants, cafés, and boutiques, to sample classic dishes like tavë kosi, a baked lamb and rice casserole, or fergese, made from peppers and cheese.
Attractions 10 | Tours 710 | Reviews 4,600 |
Spend at least one day in the vibrant, underrated capital (more, if possible) to visit museums, browse bookshops, and get your bearings. Then you can follow the visitors who use Tirana as a springboard to the country’s golden beaches along the Albanian Riviera or to Ottoman-era towns such as Gjirokaster.
...MoreNo. Tirana is considerably cheaper than most European capitals. A standard meal rarely sets you back more than €10, which barely buys a cocktail in London. Taxis are also affordable. It’s possible to snag a clean, centrally located hotel room for a fraction of what you’d pay in Madrid.
...MoreYes. Visitors find wide sidewalks and shady, pleasant downtown streets to wander. Most attractions are within reach of Skanderbeg Square, a starting point for many walking tours. One exception is Bunk’ART, an underground bunker turned art museum. Located on the outskirts of Tirana, it’s reachable only by bus or taxi.
...MoreYes, it's safe, although some precautions are recommended. Albania is known for being welcoming and hospitable, and most solo travelers report no problems. Anyone traveling alone in Tirana should keep aware of their surroundings and not be overly trusting of any strangers—whether local Albanians or other tourists.
...MoreYes. While the official currency used in Albania is the lek, the euro is accepted pretty much everywhere. Indeed, it’s a good idea to bring euros with you on your trip. Note that Albania is a cash economy, so whether it’s lek or euros, keep some notes in your wallet.
...MoreYes. Though Islam is the majority religion in Albania, alcohol is part of the culture. Ordering wine with dinner is normal, including table wines. Drinking raki—a fruit spirit popular in Balkans countries—is a popular way to start or end of the meal. Some even add it to their morning coffee.
...More
