Interesting Things To Do In Tirana, Albania

An Overview Of Tirana

Tirana is the capital of Albania, a strange city mixed with Ottoman, Fascist and Soviet-era influences. Many of the structures are unique pastel buildings surrounding the city’s center, Skanderbeg Square. While the center of Tirana can easily be explored on foot within a day or so, the outer portions of the city and surrounding countryside require a bit more time. There are many interesting things to do in Tirana.

Interesting Things To Do In Tirana

The Pyramid of Tirana

The Pyramid of Tirana is a rather ugly, decaying structure which has served as a museum, conference center, NATO Base and convention center. The structure was originally built to honor Enver Hoxha, an Albanian leader who promoted Stalinism for decades. Now, the building is closed with graffiti covering the surface. Though it’s been slated for demolition, the unique nature of the structure and acknowledgment of it’s controversial role in Albania’s history has stalled its destruction.

Tirana’s Colorful Façade

While Tirana is filled with former Communist boxy buildings, many have been radically altered by Edi Rama, a prominent mayor of the city in the year 2000. Edi Rama, previously an international painter, began a massive campaign knocking down condemned buildings, opening up park spaces and painting block-buildings in bright sweeps, colors and patterns. His artistic legacy as mayor can be found throughout the city.

Skanderbeg Square

Skanderbeg Square, named for the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu, is the central plaza of Tirana. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the National History Museum, the Bank of Albania Museum, the Palace of Culture and the Et’hem Bej Mosque. The square also has various cafés, fountains and national monuments.

Archaeological Museum

This museum hosts unique exhibits showcasing Albania’s unusual history, marking events from prehistory into the modern era. The museum can be found on the eastern side of Mother Teresa Square near the University of Tirana.

Parku Rinia

Parku Rinia, otherwise known as Youth Park or Taiwan Park is a small public park constructed during Albania’s Communist era. Following the end of Communism in Albania, numerous illegal buildings rose up around the park containing kiosks, bars, restaurants and kingpin hangouts. These were demolished in 2000, after which much of the park was cleaned up, replanted and decorated with fountains, unique buildings and art memorials.

Dajti Ekspres Cable Car

Dajti is a large mountain located on the Eastern edge of Tirana. The large mountain can be reached via the Dajti Ekspres Cable Car, the longest cable car in the Balkans. The mountain itself is an eye-catching national park (Dajti National Park) with caves, summits and extrodinary views overlooking Tirana.

Grand Park (Parku I Madh)

The Grand Park of Tirana also known as the Park on the Artificial Lake, is a large green space with numerous entertainment facilities, house cafés, restaurants, small churches, an amphitheater and water sports. Due to it’s proximity to the center of town, the Grand Park is the most popular outdoor public space in the city. However, the Park of Farka Artificial Lake to the East and the Grand Park of Paskuqan to the North also offer green spaces, water features and an escape from the bustle of the city.

Off Limits Albania

Off Limits Albania is a well-known adventure tourism company operating out of Tirana. Tours are personalized and designed to visit difficult-to-reach places around the Albanian countryside. The touring company provides rides on all-terrain jeeps to reach popular locations, such as Theth, Valbona, Korce, Vlora, Saranda, Gjirokaster, Durres, Berat and Divjake.

Spille Beach

Spille Beach is a popular beach located roughly 40 kilometers away from Tirana. It’s known for sandy shores, rocky tide pools, nice resort infrastructure and spectacular west-facing sunsets.

Bunk’Art

This odd musuem operates out of the heavily fortified fallout shelter of a dictator, Enver Hoxha, the communist leader of Albania for over four decades. While it was originally built as a nuclear defense structure, the bunker now operates as a art-and-culture venue with a focus on preserving the dark realities under Hoxha’s rule. This is one of the most interesting things to do in Tirana.

Communist-Era Statues of Tirana of the National Art Gallery

When Tirana was staunchly Communist, numerous statues of famous Communist Leaders once stood tall in the main square of Tirana. These statues were removed, eventually placed in a quiet courtyard behind the National Art Gallery. The statues include Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, a female soldier, a rifleman and a upright miner raising a pickax.

The House of Leaves

This strange two-story building is home to a massive stockpile of outdated surveillance devices, all once used by the Albanian secret police, the Sigurimi. The museum has 31 rooms, each one loaded with information on surveillance, interrogation techniques and ideological correctness propaganda. for nearly half a century, the Sigurimi and House of Leaves were a source of dread for Albanian citizens.

The Mosaic of Tirana

Though poorly preserved and difficult to find, these ancient Roman ruins are worth hunting out and visiting. The patterned mosaic depicting geometrical patterns, poultry and fish, is believed to have been part of a 3rd-century Roman residence.

Shpella e Pëllumbasit

The Cave of Pëllumbas is a karst cave formation and a popular day trip out of Tirana. The cave is tucked into the Skorana Gorge close to the village of Pëllumbas. The cave includes unique geological formations, bats and twisting, deep tunnels.

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