How to Spend 3 Days in Tirana

Planning a 3-day trip to Tirana means you can cover the city’s key sites with time left over for a day trip to visit a historic village or explore the countryside. Use these travel-planning tips to make the most of your trip to Tirana.

Day 1: City Sightseeing

The center of Tirana blends bright-painted buildings with Communist landmarks, and the popular Skanderbeg Square is the perfect place to start exploring. Here, spot the Skanderbeg Statue, then stroll over to Et’hem Bey Mosque and take in the imposing facade of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania. Spend the afternoon browsing one of Tirana’s museums. The National Museum of History follows the region from ancient times to the Communist era, while the National Gallery of Art has a lively mix of permanent galleries and rotating exhibits. Make a final stop at the Pyramid of Tirana (Enver Hoxha Pyramid), one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks.

Day 2: Day Trip from Tirana

Perks of a small country: Some of Albania’s most beautiful places are easy day-tripping distance from Tirana. One of these is the city of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with pretty architecture and a dramatic mountain location. Visit Berat on a guided trip from Tirana for an afternoon of museums and religious landmarks. Homey restaurants here serve hearty Albanian cuisine, so pause for a leisurely meal before returning to the capital. Alternatively, visit Shkodra (Shkodër), with a gorgeous natural setting between the mountains and Lake Skadar. Often called the cultural capital of Albania, Shkodra has an Old Town with candy-colored facades, charming cafés, and the dramatic ruins of Rozafa Fortress, whose history reaches back to the ancient Illyrians.

Day 3: Art and Adventure

On your final day, the first stop is Bunk’Art, a 5-story bunker from the Communist era that’s been transformed into a museum. Now, rooms are packed with art from contemporary Albanian artists, making this the perfect place to get a taste of the country’s creative cutting edge.

For lunch, head to the Dajti Ekspres cable car up Dajti Mountain. At the summit, snag a seat on the mountaintop restaurant’s terrace or just enjoy the views from the panoramic windows. Since Dajti Mountain also has an adventure park, hiking trails, and horseback riding, it’s a great place to linger until the sun sets over the countryside.