Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania. This city is located in the centre of the country and is enclosed by mountains and hills. It is considered as one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It receives about 2,544 hours of sun every year and is one of the wettest and sunniest cities in Europe. It was founded as a city by the Ottoman Albanian in 1614. It is also the centre of financial, political, economic and trade in Albania. It is surrounded by two important protected areas including the Dajti National Park and Mali me Gropa-Bize-Martanesh Protected Landscape. Tirana, Farka, Tufina and Kashar are several artificial lakes in this city. This city has a very dynamic nightlife. There are varieties of places to entertain you all night. While walking through the city, you will see painted facades, street art graffiti and murals that add brightness to this lively city. It is one of the most colourful cities in the Balkans. In 2022, this city was announced as the European Youth Capital. Exploring this city can be a great journey through the local history.

When to visit Tirana, Albania

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Tirana. At this time, the city offers warm and sunny weather which is very comfortable for going out and visiting the different places around the city. The sky is very clear and the city also has great deals that can be availed on travel and lodging during these months. These months are perfect for visiting all the outdoors attractions and sightseeing activities. There are various nightclubs, bars and restaurants to enjoy in the city.

What to know about Tirana, Albania

Currency

Albanian Lek (ALL) is the official currency used in the country. The Euro is also widely accepted in many tourist areas because many people bring Euros with them as currency. Mostly it is a cash city, but some shops, restaurants and hotels accept card payments. You can also use the ATM’s for taking out cash. Many exchange bureaus are also available where you can exchange your currency. 

Climate

Tirana has a Mediterranean type of climate. The summers are dry, muggy, warm and mostly clear and the winters are windy, cold, long, wet and partly cloudy. -10 is the coldest temperature that was recorded in January 1968 and 42 is the highest temperature that was recorded in July 1988. October and November are the months when there is the greatest rainfall in the city. July is the warmest month of the year with an average maximum temperature of 30 and January is the coldest month of the year with an average maximum temperature of 11. July is the driest month of the year with 28mm of precipitation. The month of July is the sunniest month with an average of 354 hours of sunshine.

Language

Albania is an ethnically homogeneous country and the majority of people speak Albanian, which is the official language of the country. This language has two distinct dialects: the Gheg which is spoken in the north region and the Tosh which is spoken in the south region. Some foreign languages are also spoken in the city such as English, Italian, French and many other European languages. Some minority languages are also spoken by the people in this city including Greek, Romani, Macedonian, Serbian and Aromanian.

Transportation

The transport services available in Tirana is the best way to travel around the city and see the beauty of it.

Taxis

Car hiring

Train

Buses 

Vans

Motorbike hiring 

Places of attractions in Tirana, Albania

The Pyramid of Tirana (Piramida)

The Pyramid of Tirana has a very unique structure and is a former museum located in the capital of Albania. In 1988, it was opened as a museum and in 1991 it became a conference centre following the collapse of Communism. When this Pyramid was built, it was said to be the most expensive individual structure ever constructed in Albania. It is still revered as a representation of a history not to be ignored or forgotten. If you visit this place then you too will face its remarkable story and poignant presence. It is truly a must visit place in the city. 

The National Historic Museum

The National Historic Museum was opened on 28 October 1981. It covers an area of 27,000 square metres and around 18,000 square metres are available for exhibitions. It is the largest museum in the country. There is a large mural mosaic titled ‘The Albanians’ above the entrance of the museum which depicts purported ancient to modern figures from Albania’s history. It gives a taste of the harmony in aesthetic and environment, creating an example of the communist regime under Enver Hoxha. There are total eight main exhibit halls in the museum which includes the Pavilion of Antiquity, the Albanian National Renaissance Pavilion, the Medieval Period Pavilion, the Independence Pavilion, the Second World War and of the Albanian Resistance Movement Pavilion, the Pavilion of the Communist Terror, the Iconography Pavilion and Mother Teresa Pavilion. It is worth a visit.

The Dajti Mountain National Park

The Dajti Mountain National Park is a very popular national park of Tirana and was established in 1966 in central Albania. It is listed as a Category II park by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has also been recognized as an important plant area of international importance by Plantlife. Deforestation and garbage issues are the major problems on the mountain. It is very well protected and consists of many wild flowers and numerous mammals. It is also inhabited by wild boar, European hare, brown bear, Eurasian wolf, red fox, European wildcat and squirrel. It also has a number of 200 year old beeches and oak trees that are really worth visiting. It is also a habitat of grey bears, mountain eagles, sparrow hawks, wolves and numerous fish species and vertebrates. It is a great place to spend your day in a mountainous landscape away from the city.