Tirana
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Tirana
Tirana is a mixture of Western Europe and old Russia, interspersed with influences from the Middle East. The city has overcome its recent troubled past and risen as a gem of Eastern Europe. The modern Tirana is full of restaurants, nightlife and hotels, and has rediscovered itself and become an energetic, vibrant and cosmopolitan city that it is worth exploring.Find your trip
Mayor Edi Rama, internationally renowned as an artist before he took over the post of Tirana's mayor in 2000, decided to give the city a more welcoming look by painting old and Soviet block-style building facades in bright colours. The initiative certainly accomplished its goal of helping the city appear more attractive.
Skanderbeg Square is the social and cultural center of Tirana, this is an excellent place for people watching and absorbing the daily life of the denizens of this city. The famous Equestrian Statue is located on the Southern Side of the Square.
The tower is the symbol of Tirana and is nicely lit at night. You may climb the stairs for an excellent view of the bustling life in the square below.
This small, elegant mosque is one of the oldest buildings remaining in Tirana. Many of the various religious shrines were destroyed in the atheism campaign and demonstrations of the late 1960's.
Tanners’ Bridge is a newly restored, elegant Ottoman stone footbridge, with colourful Soviet style housing serving as a backdrop. The bridge is a standing testimony to Tirana's development during the 18th century and is considered one of the most important cultural heritage monuments.
National Museum of History is the largest museum in Albania and holds most of the country’s treasures. There is a gallery on the top floor dedicated to the severe miseries of the communist era.
Popularly known as the Pyramid, this museum, opened in 1988, was a tribute to the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha when it was erected. After the regime collapsed, the memorial was converted into a disco and conference center. It is no longer an official museum, but is well worth a look.
This was once the Communist Party headquarters. During official parades and demonstrations, this is where Enver Hoxha would stand to wave to the masses below.
Mayor Edi Rama, internationally renowned as an artist before he took over the post of Tirana's mayor in 2000, decided to give the city a more welcoming look by painting old and Soviet block-style building facades in bright colours. The initiative certainly accomplished its goal of helping the city appear more attractive.
Skanderbeg Square is the social and cultural center of Tirana, this is an excellent place for people watching and absorbing the daily life of the denizens of this city. The famous Equestrian Statue is located on the Southern Side of the Square.
This restaurant, "Era", meaning "wind", is located in the popular area Blloku. The menu consists of traditional Albanian cuisine and some international dishes.
This is a good choice if you want a peaceful setting and a beautiful scenery. Modern style is combined with green surroundings and outstanding service. The cuisine is mainly Albanian.
La Voglia serves authentic Italian dishes like pizza and pasta, various snacks, as well as an array of coffee drinks, in a comfortable setting. The staff will be happy to help you select a wine from their extensive wine list. This place is popular among the young crowd of the city.
Sky Club is a revolving restaurant on the top floor of Tirana's tallest building, Sky Hotel. It offers a spectacular view of the city and is also the perfect location for an evening cocktail after a long day of exploring Tirana.
Amor is a small restaurant located close to the city centre. The food being served is Italian and French with pastas and beefs on the menu. They also offer a good array of wines.
This restaurant is recommended for its fish and seafood dishes and they serve Albanian and Italian cuisine. It is located 15 minutes walk from the city centre but can easily be reached with public transport too.
Green House is a modern restaurant with an elegant atmosphere. The Albanian and Italian dishes are made from top quality products and are beautifully served together with a fine selection of wines at this centrally located restaurant.
Artigiano Vila Restaurant is popular among both locals and tourists and it is often quite busy at lunchtime. They have a small garden with a few seats and this is a perfect place for a romantic dinner for two or just a relaxed lunch with friends. The pizza here is highly recommended.
This restaurant, "Era", meaning "wind", is located in the popular area Blloku. The menu consists of traditional Albanian cuisine and some international dishes.
This is a good choice if you want a peaceful setting and a beautiful scenery. Modern style is combined with green surroundings and outstanding service. The cuisine is mainly Albanian.
Universe Shopping Centre (QTU) is a brand new spectacular shopping extravaganza, located just west of the city centre. 13,600 square meters makes it one of the Balkan’s largest shopping centres. A free shuttle runs daily between the National Museum and Universe every 20-30 minutes from 8am-10pm.
Central Market is a gourmet food paradise, which captures the spirit of the culture. Local cheese, meat, fruit, honey and home-made raki can be found here. It is worth having a look around at the lively exchange, even if you are not in the market to purchase food.
The Sheraton Shopping Centre is a small mall connected to the Sheraton Hotel. There is a popular café and restaurants on site, along with several up market shops.
For ceramics and jewellery go to the Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta area, which consists of several blocks of excellent ceramic and jewellery stores. Have a stroll through the many unique shops and little boutiques and find the perfect souvenir to remind you of your time in Tirana.
Adrion International Books has one of the best selections of books in the country, including a decent English language selection, with guidebooks and literature.
Universe Shopping Centre (QTU) is a brand new spectacular shopping extravaganza, located just west of the city centre. 13,600 square meters makes it one of the Balkan’s largest shopping centres. A free shuttle runs daily between the National Museum and Universe every 20-30 minutes from 8am-10pm.
Central Market is a gourmet food paradise, which captures the spirit of the culture. Local cheese, meat, fruit, honey and home-made raki can be found here. It is worth having a look around at the lively exchange, even if you are not in the market to purchase food.
There really is no time not to visit Tirana, since every season has a lot to offer to visitors. You will have the most pleasant weather with warm temperatures and a low chance of rainfall in the summer months of June - August. However, if you prefer to avoid tourist crowds you should plan your trip to Tirana in late September or October.
All visitors must obtain a visa from one of the Albanian diplomatic missions before entering the country unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or are qualified for visa-free entry. You can find a list of countries that are qualified for visa-free entry at www.albaniatourism.info/albanian-visa/ Upon arrival, the passport must be valid for three months. For more information visit: www.punetejashtme.gov.al/en/regjimi-i-vizave-per-te-huajt/
Nend Tereza (Mother Theresa) airport, also known as Rinas Airport or International Tirana Airport, lies 26 km northwest of the city in the town of Rinasi. Between 6am and 6pm there is a bus from the airport to the national Museum in the city centre of Tirana. It leaves every hour. A taxi from the airport to the city centre takes about 20-25 minutes. Be certain to fix a price before you get into the taxi.
There are taxi stands scattered across the city. There is a fixed price for a ride anywhere inside Tirana so discuss the price before entering the car.
One of the main post offices in Tirana is located at:
Some shops tend to sell fake brands so be a bit careful when you buy sunscreen or other kind of pharmacy products. You find one of the city's pharmacies at:
Country code: +355 Area code: 04
220 volts, 50HZ AC
There really is no time not to visit Tirana, since every season has a lot to offer to visitors. You will have the most pleasant weather with warm temperatures and a low chance of rainfall in the summer months of June - August. However, if you prefer to avoid tourist crowds you should plan your trip to Tirana in late September or October.
All visitors must obtain a visa from one of the Albanian diplomatic missions before entering the country unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or are qualified for visa-free entry. You can find a list of countries that are qualified for visa-free entry at www.albaniatourism.info/albanian-visa/ Upon arrival, the passport must be valid for three months. For more information visit: www.punetejashtme.gov.al/en/regjimi-i-vizave-per-te-huajt/
