24 Hours in Tirana

A day is not enough to admire every detail that the Albanian capital city offers its visitors. During your 24 hours in Tirana it’s still possible to visit the landmarks of Tirana and enjoy its lively and vibrant atmosphere. So if you only have a short amount of time in the Albanian capital, here are some suggestions to give you a taste of Albania.

Morning (8 – 9 am, start of 24 hours in Tirana)

Start your 24 hours in Tirana with a coffee and muffin. For example, Mon Cheri or Mulliri i Vjeter may be the best choice for that. They offer excellent espresso and chocolate pastries. Sit at one of the red tables located outside the bar and sip your coffee while watching the street scenes of Tirana.

Then your first stop might be the National Historical Museum.

Above all, it will lay the foundations for you to understand this unique little country. The museum is located in the center of town. And is easy to recognize by its massive mosaic mural on the front facade. The Museum offers a good overview of Albania’s history, from its medieval heroes to life under communist rule.

This museum is the largest in Albania, and it helps you understand Albanian History. This is why the museum deserves to be one of the first on top places to visit in Tirana. The museum is divided into rooms where you can see historical events from medieval times until today.

10 – 12 am

Spending 24 hours in Tirana might seem a great idea, but you will need more than 24 hours to explore the best of this city. However, just right after you step out of the National Historical Museum, you will find yourself at the Skanderbeg Square.

It is one of the most beautiful things Tirana has to offer. Located in the heart of Tirana from where you can see 2 of the most important Landmarks of Tirana. On the square is located the Scanderbeg Monument, which is the National Albanian Hero Gjergj Kastrioti and his horse. The monument is part of the heart of Tirana for more than 50 years ago.

The square has got its name from the monument. The square is made up of a side with Tiles that come from every corner of Albania and in them, it’s engraved the city or town it comes from. On the other side, there is the part that is greenish with trees and a small pedestrian walk for you to enjoy. Moreover, trees surround the square.

Here are the main buildings of Tirana: the Opera, National Library, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, and Skanderbeg Statue, the Clock Tower.

Et’hem Bey who built the mosque built also the clock tower, and since then it represents Tirana’s history. Built-in 1822 the clock tower belongs to the city hall and the mosque.

Lunch (1 pm)

For a quick lunch during your 24 hours in Tirana, you could go straight to Pazari i Ri (New Bazaar). The new market of Tirana, a cool area that reminds you of La Boqueria in Barcelona. Here you’ll not only find fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, raki, and typical souvenirs, but also excellent fish restaurants. You can sit here and order linguine with sea fruits and grilled fish. And enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the district.

But I assume that you would better enjoy a traditional lunch. You can select from huge menus at many restaurants in the city and try byrek, fergesa e Tiranes or tave dheu. Albanian food is excellent. But you can also find typical Italian food, salads and meat dishes, fish and pizza.

3 pm

After lunch, there is nothing better than strolling through the Pedonalja. It is a nice pedestrian street lined with trees, cafés, theatres, and cinemas. Located near the Toptani shopping center is a great thing to see. There you can take a walk towards Tirana Castle which is located in the heart of the Pedestrian Walk. The Fortress of Justinian (Tirana Castle) dates back to the Byzantine era. The fortress has 3 towers, inside the castle, there are many coffee shops and restaurants for you to enjoy.

During the warm summer days of Tirana, it is one of the most frequented areas of the town. The trees form a shadow. Therefore it is a great place to escape from the hot temperatures of the city. After that, you can grab a cab and reach the outskirts of Tirana to admire the majestic and creepy Bunk’Art.

This is one of the most important museums of the town built inside an anti-nuclear bunker. The museum shows the modern history of Albania, from the Italian occupation until the Communist era. Bunk’Art hosts also a beautiful theatre inside, which is sometimes used as a location for jazz concerts.

Afternoon (4 – 5 pm)

In the afternoon you can walk to Grand Park or take a cable car to Mountain Dajti. Grand Park is the main park and is the most popular at the weekend. I also suggest you visit Mount Dajti. It is 20 minutes from the city, or drive 13 minutes to get the cable car. From Mountain Dajti you can have a magnificent view over the whole Tirana.

Then come back to town and visit the abandoned Pyramid of Tirana, one of the greatest landmarks. Today, the pyramid is not in use and is covered with graffiti. But it remains a place frequented by Albanians who come here to relax, admire beautiful panoramas, and play with children.

The state opened the pyramid in 1988 as the Museum of Enver Hoxha who died three years earlier. Enver Hoxha was the dictator of Albania. His daughter and her husband designed the structure of the pyramid. After that, the state used the pyramid as a conference center and later on as a fair center.

Since 2001 Albanian televisions use a part of the pyramid and the other part of the pyramid is abandoned. With the new political events in Albania, the pyramid was in danger of being demolished but people were against it and signed a petition where it was decided it will not be demolished but refurbished.

Then stroll through the Lana River and reach Ura e Tabakeve. It is an ancient Ottoman-era bridge perfectly conserved in the city center of Tirana.

Dinner (6 pm)

For an authentic Albanian experience, we recommend eating dinner at Oda. Located near the center of town and down a side street is a restaurant situated in an old house. It feels like you are walking into someone’s home. Then you will be seated in the small living room/ dining room. There are only three or four tables inside; giving it more of an intimate family feels. The food is hearty, home-cooked Albanian food.

7 pm – 9 pm

In the evening you can see an Opera, Ballet or Theatre. Or catch a movie at one of the several cinemas in Tirana. The theatres, opera, ballet, and cinemas are all located close to each other. So you can certainly catch one of them. If you follow these tips, at the end of your 24 hours in Tirana, you will have a great experience of the city. Enjoy!

Ps. If you want to know more about Tirana click here.