I enjoy writing these posts so much, for it means I have discovered some things in each destination that I want to share. This city was no exception, while it took me a while to warm up to Tirana, I really grew to enjoy my time here. I give you 5 free things to do in Tirana Albania that I hope will keep you occupied and delighted.
Pyramid
Something that was a surprise to me was the Tirana Pyramid. Not the structure itself, for I knew it was here, it was just not what I was expecting. You see, the photo’s I had seen prior, were of a Communist era building, made of raw concrete and covered with graffiti. This was how it was for decades, a forlorn looking building, a museum, in the centre of a large and neglected square.
What I found instead was a brand new building, well, I believe they have kept a skeleton of the old Pyramid. From the exterior this new one is covered on three sides by stark white stone staircases, at least a dozen of them, ranging in width from one to another.
Inside the pyramid (it is currently closed for an event), are shops and classrooms. It is currently being used as a Youth IT building. The square around the pyramid is now a series of colourful boxed shaped buildings, tipped on their sides and upended, that are mobile phone shops and restaurants. It is an interesting place and very much worth climbing to the top of the pyramid for the views alone.
Mother Albania
Those looking for a little bit of a walk and some views of the city, can go see the larger-than-life Mother Albania statue. Part of the Martyrs Cemetery, this beautiful white structure is located about 30 minutes from the city centre and beside Grand Park.
Once through the gates, its hard to miss the statue. She watches over the 28,000 graves of soldiers that are buried here and who lost their lives in WWII. Located at the centre of a square, walk right up to her base and all around. Wander over to the front of the square and have a look at the magnificent views of Tirana spread before you. With the mountains in the background, you are in for a treat.
If you don’t mind, have a wander through the graves, it is a humbling place, a quiet place and a beautiful area to reflect and practice gratitude.
Tirana Castle
Ok so there is no actual castle to see, yes, I was dismayed by this fact too. But the foundations are still visible as are part of the walls. Technically called the Fortress of Justinian, this historical place was originally build in the 1300’s during the Byzantine Era.
The interior of the castle has been transformed into a place to congregate, enjoy good food and bevvies and do a little shopping. To envision what was once there, see the three original gate entrances and the ruins of the fortified corner between the current castle entrance and the mall.
Military Bunkers
During the reign of Enver Hoxha, 750,000 military bunkers were constructed all over the country. Along beaches, up in the mountains and on streets. There is one small park in Tirana that has a particularly large number and you can even go down into one of these.
At Ismail Quemali Park, wander through the paths and see at least six of the 1-2-man bunkers. One located right at the main boulevard, has been cleaned out and visitors can safely explore it. There is another towards the back of the park, that is open but I did not feel safe going inside.
Besides these small military bunkers, many larger nuclear bomb shelters were built as well, especially in Tirana. Two of these can be visited, paying a fee of course, they are called Bunk Art 1 & 2. Did you know that the city of Tirana has thousands of the small bunkers around? The were built in 50 concentric circles radiating out from the middle of the city.
Resurrection Cathedral
One thing I was surprised with in the city, is the number of churches, and not small ones either. With 50% of the population being Muslim, I expected a far greater number of mosques. One of these, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania is unique. From the tall bell tower to the domed construction, it really is a magnificent building to see.
Have a wander inside the see the incredibly beautiful chandelier hanging in the centre of the dome. If you are lucky like I was, a service will be going on and you can stand at the back, close your eyes and let the reverberations and chanting of the choir fill your body. It is a magical experience no matter what denomination you are.
I hope you enjoy these places on your visit to Tirana. When I first arrived, I felt overwhelmed as only a capital city can do. I was met with chaos, crowds (non tourist) and unusual sights that I was not expecting. Wanting to explore the city as naively as possible, I did very little research on what there was to see. Tirana is a treasure chest of discoveries just waiting to be explored.
