Albania might not be the first place you’d think of for a weekend getaway but its capital Tirana might change your mind after you read this.
Flights to Tirana from London
A three-hour flight from London Stansted is a new direct route on low-budget airline Ryanair. Even better, it’s cheap to visit and temperatures can hit up to 21 degrees in early December. A long weekend in the capital – with flights flying on a Friday afternoon to late night flight Monday cost £26 return flights.
Hotels in Tirana
Meanwhile, there is plenty to choose from when it comes to places to stay. Think Airbnb, hotels, and hostels but we decided to book a luxury apartment on Booking.com which cost (wait till you hear this) £92 for three nights. This is of course based on two people sharing a room but where we stayed it also had a living, kitchen and dining area as well as our own private bathroom to enjoy.
Things to do in Tirana
There’s plenty to see and do in the capital too if you’re after a mix of culture, great food and nightlife. Unlike London and the UK Tirana doesn’t have a late-night licence which means you can party until your heart’s content going into the early morning hours without getting stopped by the police.
And there’s plenty to celebrate with the Christmas market in Skanderbeg Square with food stalls, pop-up bars, amusement rides and stalls to enjoy. However, if you want to get out of the hassle and bustle of the main city centre there’s plenty to see elsewhere.
If you’re after a culture fix, head to Bunk Art – a historical museum focusing on communist dictator Enver Hoxha. The underground bunker features five storeys and what it was like during the communist rule. It’s a must-visit for those who want to know a bit more about the country and its past, as well as what it was like during the dictator’s 50-year reign.
You can easily spend more than a couple of hours inside as you can see what it was like in Hoxha’s room, the room of the Officer and the Chief of Staff’s room. The museum is situated on the outskirts of Tirana but it’s easy to find you can grab a cab or opt for the cheaper option of public transport. From Skanderbeg square, you can get the Blue Line bus to Porcelan which takes you outside the underground museum exhibition. Entry to the museum is 500 LEK (£4.17) per adult or 700 LEK (£5.17) per adult with an audio tour.
Less than a ten-minute walk from Bunk Art you can find Dajti Ekspres – Tirana’s very own cable cart. It offers tourists the chance to take a 15-minute trip up into the Dajti mountains with breathtaking views of the city. It’s probably one of the more expensive tourist attractions in the capital but it is definitely worth it – especially when you reach the top. For a return trip, it costs 1400 LEK (£12) per adult.
However, if you fancy taking a single trip and taking a three-hour journey walking down the mountain, which we thankfully avoided thanks to a worker behind the desk. Sadly, when we visited the cable cart the weather was very British – grey and wet, so we didn’t manage to gain a full experience of our surroundings. But it’s not for the faint-hearted the cable cart takes 15 minutes to travel up (by the way this is the longest cableway in the Balkans, according to TripAdvisor).
Once you reach the summit and a temperature drop (remember to bring an extra layer) there is a hotel, restaurant, crazy golf (yes, you read that right) a chance to hike to an even higher point of the mountain and Dajti National Park. If crazy golf is your thing you can purchase tickets alongside your cable cart ticket which only costs 240 LEK per person (£2)
Food in Tirana, Albania
When it comes to food in Tirana, there is plenty of choice especially when it comes to cheap eats. There is a whole host of places you can enjoy traditional Albanian cuisine all located within walking distance of the main square. Here are a few cheap restaurants I’d recommend in Tirana:
Bar Elyse Tirana Tek Zgara Tirones
Overall, I would without a doubt come back and visit Tirana. From the hustle and bustle of the city centre, cheap places to eat, rich history and the friendless of the locals. Albania is definitely one to watch for destinations in 2024. It offers great weather, affordable flights and accommodation and an extensive nightlife for tourists to come and enjoy. What more could you ask for?
Price breakdown (for 3 nights based on two people)
Flights
Ryanair – £26 return
Hotel
Piazza Luxury Apartments – £93
Flight and hotel – £72.50 per person
