Tour of 3 days around Tirana

Day 1

• Scanderbeg Square and Clock Tower

• Museum of National History

• Et'hem Bey Mosque and Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.

• Hoxha Pyramid and Bulevardi Deshmoret and Kombit

Day 2

• Cathedral of St. Paul and Park Rinia

• Bunk'Art 2

• Afternoon at the museum: National Gallery of Art or House of Leaves

Day 3

• Bunk'art 1

• Mount Dajti National Park

• Alternative day: excursion in the surrounding area

Tirana, the capital of Albania, has been influenced by a multitude of peoples and cultures for centuries. It is a flawless city for a weekend adventure, and here today you can appreciate sights from the Arab and Ottoman periods built next to Christian buildings with Western features, as well as in the culinary specialties you can find completely different flavors from each other.

Here are all our tips for planning a Tirana itinerary in 3 days.

Day One

Scanderbeg Square and Clock Tower

Begin this itinerary in the Albanian capital from Scandreberg Square, the center of the city. Surrounded by some of Tirana's main points of interest, it is also a relevant historical site: some of the city's important and tragic events occurred here.

Admire the beauty of the square and head to the Clock Tower,We then recommend that you climb the Clock Tower, one of the most important emblems of the city (open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-2pm, Sun closed; admission 200.00 ALL/€1.60 - Get Directions). We recommend arriving not too late than the entrance time to avoid the long lines at the entrance. Once you mount the 90 steps you can get to the top and admire a beautiful view of the entire historic center.

Visiting time: 30 min

Museum of National History

Scanderbeg Square is also home to the National History Museum, the country's most relevant and largest museum (Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; admission 500.00 ALL (€4.00). This is a must-visit, throughout the morning (average 2 h).

Opened in 1981, it is easily recognized by the large mosaic on its facade. Inside, however, you can discover the history of Albania through a collection that displays some 3,600 objects. Not to be missed is the section devoted to the city's communist period, with also important photographic evidence.

Visiting time: 2 hours

Et'hem Bey Mosque and Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.

Continue your discovery of the most important attractions near Scanderbeg Square by visiting two of Tirana's main places of worship early in the afternoon. The first stop is Et'hem Bey, the city's Mosque. There are no fixed opening hours, it is still closed to the public during prayer times, but nonetheless it is worth a visit from the outside as it is Albania's most important and wonderful Islamic place of worship, as well as one of Albania's best-preserved buildings.

Near the Mosque is the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, the third largest Orthodox worship building in the world (daily 9am-2pm and 4-7pm; free admission). The main dome is an impressive 32 m high, while the bell tower exceeds 40 m. You should not miss the interior decorations, decorated with special and beautiful mosaics depicting historical and religious moments.

Visiting time: 1 hour

Hoxha Pyramid and Bulevardi Deshmoret and Kombit

After finishing your visit to the Cathedral, cross the Lana River and take a short walk of about 10 min to the Hoxha Pyramid, one of Tirana's most controversial symbols. This pyramid is a representation of the communist period and was built at the behest of dictator Enver Hoxha's daughter as a resting place for her father. Today it is being renovated and will soon house a technology center for children that will serve as a venue for numerous events.

Finally, after taking a photo and ringing the Peace Bell near the pyramid, enjoy a stroll along Bulevardi Deshmoret and Kombit, the city's best-known boulevard. Packed with stores and bars, it is the perfect place to enjoy a drink or do some shopping in search of the perfect souvenir.

Visiting time: 1.5 hours

Day 2

Cathedral of St. Paul and Park Rinia

This second day will be dedicated to art and history. Start the morning by visiting the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral, one of the most modern churches in the city (hours vary; admission free). It is a very special place with a modern structure: the shapes used are the triangle and the circle, symbolizing the Trinity and the Eternity of God, respectively.

At the end of your visit, which will take you barely ten minutes, walk to nearby Park Rinia, the small green lung of the old town. Enjoy a stroll through its narrow streets, admire the glimpses of the city, and go look for the colorful "Tirana" sign to take a picture with.

Visiting time: 1 hour

Bunk'Art

The second part of the morning devoted to visiting a very special place, to say the least: the Bunk'Art 2 (April-September daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m., October-March Wed-Sun 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; admission 500.00 ALL/€4.00).

You should know that in Albania, including Tirana, a great many bunkers were built during Hoxha's dictatorship that would save the dictator, family, and officials in the event of an atomic attack. In Tirana, two of these have become museums, and one of them is actually Bunk'Art 2 in the old city center, which opened in 2016. By visiting this bunker located behind the Clock Tower, you can discover the history of communist Albania, including its darkest moments.

Visiting time: 2 hours

Afternoon at the Museum: National Gallery of Art or House of Leaves

For the afternoon, devote yourself to visiting one of the millions of museums in the area. If you like art, you cannot miss the National Gallery; if you want to learn more about Tirana's history, we recommend the House of Leaves.

First option the National Gallery (Tue-Sun 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; admission 200.00 ALL/€1.60). This museum is considered the nation's most important exhibition. Inside there are over 4,000 works, with sections devoted solely to Albanian artists. A true journey through the country's history through art.

The second option at the House of Leaves (Tue-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Mon closed; admission 700.00 ALL/€5.60). This is the Albanian Secret Service Museum. A place full of history, it also became the headquarters of the Nazi Gestapo during World War II, then the secret service base of socialist Albania. Here you can find all the tools used by the secret police, such as microphones, tape recorders, cameras and more.

Near the museum, you can find a very nice bar where to rest after the visit. This is ''Agolli's Corner'', which serves as a tribute to the remarkable legacy of Dritero Agolli, one of Albania's most celebrated writers.

Visiting time: 2 hours

Day 3

Bunk'Art 1

Our last day in Tirana, we head out of the center to explore the immediate surroundings. First stop is Bunk'art 1, the first bunker to be converted into a museum (April-September daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m., October-March Wed-Sun 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; admission 500.00 ALL/€4.00). It is located about 5 km from the center, near the funicular to Mount Dajti, accessible from the center by the blue line bus from Scanderbeg Square to the Teleferiku stop.

Bunk'art 1 stands on as many as 5 floors, with about 106 rooms including the dictator's rooms. This too was intended to protect the dictator, family and officials in case of a nuclear attack. Today it has been turned into a museum that tells the story of the Albanian army, but you will also get to discover what everyday life was like during the dictatorship.

Visiting time: 2 hours

Mount Dajti National Park

For lunch, reach the starting station of the funicular that takes you to the top of Mount Dajti, which is less than a 10 min walk from Bunk'art (funicular operating May-October daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Nov-April 9 a.m.-7 p.m. except Tue; full ticket 800.00 ALL/€6.00, reduced 500.00 ALL/€4.00).

Mount Dajti National Park is also a popular spot for locals: here you can relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend an entire afternoon in the midst of nature. Once you get to the top stop first for lunch at one of the many cafes and then start discovering the area, including narrow streets, activities and panoramic terraces: in fact, the mountain is called Tirana's natural terrace. You will also find an adventure park, the center for extreme sports such as paragliding and a paintball field.

Visiting time: 3 hours

Alternatively, you can devote this last day to spending time around Tirana. The choices are many, as are the organized tours with shuttles included that are offered, surely the best solution for not wasting time and organizing travel.

The first option we recommend is a hike to Gamti Mountain, a mountain overlooking Bovilla Lake (6-hour tour). This is a tour for those who love being in nature and in the mountains: with an easy trekking route (40 min walk), and once you reach the top of Gamti you can admire all the surrounding views.

Otherwise, we recommend a day trip to Berat, a small town 100 km south of Tirana. Berat is also famous as the city of a thousand windows and is one of the oldest cities in Albania, as well as an architectural gem.

Visiting time: 8 hours

How much does a weekend in Tirana cost

Tirana is an inexpensive destination: the cost of living is very low so it is perfect for low-cost vacations lasting only a few days. Definitely 3 days are ideal for discovering Tirana and also its surroundings. In addition, there are several low-cost flights from Italy.

Given the low cost of living, you will be able to find accommodation at great prices in the center. In fact, the historic center is the perfect area to stay; we recommend that you do not go to the suburbs. Staying downtown also allows you to get around on foot, and for a first glimpse of the city, we recommend joining a guided walking tour. Eating out is also really inexpensive!

Let's look at the exact costs of a weekend in Tirana:

Cost for eating: about €30.00 per day per person (including breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Costs for museums and attractions: average price €10.00 per day per person following our suggested tour

Transportation: average price €5.00 per day per person

Hotels, accommodations and b&b: from €30.00 per room

Entertainment: from €20.00 per day per person (including snacks, coffee, appetizers, drinks, ...)

Total cost of a weekend in Tirana: from €255.00 per person (excluding flights and/or transfers).

Before you leave: useful tips

Visit Tirana in the good season: from May to October temperatures are milder and the days full of sunshine. Also, the city is full of events and definitely with more life;

Where to sleep: the best option is to sleep in the historic center, otherwise if you are looking for the nightlife choose the Blloku neighborhood - compare accommodations on the various sites;

Move around on foot: the main attractions are all close together; the bus will only help you get to Bunk'art 1 and the cable car to Mount Dajti. For a first look, take part in a walking tour of Tirana;

Taste the local cuisine: start the day with a baklava, try shishkebab skewers, and sample a slice of the savory byrek cake. Albanian cuisine is a blend of different influences and peoples, definitely worth trying;

Local currency: the Albanian lek. Not everywhere accepts ATMs or cards, so it is always best to have some cash on you.