Albania has long been in the grip of the communist regime and has not been overly welcoming to tourists. After this long sleep, the country opens its doors to tourists and presents its most beautiful side. For history buffs, we recommend this destination for your next vacation, but if you prefer beaches and cultural sites more, Albania has them too.
For this article, we will see what there is to contemplate in Tirana which is the Albanian capital. It is the most populated in the whole country and has nearly 557,000 inhabitants. As mentioned above, the country has buried all forms of dictatorship and is now working on the tourist side. If you've chosen the city of Tirana for your next vacation, we've put together a small list of things you can do once you're there. The ones we suggest above are only suggestions, but you can always build your list of "Must do to" in Tirana according to your desires and tastes.
Take the cable car
If you do not have this means of transport in your country of origin, treat yourself to baptism in Tirana. From what they say, the Dajti Ekspres is the longest cable car in the Balkans. You can take this means of transport to go to the mountain of Dajti. Your rise in height will be smooth and for 15 minutes, you can enjoy the panorama of the capital and its surroundings. From here, you will see Tirana differently. For this adventure, you need more time to appreciate the climb to Mount Dajti, so take an afternoon. Once you are there, other activities await you such as hiking, horse riding that you can practice with your children if you are with your family. You can also devote a whole day for this adventure, which will allow you to go to the castle of Dajti. A small picnic in height and in an idyllic setting will make you want to stop time. For the return to town, you can always take the cable car and you will have another decor, because the lights will turn on if you get off a little later.
Going out for an evening at Bloku
The Lana river divides the center of the capital in two and it is on the left side that the Bloku or "the Block" is located. This district has left no trace of its past. The Block was previously reserved for high-ranking communist people when dictator Enver Hoxha was still in power. When he died, the neighborhood took a big turn and was open to the general public. It is also the most trendy in Tirana. It is here that you will find luxury boutiques, numerous cafes and restaurants as well as nightclubs. This district is renowned for its activity at dusk. For your stay in Tirana, mix with its young people at least once and vibrate to the western sound in one of the night clubs.
Learn more about the history of Tirana
Visit the "Muzeu Hitorik Kombëtar" or National History Museum, such is the name of this cultural establishment in Tirana. It is located on the emblematic Skanderbeg square and has already welcomed a large number of tourists since its inauguration in 1981. This museum in Tirana is the largest of the museums in Albania. Its appearance from the outside is already very impressive and reflects the Soviet aesthetic so do not miss the photo at the entrance. On 27,000m², 18,000m² is reserved for different exhibitions and the works have been placed in chronological order so that visitors can easily reconstruct the history of the Albanian people from Antiquity to the present day. The ground floor is dedicated to works and presentations dating from prehistoric times, the first floor is entirely devoted to the Middle Ages and the Albanian renaissance.
Visit Bunk'Art
The name is very attractive, on the brochures the places make you want, but this place has nothing to do with paintings and beautiful paintings. Bunk'Art is one of the structures that was part of the country's "binkerization" program. Built in secret between 1972 and 1978, it was the anti-nuclear bunker of Encver Hoxha. During your visit, you will relive the moments of the Cold War with exhibitions that mix the history of the country and modern art. Here, the exhibition is classified according to a thematic and chronological order and each thematic has a color code. Your visit should then begin with the Italian occupation in 1939 and end with the end of the dictatorship in 1991. This passage to Bunk'Art will teach you more about the country, but the visit will not seem boring to you.
Relax at Parku i Madh
After a morning in museums or cultural centers, you deserve a relaxing afternoon or an afternoon in “off” activity. And why not, just after the visit, head straight for Parku i Madh or the Grand Parc. This place is ideal for family picnics so give yourself one during your stay in Tirana. After the picnic, you can relax in this oasis of greenery and freshness, far from the noise. If you are very sporty, you can spend in this park in the morning for a little jogging during your vacation, it would be ideal to practice sport and this, otherwise. Children will love it because the complex includes the park, the city zoo and the Botanical Garden. After a detour in this park, you can stop for a drink at one of the cafes near the artificial lake of Parku i Madh. It is not the only park in the Capital and we will surely tell you about the beauty of Rinia Park. It is quite simple, but if you want to relax too, this place is not crowded with people. You can take a detour there for a short walk, have a beer with friends or have lunch. The decor is a little different from Parku i Madh because Rinia Park is not crammed with greenery and flowers, but has benches and trees where you can relax in the shade. You can take a detour there for a short walk, have a beer with friends or have lunch. The decor is a little different from Parku i Madh because Rinia Park is not crammed with greenery and flowers, but has benches and trees where you can relax in the shade. You can take a detour there for a short walk, have a beer with friends or have lunch. The decor is a little different from Parku i Madh because Rinia Park is not crammed with greenery and flowers, but has benches and trees where you can relax in the shade.
Go to the Tirana Pyramid
Even though many say it is of little interest, give this remnant of the Enver Hoxha diet a few minutes. Your Tirana vacation album should include at least one photo in front of this Tirana pyramid. This monument was designed to the glory of Enver Hoxha by a group of architects. If the construction is very particular, it is because the drawings were provided by the daughter of this great dictator and she was well inspired to honor her father. A few years after the death of this great man from Albania, the Tirana Pyramid served as a seat for local radio and TV. THE building quickly deteriorated when the entity left the premises. Today, the Pyramid of Tirana looks run down and neglected, but that's what should attract you too.
Discover Cave of Pellumbas
This place must also figure in your planning during your stay in Tirana. All the tourists make a detour there and why not you? To access The Cave of Pullembas, you first need a car to reach the village closest to these caves and then continue the adventure on foot and the walk can take almost 45 minutes. For this little getaway, you need a good guide and good walking shoes, because the ground is very uneven and slippery. For guidance, you can find a person who can direct the visit to the village which is near the caves. Also plan a lamp or a torch for adventure in The Cave of Pellumbas which constitute a real labyrinth. You also need to prepare to meet bats.
Bronze at Game Beach
This place is not very well known yet it is a real piece of paradise. You will enjoy yourself here whether you are with your children or with your companion. It is a little further from the city, more precisely on the highway which goes to the south of Albania and it will take almost 45 minutes by car to get there. The decor is going to be a little different from the white sands that we define as a dream beach. In Spille Beach, it will be under the pines that you will take shade. The sand and water are fairly clean and you can very well have a swim with your children. If you have the opportunity, stay a little longer in the late afternoon to watch the sunset show.