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Little by little, Albania has become one of Europe’s most beloved budget centers, but with more people than ever flocking to the once overlooked capital, it’s not so easy to find those great deals everyone keeps talking about.
Since then MasterCard I just came up with a report called Tirana, a place I’ve called home for longer than I can remember, the third fastest growing travel destination in the world, I thought it was time to come over here and give you some insider tips on how to really get the most out of the city.
Having a set itinerary with plenty of pit stops is essential
First of all: Tirana is busy, bigger than you think, and also scorching hot this time of year.
In July and August, highs of 35°C – 38°C (95°F – 100°F) are quite common, so while I know how fun it is to be spontaneous and see where the day takes you, now it’s not the time to do that.
You want to have a set itinerary with plenty of stops to rest and recharge. Of course, keep a list of backup places, along with their approximate locations, on your phone so that even if your plans change, you don’t. You don’t have to wander around clueless under the scorching summer heat.
This is what a first day of visitors in Tirana could look like:
- 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM – Coffee and breakfast at a Mon Cheri, Mulliri i Vjetër or Sophie Cafe (these are popular chains with locations across the city)
- 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM – Visit Skanderbeg Square (great place to buy some souvenirs, admire the local architecture and people watch).
- 10:50 AM – 12:00 PM – Visit Bunk’Art 2 (less than 5 minutes away from the square).
- 12:05 PM – 12:30 PM – Quick snack run at a nearby supermarket or byrektore (where you can find freshly made bureks for less than $0.8 each).
- 12:35 PM – 1:45 PM – Visit Tirana Castle and the surrounding pedestrian area
- 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Lunch at Restaurant Era Blloku (traditional dishes at a reasonable price)
- 3:50 PM – 6:30 PM – Return to your hotel/Airbnb and rest (by this time it should have become too hot to walk around and most of the city is pretty quiet).
- 6:45 PM – 8:30 PM – A Dajti Express ride that will take you to the top of Dajti Mountain just in time to watch the sunset.
- 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Dinner back in town, either at Pizzeria Deliziosa (Italian), Sakura (Japanese) or Serendiville (Mexican).
Then you can call it a day or go for a drink in the famous Blloku district (more on that below).
If you play your cards right, you can get by on less than $60 a day
I recently saw a video of a tourist spending two days in Tirana for less than $150, and I couldn’t help but think that you can definitely get by with even less.
As long as you keep your meals quick and cheap (for example, a $2.5 breakfast sandwich at Mulliri i Vjetër for breakfast, a $0.7 burek for lunch, and a $6 combo meal at OPA for dinner), you’ll be fine. ready for success.
That Dajti Express ticket I just mentioned only costs ~$2.2, admission to Bunk’art costs ~$7, and there are plenty of hotels in fantastic locations that charge just over $40.
Speaking of which…
Finding a decent, cheap place to stay is easier than you might think
Cheap places to stay in the city are easy to find, but my top tip would be to opt for an Airbnb instead of a traditional hotel – I know they’re a bit controversial among American travelers, but here they offer an excellent price to quality ratio .
To take this For example.
It’s located right in the city center, has rave reviews, and costs less than $50 per day.
Avoid using public transport as much as possible, especially during peak hours
Public transportation in Tirana can be challenging to navigate even as a local, especially during the hot summer months when surviving a ride in traffic in an outdated, incredibly crowded bus can be a nightmare.
So my top tip would be to spend a bit more on a more centrally located Airbnb (look for places near Scanderbeg Square, Myslym Shyri, Blloku, 21 Dhjetori, Vasil Shanto, Komuna e Parisit, Rruga e Elbasanit or Liqeni) and book one Green taxi when you have to go somewhere you can’t walk to.
Take advantage of the incredible food scene
Not only are traditional Albanian dishes as good as they say, but Tirana is such a mix of cultures and influences that you’re guaranteed to find delicious food no matter what type of cuisine you prefer.
I’ve already talked about some of my favorites.
The gyros from OPA, the pizzas from Deliziosa, the fërgesë from Era, the sushi from Sakura and the tiramisù from Cioccolatitaliani are all must-tries.
If your schedule allows, plan a day trip to one of the many fantastic nearby towns
Although there is a lot to do in Tirana, Albania is a surprisingly diverse country with much more to offer outside the capital.
So if you have a day to spare, spend it catching a ray of sunshine in Durrës (if you go here, be sure to try the paella at Stinët 4), take in the fairytale views of Berat, or take in the historical sights from Krujë?
Enjoy a night out like a local: exploring Blloku
There is nothing that locals in Tirana love more than a night out in ‘Blloku’, by far the liveliest and trendiest area in the city.
Here you’ll find everything from high-end restaurants and high-end boutiques to Irish pubs where you can get a craft beer and a snack of your choice for less than $10.
If this combination has piqued your interest, be sure to check out Duff or Meduza – neither the atmosphere nor the food will disappoint you.
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
