How to Spend 5 Days in Tirana: the Best Itinerary for Your Visit

If you’ve got 5 days to spend in Tirana you might be wondering what you’re going to do, but this dynamic city has plenty to keep you occupied.

Tirana is one of the most under-rated cities in Europe. Famous for its cafe culture, visitor safety and being budget friendly, Tirana is also beautiful, walkable and interesting in a quirky way.

While Tirana is not usually considered one of the must-see cities of Europe, it’s a vibrant and compact capital that has a lot to fall in love with.

I’m going to give you the perfect 5 day Tirana itinerary, as well all the important stuff to know before you arrive.

Click here to skip ahead to the itinerary

If you’re wondering if Tirana makes a good long term destination, it absolutely does. I recently spent a month in Tirana working remotely.

How to Get to Tirana from the Airport

If you’re arriving at the Tirana International Airport, you can take a taxi or airport shuttle bus to get into the city.

Both are available 24/7. Tirana does not have Uber (or Bolt).

Airport Shuttle Bus

The airport shuttle departs every hour on the hour from the parking lot at the airport. Cost is 400 lek ($4.60 USD) in cash. You can get cash from the ATMs by the baggage carrousel.

In Tirana, the airport shuttle leaves for the airport from behind the Opera House, across the street from the Friendship Memorial.

Allow yourself extra time. The last time I used the shuttle to get to the airport it took over an hour because of traffic.

Airport Taxi

There are always taxis outside arrivals. They charge 2200 lek ($25 USD) to drive into Tirana. It may be a little less going the other way. The rates are posted right inside the cabs so you can’t get ripped off.

Cabs don’t take credit cards. You can get cash from the ATMs by the baggage carrousel. As you’ll find out, Albania is a cash first society!

When to go to Tirana

Tirana never shuts down the way some areas do off season. So you can go anytime. There’s always things to do in Tirana, but the weather may not be ideal.

The best time to visit Tirana in terms of weather is spring and autumn. Summer is very hot, and winter can be cold and rainy. December is nice with the Christmas markets and holiday festivities.

Personally, spring is my favourite season in Tirana. The jasmine and almond trees are blooming, and the air literally smells like flowers. In the shoulder and off seasons there’s not as many tourists, and hotels are cheaper.

5 Days in Tirana Itinerary

With 5 days in Tirana you’ll get to see all the main sites, a few hidden gems, and visit Durres and Kruja, which are very close. You’ll have time to experience the cafe culture and see lots of fantastic street art.

Tirana is best explored on foot. It’s a very walkable city, and you’ll get to see all the amazing street art.

Day 1 in Tirana

This looks like a long list, but everything is close together, and none of these sites take a really long time to see. You can walk everywhere. Tirana is very walkable.

Skanderbeg Square

The ideal place to start your 5 days in Tirana is Skanderbeg Square. It’s the largest square and unofficial centre of the city. Whenever something is happening in Tirana, it’s usually here.

The first thing you’ll notice is the huge mosaic above the National Historical Museum. The museum is closed for renovations until 2028, but admire the iconic mosaic, ‘the Albanians’ on the facade.

To the right of the museum is the Palace of Culture. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is in this building. There’s a few cafes in the front. I like L’Incontro for coffee and a light meal.

Et’hem Bey Mosque

In Skanderbeg Square is Et-hem Bey Mosque built in 1819. It’s one of the oldest in Albania. The frescoes inside and out are a unique floral and leaf design.

When I visited I was about to cover my hair when I was informed it wasn’t necessary, because they are progressive. I’ve visited a lot of mosques and never heard that before! But you do need to remove your shoes.

Clock Tower

Beside Et’hem Bey Mosque is the Clock Tower. This was built by the same man as the mosque (Molla Bey) in 1830. The climb up is single file and a bit tight. The balcony at the top is also small, but the views of Skanderbeg Square are worth it.

Shtepite Studio Kadare-Agolli

Now it’s time to head to a lesser known gem, Shtepite Studio Kadare-Agolli. These are the two apartments of Albania’s most famous and revered writers, Ismail Kadare and Dritero Agolli.

The apartments are in the same building and are now small museums. The building itself has an interesting history too. It was built during the communist regime as a residence for Albania’s artistic community.

The architect who designed the building ended up in a labour camp over the ‘American influenced’ design.

It’s the building with the huge bookcase mural on the front. The entrance is around the side. It’s just a plain metal door and not well marked. Closed on Mondays.

Pazari i Ri (New Market)

This is the biggest bazaar in Tirana. It’s on every Tirana to-do list and I was expecting a really good fresh produce market, but it’s mostly souvenirs and flea market antiques.

But, I did have qofte at Te Met Kodra while there, so it wasn’t a total disappointment. All the locals agree these are the best qofte in town. Qofte are seasoned grilled meat patties or meat ball and one of the foods to try in Tirana. This place is famous in Tirana and there’s always a lineup.

Friendship Monument & Tanners’ Bridge

Walk down Rruga Barrikadave, past the Friendship Monument (looks like tiddly winks – the airport shuttle is across the street), over to Tanners’ Bridge, an 18th century Ottoman bridge.

It’s not big, but still in use as a pedestrian bridge. It’s right beside the Lana River.

Namazgah Mosque

Very close to Tanners’ Bridge is Namazgah Mosque. It’s the biggest mosque in the Balkans and just opened in 2024. The interior is really beautiful, but unlike Et’hem Bey Mosque, women do have to cover their hair.

During communism most of the mosques were destroyed, and religion was outlawed. The Turkish government financed the building of Namazgah Mosque, which took 10 years.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Sometimes called Mother Teresa Church, this is the largest Catholic church in Tirana. It’s also newer, so not terribly atmospheric, but there are some nice mosaics and stained glass windows.

Mother Teresa’s family were Albanian and her mother and sister lived in Tirana (you’ll visit the street in this 5 day itinerary).

There’s quite a few references to the saint in the city, and I always see nuns walking around Tirana in blue and white striped saris – Mother Teresa’s order.

Reja (the Cloud)

Around the corner is Tirana’s most famous public art installation, Reja – commonly known as the Cloud. It was designed and built by famous Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto.

It’s an interactive piece, meant to be explored and climbed. Sometimes the city hosts live performances inside the Cloud.

Checkpoint Park

Across the street from the Cloud is Checkpoint Park. It’s a small park with several ‘monuments’ related to communism.

There’s a section of the Berlin Wall, a couple of concrete bunkers (of the 175,000 bunkers the former dictator had built across Albania) and concrete support beams from the mine at Spac, the infamous forced labour camp.

Tirana Castle

Your last stop today is the site of a 12th century Byzantine era castle. Only parts of the ancient fortification walls remain, and now the Castle is a pretty lane of touristy shops and restaurants.

Browse around or have a drink, but don’t spend too much time or money here – it’s over priced and geared for tourists. It’s kind of nice in the evening though, a little more atmospheric.

If you’re thinking about dinner, Mrizi i Zanave Tirane is not far away and has terrific traditional Albanian food.

Day 2 in Tirana

You’ll start in Dajti National Park (in Tirana), see a famous communist site and explore a couple of lesser known Tirana attractions.

Dajti Ekspres

This morning take the longest cable car ride in the Balkans, Dajti Ekspres. The ride is 15 minutes – I timed it. It takes you up Dajti Mountain and over the Dajti National Park. You’ll get to see a whole different side of Tirana.

Once at the top there’s a nice restaurant overlooking the mountain, mini-putt and a park.

You can walk there from the centre, but it’s long, almost 5 km. The other options are to take a taxi, or the Tirana city bus no. 11 Porcelan. That’s what I did.

The bus stop is in front of the Friendship Monument behind the Opera House. Bus fare is 40 lek ($0.50 USD) cash, paid to the conductor who will walk through the bus collecting payments. Dajti Ekspres is closed on Tuesdays.

 Bunk’Art 1

Bunk’Art 1 is the personal bunker of Enver Hoxha, the communist dictator. It’s a short walk from Dajti Ekspres so you may as well see both.

Hoxha was paranoid about nuclear attacks from other countries and had 175,000 bunkers built all over Albania. This bunker was built to house Hoxha, his wife, the prime minister and key government officials so they could keep running the country.

Try to time your entry so you’re not behind any tour groups. The bunker tunnels are mostly single file and it’s not fun to get stuck behind a big group. I went there on the weekend of the Giro d’Italia and a big EU summit – it was busy and felt a bit claustrophobic.

You can take the same bus back to Skanderbeg Square. The bus stop is down the street from Bunk’Art 1.

Rruga Zela Street Market

You won’t find many tourists at this street market, but it’s popular with locals. This is a great place to pick up basic things like socks, t-shirts, and fridge magnets at bargain prices. It takes up most of the side street called Rruga Zela.

To get to here walk down Kavaja Street from Skanderbeg Square.

Visit Mother Teresa’s Family House

The next street over from Rruga Zela is this street that Mother Teresa’s mother and sister lived on for many years, Rruga Hajdar Hidi.

The house has a small sign and it’s been closed whenever I walked past, but you may be lucky. The street has interesting murals and it’s a good chance to see what a typical residential lane in Tirana looks like.

I stayed in an Airbnb on this street, otherwise I never would have found the house. It’s a great area to stay in, by the way.

If you’re hungry, both Tymi and In’s Myslym Shyri are close. Tymi is great for Albanian food (even though the decor is very un-Albanian), and In’s Myslym Shyri has possibly the best all day brunch in Tirana.

Day 3 in Tirana

Today venture outside of Tirana for a change of pace and scenery. This is my favourite day trip from Tirana, and it’s very easy to do on your own.

Take a Day Trip from Tirana to Kruja

Kruja is a historic mountain town 40 km from Tirana. It’s easy to get to Kruja from Tirana, and the bus only takes an hour (you can also take a taxi). And it’s so nice to get into the mountains – peaceful and beautiful.

There’s a 400 year old Ottoman bazaar, a Byzantine era castle, several cultural museums and ruins of an ancient hammam. Kruja is also very important culturally because it’s the birthplace of the national hero, Skanderbeg.

It’s a lovely, charming town with cobblestone streets (wear decent walking shoes) and well worth visiting. I did this day trip in 8 hours (including the bus ride there and back), and saw all the sites, had lunch and did a bunch of exploring.

Day 4 in Tirana

Today you’re going to delve deeper into Albania’s communist past.

A lot of visitors don’t realize Albania was under communist rule for almost 50 years, and it was a brutal regime. The communist dictatorship didn’t collapse until 1991.

If you’ve wondered why some things are a little backwards in Albania, this is why.

You’ll have time for coffee at one of Tirana’s many street side cafes, since the first site doesn’t open until 9:30 am.

My favourite coffee franchise is Mulliri. They have excellent coffee. Mulliri Gourmet in Blloku is a great spot for breakfast with a really nice garden terrace.

Bunk’Art 2

Begin the day at Tirana’s most visited site, Bunk’Art 2. It opens at 9:30 am.

While Bunk’Art 1 was the personal bunker of Enver Hoxha, this bunker was used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conduct secret surveillance and persecution of the Albanians.

It’s a fascinating, but sobering museum, especially considering this went on until 1991.

Pyramid of Tirana

The Pyramid was meant to be the mausoleum of Enver Hoxha, the communist dictator. Instead, after the fall of communism it was abandoned and fell into ruin. Teenagers used it as a daring skateboard ramp.

A few years ago it was restored and revamped as public space. Now it’s a popular lookout point. But more importantly, Albanians regard it as a symbol of democracy over authoritarian rule.

Once you’re at the top there’s benches and great views of the city. You can also go inside the Pyramid – there’s a spiral staircase with interesting views.

If you’re hungry stop at Tony’s Coffee Shop & Restaurant, which is just behind the Pyramid. The food is not Albanian, it’s American, but it’s really good!

Grand Park (Tirana Park)

Walk straight down Bulevard Deshmoret Kombit to Tirana Park, a 700 acre park. It’s the biggest green space in Tirana with a lake, cafes, various monuments, statues, an amphitheatre and all kinds of walking paths.

There’s a few cafes by the lake, and of all things a Burger King! I was really surprised to see Burger King because Tirana doesn’t even have McDonalds. Tirana’s idea of fast food is gyro and byrek!

Blloku & Enver Hoxha’s Residence

Today Blloku is a hip neighbourhood with lots of cafes, restaurants and bars, but that hasn’t always been the case.

During communism the public were not even allowed to enter this neighbourhood. It was reserved for the political elite and guarded by armed militia.

Enver Hoxha’s former home is clearly visible from the road. The perimeter fencing is low, and the house has big windows so you can see right in. The public aren’t allowed entry, but once in a while a special event is hosted here.

Sky Restorant

Come here for a cool drink or coffee and the fabulous views of Tirana.

The outdoor terrace is on the 18th floor of the Sky Hotel. The food isn’t that good, so don’t bother eating here, but it’s nice for a drink.

For a traditional dinner, head to Era Piceri in Blloku. The leek and feta pie (pispili me presh) is amazing!

Optional Sites if You Want to See More

These are both very close to Sky Restorant:

House of Leaves: It’s another communism museum, but this one is about the surveillance of the population. It doesn’t take long to go through and is well done – I preferred it to Bunk’Art 2. It’s open until 7:00 pm.

Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral: Built in 2011, it’s the largest Orthodox church in Tirana. There’s a beautiful dome of Christ (the Pantocrater). The church is directly across the street from House of Leaves.

Day 5 in Tirana

On your 5th day in Tirana, do what all the locals do in summer, go to Durres or Golem.

Take a Day Trip from Tirana to Durres or Golem

Durres and Golem are both on the Adriatic coast, about 33 km from Tirana. You can easily get to either with a bus or taxi. Here’s the difference between Durres and Golem:

• Durres is a port city with Venetian ruins, including the largest ancient amphitheatre in the Balkans. There’s interesting sites to see in Durres and lots of restaurants. It’s much more laid back than Tirana with palm trees and sea breezes. There is a beach area 1 km from the centre.
• Golem is a small seaside town with little going on except the beach and beach promenade. The beaches in Golem are nicer than the beaches in Durres. If you want to relax on a beach all day and don’t care about seeing more sites, come here instead of Durres.

It’s especially easy to get to Durres from Tirana, but Golem also has buses from Tirana. Both places offer a completely different experience from the capital, and give you a chance to see the Adriatic coast of Albania.

Where to Eat in Tirana

Tirana has some excellent restaurants. I highly recommend these:

• Era Picera: excellent traditional food in the Blloku neighbourhood
• Oda Restaurant: traditional food in Pazari i Ri area – nice outdoor terrace
• Tony’s Coffee Shop & Restaurant: Tex-mex, burgers and great breakfasts – near the Pyramid
• Pizzeria Saporita: the best pizzeria in Tirana – not far from Blloku

Where to Stay: Neighbourhood & Hotel Tips

It’s best to stay in the centre, within 1 km of Skanderbeg Square. That way you’ll be within walking distance of everything. This is a nice part of the capital and the perfect base for exploring Tirana in 5 days.

Tirana has very good hotels and guesthouses. My favourites for location and level of service are:

Luxury hotel: Maritim Hotel Plaza Tirana
Mid-priced hotel: Hotel Colosseo
Budget hotel: Albanopolis
Hostel: Red Goat Hostel

How to Get Around Tirana

Apart from Dajti Ekspres and Bunk’Art 1, all of Tirana’s sites are in the centre within walking distance of each other.

Tirana is very walkable, and even though it is surrounded by mountains, the city itself is flat. This is also the best way to appreciate the fabulous street art and cafe culture.

If you do want to venture further, you can either use a public transit bus or taxi. There is no metro system or Uber in Tirana.

Public transit – bus

Bus fare is 40 lek ($0.50 USD), and you pay the bus conductor in cash. He’ll give you a paper ticket.

I gave up trying to find reliable information on bus schedules and routes in Tirana. What I do is use the ‘directions’ feature in Google maps and select the public transit option. While not 100% all the time, it’s fairly accurate.

Taxis

Taxis are everywhere and easy to get, just ask the driver to use the meter. It’s almost always cheaper than the price he will quote you. In Tirana I use Taxi Lux when possible.

Taxis must post their rates in Albania. It’s a regulation. There’s usually a price sheet inside the cab.

Practical Tips for Visiting Tirana in 5 Days

I have a lot of tips on visiting Albania, but these are the ones for Tirana specifically:

How Many Days Do You Need in Tirana?

If you want to see only the highlights you can do to it with 2 days in Tirana. But if you want to take a more relaxed pace and do a deeper dive, 5 days in Tirana is ideal.

The number of days you need in Tirana depends on the type of trip you want. I spent a month there one time and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It’s a charming and quirky city that I return to often.

Where to Go After 5 Days in Tirana

It’s easy to go anywhere from Tirana. There are two main bus stations in the city and from there you can go practically everywhere in Albania and several other countries.

If you’re looking for a longer trip, see how I fit Tirana into a two week Albania tinerary.

There are three main regions of Albania I recommend after Tirana, though all of Albania is beautiful and you could go anywhere:

• Shkoder and the mountains: Shkoder is the main city in northern Albania and the historic capital. It’s the gateway to the Albanian Alps and mountain villages such as Theth and Valbona.
• Pogradec and Lake Ohrid: The south-eastern area sees little tourism and is very picturesque. Highlights are the lakes and the cultural city of Korce.
• Albanian Riviera: Extremely scenic coastal area along the Ionian Sea in Albania’s south. Popular destinations are Saranda, the beach resort town of Ksamil, Himare and Dhermi. This area is famous for beaches, but busy in summer.

Last Words on 5 Days in Tirana Itinerary

Tirana is one of Europe’s most under-appreciated capitals. Now that you know what to do in Tirana for 5 days, I hope you’ll explore this dynamic city.

I’m in and out of Albania a lot, and always enjoy spending time in this small, but eclectic European capital.

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