The 13 Best Things to Do in Tirana

My go-to first order of business in any new city is a free walking tour. The purpose of this for me is to get a lay of the land — in a few ways. First of all, you will get quite literally a physical lay of the land and be guided around by someone who can show you hidden corners or connect parts of the city for you. As they do this, almost any good tour guide will also point out spots they recommend you spend more time at. This might be museums, restaurants, parks — I always create a mental check list, or star spots on my maps to look back at later.

The second way is the historical lay of the land. Albania is a country which I am going to guess you don’t actually know much about in terms of its history. So if you’re trying to narrow down what to do in Tirana for a day, the Tirana free walking tour is a great way to start building up your foundation of knowledge about the country in a short period of time. 

Our tour guide covered the recent communist past, she spoke about religion and its importance to the country. We talked about the best food in Tirana, she showed us bunkers, and impressive architecture throughout Tirana. 

I really can’t express enough how much I think a walking tour is the best way to kick off your visit to Tirana. If you prefer one that’s more private or customized, you also have options for that:

Walk Along the Pedestrianized Shëtitorja Murat Toptani

This is a beautiful, tree and cafe-lined pedestrianized street which runs east from the corner of Rinia Park. It is a refuge from the bustling city…or at least from its car traffic. There are plenty of people wandering along, day or night, there are vendors, and a lot of tables and chairs with plenty of options of spots to eat. 

Visit Religious Sites

Many Albanians we chatted with were quick to bring up the fact that the country has no official religion. It is also rather diverse in the religious beliefs of its population — because of course, no country is devoid of religion. Islam is the most followed religion in the country, next is Christianity. So we visited some of the main religious sites in Tirana. All of these spots were free for the public to visit. 

Et’hem Bej Mosque

This mosque is small but absolutely stunning. It sits just off of the main square in central Tirana. You’re required to take of your shoes and women are required to cover their heads — scarves are available at the entrance for you to borrow during your visit. 

The interior walls and ceiling of the mosque are completely covered in colorful, geometric designs. Since it is forbidden in Islamic law to depict Muhammed, and it is discouraged to depict any living beings, especially humans, you’ll find that mosques around the world are decorated with geometric patterns instead — this one being no exception.

Visiting the Et’hem Bej Mosque in Tirana is a quick stop. You can’t move around as the main floor of the space is restricted to worshippers only (but is small anyways). So you’ll really just be stopping in to snap a photo and look in awe at the decorations. 

Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral

The Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral is a very new example of an Eastern Orthodox building, and in fact it is still not quite finished. The building was completed just in 2012 but the interior frescoes still have some finishing touches in order to be totally complete. 

As far as Eastern Orthodox churches go, the decor in this one is very tame and muted. That being, there is still no shortage of gold plating and larger than life depictions of Jesus. 

The space is large, often very empty outside of prayer times, and it is free to enter. Again, this is a nice stop off during your time in Tirana if only for a few minutes to check out the interior. 

Saint Paul’s Cathedral

Another fairly new cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral in Tirana was opened in 2002. This one belongs to the Roman Catholic church so it has considerably less gold and is far simpler in its decor. The nicest parts of the space are the gorgeous (if small) stained glass windows.  

Learn About the Communist Past

I’ll be honest, I knew very, very little about Albania’s past before my visit. And now I can say I know considerably more, thanks to my visit and the stops I made and people I met along the way. Before the constitution Albania currently operates under, which was established in 1998, the state was controlled by the Communist Party and its dictators. The beaches of Albania are gorgeous, but I don’t support travel that doesn’t engage with the country in a meaningful way. Here in Albania, I believe that can be done by learning about the country’s very recent, very dark, past. So here are a few activities to do in Tirana towards that end. 

Bunk’Art 2

Bunk’Art 2 is a museum in central Tirana dedicated to depicting the horrors and victims of the communist regime within the country. The museum is housed within an old communist bunker. The museum is largely video exhibitions and it reconstructs the history of the Albanian Communist Party, the secret police, and the tactics they used. 

While we intended to visit Bunk’Art 2 on our day in Tirana, there were present day protests taking place just outside of the museum — in front of the city hall which is across the street. So while I cannot attest to the exhibits, the museum was highly recommended by several locals who we met in Tirana.

House of Leaves Museum

Another museum in Tirana which shows aspects of the country’s communist past, the House of Leaves Museum is within a building which the secret police once operated from. Throughout your visit you will get to see tools the party used to spy on its citizens. You will learn more about how spying was carried out, and understand the stories of many of the victims of communism in Albania. The museum is fairly extensive and includes at the end an opportunity to walk through underground holding cells. 

In total we spent about an hour in this museum. 

Climb the Pyramid of Tirana

You won’t be able to miss the Pyramid of Tirana — a large structure right in the center of downtown. While it was originally built in the 80s as a museum, it has since been transformed into a conference center and cultural hub for the citizens of Tirana. You can go inside, but the main attraction is in fact the roof. Steps have been added, allowing for easy access up the sides and to the building’s peak. From there you have amazing views across the city and to the mountains in the background. 

See the Bunkers in Lulishte Ismail Qemali Park

At the peak of its communist regime, Albania was dotted with some 173,000 bunkers. Many of these bunkers still exist around the country, some have been transformed into new uses (such as Bunk’Art 2, mentioned above) others have been left just as they were, crumbling into disuse. Some of these relics are more easily accessible than others. One spot in Tirana to very easily see a set off three bunkers (set out in a triangle so that those stationed in the bunkers all had their backs covered by another bunker) is in Lulishte Ismail Qemali Park. 

The bunkers here are totally open, and free, simply a part of the park. 

Try Traditional Albanian Food

Albanian food is heavy on meat. That doesn’t mean vegetarians will be totally SOL, but it does mean meat lovers will be quite happy! Look out for dishes like Fërgesë, a sort of tomato-based summer soup, or byrek, a phyllo dough meat pie (though it can also be vegetarian). 

Restaurant Piceri Era “Blloku”

Our meal at Restaurant Piceri Era “Blloku” was my second most memorable meal in Albania (my first was in Bishkek — you can read more about that meal here). This comfy, homey restaurant has an extensive selection of dishes, an English menu, and a good sized dining room. You can make a reservation in advance online or in person. We arrived as a party of three without a reservation and waited a short time before being seated. 

I had lamb sausages — which were perfect. There are plenty of meat options as well as a good amount of vegetarian choices. While there are quite a few more traditional Albanian dishes available, the restaurant has an Italian spin so there is also a selection of pastas and risottos. 

Zgara Te Pazari

If you’re looking to really lean into the meat-heavy aspect of Albanian cuisine, visit this barbecue spot on the edge of town. The restaurant we ate at (this one) was along a strip with a handful of similar spots. Each one had plenty of barbecued meat platters. 

Take an Obligatory Photo in Front of the I❤️T Sign

One of the top tourist attractions in Tirana is the I❤️t sign. The sign is along Skanderbeg Square right in the center of the city. If you are going to join the Tirana free walking tour this is where you will meet your guide, so it’s a good opportunity to snap an obligatory tourist picture. 

Head Out of the City

A lot of people wonder is Tirana worth visiting at all, and I think the answer is yes — it is a great jumping off point for your time in Albania. But I also very adamantly would say you cannot visit Albania and only spend time in the city. So whether it is a day trip from Tirana or two, or a full Albania itinerary by car, once you spend a day or two and cover the best things to do in Tirana, it’s time to get out and explore the rest of the country. 

I hope this list of the 13 best things to do in Tirana helps you put together your itinerary for your time in the city. Tourist amenities in Tirana are plentiful, so I’m sure you will have a great trip! 

If you have any doubts or you want more help, let’s work together!