Tirana: The Complete Guide
Tirana is Albania’s busy and prosperous capital located in the center of Albania. It is enclosed by mountains and hills with Mount Dajt rising above it to the east.
Although founded in the 17th century it was not until it was designated as the capital it changed from an unimportant small town into a European capital. Italian influence during this period helped create the huge new square, named after the countries national hero Skanderbeg, and typical wide boulevards. The capital blends this 1920’s Italian architecture with Soviet Bloc cement buildings with the occasional remnant from its Ottoman days. Following the 1992 elections Tirana has also been well known for its brightly painted buildings and apartments.
The religious buildings in Tirana are a wonderful mix of Christian and Muslim places of worship, and there are a number of museums and historic buildings to visit. There is also a growing nightlife scene and Tirana is famous for its all night cafe culture.
If it gets too hot in the summer, the Adriatic sea is an easy drive away…
Visiting Tirana for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Tirana on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!
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History of Tirana
Discoveries in the Pellumbas Cave, near to Tirana has proved that the area has been inhabited since the Iron Age.
The area was inhabited by several Illyrian before being annexed by Rome and became an integral part of the Roman Empire. The remnants of a 3rd century Roman villa were found in Tirana.
After the Roman Empire split into East and West in the 4th century, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I built the Fortress of Justinian.
While the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, was fighting the Ottomans, Tirane was still a small village. Under Ottoman rule the village developed into a small town with a bazaar and several watermills. In 1614 Sulejman Bargjini, who was a local ruler, built the Old Mosque, a hammam or Turkish bath and a bakery in order to attract settlers and founded the existing settlement of Tirana.
It was chosen to be the capital of Albania in 1920 by a congress at Lushnjë.
34 Best places to See in Tirana
This complete guide to Tirana not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.
This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Tirana and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!
Skanderbeg Square
| Hours: 24 Hour | Distance: 0.00km
Visiting Skanderbeg Square
Et’hem Bey Mosque
| Hours: 08:00-11:00 | Distance: 0.00km
Visiting Et’hem Bey Mosque
Clock Tower In Tirana
Location: Rr Luigj Gurakuqi, Tirana, Albania | Hours: 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, to 2pm Sat | Price: 200 Lek | Distance: 0.10km
Visiting Clock Tower In Tirana
Bunk'Art 2
Location: Rruga Sermedin Said Toptani, Tirana | Hours: Sun - Sat 09:00 - 18:00 | Price: 500 Lek | Website | Distance: 0.10km
Visiting Bunk'Art 2
Rruga Murat Toptani
| Website | Distance: 0.10km
Visiting Rruga Murat Toptani
House of Leaves
Location: Rruga Dëshmorët e 4 Shkurtit, Tiranë. | Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00 - 19:00 | Price: 700 lekë | Website | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting House of Leaves
Albanian National Art Gallery
Location: Blvd Dëshmorët e Kombit | Hours: 10am- 6pm Mon-Sat | Price: 200 lek | Website | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Albanian National Art Gallery
Albanian National History Museum
Location: Skënderbej Square, Boulevard Zogu I, Tirana , Albania | Hours: 9am-7pm | Price: 200 lekë | Website | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Albanian National History Museum
REJA - The Cloud
Visiting REJA - The Cloud
Kapllan Pasha Tomb
Location: Rruga 28 Nëntori, Tirana 1000 | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Kapllan Pasha Tomb
Palace of Culture
Location: Sheshi Skenderbej 1000 Tirana, Albania | Website | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Palace of Culture
Fortress of Justinian
Location: Shëtitorja Murat Toptani, Tiranë, Albania | Hours: 07:00 - 02:00 | Website | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Fortress of Justinian
Pyramid of Tirana
Visiting Pyramid of Tirana
Café-Museum Komiteti
Location: Rruga Fatmir Haxhiu Tirana Albania | Distance: 0.50km
Visiting Café-Museum Komiteti
New Bazaar, Tirana
Location: Rruga Shenasi Dishnica Tirana Albania | Distance: 0.50km
Visiting New Bazaar, Tirana
Tanners' Bridge
Location: Bulevardi "Jean D'Arc" Tirana Albania | Hours: Open 24 hours | Price: Free | Website | Distance: 0.60km
Visiting Tanners' Bridge
Postbllok - Checkpoint
Location: Bulevardi Deshmoret e Kombit, Tirana | Hours: 24 hours daily | Price: Free | Distance: 0.70km
Visiting Postbllok - Checkpoint
Former Residence of Enver Hoxha
Location: Rruga Ismail Qemali | Distance: 0.70km
Visiting Former Residence of Enver Hoxha
Palace of Congress
Location: Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit Tirana Albania | Distance: 0.90km
Visiting Palace of Congress
Tirana National Museum of Archaeology
Location: Sheshi Nënë Tereza, Tiranë, Albania | Hours: Everyday 09:00 - 16:00 | Price: 300 All | Distance: 1.00km
Visiting Tirana National Museum of Archaeology
Colorful Buildings of Tirana
Visiting Colorful Buildings of Tirana
Mother Teresa Square, Tirana
Location: Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit Tirana, Albania | Distance: 1.10km
Visiting Mother Teresa Square, Tirana
Mosaic of Tirana
Location: Rr. Naim Frashëri | Hours: Open 08:00-17:00. Closed Sun. | Price: Free | Website | Distance: 1.30km
Visiting Mosaic of Tirana
Tirana Grand Park
Location: Rruga Herman Gmeiner, Tirana 1000, Albania | Hours: Open 24 hours | Website | Distance: 1.80km
Visiting Tirana Grand Park
Albanian Royal Palace
Location: Rruga e Elbasanit , Tirana | Hours: Only on weekends - 09:00 to 16:00 | Distance: 2.10km
Visiting Albanian Royal Palace
Bektashi World Centre
Location: Rruga Agush Gjergjevica Tiranë Albania | Hours: 10:00-13:00, 17:00-19:00 | Website | Distance: 2.60km
Visiting Bektashi World Centre
Martyrs' Cemetery
Location: Rr Elbasanit | Distance: 2.80km
Visiting Martyrs' Cemetery
Bunk’Art
Location: Street Fadil Deliu, Tirana, Albania | Hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Website | Distance: 4.30km
Visiting Bunk’Art
Dajti Ekspres Cable Car
Location: Dajti Mountain, Tirana, Albania | Hours: Winter: 9am to 7pm - Open everyday except Tuesdays. Summer: 09:00 to 21:00 | Price: 800 Lek | Website | Distance: 4.40km
Visiting Dajti Ekspres Cable Car
Petrela Castle
Location: Rruga Petreles, Petrelë, Albania | Hours: 10am-8pm | Website | Distance: 8.60km
Visiting Petrela Castle
Dajti Mountain National Park
Visiting Dajti Mountain National Park
Cave of Pellumbas
Visiting Cave of Pellumbas
Preza Castle
Location: Prezë, Albania | Distance: 16.80km
Visiting Preza Castle
Qafshtame National Park
Visiting Qafshtame National Park