• Home
  • About
  • My Gear
  • Shop
  • Contact
Categories
  • Australia (6)
  • Blog & Content Creation (3)
  • Bucket List Destinations (38)
  • Digital Nomadism (44)
  • Gear (6)
  • Scotland (46)
  • Van Build (11)
  • Van Life (6)
  • Home
  • About
  • My Gear
  • Shop
  • Contact
KatieGoes
0
  • Bucket List Destinations

7 Reasons for You to Visit Tirana in Albania

  • 6th February 2020
  • 4 minute read
- [ ] Continue Goop Tales Colouring Books
Total
15
Shares
0
15
0
0

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.

See Also: 'Ultralight Packing Secrets'

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

Let’s Go!
@katie.maree

reasons to visit Tirana
Share this to encourage others
Total
15
Shares
Share 0
Pin it 15
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Katie

Hey! I'm a Scottish backpacker turned digital nomad with a passion for the outdoors, van life, and international travel. I travelled 100 countries before I turned 30 years of age. Now... Let's go everywhere!

You May Also Like
Great Ocean Road Campervan Itinerary
View Post
  • Australia
  • Bucket List Destinations

Great Ocean Road Campervan Itinerary & Full Trip Guide

  • 6th February 2024
Tuvalu Travel Guide
View Post
  • Bucket List Destinations

Tuvalu Travel Guide: How to Get to Tuvalu & Where to Stay

  • 5th February 2024
Ride the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania
View Post
  • Bucket List Destinations

How to Ride the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania (Safely!)

  • 4th February 2024
Best Great Ocean Road Tours
View Post
  • Australia
  • Bucket List Destinations

9 BEST Great Ocean Road Tours from Melbourne

  • 25th February 2023
Things To Do in Pokhara: Helicopter Ride to Annapurna Base Camp
View Post
  • Bucket List Destinations

19 AMAZING Things To Do In Pokhara Lakeside (Day & Night)

  • 19th December 2022
Best Things to See in Socotra
View Post
  • Bucket List Destinations

The 13 BEST Things to See on Socotra Island

  • 16th December 2022
Saudi Arabia Travel Tips
View Post
  • Bucket List Destinations

13 Saudi Arabia Travel Tips You MUST Know

  • 11th December 2022
Saudi Arabia Itinerary
View Post
  • Bucket List Destinations

The BEST Saudi Arabia Itinerary: 1-Week Riyadh to Al Ula Road Trip

  • 10th December 2022
10 comments
  1. Pingback: A Digital Nomad Itinerary: The Adriatic Coast (7 Countries!) - Katie Goes
  2. Jen says:
    20th April 2020 at 2:23 pm

    I’ve never been to Albania but it definitely sounds like the type of place I’d like to visit😁 I love when the locals are so welcoming like that. I’ll save this post for whenever I get the chance to go!

    Reply
  3. Isabel says:
    22nd April 2020 at 10:09 pm

    Nice post and useful info!! Tirana is definitely on my list. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  4. Natalie says:
    22nd April 2020 at 10:21 pm

    I want to go to Albania SO bad! My friend is from there and says it’s completely underrated and totally beautiful. I had no idea about the coffee culture there. I am obsessed with coffee shops, now I just want to go even more!

    Reply
  5. Cassie Bailey says:
    22nd April 2020 at 11:13 pm

    I visited here so briefly but would love to go back! Thanks for giving me more reasons!

    Reply
  6. Olga Maria says:
    23rd April 2020 at 1:53 pm

    Tirana, Albania sounds perfect! I love visiting off-the-beaten path places because that’s the kind of places worth visiting!

    Reply
  7. Ella says:
    23rd April 2020 at 10:55 pm

    Oh man, I have wanted to visit Tirana for ages, and before the quarantine I was eyeing up some super cheap return flights from London. Sigh. Hopefully one day! Thanks for letting me explore the city through your post.

    Reply
    1. Katie says:
      24th April 2020 at 10:19 am

      Oh no, so close! I actually flew from London earlier this year, it cost me 50p!

      Reply
  8. Pingback: 71 Quick & Essential Tips to Travel the Adriatic Coast - Katie Goes
  9. Pingback: Visiting the Stan Countries: The Five Stans of Central Asia - Katie Goes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Author
Katie
Hey! I'm a Scottish backpacker turned digital nomad with a passion for the outdoors, van life, and international travel. I travelled 100 countries before I turned 30 years of age. Now... Let's go everywhere!
Instagram 0
Pinterest 2K
BUY KATIE A BEER
Most Popular
  • NC500 Road Trip 1
    NC500 Road Trip: A Highlander’s Guide to Scotland’s North Coast
    • 5th January 2022
  • NC500 Overnight Stops 2
    NC500 Overnight Stops: The Ultimate List of Camper Park-Ups
    • 13th January 2022
  • Campervan Wifi: Netgear Nighthawk M2 Router 3
    Campervan Wifi: The Best Van Life Internet Setup
    • 31st October 2021
  • Ben Nevis: Top Things To Do in Fort William 4
    10 AWESOME Things To Do In Fort William (Mostly Free!)
    • 16th August 2022
  • Edinburgh for Digital Nomads 5
    Edinburgh for Digital Nomads: Your Most Practical Guide!
    • 15th June 2022
Google Map Legend of the Scottish Highlands on iPhone

Scottish Google Map Legend (Highlands & Islands)

Shop now
Other Posts
  • Digital Nomad Designer
    How I Became a Digital Nomad Designer in 3 Months
    • 30th June 2020
    • 9 minute read
Products
  • Campervan Wiring Diagram Campervan Wiring Diagram: Van Conversion Schematic £18.00
  • Van Conversion Plumbing Diagram Van Conversion Plumbing Diagram: Simple Water System £6.50
  • Scottish Google Map Legend Scottish Google Map Legend (Highlands & Islands) £5.00
Social Links
Instagram 0 Followers
Pinterest 2K Followers
BUY KATIE A BEER
Disclosure
KatieGoes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to allow sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. We earn from qualifying purchases.
Read More
Sitemap
  • About
  • Shop
  • Legal Stuff
  • Contact

Input your search keywords and press Enter.