Tirana Walking Tour

The National History Museum
The National History Museum is a landmark in Tirana. It is the largest and most well-known museum in Albania. And it is located on the central Skanderbeg Square in the middle of Tirana city.

The National History Museum is a traditional museum, which displays the history of Albania from Illyrian times until today.

Above the museum’s entrance there is a massive mosaic called “Albania”, it shows the heroes of Albania throughout history. The mosaic was made during the communist regime, therefore, it shows the working class heroes, in line with communist ideas.

Inside, the museum there is a series of galleries. Starting with the archaeological statues, mosaics and colums from the Greek and Roman times.

The museum also has a disturbing gallery about those who died and were imprisoned during the communist regime from 1944 – 1991.

Moreover, there is a gallery of icons made by the Albanian painter Onufri. And a replica of the massive sword of Skanderbeg, who was the military hero, who fought against the Turkish Ottoman invasion. Entrance fee not included in the tour.

Skanderbeg Square
Skanderbeg Square is the central square of Tirana. The square is surrounded by the most important buildings in the country, like the National History Museum, the Clock tower, the Palace of Culture and the Et’hem Bey Mosque.

The square connects to the main government road, with all the important government and parliament buildings.

The square is named after Skanderbeg, who is Albania’s national hero. Skanderbeg was a military commander, who reunited the Albanian tribes to fight against the Turkish Ottoman invasion. There is a large statue of Skanderbeg on his horse on the square.

Skanderbeg square was originally by three Italian architects: Florentano de Fausto, Gherardo Bosio and Armando Brasini. But it was remodeled recently as a pedestrian square with greenery, plants and stones from the different regions in Albania.

Et’hem Bej Mosque
The Et’hem Bej Mosque is an iconic monument in the center of Tirana. The mosque is located on the central Skanderbeg Square next to the Clock Tower.

The mosque’s construction was started by Molla Bey in 1790. But the mosque’s construction was only finished three decaded later by Molla Bey’s son “Haxhi Et’hem Bey” in 1820.

During the communist regime, the mosque was closed, because religion was not permitted. However, on the 18th of January 1991, the Et’hem Bej mosque was re-opened without permission of the government and 10.000 people attended. This event is seen as the rebirth of religious freedom in Albania. It also symbolizes the nearing end of communism in Albania.

The Et’hem Bey Mosque is the only surviving mosque from the eight mosques that were built in Tirana in the 18th and 19th century. It has beautiful murals and frescoes of trees, waterfalls and bridges. These motifs are very rare in Islamic art.

Clock Tower
The Clock Tower is a monument and landmark in Tirana. It is located next to the Et’hem Bey Mosque on the central Skanderbeg Square.

The Clock tower was built by Haxhi Et’hem Bey, who was architect during the Ottoman Empire. And it was completed in 1822. For many years, it was the tallest building in the capital city.

In 1928, the tower was extended by 5 more meters, to 35 meters of height. And a balcony and Venetian roof were added on the top.

The Clock Tower is open to the public in the morning. You can climb the spiraling staircase to the balcony on the top, for an amazing view of Skanderbeg Square and the center of Tirana.

Bunk Art 2 Museum
Bunk Art 2 is a museum in a large underground-bunker in the center of Tirana. Inside the bunker, you will be explained about the role of the police and security services during the communist period in Albania. It is a fascinating museum about the disturbing communist regime. Entrance fee not included in the tour.

House of Leaves: Museum of Secret Surveillance
House of Leaves is a villa, which was the headquarters of Albania’s secret service Sigurimi during the communist area. Now, the former HQ has been converted into a museum which displays the bugs, monitoring equipment and wiretapping telephones. The museum gives you a fascinating insight into Albania’s secret service during the communist regime. Entrance fee not included in the tour.

New Bazaar Market
The New Bazaar Market (in Albanian: Pazari i Ri) is a lovely food market, close to the center of Tirana. On the market, you can buy local products, like fruits, honey, handicrafts and homemade food. There are many lovely terraces surrounding the market, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the sunshine.

Toptani Shopping Center
The Toptani shopping center is a mall in the city center of Tirana. The highlight is the top floor, where there is a selection of coffee houses and restaurants with panoramic views across the city.

Tanners’ Bridge
Tanners’s bridge is a beautiful stone bridge from the Ottoman period. The bridge was built in the 19th century and it is well-preserved. You can walk across the old bridge and look down at the river below.

Fortress of Justinian
The Fortress of Justinian is also known as Tirana Castle. In the Byzantine era, the castle was in the centre of the city. It was located at a central point, where the main east-west and north-south roads crossed. Today, you can see the 6 metre high remaining wall, of what was once a thriving castle. The wall has been incorporated in the pedestrianized Murat Toptani Street, which leads to the main government road.

Murat Toptani Street
The Murat Toptani Street is a lovely pedestrian street with beautiful plane trees and many terraces. Along the street, there is a 6 metre high wall of the Fortress of Justinian. The Murat Toptani Street leads to the “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation ” with all the Parliament Buildings.

Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation
The “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation” is a wide street with many Parliament buildings. Along the street, you can see the Pyramid of Tirana, the National Archaeological Museum, the Presidential Palace and the National Art Gallery. The boulevard was designed by the Italian architect Gherardo Bosio.

National Arts Gallery
The National Arts Gallery shows Albanian paintings from the early 19th century until today. The Albanian Art is unique, because during the communist regime, the government censured the art. Artists needed to create art, that idealised the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Moreover, some of the “inappropriate” art, is also shown, for which the artists went to prison. Entrance fee not included in the tour.

Pyramid of Tirana
The pyramid of Tirana is a landmark in Tirana, but it has a very controversial history. The pyramid was initially a museum about the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. It was designed by Enver Hoxha’s daughter and his son-in-law. And opened to the public as a museum about Enver Hoxha, three years after the death of the dictator.

However, after the fall of the communism, it started serving a series of purposes. It was a conference center, then a NATO headquarters during the war in Kosovo, then a TV channel headquarters and a night club.

It was meant to be demolished in 2011, but the Albanian public protested against demolishing the pyramid. Although the pyramid is a reminder of the communist regime, it is still a piece of their history, however dark that history may be.

Throughout, the years many plans have been presented to refurbish and re-use the pyramid. Whilst in the meantime, the pyramid has been looted for materials and covered in graffiti. The pyramid remains in a bad state, while it awaits its new purpose and some necessary maintenance.

Presidential Office
The Presidential Office is at the end of the “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation” street. The building is the official workplace of the president and it houses all the staff of the president.

National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum displays the Albanian treasures, that were found during archaeological digs. The museum opened after the Second World War. It displays pieces from the pre-history until the Middle Ages. The museum is at the end of the “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation” street. Entrance fee not included in the tour.

Grand Park of Tirana
The Grand Park of Tirana is the central park in the city. The park has a large lake with beautiful paths and running tracks by the lake front. There are numerous playgrounds for children. And lovely coffee houses with a lake view.

Blloku Area
The Blloku Area is the coolest and most vibrant area in Tirana. In the past, the area was used by the communist government and closed off to the general public. Nowadays, it is an area with many restaurants, clubs and coffee houses. If you want to go out at night, you will enjoy Blloku.

Enver Hoxha’s Former Residence
The three-story villa of the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha is in the middle of the Blloku Area. The villa is left just as when the dictator died in 1985. In the past the whole Blloku area was sealed off from the public and only accessible for party elite and their families. Enver Hoxha’s residence is visible from the street, but closed off for the public.