About

About ULTIMATE Tirana City Guide

ULTIMATE Tirana City Guide is an independent guide for visitors to Tirana, Albania. We publish 16 curated lists: restaurants, cafés, bars, nightlife, hotels, sights, culture, parks & nature, walks, shopping, co-working, health + wellness, property, new developments, motoring and getting around. Together they cover Skanderbeg Square and the centre, Blloku, the New Bazaar, the Grand Park and Mount Dajti, and the country beyond: Berat, Gjirokastër, Shkodër and the Albanian Alps, the Riviera from Llogara to Butrint, Korçë and Pogradec, Durrës and Krujë.

Our editor

Jai Michael is Editor-in-Chief of the ULTIMATE City Guides. With more than 25 years in the media industry, he founded ABSOLUTE brighton and London TV, and has worked with leading luxury brands around the world.

How we choose

Our lists draw on local knowledge, official sources and recent reviews, and every place is checked against maps and its own website or recent reports. We look for quality, character and a genuine sense of Albania, from byrek bakeries to tasting menus.

Before you go

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change often, especially on the coast and in the mountains. Please check directly with each venue before you visit. Albania uses the lek (ALL); our price guides run from € (budget) to €€€€ (top end).

For venues

Run a venue in Tirana and spotted something to update? We review our lists regularly and welcome corrections.

Photo credits

• The terminal of Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, by Pasztilla, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The ruins of Apollonia, by Carole Raddato, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Culture on Skanderbeg Square, home of the National Opera, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Acropolis of Athens, by Jakub Hałun, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A glass of grape raki, by Kleadahari, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The renovated New Bazaar of Tirana, by Besara1, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Ottoman houses of the Mangalem quarter rising above the Osum in Berat, by Wolfgang Sauber, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Steps climbing the renewed Pyramid of Tirana at the edge of Blloku, by BBB2021, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Blue Eye pool near Theth, by Granit Temaj, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The beach at Borsh, by Sharon Hahn Darlin, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mountain road over the Llogara Pass down to the Albanian Riviera, by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Inside the Bunk’Art 2 museum in central Tirana, by Sharon Hahn Darlin, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The forum at Butrint, by Aktron, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The ancient theatre at Butrint, by Aktron, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The renovated New Bazaar of Tirana, by Besara1, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection in Tirana, by Radosław Botev, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tirana, the Grand Park lake and the mountains seen from the south, by Albinfo, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Clock Tower of Tirana, by Albinfo, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Clock Tower of Tirana, by Albinfo, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A café terrace in Tirana, by denisju_osm, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Pyramid of Tirana after its renovation, by BBB2021, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Dajti Ekspres cable car above Tirana, by Leeturtle, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Dajti Ekspres cable car above Tirana, by Leeturtle, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Ottoman houses of the Mangalem quarter rising above the Osum in Berat, by Wolfgang Sauber, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mountain road over the Llogara Pass down to the Albanian Riviera, by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tirana, the Grand Park lake and the mountains seen from the south, by Albinfo, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Roman amphitheatre of Durrës, by Karelj, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The beach near Durrës, by Leeturtle, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A ferry at the port of Durrës, by Albinfo, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Et’hem Bey Mosque in Tirana, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gjipe beach, by Pudelek (Marcin Szala), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The stone roofs of Gjirokastër’s old town below the mountains, by Radosław Botev, licensed CC BY 3.0 pl, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gjirokastër Castle, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Gorica Bridge over the Osum river in Berat, by Pudelek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Grunas waterfall in Theth, by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A 1930s ministry building on the main boulevard, by denisju_osm, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The beach at Himarë, by eigenes Foto, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mosaic above the National Historical Museum, by Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A lakeside house on the turquoise waters of Lake Koman, by You may re-use this image under the terms of the license using the following ref, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The old bazaar of Korçë in spring, by SualdoDino, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The old bazaar of Korçë in spring, by SualdoDino, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Perast on the Bay of Kotor, by Ingo Mehling, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Krujë Castle, by Ravi Dwivedi, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The old bazaar of Krujë with its minaret and craft stalls, by SualdoDino, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The sea at Ksamil, by METOKARA, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A shady avenue in Tirana’s Grand Park, by Photo: Chris Walts, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lana river in central Tirana, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lead Mosque below Rozafa, Shkodër, by Pudelek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The House of Leaves museum, by Jcornelius, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The view from Lëkurësi above Sarandë, by ARKADIUSZ MARKIEWICZ, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The road over the Llogara Pass dropping to the Albanian Riviera, by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Pyramid of Tirana after its renovation, by BBB2021, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• An iconostasis in the National Museum of Medieval Art, Korçë, by Wolfgang Sauber, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Great Mosque of Tirana with Mount Dajti behind, by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Narta Lagoon by Zvërnec, by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Alhambra in Granada in the evening light, by Jebulon, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos Hill, by Giles Laurent, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the Bahamas, by Rüdiger Stehn from Kiel, Deutschland, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open sea, by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Grand Palace reflected at dawn, by Nawit science, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. James, by Barry haynes, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sagrada Família lit up at night, by Maksim Sokolov, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunset, photo: © ULTIMATE International Media.
• The Romanian Athenaeum in its garden, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the Danube, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coast, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, by Gzzz, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hour, by Robert Bock, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key West, by Joe Parks from Berkeley, CA, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es Vedrà, by Beni Marull, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Baie des Anges, Nice, by Tobi 87, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini caldera, by Norbert Nagel, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Helsinki Cathedral above the South Harbour, by Ввласенко, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria Peak, by Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sun, by Charles from Port Chester, New York, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening light, by Nserrano, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Las Vegas Strip at dusk, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behind, by Petar Milošević, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the Thames, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains, by Alek Leckszas, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran Vía, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la Mar, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives, by Luka Peternel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts in Puerto Banús, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, by Robbschultz69, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountains, by Spike, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbour, by iMahesh, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at the Naples Pier, by pmarkham, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The New York City skyline from Top of the Rock, by Dillan Payne, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Millennium Bridge over the Morača, by Desemeus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, by Berthold Werner, edit by Böhringer, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery Spencer, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sebilj fountain and the square of Baščaršija, by Yukof, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu River, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Matterhorn in winter above Zermatt, by JoachimKohler-HB, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at night, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening sky, by Jose Ligero Loarte, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, Kandy, by Daniel Liabeuf, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed Pitons, by xiquinhosilva, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue sky, by BBB2021, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’Orcia, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its pool, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper Town, by Jorge Láscar from Australia, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The lock-in tower in Theth, by JoraK, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tirana’s centre lit up for the festive season, by Shkelzen A. Rexha, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, by Cacar60, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The church that houses the Onufri Museum in Berat castle, by Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Culture on Skanderbeg Square, home of the National Opera, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A shady avenue in Tirana’s Grand Park, by Photo: Chris Walts, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Lake Bovilla among the mountains of Dajti National Park, by Liridon, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Petrelë Castle above the Erzen valley, by Reinald.Maloku, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Independence Square in Podgorica, by Desemeus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A boat on Lake Ohrid at Pogradec, by Qen02, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Porto Palermo castle, by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Postbllok memorial, by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Newborn monument in Pristina, by Avocados2026, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Pyramid of Tirana after its renovation, by BBB2021, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A glass of grape raki, by Kleadahari, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tavë Elbasani, lamb baked with yoghurt, by Violeta Myftari Gatimet Shqiptare, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Rozafa Castle above Shkodër, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sarandë and its harbour, by Aktron, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Lake Shkodër behind Rozafa Castle, by DGA05, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The pedestrian Kolë Idromeno street in Shkodër, by Arianit Dobroshi, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The old bazaar of Krujë with its minaret and craft stalls, by SualdoDino, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skenduli House in Gjirokastër, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Skanderbeg Museum in Krujë castle, by Klodi Daci, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Stone Bridge in Skopje, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Inside St Paul’s Cathedral, Tirana, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Blue Eye spring near Sarandë, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Ottoman Tanners’ Bridge in Tirana, by Cruiser21, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tavë Elbasani, lamb baked with yoghurt, by Violeta Myftari Gatimet Shqiptare, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The White Tower of Thessaloniki, by Jaba1977, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Theth valley in the Albanian Alps, by Tom.whitehead337, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The church in Theth, by Tom.whitehead337, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The terminal of Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, by Pasztilla, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Valbona valley, by Alexkom000, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The monastery of St Mary on Zvërnec island, by Pudelek (Marcin Szala), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Church of the Archangels at Voskopojë, by Arbenllapashtica, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tirana’s centre lit up for the festive season, by Shkelzen A. Rexha, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Pyramid of Tirana after its renovation, by BBB2021, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Zekate House in Gjirokastër, by Sammeras23, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.