Tirana

Tirana is the capital of Albania and is situated by the river Ishëm, approx. 32 km in-land from the Adriatic Sea. The area has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era but the city itself was founded 1614, as can be seen in the Old Town where there are many buildings from that time still in their original shape.

Skanderbeg Square, located in the middle of town, was re-named in 1968 after the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg (his real name was Gjergj Kastrioti). Here you find, in addition to the statue of a riding Skanderbeg, the Etehem Bej mosque and the Culture Palace (Pallati i Kulturës), the county’s largest cultural center. The palace was built on order by the Communist Party and the symbolic first groundbreaking was done by Nikita Khrushchev in 1959. If you’re interested in Albanian culture and history, we recommend a visit to the National History Museum, also this the largest in the country. The most photographed landmark in Tirana is otherwise the Clock Tower built in 1822, open to the public and offering a nice view of the surroundings from the top of its 90 steps long spiral stairs.

The city is densely-built but still offers many public parks. Spanning over 230 hectares, the Grand Park is the largest park in the city. Here you find many children’s playgrounds, sport facilities and landmarks such as the Saint Procopius Church, the Presidential Palace, the Botanical Gardens, the Tirana Zoo, the Amphitheatre, the Monument of the Frashëri Brothers and many others.

If you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere and great (and pretty cheap) food, Blloku is the place to go. This is an area filled with nice restaurants, cozy cafés and interesting shops – even the former dictator Enver Hoxha’s former palace hosts a range of restaurants nowadays.

If you feel a bit adventurous, a trip to the the Cave of Pëllumbas, close to the village of Pëllumbas in Tirana County, is definitely recommended. It’s a bit of a trek to the entrance that lies about 500 m (1,600 ft) above sea level, but it worth it.  The cave has a length of 360 m, a width which can vary between 10–15 m and a vertical range of 45 m. They have found remains of ancient human culture from the Paleolithic era here, and the cave was once inhabited by the extinct cave bear, which lived between 10,000 and 400,000 years ago.

As you’ve understood by now, there are many things to experience in Tirana so – enjoy your visit!