As I have now been lucky enough to visit the majority of countries in Europe, I recently jumped at the chance to finally travel to somewhere new and the city of Tirana in Albania was high on my list of places that I wanted to explore. It is not somewhere that you immediately think of when you are planning a city break but that is exactly why I wanted to go.

Although there are many things to see and do in Tirana, it does not have the famous landmarks and tourist attractions that you will find elsewhere but that is truly part of what makes it such a great city break. It is the perfect place to slow down, take things easy, sit down with a coffee or two and enjoy walking around and exploring the city at a much slower pace than you are normally used to which is a wonderful feeling. It really was one of the most relaxed short breaks that we have ever taken.

Now that I am home from our long awaited trip (which was originally booked last year before our flights were cancelled at the last minute), I have written this blog and travel guide and tried to include everything that you need to know before your visit as well as things to see and do, all up to date information (as of December 2025), directions, advice, photos, tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect trip to Tirana and make it an unforgettable experience.

Where is Tirana

The city of Tirana is located in the western part of Albania, just under an hour’s drive from the Adriatic Sea. Tirana is also the capital and the biggest city in Albania and surrounded by hills and mountains which gives the city a beautiful and scenic backdrop.

How to Get to Tirana

You can easily fly directly to Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) which is located just over twelve miles northwest of the city. The majority of flights to Tirana operate from within Europe so if you are travelling to Albania from further afield, you will need to connect through another European city. It is also helpful to know that many of the flights to and from Tirana only operate seasonally so there will be fewer and limited options during quieter times of the year – for example, direct flights on British Airways from London only operate four times a week during the winter schedule.

When is the Best Time to Visit Tirana

Tirana experiences both hot summers and mild winters, making it a destination that you can visit at any time of year. The summer months are the hottest and while the city does not get as overcrowded as other European capitals during this time, it can still feel busy and the temperatures will feel uncomfortably hot and sweaty for walking and sightseeing during the daytime.

The quietest and cheapest time to visit Tirana is during the winter months. Although the weather can be cooler and occasionally wet, there are far fewer tourists, fewer flights, hotel prices are much lower and walking around the city is very comfortable. If visiting during December as we did, you can also enjoy the Christmas market in Skanderbeg Square as well as the festive decorations throughout the city.

However I personally think that the best times to visit Tirana are during Spring and Autumn. During these seasons the weather is mild and pleasant which makes it ideal for exploring the city without the heat and humidity of the summer months or the unpredictable rain during the winter.

How Long Should I Spend in Tirana

Tirana is a very compact and walkable city which makes it incredibly easy to explore and see a lot in a short amount of time. I believe that three nights in Tirana, which gives you two full days, is the perfect amount of time to see most of what the city has to offer as well as enjoy some wonderful food and drink and soak up the atmosphere at a relaxed pace without feeling too rushed – it really would be a great place to spend a long weekend. However it is also possible to see the majority of the city in just one day if you only have limited time in Tirana.

How to Get from Tirana Airport to the City Centre

Due to very limited public transportation, including no trains, there are very few options to travel from Tirana Airport to the city centre. The two main ways to get into the city are by bus or taxi/car. The bus is very affordable and convenient while a taxi or private car offers a quicker and more direct journey.

The Luna Bus is the main bus service connecting the airport to Tirana however it only runs once an hour in both directions throughout the day and night. Tickets cost 400 Lek (£3.60 / €4) each and can be purchased either online in advance or directly on the bus and payment can be made either by cash or card. The journey should take approximately thirty minutes, however traffic can easily extend the journey up to an hour depending on the time of day. The bus only stops at the Tirana Central Bus Stop near Skanderbeg Square so you will still need to make your own way to your hotel once you arrive in the city. While I would usually always recommend using public transportation, in Tirana it’s best only if your accommodation is close to the bus stop.

The other option to travel from the airport into the city is by taxi or private car and a useful thing to know is that there is no Uber or Bolt in Albania. A ride to the city centre should cost around 2,200 Lek (€23 / £20) each way and make sure to agree on the fare before getting in to avoid being overcharged. Travel time also depends on traffic but the advantage is that you will be taken directly to your hotel or other accommodation without the need to walk anywhere especially if you have any bags with you.

As we did not want to risk just missing a bus and having to wait an hour for the next one and as our hotel was a thirty minute walk from the bus stop by Skanderbeg Square, it was easier, quicker and a lot more convenient for us to pre-book an airport transfer online before we travelled. The cost was almost the same as a taxi (€26) but the major benefit was that we paid online in advance and our driver was waiting for us at arrivals, making the entire journey into the city (and back to the airport a few days later) completely stress free.

Where to Stay in Tirana

Tirana offers a wide range of accommodation options from modern hotels and guesthouses to apartments and hostels meaning that there is something to suit every travel style and budget. Most people will choose to stay close to the city centre and near Skanderbeg Square or Blloku as these areas are full of attractions, restaurants, bars and cafes making them a great base for exploring the city.

During our trip we chose to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Tirana which is located slightly further out but was ideal for us. It had excellent reviews, large and comfortable rooms, an amazing breakfast each morning and was still within comfortable walking distance of everything we wanted to see and do so it turned out to be the perfect choice for our trip.

Money in Tirana

The official currency of Albania is the Albanian Lek (ALL) however because the Lek is a closed currency, you will not be able to get it before arriving in the country. While larger hotels and supermarkets along with a growing number of restaurants, bars and chain coffee shops in Tirana do accept card payments, many smaller businesses, cafés, buses and taxis operate on a cash only basis so it is important to always carry some money on you at all times.

ATMs are widely available across Tirana and other major towns, but most charge very high withdrawal fees so if using them, it is best to withdraw larger amounts of money at once instead of making several smaller transactions and being charged each time.

Currency exchange offices are also easy to find throughout the city (we used Iliria’98 Exchange) and I would definitely recommend bringing Euros to Albania to directly exchange to Lek if needed once you arrive instead of using the expensive ATM’s. As you will not be able to exchange any leftover Lek once you are outside the country, only change up small amounts as and when you need it – for example we changed €40 into Lek once we arrived in the city however everywhere that we went during our stay in Tirana accepted card payments (which we were not expecting) so we actually ended up just spending the cash in places where we could have easily just paid by card instead.

It is also possible to pay directly with Euros in many places throughout Tirana however the exchange rate offered may not be favourable so make sure to check before handing over cash.

The best advice I can offer to avoid any payment issues in Albania is to carry a combination of Lek, Euros as well as your cards with you at all times.

Staying Connected in Tirana

Mobile data in Albania is very fast and reliable (I was getting download speeds of over 300 Mbps) however since the country is not part of the EU, some providers may charge extra for roaming so it is important to double check your mobile plan before travelling to Tirana to avoid any unexpected or unwanted charges.

If you need to access mobile data whilst visiting Albania, you can purchase a travel E-Sim through Airalo. If you would like to use my referral code NIKKI8866 when signing up, you will receive £2.50 / US$3 off your first purchase.

How to Explore Tirana

Exploring Tirana on foot is very easy as the city is so compact and walkable (as well as flat) and all of the major sights and attractions are very close to each other meaning you can see a lot in a very short space of time without ever needing to use a taxi or public transport.

Before our trip I simply marked all of the places we wanted to go on Google Maps which helped us to create our own walking tour of the city. This was the perfect way for us to explore Tirana as it allowed us to see everything at our own pace without ever feeling rushed as well as stop for coffee (and maybe a sweet treat or two) whenever we felt like it which made for a chilled and very enjoyable trip.

The only time that you will need to use either a taxi or the local bus once you are in Tirana is to travel to Bunk’Art 1 or the Dajti Ekspres Cable Car as these are both located outside of the main city centre.

What to See in Tirana

Skanderbeg Square

Skanderbeg Square is a large, open air plaza in the centre of Tirana which is surrounded by many of Albania’s most important landmarks including the National History Museum, the Opera House, various government buildings, the Clock Tower and the Et’hem Bey Mosque. In the centre of the square is a statue of Skanderbeg on horseback who is the national hero of Albania.

Pazari i Ri

The Pazari i Ri (New Bazaar) is a covered market which is open every day apart from Sundays where you can buy fruit and vegetables, nuts, souvenirs and other random bits and pieces. It is a fun place to explore and walk around for a few minutes and there are also many different cafes, bars and restaurants surrounding the market.

Et’hem Bey Mosque

Et’hem Bey Mosque is one of Tirana’s most important and beautiful historical buildings which can be found on the edge of Skanderbeg Square. It was built in the late 1700’s and survived Albania’s communist era when practising religion was banned before it reopened as a place of worship in 1991.

Tirana Castle

Tirana Castle is a small historic site in the centre of Tirana dating back to the Byzantine era. Whilst only parts of its old walls remain, the area has been turned into a modern and relaxed pedestrian street filled with cafes, bars, restaurants as well as shops selling local arts and crafts.

Tanners’ Bridge

Tanners’ Bridge is a small Ottoman stone bridge which was once part of the old St George Road and was built to cross the Lanë River. It is located close to the Mosque of Namazgah and you can still walk across the bridge to this day.

Tirana Pyramid

The Tirana Pyramid is one of the city’s most unusual and symbolic buildings and was built in the 1980’s as a museum honouring the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. After falling into many years of abandonment, it reopened in 2023 as a colourful and educational community hub with cafes, classrooms and office spaces. There are stairs which run up the sides of the pyramid allowing visitors to climb to the top (there is also an elevator) for great views over Tirana and the Dajti Mountains.

Blloku

Blloku is Tirana’s trendiest and most vibrant neighbourhood which was once reserved only for communist elites (you can even see the home of former dictator Enver Hoxha) but has now been transformed into an area filled with numerous cafes, bars, restaurants and shops where everyone is welcome. It is a great place to walk around and take in the colourful street art, grab a coffee or a cocktail and is perfect for a night out.

The Clock Tower

The Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit) was built in 1822 and is located next to the Et’hem Bey Mosque on Skanderbeg Square. It was once the tallest structure in Tirana and was carefully restored after damage during the war. It is possible to climb the ninety step narrow spiral staircase to the top where you can enjoy a panoramic view over Skanderbeg Square.

The Cloud

The Cloud is a free to visit modern outdoor art installation by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto and can be found near the National Gallery of Arts. You can walk under and around the sculpture which was designed to represent the connection between people and nature.

The House of Leaves

The House of Leaves is a small museum in Tirana about Albania’s communist secret police called the Sigurimi. It is housed in a former clinic that was secretly turned into the Sigurimi headquarters and shows how the communist regime spied on citizens using hidden cameras, microphones and other extreme surveillance tools.

Dajti Ekspres Cable Car

The Dajti Ekspres is a cable car that takes you to the top of Dajti Mountain and offers incredible and panoramic views over the city of Tirana. The ride lasts about twenty minutes and climbs over eight hundred meters making it the longest cable car in the Balkans. You can get to the cable car station by taking the L11 bus in the direction of Porcelan from Skanderbeg Square.

Bunk’Art 1 and 2

Bunk’Art 1 and Bunk’Art 2 are two museums built inside bunkers that were created during dictator Enver Hoxha’s rule when thousands of shelters were constructed for a war that never came. Today these underground spaces have been transformed into museums that explain Albania’s communist past.



Bunk’Art 1 which is located outside the city centre near the Dajti Ekspres cable car is the larger museum showing daily life in Albania under the communist regime whilst Bunk’Art 2 which is found in the centre of Tirana close to Skanderbeg Square, focuses on the history of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the secret police called the Sigurumi.

Tirana Lake Park

Located south of Blloku, Tirana Lake Park is a big city park with a large artificial lake where people go to relax and enjoy nature. It has wide paths and walking trails, playgrounds, cafes as well as plenty of trees for shade in the summer. It is a great place to escape the busy city and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Other Information to Know When Visiting Tirana

I had done a lot of reading and research about Tirana before our trip but as I found out, it is important to keep in mind that some things you see online or in vlogs (such as street art or certain buildings) may no longer exist as the city is rapidly transforming and there is building work everywhere.

The plug socket used in Albania is Type C or Type F featuring two round pins which is the same as the majority of other European countries.

Even though English is widely spoken in the tourist areas of Tirana, make sure to learn a few Albanian words – also known as Shqip – before your trip such as Pershendetje (Hello), Ckemi (Hi), Më Falni (Excuse Me / I’m Sorry), Ju Lutem (Please), Faleminderit (Thank You) and Mirupafshim (Goodbye).

Tirana is a great city to walk around so make sure to bring comfortable and supportive shoes such as trainers to wear when walking around the city especially as many of the paths and sidewalks are very uneven.

Also at this current time Tirana may not be suitable for anyone with any accessibility needs as many buildings lack ramps and can only be reached via stairs, cars will often block dropped kerbs and I even saw an elevator that could only be reached by steps!

As already mentioned earlier in this blog, there is no Uber or Bolt in Tirana however there is a local ride hailing app called Patoko where you can order a licensed taxi and securely pay with a credit card directly through the app.

Most restaurants, bars and coffee shops in Tirana offer both indoor and outdoor seating all year round however an essential need to know is that smoking is permitted in all outdoor areas so make sure to sit inside if you do not want to be surrounded by cigarette smoke.

The food in Albania is delicious and heavily influenced by Italy, Greece and Turkey. As a vegetarian, I was in absolute food heaven throughout my entire stay and had some incredible meals out and I can highly recommend both Restaurant Piceri Era and Artigiano for dinner which were both incredible.

You will not find a Starbucks in Tirana but the local equivalent is Mulliri Vjeter where you can enjoy good coffee, amazing treats (make sure to try the Pistachio Panna Cotta as well as the Pistachio Profiteroles) and is a perfect location to stop for a while and take a break from sightseeing.

Oat milk is not widely available in Albania however most coffee shops in Tirana do offer soy milk as an alternative. You can also find cartons of well known soy, almond and coconut milk brands in larger supermarkets such as Big Market and Conad if needed.

Make sure to take some time to appreciate all of the street art found across Tirana where the once plain and grey city buildings are now filled with bright colours and murals thanks to Edi Rama who was the former mayor of Tirana (and is now the current Prime Minister of Albania) who believed that colour could bring joy and life back to the city which it certainly has.

Tirana has transformed from a city which was once closed off to the rest of the world for decades into a place that is full of character with a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. As tourism is still relatively new compared to many other European capitals, a trip to Tirana means fewer crowds, more affordable prices and the chance to experience a city that still feels authentic and unpolished in the best way possible.

The city may not be packed with famous landmarks but Tirana’s charm lies in its everyday life with its cafes, street art as well as its fascinating and unique history. Tirana really is a city of such contrasts and it is growing rapidly and quickly becoming more popular each year so my biggest tip is very simple: visit soon, before everyone else discovers this amazing city.

I visited Tirana in 2025 so some information may no longer be accurate or up to date. Be sure to do your own research and check any official websites for the latest details before making any of your own travel plans.

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