“There are two real blots on the landscape in
Tirana. One of the new mosques, lying half-finished since Erdogan froze his
financial support, and which in any case the city needed like it needed a
pocketful of dog doo. The other is that atrocious tower… it will never be
finished, and everybody hates it. The sidewalks are closed around it, it’s
repulsive, and it seems to be making no progress towards completion. ‘The shame
of Tirana’, they call it, and I’d say with some justification. (t.a., 2019)”
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Some parts of Tirana are modern and
(comparatively) rich, while others are impoverished and dilapidated, and you
can see both just a few meters from one another. The sights of Tirana are
nothing very special, and as they’re all located close to one another, it won’t
take you long to see them all. The atmosphere in Tirana, on the other hand, is
fascinating: Picture a Mediterranean city, relaxed and yet buzzing with
life, and with architecture so bizarre it’s hard to say whether it is meant
seriously or as a kind of joke. What is the real face of this city? There
are tall apartment buildings (‘skyscrapers’, as the locals boast) and run-down
slums right beside one another. Then there are parks that lack absolutely
nothing you could conceivably imagine in a park.
The cafés are great, and almost laughably cheap, while the food in the
restaurants is first-rate. What I want to emphasize is that the appeal of
Tirana lies not in its rather mediocre sights, but in its unique atmosphere,
which you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
You can see the city center in half a day if the weather is good, so if you’ve
got the time it’s worth taking a trip to the mountains. There you can go
hiking, or even take a horseback trip through the hills.
If you’re not in a hurry, it’s great to experience the local atmosphere by
spending a day or two just sitting in good cafés and people-watching. The food
is good and cheap, so it wouldn’t be hard to stretch this pleasant laziness
out over two or three days if you had the time.
Those who prefer to avoid touristy places, and who want to experience a truly
unique destination, can find it all here, and at an unbeatable price. There’s
nothing unmissable among Tirana’s sights, but I’d still highly recommend
visiting. (2018)
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,, Tirana, the capital is fashionable, there’s a ton of green space, and loads of colorfully painted houses and buildings. Tirana is one of the only European capitals without a Mcdonald's (another is Vatican City, I’m not sure whether this has anything to do with loaves and fishes or not). Whatever the reason not having a Mcdonald's can only be a plus as it encourages people to eat real food. However, if you find yourself craving an American-style hamburger, check out Kolonat, an Albania fast-food chain that has a logo suspiciously similar to McDonald’s, the burgers are infinitely better though.
Skanderbeg Square is the heart of Tirana, it’s colorful with pedestrian streets in which there are bars, restaurants and even interesting Ottoman remains. (Alan Durant, 2020)
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“Tirana is not a beautiful city. The traffic is terrible and many ugly buildings have survived from communist times. The main sights are concentrated around Skanderbeg Square. Positives? The many pleasant cafes and confectionery stores.” (B.l, 2019)
