Best Tourist Attractions and Things to Do in Tirana City

July 29, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 7682 Views

Capital cities have so much to offer in terms of tourism. That is exactly what Tirana is, the capital city of Albania. And as is the norm for capital cities, there are numerous places to visit in Tirana on a holiday. Tirana travel guide consists of historical attractions, cultural attractions, happening festivals, fascinating shopping, rejuvenating leisure activities, and much more. Tirana is a proper urban center with a great party lifestyle, there are many things to do in Tirana at the night as well. The coastal region of Albania, which is about thirty-odd minutes from Tirana, is known for music festivals and beach parties.

Tirana is stepped in historical conquests and changing empires. The history of the region begins with the iron age. Since then the city has seen empires rise and fall such as the Illyrian Empire, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Ottoman Empire. In 1912 Albania became an independent nation. Each civilization left something behind which is now a part of Tirana attractions. So many influences have also made Tirana a very colorful city to visit. The colors are seen on the buildings as well as in the culture. You will find the people to be easy-going and friendly when you visit Tirana. While you enjoy Tirana sightseeing you will see several graffiti and murals around the city. This colorful nature will make you feel upbeat during Tirana travel.

Besides the Tirana tourist attractions, the coffee culture is another reason to visit the Albanian capital. You will find several cafes serving unique blends of coffee along with a sweet pastry treat. Cafe Turke with pastry is a popular choice among the locals as well as the tourists. It will be one of the best things to do in Tirana. If you are seeking some spirit beverages try the local variant of brandy called Raki or Rakija. Owing to the active nightlife, the city bristles with clubs, pubs, and bars where you can get the famous Albanian Raki. Partying your heart out is also among the top things to do in Tirana. The city will join you in nights of revelry. It’s that kind of place.

For historical things to see in Tirana, you can start your trip from Skanderberg Square. This is where most of the buses would drop you if you are coming from the Rinas International Airport. The square and the attractions around it are Tirana’s must-see places. Just across the square is the National Museum. The biggest historical tourist attraction on Tirana travel guide. The Et’Hem Bey Mosque is another Tirana tourist attraction right in front of the Square. There are numerous museums, castles, cathedrals, galleries and mosques among places to visit in Tirana. It’s a good thing that most of these attractions are close to one another, so you can enjoy multiple places for Tirana sightseeing within a day.

You should reserve the evening time for shopping and partying. Albania offers wonderful cultural souvenirs, hence shopping is among the best things to do in Tirana. You can get great carpets, rugs, knitted clothes, and other traditional handicraft items. You can also take back Raki and Cognac as souvenirs from Tirana travel. If having coffee is among the top things to do in Tirana, it must be good enough to take back home as well. Albania is also known for handmade jewelry. People do shop for various jewelry items after Tirana sightseeing, especially because of the low gold prices compared to Europe.

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Table of Contents

The Top 14 Tourist Places to Visit in Tirana City

1. Pyramid of Tirana (Piramida)

This pyramid has an interesting history. It was first built as a museum by the daughter of Enver Hoxha. After the fall of communism, this pyramid became a monument of the previous era. Now, it is one of the best places to visit in Tirana, Albania to see graffiti art and public activity. There have been several attempts to renovate or repurpose this monument, although none of the plans saw fruition. You will need 20 to 30 minutes at this place.

2. Dajti Express Cable Car Ride (Dajti Ekspres)

The cable car ride will take you to the Dajti mountain in 15 minutes. It is one of the best things to do in Tirana to get a birds-eye view of the city and its surroundings. Extending for nearly a kilometer, this is the longest cable car ride in the Balkans. At the other end of the ride is a tourist complex with dining, sightseeing, and entertainment activities. This ride also connects the city with Dajti Mountain National Park. You will need about an hour for this tour.

3. Skanderberg Square (Sheshi Skënderbej)

This square is dedicated to Albanian National hero George Castriot. There is a statue of the hero atop a horse at this square and it is surrounded by several Tirana attractions like the Clock Tower, Et’hem Bey Mosque, and the National History Museum. You will need 20 minutes to explore this square.

4. National History Museum (Muzeu Historik Kombëtar)

This museum focuses on the history of Albania. It covers the story of the land and its people from ancient times till the 21st century. You can also get a lot of Tirana tourist information at this museum. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

5. Dajti Mountain National Park (Parku Kombëtar i Malit të Dajtit)

This national park is home to mountains, lakes, hills, streams, and wildlife. There are many trekking and hiking trails you can explore, the most popular among them is the one leading to Lake Bolivia. The view from this point is considered one of the most beautiful things to see in Tirana. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this national park.

If you are an adventure lover, then I suggest you should do the following activities at Dajti Mountain National Park.

6. Hajji Et’hem Bey Mosque (Xhamia e Haxhi Et’hem Beut)

Built-in the early 19th century, this mosque is a major historical landmark and is associated with a movement for religious freedom in Albania. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to see this mosque when you visit Tirana.

7. Grand Park of Tirana (Parku i Madh i Tiranës)

This park is spread over 230 hectares and has an artificial lake in the middle. It is quite popular for leisure, picnics, exercise, fishing, swimming and so on. The park is included among Tirana sightseeing spots for tombs of national heroes as well. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring this park.

8. Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit)

This clock tower was built in 1822 and is one of the most photographed Tirana tourist attractions. You can scale the staircase to get really nice view of the city center. You will need 20 to 30 minutes for this clock tower.

9. Cave of Pëllumbas (Shpella e Pëllumbasit or Shpella e Zezë)

These caves are part of Mount Dajti National Park and can be accessed via Pellumbas village. It is a great place for those who are looking for nature escape during Tirana travel. The caves are also important historical and archeological sites. You will get to see evidence of human activity going back 300,000 years. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to explore these caves.

I suggest you should Book your Tour to Pellumbas Cave in advance.

10. Great Mosque of Tirana / Namazgah Mosque (Xhamia e Madhe e Tiranës / Xhamia e Namazgjasë)

Also known as the Great Mosque of Tirana, it is supposed to be the largest mosque in the Balkans region. The foundation for this mosque was laid in 1992, but its construction did not begin properly til 2010. This mosque is known for its elaborate structure which blends ottoman and Albanian styles of architecture. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this mosque.

11. Bunk’Art & Bunk’Art 2

These bunkers were originally built as nuclear bomb shelters. They are one of the most popular sites on the Tirana travel guide. You will be surprised at the size and scale of the bunkers. The larger one goes 5 stories deep and is built with exquisite details and lifestyle facilities. You will need an hour or so to tour this bunker.

12. Prezë Castle (Kalaja e Prezës)

This 15th-century fortress stands above a hill outside the city. It was built by the Thopia family to defend the area against robbers and bandits. It is one of the top things to do in Tirana for its history, defensive architecture, and cultural role. The castle remains mostly intact and can be extensively toured. You will need an hour to explore it.

I suggest you should book a Day Tour to Preza Castle in advance.

13. Topani Street

This tree-lined pedestrian street is great for leisurely strolls, shopping, dining, and entertainment. People come here after Tirana sightseeing to enjoy evening walks and to buy souvenirs. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this street.

14. Ish Blloku District

This district, also known as the Block, was earlier reserved for high-ranking government officials and influential people during communist rule. Today, this posh area is known for high-end shopping, interesting cafes, restaurants, and Albanian coffee. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Tirana travel to explore this district.

If you are looking for more places to visit in Tirana city, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of attractions and activities to be explored in and around the city.

Things to do in Tirana, Albania

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Tirana, Albania

National History Museum
Et’hem Bej Mosque
Pyramid of Tirana
Kulla e Sahatit Clock Tower
Bunk’Art Museum
Bunk’Art 2 Museum
National Arts Gallery
Petrela Castle
Tirana Castle
Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral
House of Leaves – Museum of Secret
National Archeological Museum
Palace of Culture
Saint Paul Cathedral
Mosaic of Tirana
Tyrbja e Kapllan Pashes
Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Enver Hoxha’s House Museum
Galleria e Rira
Xamia e Tabakeve Mosque
Mezuraj Museum
Bell of Peace / Kambana e Paques
Xhura Mosque
Natural Sciences Museum
Sali Shijaku House Museum
Armed Forces Museum
Justinian Fortress Wall
White Springs
Preza Castle
Illiria Palace

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Places to Visit in Tirana , Albania

Dajti Mountain National Park
Farka Lake
Lana River
Liqeni I Tiranes Lake
Pellumbas Caves
Bovilla Lake
Male me Gropa Bize Martanesh Protected Landscape

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Places to visit in Tirana , Albania

Zoological Park of Tirana
Tirana Botanical Park
Regency Casino
Nobis Wellness Center

Shopping in Tirana, Albania

Mysylum Shyri Street
Cam Street
Barrikada Street
9 Kateshet
Pizari I Ri Market
Tregu I Cameve
Universe Shopping Mall
Ring Center
Tirana East Gate
Citypark
TEG
Casa Italia
Galeria
Kristal Center
QTU
Shereton Plaza

Offbeat Places, Tours & Adventure Things to do in Tirana , Albania

Dajti Ekspres Cable Car
Dajti Mountain Skiing

Sightseeing in Tirana , Albania

Skanderbeg Square
The Grand Park
Tanner’s Bridge
Park Rinia
Reja – The Cloud
Skytower Tirana
Postbllok Checkpoint
Zogu Zi Square
Albanian Government Palace
Eagle Square
Friendship Monument

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Tirana, Albania

Gourmet
Artigiano
Oda
Noor Cafe
Sky Club
Era
Mullixhiu
Daily Bar
Zgara Tirones
Villa 100
Salt
E7E
A La Sante
Padam
Piazza Piano Bar
Luga e Argjendte
Tea Room
The Black Sheep
Brauhaus

Where to Stay in Tirana City?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Tirana City. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Tirana City.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Tirana City

How to Reach Tirana, Albania?

By Air

The Tirana International Airport also known as Rinas International Airport is your closest option for Tirana travel. The airport welcomes flights from many countries in Europe including Germany, Austria, France, Italy, England, Greece, Turkey, Netherlands, and Hungary. The airport is located quite far from the city, so you will need to travel by road to visit Tirana. Once you reach the airport you have two options to reach the city. First is the Rinas Express bus, which continuously runs between the airport and the city from 6 in the morning to 6 in the evening. It is the cheapest option for Tirana travel from the airport. You will be able to reach the city in a matter of 30 minutes by bus, then you can continue to places to visit in Tirana. Your other option is taking a taxi, which costs more than a bus ticket. There will be several taxis standing at the airport waiting to take you to the city and you can even book them for a tour of Tirana attractions.

By Road

The bus from the Rinas International Airport will drop you at Skanderbeg Square, which itself is a major Tirana sightseeing place. You can begin your tour of the city without any Tirana travel guide from the Square itself. There are also several Tirana tourist attractions near the square which you can visit as soon as you get off the bus. Besides the airport, you can catch a bus from various cities and towns in Albania for Tirana travel. You can also visit Tirana by bus from Greece, Macedonia, Turkey and Serbia.

Though road connectivity is great for Tirana travel, the fastest way to reach the city from within Albania is by train. You can catch a train from several major cities and towns in Albania to visit Tirana. Internationally, you can reach places to visit in Tirana by train from Serbia and Macedonia.

By Water

As the city is landlocked, you don’t have a direct water route for Tirana travel. However, you can travel by water to Durres, which is about 20-30 minted away from Tirana by road.

Image Reference

Pyramid of Tirana (Piramida) – Pa Wa / Flickr
Dajti Express Cable Car Ride – Leeturtle / Wikimedia Commons
Skanderberg Square (Sheshi Skënderbej) – Marco Fieber / Flickr
National History Museum (Muzeu Historik Kombëtar) – paula soler-moya / Flickr
Dajti Mountain National Park (Parku Kombëtar i Malit të Dajtit) – Andrew Milligan sumo / Flickr
Hajji Et’hem Bey Mosque (Xhamia e Haxhi Et’hem Beut) – CEllen / Wikimedia Commons
Grand Park of Tirana (Parku i Madh i Tiranës) – Chris Walts / Flickr
Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit) – Isidro López-Arcos / Flickr
Caves of Pellumbus – Dritan Mardodaj / Wikimedia Commons
Great Mosque of Tirana / Namazgah Mosque (Xhamia e Madhe e Tiranës / Xhamia e Namazgjasë) – P4Jags / Flickr
Bunk’Art & Bunk’Art 2 – aXeLuS / Flickr
Preza Castle – Tobias Klenze / Wikimedia Commons
Toptani Street – Kj1595 / Wikimedia Commons
Ish-Blloku District – cameron lucida / Flickr