From Wikitravel

Tirana is the capital of Albania.

[edit] Understand

Tirana is the capital of Albania located in Southeastern Europe between Greece in the south, Montenegro and Serbia to the North, and Macedonia in the Northeast. Tourists usually find Tirana a small, but beautiful and a charming city, with a lively night life. Tirana is severely polluted, especially from an uncontrolled traffic of old diesel cars, which run on fuel far more dangerous to your health than in the rest of Europe, where it is banned. There are many good and cheap restaurants in Tirana serving all kinds of food. Also in Tirana you will find many historical buildings, and a strange sensation of the meeting between Europe and the Orient. 60% of Albania's population is considered Muslim, but very few practice their religion. The country is introduced by BBC as a rich blend of cultures and religions with breathtaking natural beauty and pristine beaches.

The the city and country are very tourist friendly. They are completely closing the central square to autos soon which will make the center of town even more pedestrian and tourist friendly. The average citizen speaks no English.

[edit] Get in

Costs one Euro tax per-person to get into Albania.

They only have Air and Bus service (NO trains) to Tirana so be ready to fly or for a long bus ride to and from the country. You get the bus at the make shift restaurant/station behind the Triana International Hotel, costs 20 euros to either Skopje, Macedonia (take this route about 300 km takes about 6 hours) or to Pristine, Kosovo (It was a horrible 10 hour long trip for just 320 km - DO NOT, DO NOT take this route).

[edit] By train

Railway service in the Balkans (former Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria) was drastically reduced in the 1990s. Albania, which never had a particularly good railway service, is left with just about nothing these days. International train service does not exist. So, you can only reach Tirana from another Albanian city, and, until now, train service only operates to Durrës, Shkodër, Elbasan, Vlorë and Pogradec. Even though train services are very poor, when compared to West Balkan stadards, they are strangely frequent - with up to 8 services a day to Durrës.

While slower and perhaps more worn than the bus, the train ride from Tirana to Shkodër(or vice versa) makes up for this not only in cost (120 lek) but also in scenery. The 3 1/2 hour ride north enables you to enjoy the scenery of this unique country, sometimes even without the hindrance of glass between you and the world.

[edit] By bus

You can travel by bus to Tirana from other Albanian towns, or from Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, and Greece by international roads. There is usually one service per day from the afore-mentioned countries. Get current information about Tirana at the bus station before you leave that country. There is no regular bus service to Tirana from other parts of Europe. Buses to and from Kosovo depart from downtown (behind museum where one also can find buses to Rinas airport)

Buses are generally the best method for traveling in Albania, but the traveler should note that they are not in the best of shape. There are few bus companies - buses are usually private coaches. There are no set schedules - coaches depart when they are full, or at the whim of the driver (usually at 6AM).

In Tirana there are no bus stations, just simple bus stops (usually consiting of a bench and a pole), even for international bus lines. Beware of pickpocketers when using the buses. Do not keep valuables and money on the easily accessible pockets. But remember, this is Albania, if you want to have fun here you need to take things with good humor and not get too annoyed.

[edit] By plane

Tirana is served by Mother Teresa Airport (TIA), 25 km from the center of town. Flights arrive from many European destinations, so in many cases if you are coming from Europe or even other continents, flying may be the most common and certain way to arrive in Tirana. There is no public transportaion from Rinas to Tirana - you have to hire a taxi, which costs about 15 Euros, but you can try and bargain with the drivers. This is a bit expensive, but other options are generally not available. Some times ago a private company have established a regular bus line Rinas-Tirana-Rinas. The buses part every hour till 18:00 after that usually you have to take a taxi. The ticket costs 200 lek (1,60 euros - All above information regarding bus service was valid in summer 2007 do check upon your arrival for changes). The journey last 1/2hour normally.

[edit] By boat

Tirana is not a port, so you can't get there directly by boat. There are, however, reasonable sea routes from Italy (from the ports in Bari, Trieste, and Ancona) to Durrës, from where you can take the train (which comes approximately every two hours) or a bus to Tirana. You could also rent a car and be in Tirana in about 20 minutes. Traveling by boat is a pretty good alternative to traveling to Tirana, especially if you are arriving from Italy.

[edit] Get around

Public transportation in Tirana consists of a number of bus lines. The city center is small enough to be explored through walking. Taxis are available, and usually cheaper than in the West (about 300 lek for a ride across town).

[edit][add listing] See

• Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit). Positioned in the city center, this tower has become a symbol of Tirana. It is one of the oldest constructions in Tirana, built in the 1820's. edit

• Et'hem Bey Mosque Construction of this mosque took about 28 years and finished in 1821. It is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Albania with very interesting decorations and art-work within it.

• Martyr's Cemetery This is the cemetery where the remains of partisans that fought for Tirana are buried. Also, here one can find the statues of Mother Albania.

• National History Museum The main museum in Tirana, it is located in the center of the city, easily recognizable because of a huge mosaic standing on top of its front facade. It contains many artifacts ranging from ancient times through Hoxha's regime.

• Petrela Castle This is one of Albania's best preserved castles, found a little bit to the south of Tirana.

• Mount Dajti. A very relaxing area, mount Dajti can be reached through a Swiss-built express cable car. The view along the route is worth the cost (about 500 lek) even if you don't stay atop the mountain. The area has a limited number of hotels and restaurants, but it is great for taking a breath of fresh air, mountain sports, or to just get out of the city for a while. Unfortunately, litter is becoming a problem on Mount Dajti. This detracts from the experience somewhat, but the beautiful scenery still makes the trip worthwhile. edit

• Piramida (International Center of Culture). The pyramid was built in 1987 according to the design of Enver Hoxha's daughter and was originally a museum of her father. Today it's a venue for many conventions and art events. US president George W Bush gave a speech in front of this building. The building was the most expensive erected under communism, and there are plans for future changes into it. The new designs are worked by architectural firm associated with Hoxha's daughter. edit

• Ish-Blloku (The Block) This area, prior to the fall of communism, was reserved solely for government officials. It has since become the number one spot for Tirana's youth. Among the apartment blocks, one can find some of Tirana's best cafe's, shops, and restaurants. The street, especially in summer afternoons, are filled with Tirana's citizens. You can also find here the villa of the former dictator, Enver Hoxha.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Take a ride on top of Dajt mountain, known for its breathtaking view of all Tirana. Travel there is both easy and affordable.
• Biblioteka Kombëtare e Shqipërisë (national library of Albania), holds over a million books. Known for its ancient collections.
• Tajvani, This beautiful place in the heart of downtown Tirana. It includes restaurants, casinos, bars, a club, etc. It is surrounded by a huge lit water fountain with a glowing bridge that reaches to the restaurant, and is an ideal place for all ages. Children enjoy gourmet ice cream and iced European soft drinks, whilst adults and teens can enjoy fun casinos. This is an excellent tourist attraction, and many Albanian celebrities can be found in the area.

• There are many parks in Tirana worth going to. People have picnics and have fun, and the natural beauty allows it because of the huge trees, open spaces, and mountains surrounding them.
• There is an artificial, yet very beautiful lake in the heart of Tirana that shines during the day and sparkles during the night. It is popular with locals and tourists as a place to walk around and enjoy a lunch or coffee at one of the restaurants or cafe's.

[edit] Learn

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

There are very few ATM machines accepting Cirrus / Maestro. The only one appears to be the one in the airport. ATM machines accept visa and mastercard.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

Small shops and roadside vendors throughout the city sell foods such as sufllaqa, doner, and gjiro for less than 200 lek.

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

[edit][add listing] Drink

Drink raki for alcoholic drinks lovers or boza for non-alcoholic drinks lovers.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Hotel Brinker, Email: hotelbrinker@hotmail.com. A great hotel that is very close to the town center (5 min walking). It has clean, safe, nice private rooms with private bathroom and shower, well maintained, friendly, all of the staff spoke English, they take credit cards, thier prices are very good (35 euros per night for two people (low season)).

[edit] Mid-range

• Hotel Brilant Antik, Rr. Jeronim De Rada (Just across the street from Parliament, about 5 minutes walk from Skanderbeg Square.), ☎ +355 04 251166 (info@hotelbrilant_al.com), [1]. Excellent rooms and helpful staff. Breakfast is included in the cost. €60-€120.  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Hotel Grand, Rr. Ismail Qemali 11. A small, very luxurious (3 star standard) hotel close to the center of Tirana. edit

• Sheraton Hotel and Towers One of Tirana's newest, largest, modern and most luxurious hotels. The Sheraton, located near the stadium, is also one of the most expensive.

• Rogner Europark Hotel Part of the Rogner chain of hotels, this modern hotel is located where the headquarters of the communist party were planned to be built before the fall. Centrally located and very luxurious.

• Tirana International Hotel Centrally located, this hotel was built during communist times and has recently changed hands. There are plans for drastic changes in its appearance, and it still remains one of the major and best hotels in Albania. If you have the time - We spent a truly magical lunch on the covered balcony of their one restaurant, the food and service is excellent, the food prices very reasonable.

• President Hotel Small hotel located in the bllok area.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

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