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Top 10 Places To Visit In Tirana

Tirana, Albania

Tirana, the capital of Albania, is known for its colorful Ottoman-, Fascist- and Soviet-era architecture. Pastel buildings surround the city's focal point, Skanderbeg Square, which is named for its equestrian statue of a national hero. If you're more into clubbing than hiking, Tirana is worth visiting. There are some neat bars to check out, some of the most popular being in the Blloku neighborhood.

Following are the Top 10 Places to Visit in Tirana:

1. Skanderbeg Square

When visiting Tirana, Skanderbeg Square is the place to start. From this venue, the whole of Tirana is within walking distance. The elegant Skanderbeg statue is the star attraction. The square itself is a happening place, with locals and tourists having leisure walks and cycling. Cafes and restaurants within walking distance. This is a very easy place to visit. The most important thing is you should have a guide to help explain the history and this is so important.

There is a large bronze statue of Skanderbeg on horseback (imagine Alexander The Great meets Thor) in the middle of the square, and the Et'hem Bey Mosque, one of the nation's most treasured buildings that dates back to the late eighteenth century, sits in the southeast corner. Also situated here are the nation's major museums, including The National Historic Museum adorned with a huge socialist mural of victorious partisans.

2. Tirana’s Concrete Pyramid

You’ll find Tirana’s concrete pyramid, Piramida, a short walk from Skanderbeg Square. Built-in 1987 by the daughter of Albania’s dictator Enver Hoxha (who tyrannically ruled Albania from 1944–85) as a museum to her father, it now sits derelict, stripped of the tiles that once covered it and splattered with graffiti.

3. Grand Park

This large, wooded park is where many of Tirana's citizens head for a bit of time out, whether it’s fishing in the artificial lake, picnicking on the lawns, or kicking back in one of the many café-bars. Considering how oppressive Tirana's traffic can get, this park allows the city's Mediterranean ambiance to shine.

4. Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania

This church is just around the corner from the square on the main street. It is not only beautiful outside but the interior is a definite must-see. It is richly designed there are priests inside and a prayer room you can use if you want to pray. It is truly a lovely church. It has an unusual design and is well worth a quick look inside where quite stunning stained glass windows accompany a large picture of Mother Teresa constructed entirely of shells.

5. Mount Dajti National Park

If you are wondering what to do in Tirana away from the city center, head to Mount Dajti National Park, popular with Tirana's residents for fresh air and countryside walks. You can either take an Austrian-built cable car (expensive) or the city bus (cheap) and once there you’ll find hotels, guest houses, and restaurants if you feel like staying overnight.

6. Et’hem Bey Mosque

The Et'hem Bey Mosque is one of the few mosques to have escaped destruction by the Communists, which had resulted in any kind of religious institution being either closed, demolished, or converted into warehouses or schools by the end of 1967. Today, visitors can enjoy the mosque's beautiful architecture and its delicate decorations of wall and ceiling paintings in the oriental traditions.

7. Clock Tower

The clock tower is a symbol of the municipality of Tirana and, in an ensemble with the Et'hem Bey Mosque, is a unique architectural landmark. The tower itself looks nice and has historical value to the area and city. Up-top views are fairly good and you can see a lot of main squares. Located just off Skanderbeg Square and right next to Et’hem Mosque, the Bell Tower is easy to spot.

8. House of Leaves

A museum dedicated to the communist era in Albania. It provides a detailed account of the awful things that went on at that time. The building was originally a maternity hospital. It stands opposite the Orthodox Church in the center of Tirana. A must-see!

Once inside the headquarters of the infamous National Intelligence Service, also known as the House of Spies, there's a good chance you'll be speechless.

9. Bunk’Art

Bunk’Art a massive bunker built by the communist dictator is now a museum. It was built on the orders of Enver Halil Hoxha, the dictator who ruled Albania for some 50 years, as a hideout in the event of war.

Today the bunker is open to visitors and is a monument to Albania's communist past. A walk through the bunker's dark, spooky corridors is one of the best things you can do in Tirana.

10. New Bazaar

New Bazaar is one of the most historic and oldest neighborhoods in the Albanian capital, which takes its name from the food market that is located in the area.

Here you'll find a huge variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, seafood, and spices, and the farmers of the New Bazaar will not only help you find the best products but also tell you about the history of this bustling market.

One of the best things about Tirana is its compactness, which makes it a great place to walk around. However, although it's not the biggest city, there are plenty of places to walk around.

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