Self-Guided Walking Tour of Tirana, Albania (2025)

Skanderbeg Square is the beating heart of Tirana and the symbolic center of Albania. Named after the national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, who led the resistance against the Ottomans in the 15th century, the square is the focal point from which the city radiates. Its wide open space, pedestrian-friendly design, and imposing statue of Skanderbeg on horseback give it a sense of grandeur that reflects Albania’s pride and history.

Around the square, you’ll find some of Tirana’s most important landmarks: the National History Museum, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, and the Palace of Culture. Each building adds a layer of history, spanning from Ottoman times to the communist period. The square itself has undergone many transformations, from its initial development under King Zog I to its enlargement during the Italian occupation and later remodeling under communism.

Today, Skanderbeg Square is not only a historical site but also a lively gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Concerts, national celebrations, and cultural festivals often take place here, making it the perfect starting point for your exploration of Tirana. Its central location means you are never far from the next highlight of your walking tour.

The National History Museum, located on the western side of Skanderbeg Square, is the largest museum in the country and a key stop for anyone seeking to understand Albania’s past. Opened in 1981, the museum presents a sweeping journey from prehistory to the communist era. Its distinctive modernist façade is dominated by the Mosaic of Tirana, which sets the tone for the exhibits inside.

Within its halls, the museum holds archaeological treasures from the Illyrian, Greek, and Roman periods, alongside displays on medieval history, the Ottoman era, and Albania’s independence movement. One particularly poignant section is the Pavilion of Martyrs, which commemorates those who fought and died during World War II.

For visitors on foot, the museum offers not only a deep dive into Albanian history but also a cooling indoor pause on the tour. It’s a place to reflect on how Tirana, and Albania as a whole, has been shaped by centuries of conquest, resistance, and cultural evolution.

The Mosaic of Tirana is impossible to miss: it covers the entire façade of the National History Museum. Created by a team of Albanian artists in 1981, the massive artwork depicts pivotal figures from the nation’s past, from Illyrian warriors and medieval knights to partisans and workers of the 20th century. The central figure, a female holding a flag, symbolizes freedom and resistance.

As a piece of socialist realist art, the mosaic reflects the ideology of the communist regime that commissioned it. While it celebrates Albania’s history, it also projects the vision of a strong, unified people marching into a brighter future. It is both a piece of propaganda and a work of art, making it a fascinating window into the country’s recent past.

Today, the mosaic has become one of Tirana’s most iconic images. Visitors often pause here to take photos and consider the juxtaposition of ancient heritage and modern reinterpretation that defines so much of the Albanian capital.

Afterwards, you could head south until you get to Kavja Street then back to head back to Skanderbeg Square.

On the southern edge of Skanderbeg Square stands the Palace of Culture, a striking building constructed in the 1950s with the help of Soviet architects and planners. Its style is unmistakably socialist realist, blending monumental scale with classical elements. Inside, it houses the National Library of Albania and the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The palace was part of the regime’s efforts to modernize Tirana and establish it as a cultural capital. For decades, Albanians gathered here for performances, readings, and official events, making it a key venue for the city’s cultural life. Its design deliberately contrasts with the older Ottoman-era buildings nearby, reflecting the push toward a “new Albania.”

Walking by today, you may find a performance or exhibition taking place. Even if you don’t step inside, the palace’s colonnaded façade and open square provide a sense of how Tirana transitioned from its Ottoman roots to a modern, planned capital under communist rule.

The Bar Opera Cafe is a great place to sit and look out over the square and watch the world go by. The external tables are situated beneath the imposing colonnade of the opera building. Considering that you are in one of the major tourist areas in the city the drinks are reasonably priced and served by very friendly and English-speaking waiters.

The Et’hem Bey Mosque, just off Skanderbeg Square, is one of the city’s most cherished landmarks. Construction began in 1794 under Molla Bey and was completed in 1821 by his son, Et’hem Bey. Despite its relatively modest size, the mosque is admired for its exquisite decoration and its survival through Albania’s turbulent history.

Its walls are adorned with delicate frescoes depicting landscapes, bridges, and trees—an unusual feature in Islamic art, which often avoids figurative imagery. These details highlight the blending of Ottoman traditions with local artistic expression. The mosque’s slender minaret and elegant portico make it stand out amid the surrounding modern buildings.

During the communist era, when religious practice was banned, the mosque was closed. However, in 1991 it reopened when thousands of people entered it in defiance of the regime. Today, it remains both a functioning place of worship and a symbol of Albania’s resilience and cultural heritage.

Next to the Et’hem Bey Mosque rises the Clock Tower, another emblem of Tirana’s Ottoman past. Built in 1822 by Et’hem Bey, it was originally the tallest structure in the city and a point of civic pride. The tower’s bell, imported from Venice, once rang out to mark the hours for the townspeople.

Over the years, the tower has been repaired and restored multiple times, with new clock mechanisms installed from different parts of Europe. Its current version reflects both Ottoman foundations and later interventions, a perfect metaphor for Tirana’s layered history.

Climbing to the top rewards visitors with sweeping views of Skanderbeg Square and the surrounding landmarks. It only costs 200 Lek to climb the stairs and you can pay in a small office at the bottom of the tower. The stairs are new and easy to climb and what a view from the top. It is probably one of the best things to do in Tirana.

The Kapllan Pasha Tomb is one of the few surviving Ottoman monuments in central Tirana. Built in the early 19th century, it once formed part of a larger mosque complex commissioned by Kapllan Pasha, an important Ottoman governor. While the mosque itself was demolished in the 1940s, the tomb remains as a striking reminder of Tirana’s Islamic architectural heritage.

This octagonal structure is capped with a small dome and was originally surrounded by a garden. Its location, near Skanderbeg Square, highlights how the heart of Tirana has long been a place of both spiritual and civic significance. Though modest in scale, the tomb’s decorative stonework reflects the craftsmanship of Ottoman builders in Albania.

The tomb is attractively nestled under one corner of the Plaza Hotel. It is also a good point to reflect on the layers of history in Tirana, where entire complexes have disappeared but single monuments survive to tell their story.

On the southern side of Skanderbeg Square stands the Statue of the Unknown Partisan, a memorial erected during the communist era to honor Albania’s fighters of World War II. The statue represents the sacrifice of ordinary men and women in the resistance movement, and it was once a key site for official ceremonies.

Interestingly, this very location was originally the site of the Sylejman Pasha Mosque, built in the early 17th century when Tirana was still a small Ottoman settlement. The mosque was demolished in the 1940s as part of urban redevelopment, leaving little trace behind except for its role in historical records.

For visitors, the juxtaposition of the partisan statue with the memory of the lost mosque illustrates how political changes have repeatedly reshaped Tirana’s cityscape. Standing here, you get a sense of how different eras have left their marks—some preserved, others erased.

Take a quick photo and move on…

The New Bazaar, or Pazari i Ri, is one of Tirana’s liveliest districts, located just east of Skanderbeg Square. The area was recently renovated, with brightly painted buildings and a large central market hall that has become a hub for both locals and tourists. It’s a place where tradition and modernity meet in the form of fresh produce, artisan goods, and trendy cafés.

Historically, this was one of Tirana’s oldest trading quarters, where merchants sold everything from spices to livestock. The renovation in 2017 preserved its market character while giving it a colorful facelift, making it a model of urban regeneration in Albania’s capital.

For those on a walking tour, the New Bazaar offers a break from historical monuments and an opportunity to experience everyday life. Stopping for a glass of raki or browsing through the stalls connects you directly to Tirana’s rhythms, both past and present.

The Fortress of Justinian, or Tirana Castle, dates back to the 6th century during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Once part of the city’s defensive walls, the remaining section gives visitors a rare glimpse into Tirana’s earliest days. Though much of the original structure has been lost, the surviving walls still stand proudly in the city center.

During Ottoman times, the fortress was adapted and expanded, serving as both a military and administrative base. Its strategic position near the Lana River made it an important point of control for centuries. Unfortunately there was not much of the castle left so the interior of the castle’s was converted into the “Old Bazaar” – more shops!

The Tanners’ Bridge, or Ura e Tabakëve, is a graceful Ottoman stone bridge built in the 18th century. Once part of the main route into Tirana, it was used by farmers and traders to bring goods—especially leather, hence its name—into the city. The bridge originally crossed the Lana River, which has since been redirected, leaving the bridge standing dry.

The bridge’s three elegant arches and cobbled pathway are remarkably well preserved, making it a tangible link to Tirana’s past as a small trading post. It also highlights the importance of crafts like tanning in the city’s early economy.

Today, the bridge is a pedestrian monument, carefully restored in the 1990s and incorporated into the modern cityscape. Passing across it on foot connects you with the rhythms of Tirana’s early days and offers a quiet moment away from the bustle of traffic.

The Pyramid of Tirana is one of the city’s most controversial landmarks. Opened in 1988, it was originally built as a museum dedicated to Enver Hoxha, Albania’s communist leader. Designed by his daughter and son-in-law, the pyramid symbolized both the power and the cult of personality surrounding Hoxha. After the regime’s collapse in the 1990s, it quickly lost its purpose and became a subject of debate over whether it should be demolished or preserved.

Over the years, the pyramid has taken on many roles, from a conference center to a NATO base during the Kosovo conflict. Despite its state of partial ruin, it became popular among locals, especially children and teenagers, who would climb its sloping walls for a view of the city. Its decayed, graffiti-covered form turned it into a symbol of Albania’s turbulent transition from communism.

Today, the Pyramid is undergoing a major renovation to transform it into a cultural and technology hub, ensuring its place in Tirana’s future. For visitors, it remains one of the most thought-provoking stops on a walking tour—an architectural monument that reflects both the country’s past struggles and its reinvention.

Near to the entrance of the Pyramid is the ‘Peace Bell’ which was created in 1999 as a memorial to peace. It was made from spent bullet casings, collected by Albanian children after the 1997 uprising.

Built during the communist era in the 1980s, the Palace of Congress was designed to host Albania’s most important political events, including party congresses and state ceremonies. The imposing modernist structure is typical of socialist architecture, with clean lines, large halls, and monumental scale.

Since the fall of communism, the Palace has been repurposed into one of Tirana’s leading cultural venues. It now stages concerts, exhibitions, and international conferences, drawing artists and performers from around the world. Its multifunctional halls make it one of the few buildings in Tirana capable of hosting large-scale events.

For those exploring on foot, the Palace of Congress illustrates how Tirana has adapted its communist-era architecture to new uses. Once a symbol of political power, it now embodies the city’s openness to cultural exchange and modern creativity.

Mother Teresa Square is the second largest square in Tirana, designed during the Italian occupation in the 1930s as part of an ambitious urban planning scheme. The neoclassical buildings surrounding the square—including government ministries and university buildings—reflect the Italian architectural style of the period. As you look clockwise around the square you will see in the north east the National Archaeological Museum,  in the east the Academy of ‘Albanological’ Studies, in the south the Polytechnic University of Tirana, and in the west the University of Arts.

The square was renamed in 1991 after Mother Teresa, the Albanian-born missionary who became a global symbol of compassion. Her name reflects the city’s shift away from its communist legacy, when religious figures were suppressed, towards a renewed celebration of national and spiritual identity.

For visitors, Mother Teresa Square offers a sense of Tirana’s modern civic life. It often hosts parades, concerts, and open-air festivals, while its proximity to the Grand Park makes it a natural point of transition between the city’s cultural institutions and its green spaces.

The National Archaeological Museum, opened in 1948, is Albania’s first museum dedicated to archaeology. It presents a sweeping overview of the country’s ancient past, with artifacts from the prehistoric, Illyrian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Statues, mosaics, ceramics, and coins provide an invaluable look at the civilizations that once thrived on Albanian soil.

The museum’s collection is particularly strong in Roman and Greek antiquities, reflecting Albania’s position at the crossroads of Mediterranean history. Many of the items on display were unearthed in archaeological sites such as Apollonia, Durrës, and Butrint, tying Tirana’s museum directly to Albania’s most important ancient settlements.

Located near Mother Teresa Square, the museum is easy to incorporate into a walking tour. A visit here deepens the context of Tirana’s monuments by showing how the city’s history is part of a much longer story of cultural exchange and empire.

The Grand Park, or Parku i Madh, is Tirana’s green heart and a popular place for both locals and visitors to relax. Established in the 1950s, it covers more than 200 hectares, with tree-lined paths, lakes, and open spaces. Its sheer size and tranquility provide a refreshing break from the bustle of the city center.

Inside the park lies the Artificial Lake of Tirana, a man-made reservoir surrounded by promenades and cafés. The park also contains monuments and memorials, including the Presidential Palace and various war cemeteries, which make it more than just a recreational space.

For walkers, the Grand Park is the perfect way to conclude a tour of Tirana. It offers not only rest and natural beauty but also a sense of how public space has been reclaimed and revitalized since the communist period.

The Colorful Buildings of Tirana are one of the most striking examples of the city’s transformation in the 21st century. Beginning in the early 2000s, then-mayor (and later prime minister) Edi Rama, himself a painter, launched a campaign to repaint drab communist-era apartment blocks in bright, bold colors and patterns.

The initiative was more than cosmetic—it was intended to inspire civic pride, reduce urban gloom, and spark a new cultural energy in the capital. Geometric designs, stripes, and vivid hues soon spread across many districts, changing the feel of entire neighborhoods.

At this roundabout you will see and example of this with the famous rainbow building. The statue in the center of the roundabout is to Woodrow Wilson, who after the end of the first world war in 1919, when breaking up the Ottoman Empire argued that ‘Albania ought to be independent’.

Hidden among the leafy streets of the Blloku district, Enver Hoxha’s Former Residence is one of Tirana’s most curious sites. During his long dictatorship from 1944 to 1985, this villa was heavily guarded, and ordinary Albanians were forbidden to enter the entire neighborhood.

The residence itself is a modest yet imposing example of mid-20th-century architecture, reflecting the leader’s preference for privacy over extravagance. While the building is not open to the public, standing outside it offers a glimpse into the world of Albania’s most powerful man.

For visitors, the house and its surroundings symbolize how far Tirana has come. Blloku, once restricted to the communist elite, is now a buzzing nightlife and café district, and seeing the former dictator’s residence at its center highlights the city’s dramatic change.

The Cloud, or “Reja,” is a striking public art installation by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, located near the National Art Gallery. Made of white metal bars arranged in a lattice-like form, it resembles a floating cloud, both airy and futuristic.

Installed in 2016, the structure quickly became a popular gathering place for locals and tourists alike. It often hosts small cultural events, film screenings, and performances, blending art with public life in the heart of the city.

As part of a walking tour, the Cloud represents Tirana’s embrace of contemporary creativity. Standing beneath it offers both shade and inspiration, as it contrasts with the heavy architecture of the communist period surrounding it.

The National Art Gallery of Albania holds the country’s most important collection of visual art. Founded in 1946, it spans works from medieval religious icons to 19th-century portraits and a large collection of socialist realism from the communist era.

The socialist realism pieces are particularly significant, as they reveal how art was used as propaganda, depicting idealized workers, soldiers, and peasants. At the same time, the gallery’s more recent acquisitions highlight the freedom and experimentation of Albania’s contemporary artists.

For those walking through Tirana, the gallery offers a cultural counterpoint to the city’s monuments. It is not only a museum but also a place where Albania’s past and present artistic identities are preserved and reinterpreted.

Bunk’Art 2 is one of Tirana’s most immersive historical attractions. Located in the city center, it was originally built as a vast Cold War bunker designed to protect the Ministry of Internal Affairs from nuclear attack. The underground complex has since been transformed into a museum.

Inside, visitors walk through dimly lit tunnels and rooms where exhibits detail the brutal realities of the communist dictatorship, including the secret police, surveillance, and prison camps. The stark setting enhances the emotional weight of the stories told.

As part of a walking tour, Bunk’Art 2 is an unmissable stop for understanding Albania’s recent history. Emerging from its subterranean chambers back into Tirana’s vibrant streets creates a powerful contrast between the country’s dark past and its energetic present.

The House of Leaves, or “Shtëpia me Gjethe,” is one of Tirana’s most thought-provoking museums. Located in a former medical clinic turned secret police headquarters, the building was used by the Sigurimi, Albania’s feared communist-era security service, as a surveillance and interrogation center. The house gained its poetic name from the climbing plants that once covered its façade, masking the sinister activities within.

Today, it serves as the Museum of Secret Surveillance, shedding light on one of the darkest chapters of Albania’s recent history. Inside, you’ll find original equipment used for wiretapping, recordings of intercepted conversations, and personal stories of those who were monitored, imprisoned, or persecuted. The exhibits are chilling yet essential for understanding the climate of fear in which Albanians lived during the dictatorship.

For visitors, the House of Leaves is both unsettling and fascinating. Walking through its rooms reveals how deeply surveillance and control penetrated everyday life. Including it in a walking tour of Tirana ensures a balanced experience of the city—one that acknowledges not only its cultural and architectural highlights but also the human cost of its authoritarian past.