Square in Tirana
Skanderbeg Square is the enormous central square of Tirana, recently redesigned as a pedestrian zone with fountains and a mosaic pavement. Free. The equestrian statue of Skanderbeg (Albania’s national hero), the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the National Historical Museum, and the Opera House face the square. Budget travelers stand in the center and take in the full spectrum of Tirana’s architectural history, from Ottoman to communist to contemporary, in a single slow turn.
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Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Blloku (The Block) was the sealed-off residential compound of the communist elite during Enver Hoxha's regime, forbidden to ordinary Albanians on pain of arrest. Today it is Tirana's most vibrant nightlife and cafe district, a grid of tree-lined streets with bars, restaurants, fashion boutiques, and the former Hoxha residence (now visible from outside).
Bunk'Art 1 is a massive Cold War bunker on the outskirts of Tirana, built by the communist regime and now converted into a museum documenting Albania's 20th-century history. Entry is a small fee.
Bunk'Art 2 is a smaller bunker museum in the center of Tirana, behind the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Entry is a small fee.
The Et'hem Bey Mosque is an 18th-century mosque on Skanderbeg Square, one of the few religious buildings that survived the communist era's ban on religion. Free to enter outside of prayer times.
The Grand Park (Parku i Madh) is Tirana's largest green space, wrapping around an artificial lake south of the city center. Free.
The Dajti Ekspres cable car takes visitors from the outskirts of Tirana to near the summit of Mount Dajti (1,613 meters) in 15 minutes. Entry is paid at a modest price.
Working out what Tirana costs?
The whole of Tirana