Tirana International Hotel
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Tirana (/ t ɪ ˈ r ɑː n ə / ⓘ tih-RAH-nə, Albanian pronunciation:; Gheg Albanian: Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea in the distance. It is among the ...
Discover Tirana, Albania's vibrant capital, with Lonely Planet's tips on attractions, history, culture and more. Explore the city's colourful streets, museums, parks and nightlife with our guidebooks and articles.
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- Immerse yourself in Albanian history at Bunk’Art, one of Europe’s most unique museums. Bunk’Art is arguably Tirana’s most popular tourist attraction. I think its reputation as one of Europe’s most unique museums is well deserved, hence why I’ve put it here at the top of my list.
- Scale the new Pyramid of Tirana. After years of being cordoned off and decades of lying in a state of disrepair, in October 2023 the Pyramid of Tirana officially reopened to the public.
- Explore Blokku, Tirana’s former communist quarter. Blloku or ‘the Block of Leadership’ is a compact riverside neighbourhood that faces onto the river on the western side of the Pyramid.
- Drink at a quirky communist-themed bar, one of the best things to do in Tirana at night. Some of Tirana’s best bars are located inside the Blloku district.
- Piramida
- Dajti Ekspres
- Skanderbeg Square
- National Historical Museum
- Dajti Mountain National Park
- Et’hem Bey Mosque
- Grand Park
- Clock Tower
- Rruga Murat Toptani
- Tanners’ Bridge
It might seem strange to start with a derelict building, but the Piramida is unique. It’s an unforgettable and culturally-significant building from 1987, completed not long before the fall of communism. It was intended as a museum to honour the country’s despotic dictator Enver Hoxha who ruled from 1944-85, but naturally these plans were torn up af...
This cable-car is a fun family day out and a superb introduction to the city, taking you up by gondola to the dramatic mountain on Tirana’s eastern edge. The cable-car spans a kilometre, making it the longest in the Balkans, and rises more than 800 metres up the mountainside. The journey will take about 15 minutes and at the top there’s a tourism c...
This is where Tirana’s premier monuments are all assembled, including the Clock Tower, Et’hem Bey Mosque and the National History Museum. It is named after George Castriot, an Albanian national hero, credited with halting the advance of the Ottoman Empire into central Europe. There’s a monument to Skanderbeg in the square, which occupies the spot w...
One thing’s for sure – Tirana and Albania have a very complicated past. So if you need a point of entry this is the place to get some context. The museum is organised by pavilions, each covering a different period in the region’s history, from ancient times up to the 21st century. The most valuable in terms of archaeological wealth is the Pavilion ...
In Europe it’s unusual to find a national park right on the doorstep of a capital city, so don’t pass up the chance to venture out further into the mountain range that forms Tirana’s eastern boundary. If you want to really get out and experience the natural scenery here, take the trail that connects Mount Dajti with Mount Tujani, which rises to 1,5...
This place of worship was completed in the early-19th century and is one of the city’s top landmarks. At the fall of communism it was the site of one of the most remarkable events in Tirana’s recent history, when on the 10th of January 1991 10,000 people gathered to practise their religion, against the decree of the authorities who had banned Islam...
Just south of the prestigious Blloku district is Tirana’s Grand Park, which is the city centre’s top spot for fresh air and a bit of exercise. It covers 230 hectares and encloses a large artificial lake. Famously the Presidential Palace can be found here, which was originally designated as a residence for King Zog I, but was completed just a few ye...
One of the city’s most photographed landmarks, especially when it’s illuminated at night, the Clock Tower goes back to 1822 when it was completed by the court poet Haxhi Et’hem Bey. You can scale the tower’s narrow spiral staircase free of charge and take in the lovely vistas of Tirana’s city-centre. One of the curious features of the tower is its ...
A pedestrianised street in the centre of Tirana, Rruga Murat Toptani is a handsome promenade between the Parliament Building and the National Art Gallery. The name of this popular artery comes from the Toptani Family, who held sway in Ottoman Albania from the 1700s right up to the Second World War. The street is especially grand in summer when the ...
This minor attraction is from the 1700s and is a fascinating fragment of Tirana’s Ottoman history, giving an impression of how the city went about its business in the years after its foundation. These days it’s a humble stone pedestrian bridge, but when it was built it was the main route for farmers to bring their livestock into the butchery and le...
- Go To The Enver Hoxha Pyramid. A Tirana sightseeing journey should include visiting the Pyramid of Tirana, also known as the Enver Hoxa Pyramid or, locally, simply as the Piramida.
- Walk Across The Tanners’ Bridge. When deciding what to see in Tirana, we suggest a fun little landmark in central Tirana – Tanners’ Bridge, which dates from the 18-century Ottoman time.
- Explore Skanderbeg Square. Skanderbeg Square’s central plaza in the city center is a large open space home to many of Tirana’s best places to see. It’s a vibrant meeting place, a major tourist attraction, and an important historical landmark.
- Eat At An International Chain Across From The Former Headquarters Of Communism’s Reign. Enver Hoxha is perhaps one of the most famous communist leaders — a man who has isolated the whole country of Albania for over 41 years.
Apr 24, 2024 · Tirana, city, capital of Albania. It is the country’s main industrial center and its largest city. Tirana lies 17 miles (27 km) east of the Adriatic Sea coast and along the Ishm River, at the end of a fertile plain. Learn more about the city’s history, economy, and places of interest.
Apr 30, 2023 · Discover the history, culture, and attractions of Albania's capital city, Tirana. Learn about its colorful architecture, communist past, and lively cafes in this comprehensive guide.
