7 Reasons for You to Visit Tirana in Albania

I left Albania in shock; surprised and fulfilled. How had nobody recommended this place to me before? So, I am telling you… There are many reasons to visit Tirana, Albania’s capital.

Tirana was the first destination of my journey along the Adriatic Coastline. To be honest, the cheap flights were what grabbed my attention (at first).

I must admit, I was a little apprehensive about visiting Tirana as a solo female traveller. I knew nothing about the capital city, and nothing about the culture. Although, from previous experiences, I know this is where the most exciting adventures happen so I was arriving with a very open mind.

Reasons to Visit Tirana…

1. Meet the Most Welcoming Locals

The Albanians are fully aware that their country is not the most popular destination for tourists on the continent. So, as soon as a local would realise that I was from elsewhere, they would instantly ask if I was okay, knew where I was going and if I needed any assistance. This didn’t just happen once, but multiple times a day! They have our backs as tourists; whether we ask for help or not.

They are not only thankful to every traveller who chooses to visit but innocently eager to learn more about our home country and the intentions we have whilst visiting Albania. The Albanians are generally curious and love to talk – what a great quality for a population to have!

The friendly nature of the Albanians was consistent through my entire visit. On my last day, I was boarding my coach to Montenegro when the bus driver asked for money to store my luggage in the hold (which is the norm across the Adriatic). Considering this was my last day in Albania, I emptied my pockets of change to find almost the amount he was looking for. My heart sunk at the thought of leaving my luggage, running to find an ATM only to withdraw large notes that I wouldn’t have the time to spend. Regardless of the language barrier, the man shared a friendly smile and waved his hand to say, “don’t worry, forget about it“. After years of travelling full-time, I can confidently say that this would not happen in a lot of countries.

Thank you, Albania.

Note: Not every Albanian speaks english. But the younger generation do, and are likely to assist in translation problems.

2. It’s Budget-Friendly

Tirana is one of the cheapest cities to visit within the Balkans. Prices are generally almost half of what they would be in the rest of Europe. This makes the city a budgeting traveller’s paradise.

Tip: Withdraw money from the ATMs that are marked BKT. They don't charge any commission, when others do.

3. To Admire the Street Art

The city has a lot of stories to tell; many of which are told through magnificent pieces of art on the streets. You’ll find these installations in many cities around Albania, but Tirana has the biggest collection in the country. Blloku is a great area to start your street art search.

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4. For the Coffee Shop Culture

The impressive coffee culture in Albania does not go unnoticed. Tirana has no shortage of bustling coffee shops. In fact, I think I read somewhere that Albania has the most cafés per capita in Europe!

Tirana’s many coffee shops are the perfect place for people-watching, interacting with the locals or simply just watching the world go by. This is a must-try during your visit to Tirana.

5. Be Amazed in Skanderbeg Square

Tirana is a pleasant little city with many points of interest to walk between. However, the main tourist hub is Skanderbeg Square – you can’t miss it!

Skanderbeg Square is truly the heart of Tirana. The statue of Albanian hero (Skanderbeg) dominates the area, showing off Albania’s history to all who walks by.

The square is also within close proximity to many transport connections. For instance, the blue bus can take you to the highly-rated Bunker 1; an art museum within a converted anti-nuclear bunker that was built by the then communist government.

6. Immerse Yourself in the Lively Streets

First, you’ll notice the friendliness of locals, then the coffee culture. Thirdly, you’ll realise how lively the streets of Tirana are. People are just constantly out and about.

Don’t ask me why and what they are doing, but the streets of Tirana seemed to be always busy. There are locals meeting in the square, gentlemen gossiping over coffee, children playing, shop owners exchanging change and young couples sharing moments together.

The city exudes a strong sense of social life. You can see it everywhere around you. What an atmosphere to immerse yourself in!

7. It’s Off-The-Beaten Path

How many people do you know who have been to Albania? Not many, right?! In fact, Tirana is one of the least visited capital cities in Europe.

Well, you could and should be one of the adventurous few who break the mould; be the one who was brave enough to see something different.

Besides, Tirana is not far from the common backpacker trail in Europe. Whether you are a solo female inter-railing through Croatia or a group island-hopping in Greece, continue the adventure just a little further to find the hidden gems in Albania that are rarely seen by other tourists.

Let’s minimise over-tourism in other European capital cities by showing Tirana the love that it deserves.

See Also: 71 Quick Tips to Travel the Adriatic Coast

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@katie.maree