History
Castle of Tirana
The castle is a field fortification with a rectangular plan of 160 x 125 meters, the longest side being the east-west wall. The preserved constructions of some of the towers and segments of the surrounding walls indicate that the castle is likely to have been built for the first time in antiquity, perhaps in the early Byzantine period (IV – VI century A.D). It is believed to belong to one of the fortifications built or reconstructed by the Emperor Justinian in the New Epirus (province of Durrës).
Artificial Lake of Tirana
The Grand Park of Tirana (Albanian: Parku i Madh i Tiranës), or the Park on the Artificial Lake, is a 289 hectare public park situated on the southern part of Tirana, Albania, and administered by the Agency of Parks and Recreation of the Municipality of Tirana.
The Park includes an artificial lake and many other landmarks such as the Saint Procopius Church, the Presidential Palace, and memorials to several Albanian personalities.
Dajti Express
Located just outside the city, the Austrian built cable car will whisk you away to our complex at the top of Dajti Mountain on the longest cableway in the Balkans. Our website provides you with all the necessary information to plan your trip including ticket prices and opening times, tips on public transport & taxi’s as well as maps and parking info. You can also find out more about our hospitality services including the fantastic Dajti Tower Hotel & Cliff-top Restaurant “Ballkoni Dajtit” as well as all the exciting activities you can do at the top of Dajti mountain!
House of Leaves
House of Leaves is one of the most unusual museums in Albania. It is considered to be the equivalent of the Stasi headquarters of the former East Germany. The leaves have a double meaning: things hidden in woods, but also the leave of books and files, on people. Those curious to see what was hidden in the HQ of the notorious National Intelligence Service, also known as the House of Spies, will leave speechless. The original house was built in 1931 with the primary function of a medical clinic. During World War II, under German occupation, it was used by the Gestapo.
Why Love Tirana
Tirana is becoming very attractive for tourists in the latest years. In Tirana you will find ‘all in one’: the people, the mixed history, the night life, the adorable surrounding nature and the delicious culinary. Gathering the reviews from the visitors of our website www.visit-tirana.com, we are listing here 16 reasons why to love Tirana and its people:
- It is the center of cultural life of all Albanians in the region (including those in Kosovo, Macedonia Montenegro etc).
- The liveliest city with a high number of young people (night life)
- The place of best restaurants, fine dining and agritourism and all kind of cuisine
- The center of Albanian art, of best museums, and galleries etc
- The place with perfect climate for any tourists, 300 sunny days, some rain, rarely snow (you can visit it in every season)
- The city with the mountain and the sea in the same distance
- The city with the highest number of people speaking foreign languages
- The city of huge contrasts, mixed architecture
- The city where the traces of communism past are still so evident
- The best place for shopping for everyone
- The city where you can do outdoor activities, hiking, climbing, exploring nature
- The city is friendly for bike lovers
- The city where you can find the biggest Churches and Mosques and Tekkes (religious tolerance)
- The city with biggest pedestrian square in Balkans (Skanderbeg Square)
- The city with the highest number of coffee bar per population
- The city with very hospitable and friendly people toward foreigners