There are so many great things to do in Tirana. Whilst it’s a capital city, it’s accessible and walkable. It has a real mix of indoor and outdoor activities for any traveller. I spent a month in Tirana before moving to other parts of Albania and the Balkans. I loved our time in Tirana as there were always new things to do.
From sightseeing to festivals, enjoying the café culture and spending days by the lake, you’ll never get bored.
So let’s take a look at some of the best things to do in Tirana.
1. Take a Walking Tour of Tirana
Taking a walking tour is one of the best ways to explore a new place, and I loved the walking tour here. It was one of my favourite things to do in Tirana.
There are various walking tour options, but they all start in the centre, in Skanderbeg Square.
This excellent 3-hour walking tour can be booked in advance and will take you all round the city. It’s led by a local travel guide who will give you a unique insight into life in Tirana and how it has changed dramatically over the past few decades.
You’ll be taken around the centre of Tirana, spotting the Skanderbeg Statute, the National Historical Museum, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower and the famous Enver Hoxha Pyramid.
After exploring the centre, and learning about the cultural and historical importance of all of these spots, you’ll continue into Blloku.
Blloku once was a closed district, for members of the ruling Communist party only. Now it’s one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Tirana. There are stylish bars, restaurants and cafés everywhere, and it’s an incredible place to explore.
The half day tour takes 3 hours, and it’s an amazing way to learn more about Tirana and Albanian modern history.
Alternatively, there is a free tour that takes place every day from Skanderbeg Square. Run by Free Walking Tour Tirana, this larger group tour will again explore the centre and the neighbourhood of Blloku. Tips are greatly appreciated by the guides that run this tour.
Whichever tour you choose, it’s one of the best things to do in Tirana when you arrive. It’ll set you up for your trip and help you get your bearings for tackling the rest of the Tirana attractions.
2. Head out on a Wine Tasting Tour
As Albania is located on the same coast as Greece and across the sea from Italy, it has some great wine growing conditions. As a result, the local wine in Tirana and Albania is actually really good!
So if you love to try new wines when you visit new places, then this is a great, and cost-effective, place to do it!
Or better still, why not combine a day trip to the nearby city of Durrës, a boat trip and 3-course lunch and a tour of a local winery and wine tasting. That’s what you get on this fantastic 1-day excursion from Tirana.
From your hotel or apartment in Tirana, you’ll visit the nearby city of Durrës. Durrës is famed for its modern street art scene which blends seamlessly with the historic city walls, thermal baths and amphitheatre.
The tour will guide you around the city before you take a coffee at the top of the Venetian tower. After Durrës, you’ll head to the winemaking area of Lalzi Bay to visit Duka vineyard.
You’ll get a tour of the winery and then settle in for a wine tasting which includes sampling raki and appetisers. It’s an incredible location and place to spend an afternoon trying new wines! You can add on a 3-course lunch if you wish, which I would definitely recommend.
After the wine tasting, you’ll hop onto the boat trip around Green Lake, so named because of the incredible colour of the water. You’ll get transport back to your hotel in Tirana to cap off an incredible day day of wine tasting.
3. Stroll around the Grand Park of Tirana
The Grand Park of Tirana is one of the best places to visit in Tirana. It’s a beautiful place near the centre of the city, which is a great for escaping the crowds and cool off in the summer sun.
The Grand Park is a huge 289 hectare public park which is home to Tirana’s artificial lake. To the south of the park, there is a zoo and a botanical gardens.
Around the lake, there is plenty of forest and shade with clear walking trails for you to explore. Dotted around the lake and throughout the park are stalls, bars and restaurants for you to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat.
It’s a really popular spot for locals and tourists alike, and it’s one of the best things to do in Tirana. Especially in the summer when it’s hot, many people will head to the shade of the park and the lake for the day.
The Grand Park of Tirana is also home to one of my favourite restaurants in Tirana, the excellent Mullixhiu.
One of my favourite things to do in Tirana in the summer was head to the Lake and have a drink at the aptly named Lake View bar. It’s a lovely spot to watch the world go by!
4. Hike the Dajti Mountains
For some of the most incredible views of the city, a trip up the mountains on the Dajti Ekspres cable car is one of the best things to do in Tirana.
You get incredible views back over the city. There are also walking and hiking trails here, taking you even higher into the mountains.
The restaurant and bar at the top of the cable car are also very reasonably priced, and so it’s a great place to go even if you don’t fancy a hike!
The Dajti Express cable car starts near to Bunk Art 1 museum, so it’s possible to combine both Tirana tourist attractions in one trip. Both are a little out of the city, so take a taxi or jump on the bus to Porcelan which runs from the centre and past the New Bazaar.
The cable car runs 7 days a week between 8am and 6.30pm. Tickets are 1,000lek (£7.50, €8.60) per adult for a return trip.
At the top, there is mini golf, horse back riding and other activities. Or you can enjoy dinner or a drink in the Ballkoni restaurant with views over the city.
If you fancy exploring further into the mountains, consider this half-day hiking expedition into the Dajti National Park.
This tour will take you up the cable car and then beyond into the mountains and up Mount Dajti. You’ll head towards the Cherry Pass, which is the highest point that can be reached on foot.
Here, you’ll get spectacular views over Tirana and the Bovilla Lake beyond. For those that enjoy exploring on foot, this is one of the best Tirana things to do for me.
5. Take a Day Trip to Lake Ohrid
If you have the time, and you want to explore more of the Balkans, then consider taking this amazing day tour to Ohrid.
Ohrid is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and sits on the banks of the beautiful Lake Ohrid.
We actually spent a month in Ohrid during the summer. It’s a beautiful Macedonian town and both the town and the lake are stunning.
This 1-day tour from Tirana to Ohrid will allow you to tick off one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Balkans.
Firstly, on reaching Ohrid, you will explore the famous Church of St John at Kaneo. It’s located in the Old Town with incredible views over the lake. You’ll then explore the rest of the beautiful Old Town.
After exploring Ohrid, you’ll head to the beautiful Monastery at Saint Naum. This popular tourist attraction is also located on the Lake, so you’ll have some beautiful views on the way.
Lake Ohrid, and the town of Ohrid, are two of the most popular spots in the Balkans for a reason. This day trip will allow you to explore neighbouring Macedonia, see one of the highlights of the Balkans, all from Tirana. A great tour!
Want to know more about Tirana? Check out my other blogs:
- The best bars in Tirana
- My favourite restaurants in Tirana
- The 20 best tours in Albania
- The best hotels in Tirana
6. Head Down into the Bunk Art Museums
The Bunk Art museums are two of the best museums in Tirana and some of my must-see Tirana things to do.
These converted bunkers in Tirana are dedicated to educating the world about the Communist past of Tirana. They are fascinating museums and give you an incredible insight into life in Communist Albania and under Dictator Enver Hoxha.
Bunkart 1 is located outside the centre and close to the Dajti Expres cable car. It’s a huge bunker which gives an excellent overview of the history of Albania and life in the past few decades.
It’s a really visual museum, with lots of rooms to explore, and historical items recovered from the Communist period.
Bunk Art 2 is located in the centre of Tirana, near Rruga Murat Toptani. It’s smaller than Bunk Art 1 and is more focused on the evolution and use of the secret police during the Communist period.
Both museums are good, but if you only have time for one, I would highly recommend Bunk Art 1. Bunk Art 2 is more convenient to get to, but is more detailed on a specific aspect of Albanian history.
Bunk Art 1 is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9.30am to 4pm. You’ll want at least a couple of hours to explore.
Bunk Art 2 is open every day from 9.30am. It closes at 6pm apart from on Friday and Saturday when it stays open until 8pm. You’ll want at least 2 hours here.
Entrance is 500 lek (£3.70, €4.30) per adult, and you can buy combined tickets if you want to visit both Bunk Art museums.
If you want to tick off Bunk Art 1 and the Dajti cable car, then take a look at this full day tour. You’ll take a tour of Bunk Art 1 before heading up the cable car and exploring the Djati mountains.
I found the Bunk Art museums fascinating and were one of my favourite things to do in Tirana.
7. Take a City and Food Tour
One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its food. That’s why I love this fully packed day trip around Tirana and trying delicious regional dishes.
This tour combines a great walking tour around Tirana, taking in some of the top Tirana tourist attractions. You’ll explore Skanderbeg Square, the New Bazaar and the trendy district of Blloku.
Along the way, you’ll stop for breakfast, coffee, lunch and raki at various spots around the city. Through this, you’ll be guided through the history of the city and its cuisine, as well as trying some of the local delicacies.
In doing so, you’ll stop by some historic and local eateries and restaurants and get to experience a different side to Tirana.
This day-long meander around Tirana is excellent value for money and a lot of fun. You’ll learn plenty whilst ending with a full stomach. Perfect!
8. Shop and Dine on Rruga Murat Toptani
Rruga Murat Toptani, or Toptani Street, may be the most famous street in Tirana.
It’s a tree-lined pedestrianised street in the centre of town, close to Bunk Art 2. In the summer has lots of flags and posters hanging overhead which usually symbolise a cultural celebration going on in the centre.
As you stroll down, you will see plenty of bars, cafés, restaurants and souvenir shops to browse. It’s an excellent place to grab a coffee and watch the world go by.
Alternatively, as you walk down, you will see historical fortifications on one side which date back to the Ottoman times. You can pass through this wall and into Tirana Castle.
Despite its name, Tirana Castle is in fact a further pedestrianised zone lined with some of the best restaurants in Tirana. One of my favourites, the Tartuf Shop, is tucked along here.
Exploring the castle is one of the best things to do in Tirana at night, when the restaurants are lit with soft lighting and the place comes to life.
If you continue down Toptani Street, you will reach Toptani Street Shopping Centre. This 8 floor shopping centre has plenty of shops to explore. It’s a great place for a day of treating yourself as it has some of the best shopping in Tirana. Or it’s just a cool place to escape the heat thanks to its air-conditioning!
Toptani Street is a cool and vibrant part of town and a great place to take a stroll in the evening.
9. Explore Lake Bovilla
Lake Bovilla is nestled in the Dajti Mountains and is a stunning place to visit just outside of Tirana. It provides most of the drinking water for Tirana
It really feels like a hidden gem in Albania, and it’s a great day trip to explore from Tirana. You can drive yourself, at around an hour from Tirana, and take a picnic overlooking this beautiful lake.
If you want something more challenging, there are some great hiking trails around the lake. There is an ‘easier’ trail which takes you up to the Balcony of Bovilla which gives you spectacular views over the lake and the forest around.
Or take on the more difficult trail to reach the top of Mount Gamti. The hike will take around 2 hours to reach the top, and the views from up here are incredible.
Lake Bovilla does not have bars and restaurants, so take your own food and plenty of water if you are going to hike.
If you want to take the hikes, then I would absolutely recommend this great full day trip out from Tirana. You’ll get picked up and driven to the Lake. From here you’ll be guided up to the top of Mount Gamti for those incredible views.
On the way back, you’ll stop off, and can swim if you like – it’s a great way to cool down after the hike up!
Lake Bovilla is an incredible natural wonder near Tirana and for me this stunning Lake is one of the best things to see in Tirana.
10. Enjoy the Great Food in Tirana
One of my favourite things about Tirana was the incredible food scene that you find here.
There is such a huge range of food here, and sampling it all is one of my favourite things to do in Tirana.
There are excellent grill houses all over the city, known as Zgaras. These vary, but generally they specialise in meat and veggie dishes cooked on a BBQ or grill.
If you eat meat, try the chicken kebabs and the koftas, which are small sausages. The grilled veggies are just as good with the grilled peppers are delicious and can be fiery!
The Zgaras are very affordable and get cheap eat options for lunch or dinner. Zgara Te Pazari near the New Bazaar was one of my favourites. Check out my best restaurants in Tirana guide for more options.
If you want to try some authentic Albanian food, then the excellent restaurants Oda and Era are highly recommended.
For international cuisine, Grand Tenero offers excellent pizzas, Tartuf Shop specialises in dishes with truffle (and is exceptional!), Artigiano does some incredible Italian dishes and Rozafa has excellent seafood.
There are so many great eating options in Tirana, and I have just scratched the surface here. Check out my blog on the best restaurants in Tirana for some more ideas.
There are eateries and restaurants for all occasions in Tirana, from high quality fast food to special hidden spots for great date ideas in Tirana.
11. Tour the City of 1,000 Windows
One of my favourite trips from Tirana was to the city of 1,000 windows, as Berat is also known.
Berat is an incredible Ottoman city located in the hills. The houses are built on the hillside and the unique architecture creates a landscape of thousands of windows looking back at you.
The city itself is made up of narrow, meandering streets which are perfect for exploring. Berat is one of the most beautiful places to visit from Tirana and an incredible day trip.
This full-day tour includes transfers to and from Tirana. You’ll get a full guided tour of the city, which is really informative. On this tour, you’ll learn about its unique history and the modern blend of new versus old.
You’ll also visit Berat Castle which is really impressive as well as the King Mosque. The tour covers everything you could wish to know about Berat in a relaxed and fun setting.
It’s an excellent day trip from Tirana, and a visit to Berat is one of the best things to do in Albania.
12. Take a Day Trip to Spille Beach
If you want to escape to the coast whilst you’re spending time in Tirana, then I’d recommend Spille Beach. It was one of my favourite things to do in Tirana, especially on the super hot days!
Spille Beach is located south of Tirana, about 1.5 hours from Tirana itself. We hired a car to drive there, but you could also arrange a private transfer.
Once you get there, you’ll be met with a 6-kilometre stretch of beach with beautiful, clear blue waters.
Along the beachfront there are a huge variety of bars, restaurants and beach clubs. You can take a stroll along and pick the one that appeals the most. Loungers and umbrellas are similarly priced in each spot.
The beach is located a few kilometres from the highway, and between the main road and the beach is a lot of agricultural land. Not too much going on! But when you get to the beach, there is a more lively scene on the beach itself.
If you go in peak summer season (July-August) then it’ll be busy and all the bars will be open. The beach is still great in the shoulder seasons too (either side of the peak season) and much less crowded if you want a quieter vibe!
13. Embark on a Communist Walking Tour
The Communist walking tour may have been my favourite thing to do in Tirana.
I love history and so this amazing 2.5 hour tour combined some great Tirana sightseeing with a fascinating explanation of the communist history of Albania, and Tirana in particular.
The guide was very knowledgeable, having grown up during the communist era. The tour starts from Skanderbeg Square and gives you an insight into life under Enver Hoxha, the Albanian dictator.
You’ll see all the main Tirana attractions such as the Square, the Pyramid and the Bunk Art museums. You’ll also head into Blokku, the former communist-party-only neighbourhood.
The stories from the guide will really bring the history of Tirana and Albania to life. You’ll spot many important references that ordinarily you may miss.
Despite being focused on the Communist period, the amount of information is not overwhelming, so it’s still a fun, easy-going tour. You can also ask lots of questions of the guide, who is only too happy to share his experiences with you.
This was an excellent want to spend an afternoon, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of this country.
14. Explore the National History Museum
The National History Museum is located on Skanderbeg Square in the centre of Tirana.
It’s a great museum that gives you a fuller insight into the history of Albania through the ages. It’s a really interesting place to visit, and it’s one of the best things to do in Tirana in winter if the weather isn’t so good.
The museum itself is divided into eight different pavilions. Each represents a different period in time. They run from the Antiquity and Middle Ages through to the Communist period.
There is also a pavilion dedicated to one of the most famous Albanian’s in history, Mother Theresa.
The museums costs 500 lek (£3.85, €4.40) for an adult and entry is free for children under 12 years old.
The National History Museum is open 6 days a week, closed only on Mondays. It’s open 10am to 5pm, although double check if you are going to visit in case it’s a public holiday.
It’ll probably take you around 3 hours to do the full museum, although if you are in a rush, then you can skip any pavilions that don’t interest you as much.
If you love history and learning more about a place, then the National History Museum is a great trip. It’s also in a great location in the centre of the city. So you can pop to a local bar or café afterwards to give those feet a rest!
15. Join a Pub Crawl through Blloku
If you want to meet other people in Tirana whilst enjoying a guided tour of some of the best bars in Tirana, then why not join a bar crawl?
The bar crawl will take you through the trendy area of Blloku. This is where some of the coolest bars are located, and it’s always busy at night.
There will be free shots, a guided tour of the best Tirana bars and VIP entry into some of the coolest places.
This bar crawl tour is a great option for those travelling to Tirana on their own, or for groups who want to seek out the best party spots.
There is no pressure on this tour, so if you don’t want to drink, or want to take it slow, then it’s all good. It’s a great way to see Tirana at night and help you orientate yourself in Blloku.
Main Parts of Tirana to Explore
I thought it might be helpful to point out some of the main areas to explore in Tirana. This can perhaps help you build an itinerary from the list above by ticking off a few popular things to do in Tirana at the same time.
That said, Tirana is surprisingly easy to get around either on foot, by bus or taxi. All the main areas are close to each other, and so it’s a great city for exploring.
Skanderbeg Square
Skanderbeg Square is the central hub of the whole city; it’s city center.
The square itself is around 40,000 square metres and is a popular meeting point in the city. It houses some great Tirana attractions like the National History Museum and the Opera House.
It’s also the starting point for the walking tours in Tirana. Often, there will be festivals or events held in Skanderbeg Square. It’s surrounded on all sides by bars, cafés and restaurants, so it’s a great place to visit in the day and at night.
Blloku
During the Communist Era, Blloku was a closed off neighbourhood which housed the Communist party elite.
Now, it’s a leafy, trendy suburb which has been transformed. You’ll find presidential and historically important residences next to trendy new bars and restaurants.
Blokku probably has the best nightlife in Tirana and also home to several of the best restaurants in the city.
It’s a great place to explore during the day when bars and cafés line the streets, as well as in the evening. You’ll also find plenty of boutique shops to browse, so I would definitely suggest that you enjoy an afternoon exploring this area.
Grand Park of Tirana
The Grand Park of Tirana is a hugely popular space just outside the city. It’s a reasonably long walk (around 20-30 minutes) from the centre and close to Blloku.
When you arrive, you will be greeted with a huge expanse of green forest and woodland. There are various man-made paths through the park to walk or cycle. Along the trails you’ll find lots of little bars and cafés to stop and refresh. You’ll also see little gardens, football pitches, tennis courts and various other outdoor activities.
The centre of the Park is the artificial lake. It’s a huge lake with a trail to walk around the outside if you are feeling up for the challenge. Alternatively, sit in one of the best or restaurants on the lake front and enjoy the cooling breeze.
It’s one of the best Tirana places to visit, either to escape the sun or to watch the sunset later in the afternoon.
The New Bazaar
Finally, I really love the area around the New Bazaar. This may be because I lived near here when I spent time in Tirana, but it has a lovely feel to it.
The New Bazaar is just east of Skanderbeg Square. The bazaar itself is an outdoor market where traders sell fish, meat, fruits and souvenirs. Around the Bazaar, and the adjoining roundabout, are a huge range of small bars, restaurants and zgaras.
You’ll find a great mix of locals and tourists here, enjoying coffees in the day and a quick and cheap meal in the evening.
It’s one of the best places in Tirana in the evening to enjoy the café culture whilst watching the world go by.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tirana
Enjoy the Amazing Things to Do in Tirana
I hope this blog has helped you get an idea of some of the amazing things to do in Tirana Albania.
For me, it’s a great blend of history and culture. Of old and new. Of indoor and outdoor activities. So it’s really a great place for anyone who loves to travel.
There are also some amazing day trips and Albanian sites on the doorstep, so it’s an excellent base to explore the rest of Albanian and the Balkans.
If you have any questions about Tirana, Albania or the Balkans then get in touch either with a comment below or via social media.
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