Being Albania’s capital, you don’t have a choice but to visit Tirana. This city surprised me with its history and people. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a completely different vibe than the other cities in Albania, but I loved my stay there. That’s why I 100% recommend going to the capital and seeing what it has to offer. Here, I tell you 7 of the best things to do in Tirana.
- Free walking tour
- Skanderbeg Square
- BunkArt 1
- National History Museum
- Et`hem Bey Mosque
- Pyramid of Tirana
- Saint Paul Cathedral
Free walking tour
I did a free walking tour on my first day in Tirana, and it was the best decision ever. My guide actually recommended and showed us all the other activities I am talking about in this article. More than that, I learned so much about the history of the country. Did you know that the borders of Albania were close to the world from 1975 to 1991? It was the most isolated country in the world during this time. Another fact is that Mercedes is the car of choice in Albania. Anyway, I learned so many interesting things during this activity that I am telling you, you CANNOT go to Tirana without doing a free walking tour.
I booked my tour with Tirana Free Tour. My guide was super nice and easy to understand. My tour was around 2:30 hours. As you might know, nothing is really free anymore even if it’s called a free walking tour. Of course, the tour is free, but a tip for the guide is always appreciated since it is their job (they need a salary).
Skanderbeg Square
This is the main square in the city. All the action is there. You will find a statue of Skanderbeg on a horse in the square. It’s a war memorial dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo war. Skanderbeg Square is a nice place to enjoy the sun and spend some time with your friends. It’s definitely worth a quick visit. The next two activities are located close to the square.
BunkArt 1
There are 2 BunkArt in Tirana. The first one (BunkArt1) is a must-see if you only have time for one of them. Essentially, it’s a museum in an anti-atomic bunker. The museum is about the Albanian communist army. The entrance fee is 500L (7$ CAD).
National History Museum (Muzeu Historik Kombëtar)
Honestly, I didn’t have the time to go to this museum. However, it was highly recommended by my guide, that’s why I think it’s a great activity if you can do it. It’s the perfect activity if you are interested in learning more about Albanian history. The museum is open from 9 am to 16h from Tuesday to Saturday. On Sunday, the museum is open from 10 am to 15h. The museum is closed on Monday. The entrance fee is 500L (7$ CAD) for an adult.
Et`hem Bey Mosque
This small mosque is located in the heart of Tirana. I didn’t enter the mosque because I didn’t have the proper clothes. As our guide and the other tourists said, it’s very nice to explore, especially with the paintings on the walls and the ceilings. The entrance is free.
Pyramid of Tirana
Don’t go there expecting the pyramids of Egypt 😅. I won’t lie, the only nice thing about this activity is the view you get at the top of the pyramid, which is nice. The pyramid itself isn’t very pretty, since it’s a concrete building. This activity is free.
Saint Paul Cathedral (Katedralja e Shën Palit)
We stopped at Saint Paul Cathedral during our walking tour, and it was a nice addition to see in the city. If you have limited time in Tirana, maybe skip this place. If you like to walk in new cities and explore the streets, it’s a 15-minute stop you can make in your day. The entrance is free.
