From the early 2000s, Tirana has been undergoing a steady metamorphosis, marked by the colorful facades of buildings and street art. But, still it retains an authentic charm. From politically charged murals to whimsical abstract creations, the streets of Tirana have become an ever-evolving canvas that reflects the city’s dynamic spirit and its people’s desire for self-expression.
In this tour you will not only gain historical and cultural information, but as well, know more about everyday life and traditions of Tirana. It’s suitable for every kind of traveler (solo, couples, families, elderly), so just book and get tips and much more!
I will be waiting near the Statue of Skanderbeg which is in the main square of Tirana. Next to the statue there is a big white WHEEL, you will distinguish it immediately because it is visible from every angle of the square. I will be wearing a black adidas cap and of course with a big smile
This tour will end here as it is a central point where you access all the tips that I will recommend. It is 300 m from the start of the tour.
Skanderbeg Square is the main square in Tirana. Many buildings including the Tirana International Hotel, the Palace of Culture, the National Opera, the National Library, the Bank of Albania, the Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, the City Hall, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Energy, and the National Historical Museum are situated at the square.
The National History Museum (Albanian: Muzeu Historik Kombëtar) is a historical museum in Tirana, Albania. Above the entrance of the museum is a large mural mosaic titled The Albanians that depicts purported ancient to modern figures from Albania's history.[2][3] The museum includes the following pavilions: the Pavilion of Antiquity, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Independence, Iconography, National Liberation Antifascist War, Communist Terror, and Mother Teresa.
Bunk Art is a Bunker Museum. A massive bunker built by the communist dictator has been converted into museum. Basically, Albania was ruled for nearly 50 years by the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. During his rule he built an enormous bunker to protect himself and his government in case of war. You can now enter the five story bunker and walk through the underground rooms. Bunk Art tells the story of Albania’s communist past. Bunk Art is a highlight when visiting Tirana, because it is an exciting experience to walk through the scary and spooky bunker.
The Cloud is an art installation placed in front of National Gallery of Arts in Tirana, Albania. Since 2016, the Cloud has served as modern art space for cultural events in Tirana. The Pavilion is a delicate, three-dimensional structure; each unit comprises fine steel bars of 800 and 400 mm rectangles. It forms a semi-transparent, irregular canopy, simultaneously protecting visitors from the elements while allowing them to remain part of the landscape. The footprint of the structure is 350 square-metres and the Pavilion has two entrances. A series of stepped terraces provide seating areas that allow the Pavilion to be used as a flexible, multi-purpose social space. The delicate quality of the structure, enhanced by its semi-transparency, creates a geometric, cloud-like form, as if it were mist rising from the undulations of the park.
Fortress of Justinian or simply known as Tirana Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Tiranës) is a castle in Tirana, Albania. Its history dates back before 1300 and is a remnant from the Byzantine-era. The fortress is the place where the main east–west and north–south roads crossed, and formed the heart of Tirana. The current fortification has three known towers and it is undergoing a process of restoration, for touristic purposes. Inside the fortified walls of the former fortress, there are many buildings that can be visited, including restaurants, hotels, and cultural institutions.
The Pyramid of Tirana, originally built as a museum dedicated to the communist dictator Enver Hoxha, has been dramatically transformed into a new kind of cultural hub. Reusing the concrete structure, the Pyramid is now an open sculpture in a new park. The park and the sculpture are home to an ensemble of colourful boxes, scattered in and around the original building that house cafés, studios, workshops, start-up offices, incubators, festivals, and classrooms where Albanian youth will learn various technology subjects for free. Steps have been added to the building’s sloping façades, allowing the people of Albania to literally walk all over the showpiece of the former dictator.
Leafy, residential Blloku is an upscale nightlife and shopping hotspot, with hip bars and cafes, and trendy global restaurants alongside luxury boutiques. During the era of Communist rule, it was a closed-off precinct for the party elite, and the villa of long-ruling dictator Enver Hoxha still stands. Your last night in Tirana should take you to that neighborhood, once restricted to only high-level communist party members and now home to the city’s best nightlife.
Rinia Park (literally "Youth Park", Albanian: Parku Rinia) is the central public park of Tirana, Albania. Built in 1950 during the communist era. Tajvani, Rinia Park's main landmark, is a white, terraced building on its western edge, which houses cafés, restaurants, the Regency Casino (one of only a few legally operating in Tirana), fountains, and a bowling lane in the basement, and which, because of its peculiar architecture, has been likened to a typical James Bond film villain's den or described as spider-shaped. After an old nickname for the park, one of the restaurants (Taivani Bar & Grill) as well as the entire center (Taivani Center) is known as the Taivani.
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