1-day tour in Tirana

You can start from Skanderbeg Square, in the center of the capital. Walk around this square and you can see around it the Palace of Culture, the monument of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, the Bank of Albania and the National Historical Museum. You can visit the National Historical Museum which tells about the history of Albania from antiquity to the present day.

On the left side of Skanderbeg Square you can find the Clock Tower which was built in 1822 by Haxhi Et'hem Bey, the same person who built the mosque next to it. From the Clock Tower you have a fantastic view of the city. Then, you can walk for 1 minute along the Tirana Municipality building to find Bunk'Art 2. A bunker built by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which tells the history of the police and gendarmerie during the communist period. Walking straight, you go directly to the pedestrian zone called "Murat Toptani" where the Tirana fortress is located and within its walls a new recreational area for the capital has recently been created. This pedestrian zone serves as an environment where local artisans and traditions, Tirana's cuisine and art are promoted. You can also see the National Gallery of Arts and the installation "Reja". On the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, one can easily notice a building with a very interesting architecture such as the Tirana Pyramid, it was built to be a museum for the dictator Hoxha and has now been transformed into a space for Education and Digital Technology. Walking along the main Boulevard, right next to the Pyramid, you can see the newest installation in the capital called “La Radura”, the work of the Italian architect Stefano Boeri as a new concept for public spaces.

On Dibra Street is the "Studio Kadare House" - the apartment where the famous writer lived and worked from 1974 to the early 90s in Tirana, open to visitors for anyone who wants to learn about the author's life.
The New Bazaar, located near the city center, has the function of a normal market with food products and fruits and vegetables, but it is also a recreational center where youth activities take place.

Walking around the city you can see in the neighborhoods various old villas, with interesting architecture and showing the transitional periods that Tirana has gone through. For example, the House of Sali Shijakut, one of the oldest villas in the Balkans, or the “House with Leaves”, a building used during the communist period for secret wiretapping by the State Security and now converted into a national museum. It is dedicated to the innocent people who were arrested, interned, tortured and suffered severe punishments due to wiretapping, checks and espionage during the communist regime, most of which were carried out from this house.

Opposite the "House with Leaves" you can find the Orthodox Cathedral "Resurrection of Christ" and to show the religious harmony in the country you can see on the same street churches and mosques open to everyone.

The trendiest neighborhood in Tirana is undoubtedly Blloku, where you will find a variety of bars and restaurants. You can simply choose to have a drink or dance to the rhythms of modern music. The Blloku area is known for villas used by the government during the communist period, a neighborhood where citizens were not allowed to go without an entry permit. This area, transformed into the most visited neighborhood in Tirana for its liveliness, also displays other interesting elements such as the villa of dictator Enver Hoxha.
One of the most peaceful places in Tirana is the Artificial Lake, where you will feel truly relaxed and have the opportunity to use your bike, walk, or drink coffee outdoors.
From the Artificial Lake it is easy to get to "Mother Teresa" Square and walking along the "Martyrs of the Nation" Boulevard, you can find various attractions such as: the Polytechnic University Building (Former Fascist House), the "Air Albania" Stadium rebuilt on the previous stadium, the Palace of Congresses, the Presidency, the "Rinia" Park.