Tirana Things to Do

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The most interesting and unique attraction of Tirana are her abstract painted buildings and lively atmosphere. To experience both of them there is no any other way but walking through Tirana.

Tirana's art uses Tirana's buildings like canvas. There are more then 130 painted buildings in Tirana. The very first one with the yellow arrows opens "exposition" on the way from airport and closes it when you are leaving Tirana at the direction pointed by the arrows.

Turn along Lana River and keep your eyes on the right site of the street all the way almost till the end of the "civilized" part of Lana. It is at least two hours walk. Don't forget to look across the river from time to time. There also are some interesting patterns. You may stop at any of coffee places to get a drink (100 -150 lek ,$1-2) and keep going. People will understand any language you speak because they want to understand you.

After you arrive to the last motor bridge, cross it and go up the street. The buildings in this street are the last work of public art directed by the former mayor of Tirana. It will take about an hour to look at the building at both sides of the street. By the time you finish with this street you will need some rest. The traffic is active and the air is polluted...

The next street with painted buildings is pretty far away. Some how you should get to the railway station and go by the Ring Road towards Kavaja street. The part of the Ring Road you are interested in has Polka dots designs of different colors and the trees painted on the buildings. When you arrive in about 1-2 hours to Kavaja Street turn left into this street and you will find the pure abstract paintings on the buildings. They are fading, but still impressive. You will come across a lot of street scenes to memorize with you camera.

To reward yourself for this gigantic excursion go to Shearton Tirana hotel and on the way from the restaurant to the main hall take a look at the installation of the photos of some of the buildings that you discovered today and silk scarves and ties made of those photos.

For the energy charge go to Blokk after 8 PM. There is night life as long as night is on.

When overlooking the Skanderbeg Square, you’ll notice two towers rising above the square: The minaret belonging to the ‘Mosque of Et’hem Bey’ and the Tirana Clock Tower.

The Clock Tower was built in 1822 and was until 1970 the highest building in Tirana. The tower was originally a bell tower, but in 1928, the Tirana Town Hall bought a clock from Germany and extended the height of the tower to 35 metres. The present clock was placed at the tower in 1970.

I didn’t go, but was told that the Clock Tower is open for public. Inside there is a spiral staircase with 95 steps, and I guess there is a nice view of Tirana from the top...

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On a hill overhanging Tirana, stand "Varreza e Dëmshmorëve", the martyrs' cemetery. A big monument represents Mother Albania (first photo). The tombs of the hundreds of martyrs that gave their life to free Albania during WWII are around. This is why, though dating back from the Communist era, this monument has been kept.

The second photo is a close up on the carving on the basement of Mother Albania : "Lavdi e perjétshme dëshmorëve te atdhent" (Praise and glory to the martyrs for the Homeland). Another translation thanks to CK21000 : Eternal Glory to the Martyrs of the Fatherland

The third photo shows the tomb in which Enver Hoxha was buried in 1985, guarded by militaries. In 1992 his tomb has been removed and Enver reburied in a regular cemetery.

I do not know if there are still guards in the memorial (fourth photo). Thank you CK21000 : there are no guards anymore.

The fifth photo gives the landscape on the city of Tiranë, seen from the memorial. If you enlarge it, you will see on the left the main University building, standing right at the foot of the hill and facing it, in the background, at the other end of Bulevardi Dëshmorët I Kombit, the tall Hotel Tiranë.

It is the main plaza in Tirana. It was named in 1968 after the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. A Skanderbeg Monument can be found in the plaza.
The mayor of Tirana Edi Rama hopes to modernize and europeanize the square. Reconstruction work began in March, 2010 and the plan consists of transforming the square into an area for pedestrians. During the construction period, detour roads have been put in place to gradually establish the new and permanent road network around the square.

I am puzzled by this great looking building. The photo was also taken in 1988. It was very close to Skënderbeg square (and possibly ON Skënderbeg square) but I have been unable to identify it and to give it a name. Who will help me ?

Thank you CK21000 for the identification of this building :
This is a pic of the Palace of Congresses where the P.P.SH, Partia e Punës e Shqipërisë known in English as the Albanian Party of Labour held its 9th and 10th congress in 1986 and 1991. Prior to that the congresses were held in the Palace of Culture.

Hello,

Around Tirana you can visit:

1, Kruja, the citadel and the bazar wich is the only one of this kind in Albania.
You can find tradional things and some kitch chinese things.
Kruja is One hour and an half from Tirana.

2, The castle of Petrela, about 45 minutes from Tirana. The castle has been changed on a restaurant. So you can have an little view of Tirana and the suburbs.

The capital, Tirana, delights travelers with its modern architecture and easy-going atmosphere. Broad streets and beautiful magnolia trees surround and adorn Iskender Bey (Skanderbeg) Square at the heart of Tirana. The square is named after the statue in its centre of the folk hero, Skanderbeg - on some maps its name is given as “Sheshi Keshilli i Europes”. Flanking the square on all sides are structures which play important roles in the religious and cultural events of the city.

The most famous Albanian was Mother Theresa. Mother Theresa, whose birth name was Agnes Gonca Boyaci (born August 26th, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia – died September 5th, 1997, in Calcutta, India ), was from an Albanian family. A great number of statues depicting Mother Theresa can be found in Tiran and the neighboring country’s capital city, Skopje. Albania has immortalized Mother Theresa by naming the international airport in Tiran in her honor.