So, you’re planning to spend 2 days in Tirana. Trust us, you won’t regret it! Now, we are guessing you’re here because you’d like to know if Tirana is worth visiting, and how to keep busy for 2 days? We have you covered with our detailed 2 day Tirana itinerary on how to visit Albania’s fantastic capital!
Tirana has undergone rapid development in the last decade, which can be instantly seen around Skanderbeg Square as new skyscrapers tower over the cultural space. The atmosphere of the city feels so fresh and is becoming more modernised every year.
We really enjoyed our time in Tirana, which is why we recommend spending a few days there to get a feel for not only the city but also the country! Tirana has a lot to offer, from huge green spaces for relaxing, to delicious eateries as well as a whole lot of history!
It ticks all of the boxes when it comes to travelling to a European city. Now let’s show you what to do in Tirana!
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Quick Tips for 2 weeks in Albania
- Currency – Albanian Lek (compare to your own currency here)
- Language – Albanian
- Cuisine – Albanian / Mediterranean Cuisine (byrek, tavë kosi, grosh, lakror)
- Albania Power Voltage – Plugs C & F (230 V)
- Where to stay in Tirana? We recommend Mosaic Home
- Planning a bigger trip? Here’s our 2 Week Albania Itinerary!
Simcard options for Albania
Local Sim – We picked up a sim from Vodafone when we landed at Tirana Airport. We paid €25 for a 40GB 21-day and shared one! You can also book a Vodafone sim in advance online for €20.
E-Sim – The quickest way to get internet in Albania is with an E-sim from Airalo. Get 2GB for 15 days and it’s only €7. Find out more here.
2 Day Tirana Itinerary: A Guide to Albania’s Capital
We’ve briefly covered what Tirana has in store, without further ado, let’s jump into this carefully curated 2 Day Tirana itinerary so you can get planning your trip!
Day 1 – Cultural sightseeing, shopping and underground bunkers
We arrived late the day before, so we’re starting this 2 day Tirana itinerary early in the morning! We made some breakfast at our accommodation and headed out for the day.
Explore Skanderbeg Square
If you’d like a guide for your 2 days in Tirana, have a look at this 2 Hour Walking Tour for your trip!
Dive right in and visit the heart of Tirana. Named after Gjergj Kastrioti, Skanderbeg Square has lots to be admired, such as the Skanderbeg statue, Et’hem Bej Mosque, the National History Museum and the Palace of Culture. Not to mention a HUGE Albanian flag towering overhead!
The surrounding area is currently undergoing massive development with huge towers being built around the square. There’s certainly a feeling of old meets new here! Tirana is one to keep on the radar, there’s no doubt it will continue to develop and thrive in the coming years.
You might be wondering, “Who is Skanderbeg? and why is there a statue to commemorate him?”. Skanderbeg is a national hero of Albania and one of the most celebrated figures in the history of the Balkans.
He is best known for leading a successful rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, defending Albanian lands from Ottoman rule.
If you are travelling the Balkans, you will likely see statues of him in neighbouring countries too!
Go shopping at the New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri)
Here, you will find an outdoor market under cover selling fresh fruits, honey, spices, traditional rugs and other gifts to buy and take home with you. We picked up an Albanian magnet here for our fridge back home as we like to collect one from every country we visit!
We didn’t find anywhere else quite like it in Tirana, so it’s worth a browse if you’re in the market to buy some keepsakes. The New Bazaar Market also had a huge variety of fresh olives on sale to buy and sample, so if you love olives, be sure to come here.
It’s a nice part of town to have a little walk around and check out all of the local restaurants, there are plenty of them!
Walk over Tanner’s Bridge
Walk south to the river and you can find a slice of Tirana’s history, Tanner’s Bridge! This 18th-century Ottoman Empire bridge once connected Tirana to the Eastern Highlands.
While it doesn’t have a purpose in modern-day Albania, it’s a well-kept example of Ottoman Empire-era architecture. It’s an easy spot to add to your things to do in Tirana!
➤ Visiting more places in Albania? Here’s our 2 Week Albania Itinerary!
Witness Namazgah Mosque
Follow the road a little further on from Tanner’s Bridge, and you’ll be rewarded with views of the Namazgah Mosque. While it hasn’t finished construction, this mosque will be the largest in the whole of the Balkans!
Construction began in 2015 and it’s slowly nearing completion, once finished, it will accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers!
Despite not being open yet, the outside looked complete when we visited in July of 2024, so it’s worth walking by to snap some photos on your Tirana itinerary.
Step back in time at Tirana Castle
Now, before you rush off to see Tirana Castle you might be a little disappointed, so be sure to manage your expectations! Spoiler alert, there is no longer a castle here! What you will find are boutique shops, cafes and restaurants enclosed within 6th-century ruins dating back to the Byzantine period.
Later built on by the Ottomans, what remains now is an ancient gateway and a few walls visible from the outside.
It’s a great place to see old meet new, with the trendy restaurants and cafes running businesses on this ancient historical site! In our eyes, it’s certainly worth a quick stop.
Take lunch at ‘Falafel House’ in Rinia Park
Time to refuel! We headed to ‘Falafel House’ on the edge of Rinia Park and it did not disappoint!
We absolutely love Albanian food, but Tirana has a whole range of options we didn’t find during our 2 week Albania trip. So it was really refreshing to have something different!
An XL Falafel pita is HUGE and comes fully loaded with hummus, chilli sauce, falafel, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, cabbage and tahini dressing, all in an awesome pitta. They’re only 350-450 leke and so filling!
We took our wraps into Rinia Park and enjoyed them sitting in the shade all while watching the world pass by in Tirana. It’s a nice place to either rest on the grass or sit at one of the benches dotted around the park.
Just like many other Balkan countries, it’s not uncommon to see people playing dominos or card games in public parks.
➤ Enjoying this 2 day Tirana itinerary? Check out our 2 day Berat Travel Guide!
Learn about Communist-era Albania at Bunk’Art 2
Next up on your 2 day Tirana itinerary is another journey into Albania’s dark history. We spent around 2 hours here!
Did you know that Albania has around 175,000 – 750,000 war bunkers still scattered around the country today? This was due to the then-paranoid communist leader, Enver Hoxha, building bunkers in mass in anticipation of a country-wide invasion.
As you can imagine, the invasion never came and Enver died in 1985 before the final bunkers were completed. Due to the laborious work and high costs involved in removing them, hundreds of thousands of military bunkers can easily be spotted all over Albania.
It’s important to know that Albania was under communist leadership for a very long 45 years, and it only came to an end in 1991, which means it was under communist rule longer than it has been a free country. So always be respectful when visiting museums such as Bunk’Art.
Two bunkers in Tirana have been converted into museums so that locals and tourists can visit and learn about Albania’s long communist era. Bunk’Art 1 and Bunk’Art 2 are some of the biggest and most important bunkers in all of Albania, and for history buffs or travellers interested in learning some history, they are a must to add to your Tirana 2 day itinerary!
We spent a while reading the stories of people experiencing this dark time in Albania’s history and learning how the communist party manipulated the country.
Bunk’Art 2 is important as it’s directly connected to a neighbouring government building through a network of underground tunnels. Its core purpose was to protect government officials in the unlikely case of nuclear fallout.
With this in mind, the highest-ranking communist officials had dedicated rooms prepared in case of war, so that they could safely hide for months on end without having to leave the bunker until safe.
You’ll also gain insight into the secrets of the Sigurimi, communist Albania’s then-secret services who carried out unlawful crimes and deception to support Enver’s propaganda and to keep the people of Albania under a firm grip.
Good to know before visiting: Come with an open mind and be in a good place mentally, you’ll be reading about true, horrific history. Bunk’Art only accepts cash (ALL or EUR is accepted). There is no AC in the bunker, so it can get a little hot and stuffy at times, but it is still cooler than outside in the summer!
💰 900 leke / €9 per person
Wander through the neighbourhood of Blloku
If you have energy after this jam-packed day of adventure, we recommend taking a stroll through the neighbourhood of Blloku! Dotted with easy-going cafes, eateries and shops, you’ll notice this area bursts with life when the sun goes down.
We swung by Hana Corner Cafe and had a delicious vegan cookie! While they aren’t fully vegan, they have a great selection of baked sweet treats and drinks!
If you fancy grabbing something cold, like an ice cream, we recommend stopping by La Nocciola Gelateria. Trust us, it gets hot in the summer months!
Blloku is also the neighbourhood where communist leader Enver Hoxha used to live. You can find his former residence located here on Google Maps. While you can’t go in as it’s now privately owned, it’s a point of interest if you find yourself in the area.
That’s the end of day one on our 2 day Tirana itinerary! Get some good sleep and prepare for day two.
Day 2 – See Tirana from above and explore the Grand Park
This day is dedicated to the nature of Tirana! Grab some snacks from a local supermarket and head out on your second day!
Ride the Dajti Ekspress Cable Car
Experience Tirana from above by catching the Dajti Ekspress cable car to the top of Dajti mountain. Roughly 45 minutes from Tirana centre, you can catch the number 11 or 15 bus to Dajti Ekspress cable car station. Using Google Maps will give you accurate public transport options from your exact location.
Tickets cost €14 per person for a return journey, with the cable car ride taking around 15 minutes one way. It’s important to know that the cable car is closed on Tuesdays every week, and it can close during adverse weather conditions, so be sure to check their Facebook or Instagram account for the latest updates before making the journey out!
You might not believe it, but there is more than just a viewing platform of Tirana here! You can play mini golf, stay in the Belvedere Hotel, drink at the rotating bar or even go mountain biking, the options are endless! The cable car is an awesome way to spend your 2 days in Tirana.
➤ Visiting the mountains in Albania? Here’s our Theth Travel Guide!
Get lost in the Grand Park of Tirana
A short walk out of the city centre, Tirana has a huge 710-acre park alongside a massive lake. Listen to the cicadas and water birds all while shaded under the canopy of trees. You could easily spend anywhere from 30 minutes to a whole day here.
You’ll also find restaurants and cafes dotted around the park, perfect for unwinding in the evening next to Tirana’s artificial lake!
If you don’t fancy walking, you can also take a land train through the park. This can be found parked on the main pathway near the Artificial Lake Playground.
Climb the Pyramid of Tirana
After a lovely stroll at the park head back into the city centre to explore more things to do in Tirana! You might be wondering, “why does Tirana have a pyramid?”. Well, it’s not quite a pyramid in the traditional sense, it’s best to come and check this one out in person!
Now a relic of the communist past, the Pyramid of Tirana originally opened as a museum dedicated to the now-deceased dictator, Enver Hoxha. After 3 short years, communism collapsed in 1991 and the pyramid was abandoned for some time.
Following this, the purpose of this unique building changed a few times, ranging from a NATO base during the Kosovo war to a TV station, cafes, and a night club to name a few. Pretty diverse right?
Since 2023, it’s been given a new lease of life and it has been rejuvenated as Tirana’s cultural hub. Inside, you’ll find colourful, artistic office buildings which look as if they might still be waiting for businesses to move in. On the outside, you can climb the many different stairways to reach the top of the pyramid and be greeted with 360 panoramic views around Tirana.
It’s a great spot to check out in the evening of your 2 day Tirana itinerary. You’ll also find plenty of locals taking a walk down the boulevard in the surrounding area and playing in the parks! It’s a great example of architecture from Albania’s communist past with a new look in the 21st century!
More things to do in Tirana
Tirana is a city full of things to do, so here’s a few more ideas on how to spend 2 days in Tirana. Plus you can add a few of them to your last evening!
Street markets
We highly recommend browsing the streets of the city during your 2 days in Tirana. We stumbled across a street riddled with fruit markets just by chance. It would seem locals buy fruit and vegetables from street markets, and everything else for supermarkets.
This means that street markets are bustling with life and are well worth hunting down if given the chance! It’s also a great spot to get some good-quality fruit! In the months of June and July, it’s watermelon season! And let me tell you, they are cheap and delicious, you have to grab one on your 2 day Tirana itinerary!
A day trip to Kruje
There’s a small historical town only a short 1-hour bus journey away from Tirana that is well worth the visit! From the South and North Bus Terminal in Tirana, you can hop on a minivan with the destination board written “KRUJE” in the front window (Not “F.KRUJE”, this will only get you part way there).
Tickets will cost 200 leke per person (2 EUR), paid in cash onboard the minivan. We’ve written a full guide on how to explore Kruje on a day trip from Tirana!
You only need a few hours to explore Kruje, so including the travel time to and from Tirana, it’s easily achievable in a half day. Be sure to check out the bazaar, Kruje Castle, as well as a few museums on the grounds of the castle. Don’t worry, they are easy enough to find!
If you don’t fancy organising this trip yourself, why not book a tour on GetYourGuide: Day trip from Tirana: Kruje Castle, Old Bazaar & Sari Salltik Tour.
Cook up a storm at a local cooking class
Do you prefer to experience travel through eating? A cooking class is always on the top of our list when travelling away. We are big foodies, and to be able to cook abroad with the guidance of a local is a must in our opinion.
Another bonus is you get to eat a big meal afterwards! You can book a cooking class on GetYourGuide: Traditional Albania Cooking Class with Homemade Wine! This would be the perfect way to end your 2 days in Tirana.
Venture out on a city walking tour
Feeling overwhelmed without the amount of stops to check out Tirana? A walking tour is a great way to see a city first-hand with a local guide. Why not check out this 2-Hour Express Tirana Walking Tour?
Explore nature with a day of mountain hiking
We didn’t have time to go hiking during our 2 days in Tirana, but Albania is packed with breathtaking natural beauty! Bovilla Lake & Gamti Mountain Hiking Day Trip is the perfect way to explore some of Albania’s best nature, all from the comfort of booking a tour from Tirana! Think milky-blue waters surrounded by tall, green-ridged mountain peaks.
Learn about History and Culture in a museum
As you can imagine, Albania has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Why not put some time aside to learn about this culture-heavy Balkan country? Here are a few museums we recommend checking out:
- House of Leaves Museum
- National Historical Museum
- Bunk’Art 1 and Bunk’Art 2
- Bank of Albania Museum
Where to stay in Tirana
Tirana is a very walkable city, so if you can, we recommend staying near the centre to save you lots of travelling each day. The apartment we stayed at during our stay in Tirana was roughly a 20-minute walk from Skanderbeg Square.
At first, it sounded far, but we got to walk through other nice parts of the city we otherwise wouldn’t have seen. Read on to see our accommodation recommendations below!
Lovely One Bedroom Studio in Tirana – This is where we stayed during our 2 days in Tirana and we had a great time! It was well situated for walking into the centre of Tirana and had all of the facilities you would expect from an apartment (kitchen, washing machine, bathroom). It was nice to eat breakfast next to the large front window every morning looking out to the city. Find it on booking.com here.
Mosaic Home – Beautifully decorated traditional Albanian home offering a cosy stay. Well located in the west of Tirana. Find it on booking.com here.
21-Rooms – Budget option on the west of Tirana. Clean, modern rooms for a quiet night’s stay. Find it on booking.com here.
The Golden Rooster – A fantastic hostel situated in the very centre of Tirana. A great option if you want to be in the heart of the city. Find it on booking.com here.
Places to eat in Tirana
- Falafel House € – Delicious, affordable falafel wraps which are huge! They are also one of the only 100% vegan eateries in Albania. Find on Google Maps here.
- Oda € – Traditional Albania restaurant with tasty vegan options. Find on Google Maps here.
- Veggies €€ – Great vegetarian international cuisine in Tirana when you aren’t fancying traditional food. Find on Google Maps here.
- Fabrika € – Great ice cream with fantastic vegan options. Perfect for the Albanian summer heat. Find on Google Maps here.
- Hanna Corner Cafe €€ – Cosy cafe in the trendy Blloku neighbourhood serving up pastries, cakes, hot and chilled drinks. Find on Google Maps here.
➤ Heading to the beaches of Albania? Read our Sarande travel guide.
How to get around Tirana
By City Bus
Tirana has a reliable bus system, getting you from all corners of the city, it’s a great option to travel around! Using Google Maps is a good way to see the bus routes and loosely use it for the schedule too.
Buses in Tirana are cash only, so try to keep small notes or coins on you when you can. City buses have a flat rate of 40 leke (0.40 EUR) per journey, and payment will be collected by the ticket operator onboard the bus.
No need to pay at the front when you board, simply hop on the bus and the person will come to you when they do the payment round after every stop. It’s helpful to have the money handy before they reach you so that they know you need to pay.
Be sure to hold on to your ticket, as they might forget they previously collected payment and try to charge you again. You’ll likely need the bus from the centre of Tirana to the South and North Bus Terminal if you plan to travel the rest of Albania by coach!
By Foot
Tirana is a relatively small city which means it is great for exploring on foot! Like many places, travelling by foot means you get to experience sites you might well have missed if travelling by car or bus. Most of the sights on our 2 day Tirana itinerary are accessible by foot (minus the Cable Car)
By Taxi
You have a few options for taxis in Tirana. While we didn’t catch any taxis when visiting Albania, we did download a few ridesharing apps in case we needed to catch a taxi in an emergency. VrapOn Taxi, Speed Taxi and UPs Taxi are a few reputable companies to mention.
We got close to catching a taxi from the North and South bus terminal in Tirana and felt it was a little expensive (around €9 for a 15-minute journey) compared to the very affordable €0.40 city bus.
You can also hail a taxi from the side of the road, just be sure to either negotiate a price beforehand or ensure the metre is running to avoid any confusion around the cost of the journey.
How to get to Tirana
By Plane
Tirana has a major international airport (TIA) and is most likely your entry point into Albania! It’s extremely well connected across Europe with 100s of direct flights. If you’re planning to travel to or from North America, chances are you will need to connect elsewhere in Europe.
Onward travel from TIA is also convenient, a network of city buses and regional coaches will get you almost anywhere in the country.
By Coach (International)
Another popular mode of transport to reach Albania is by coach from neighbouring Balkan countries! The most popular routes are Podgorica to Tirana and Athens to Tirana. Try to make a reservation ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Failing this, turn up at the coach station you need from the country you are departing, and look for coaches with ‘Tirana’ written on a board in the front window.
Regional coaches and minivans (Domestic)
There’s a good chance you might be travelling to Tirana from the North or the South of Albania depending on your itinerary. Towns such as Shkoder, Berat, Gjirokaster and Sarande are all popular destinations and easily reached by regional coaches and minivans.
To get from these locations to Tirana, expect to pay between 500-1000 leke (5-10 EUR) per person. Tirana is quite a long journey from Sarande so expect to pay more from here.
There is no need to pre-book these types of minivans, simply turn up at the bus station 20-30 mins before departure to grab a seat. It’s a good idea to either sit in a seat to reserve it or leave your bag while you wait outside.
We found it too hot to sit and wait on the bus while waiting for it to leave. Be warned, buses do fill up so don’t be disappointed if you arrive too close to departure and don’t get a space. Regional minivans and coaches are the main modes of transport around Albania as they do not have a public railway.
From Corfu (Ferry and coach)
Did you know that Corfu is only a short 1-hour ferry ride from Sarande? That’s right! This means you could be arriving in Albania from Corfu and need to reach Tirana, if you decide that’s where you need to be. So from Corfu, you can book a ferry to Sarande using Ionian Seaways or Finikas Lines.
Once you’ve arrived in Sarande, either spend a few days here or hop on a coach in the centre of town headed for Tirana. Bear in mind, that the coach to Tirana will take 4+ hours and in the summer months will be very hot!
How many days to spend in Tirana?
We recommend spending a minimum of 2 days in Tirana, this gives you enough time to see all of the main sites, take in the city and not be 100% rushed off of your feet. This way, you will be able to complete our 2 day Tirana itinerary and not miss out on what this amazing city has to offer!
With 3 days, you could add a day trip to Kruje, a historical town 1 hour north of Tirana offering an Ottoman-era castle with museums. You could also squeeze in a few more museums in Tirana which we didn’t find the time to visit.
If you are short on time, and only need 1 day in Tirana to layover between travelling further north or south, we would recommend taking a look at the first day of our 2 day Tirana itinerary. This way, you will get to experience the cultural highlights of the city and also get some steps in!
Is Tirana worth visiting?
Short answer: YES! We loved visiting Tirana and quite honestly, it was a lot nicer than we were expecting. After spending 2 days in Triana we realised it’s a very green city, with trees towering along the streets and home to the Grand Park of Tirana (you need to visit here!). It’s dotted with fruit and vegetable markets, where locals are selling some of the best fresh produce.
It’s extremely walker-friendly, which makes it that much easier to get around and pop out for a wander. Historical landmarks, cosy cafes and delicious bakeries selling fresh bureks, what more could you want? We wholeheartedly recommend visiting Tirana!
Thank you for reading our 2 Day Tirana Itinerary, we hope you found it insightful and consider visiting Albania soon! Why not check out some of our other Albania guides while you’re here?
- 2 Week Albania Itinerary
- 2 Day Berat Itinerary, Albania
- 1 Day Gjirokaster Itinerary, Albania
- Best Things To Do in Krujë
- Best Things to do in Shkoder, Albania
- What To Do in Theth, Albania
- Things to do in Sarande, Albania
- Vegan in Albania Guide
- How to travel Albania on a Budget
- 3 Day Corfu Itinerary, Greece
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