Tirana is the beautiful capital city of Albania. Located not far from the stunning Adriatic coastline, it is a wonderful blend of wide green spaces and a mixture of modern and traditional buildings. Tourists have been fascinated with this city for years, but recently it has begun to enjoy a heady tourist scene despite its inland location. In fact, it’s the mountain region and National Park areas that flank the city that have encouraged visitors to visit this beautiful area and enjoy the attractions it has to offer. Tirana is a modern, post-communist city that has reinvented itself over the past few years. Visitors can walk down the wide, open roads and view the modern architecture while traditional folk music is played in the small cafes along your route. Sample the local cuisine known as Sufllaqe, an Albanian take on a Greek kebab, or try a meat pie with a flaky pastry known as the Byrek.
Tirana from above: Used under Creative Commons courtesy of Flickr
Shopping and Nightlife in Tirana
For a great night out in Tirana, head to the Sky Bar, a unique elevated building which rotates on its axis offering unparalleled views of the city. If heights aren’t your thing, then sample a local drink of Raki at the Spirit Bar in the well known Mondial hotel chain. Tirana is considered Albania’s party capital, and for good reason too. The best nightclubs can be found in Rinia Park or Dibra Street; you’ll find plenty of ‘disko’s’ to help you party the night away.
Tirana is home to a modern shopping experience, although visitors who are looking for a more traditional adventure can head into the smaller side streets to find the original boutique shops that still sell local crafts. As for shopping malls, Citypark Albania is the largest in the country, and it’s situated right here in Tirana. With over 180 shops, a food court, a hypermarket, children’s activities and entertainment, you could lose yourself here for a whole day or more.
Skanderbeg Castle: Used under Creative Commons courtesy of Flickr
SIghtseeing in Tirana
Tirana is a great city for visitors, with numerous attractions and activities to enjoy. These are a few you should definitely make time to visit while you’re here:
• The Grand Park – a fantastic outdoor area perfect for nature walks and picnic
• The National History Museum – a fantastic depiction of the rise of Albania
• Enver Hoxha Museum – a glass mausoleum built as a modern pyramid
• Tomb of Kaplan Pasha – the last resting place of this ruler of Tirana
• Skanderbeg Castle – the ancient home of the Skanderbeg family
• Museum of Natural Sciences – a superb collection of unique experiments
• Tirana Clocktower – build to resemble the Ventian St Mark tower
Weather in Tirana
Tirana has an excellent climate and enjoys warm weather for much of the year. The summer heat can get intense but it does receive some cooling winds from the Adriatic.
Discussion
No comments yet.