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Albania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, and Tirana is where you feel it most. I drove in from North Macedonia as part of my solo Balkan road trip in July 2021 and split my nights between Tirana and Durres on the coast. Honest take: Tirana is short on big sights, so don’t plan too long there. But it’s a great, cheap city to eat out and go for drinks, and a few of its sights are genuinely worth it.
Quick answer:
- Best things to do: Bunk’art 2, the Dajti cable car, Skanderbeg Square and the Et’hem Bey Mosque, an evening in Blloku.
- How long: 1–2 days is enough, then head to the coast.
- Budget: cheap. The two paid sights together are about €22 ($24.50).
Things to do in Tirana
1. Bunk’art 2
Albania is covered in concrete bunkers from Enver Hoxha’s communist regime, built against invasions that never came. Bunk’art 2 is one of them, right in the centre, turned into a museum about the secret police and what people went through under the dictatorship. It’s one of the most fascinating museums I’ve ever seen, and the one thing in Tirana I’d tell everyone to do.
Tickets cost 500 lek (€5.50 / $6). Open every day, 9:30 to 18:30.
2. Mount Dajti cable car
The Dajti Ekspres cable car takes about 15 minutes to climb 4.7 km to Mount Dajti, just east of the city, with wide views over Tirana. At the top you can hike, have a picnic or sit at a café with the view.
A return ticket costs 1,500 lek (€16.50 / $18.50). It runs 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and to 18:30 at weekends, and it’s closed on Tuesdays. Without a car, take city bus 11 from behind the National Opera (Biblioteka stop) to the Teleferiku stop, then walk 5 minutes.
3. Skanderbeg Square
The main square is named after Skanderbeg (Gjergj Kastrioti), the 15th-century leader who held off the Ottoman Empire for decades and is Albania’s national hero. His statue stands in the middle, with cafés, shops and often an event going on around it. It’s also where the airport bus stops.
4. Et’hem Bey Mosque
Right next to the square, this small Ottoman-era mosque has a painted interior that’s worth the quick stop. Entry is free. Cover your shoulders and knees and take your shoes off before going in.
5. An evening in Blloku
Blloku was the closed-off neighbourhood of the communist elite. Now it’s where Tirana goes out: streets full of bars, cafés and restaurants. This is where the city is at its best. Eating out and drinks were cheap, so plan at least one evening here.
If you have more time in Tirana
I didn’t get to these, but they’re on most Tirana lists:
- National History Museum: the country’s biggest museum, on Skanderbeg Square.
- Pyramid of Tirana: the renovated pyramid you can climb.
- House of Leaves: a museum of surveillance in a former secret police building.
- BunkArt 1: the bigger bunker museum, on the edge of the city.
- New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri): the market area, good for food.
- Grand Park: the artificial lake, for a walk.
How long to stay in Tirana
One or two days covers it. After that, go to the coast: Durres is about an hour away, and that’s where I spent the rest of my nights. Here’s what to do in Durres.
Getting to Tirana
By car from North Macedonia. I drove in as part of my solo Balkan road trip, and driving was fine. Street parking was free and easy. If you’re in a rental car, check before you book that it’s allowed into Albania.
By plane. The airport bus runs every hour, 24/7, and takes about 30 minutes to Skanderbeg Square. It costs 400 lek (€4.40 / $4.90), paid in cash on board. A fixed-price taxi to the centre is about €23 ($26).
What things cost in Tirana
| What | € | $ |
|---|---|---|
| Bunk’art 2 ticket (500 lek) | €5.50 | $6 |
| Dajti cable car, return (1,500 lek) | €16.50 | $18.50 |
| Airport bus (400 lek) | €4.40 | $4.90 |
| Et’hem Bey Mosque, Skanderbeg Square, Blloku | Free | Free |
Prices from November 2026, converted at €1 ≈ 91 lek and €1 ≈ $1.12.
Where to stay in Tirana
Three picks for every budget:
Tirana FAQ
Is Tirana worth visiting? Yes, for a day or two. It’s short on big sights, but Bunk’art 2 and the Dajti cable car are worth it, and it’s a great, cheap place to eat out and drink.
How many days do you need in Tirana? One or two. Then go to the coast or on to other towns.
Is Tirana cheap? Yes. Albania is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, and eating out and drinks in Tirana were cheap.
Can you drive to Tirana from North Macedonia? Yes. I did it solo on a Balkan road trip, and driving was fine.
