Tirana Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Tirana is the capital of Albania.
Contents |
Understand
Although Tirana is associated with violent conflicts, ethnic and political problems, it is not really known as a tourist destination. In fact, while many people would know that the city is "somewhere in the Balkans", very few people would be able to name one tourist aspect of the city. However, in Tirana you will find beautiful charm, hidden behind the relative problems of Albania. As the most populous city in the country, you will meet many interesting people in Tirana. There are many good and cheap restaurants in Tirana, but you may need the help of a local guide in locating them. Also in Tirana you will find open parks and places, historical buildings, and a strange sensation of the meeting between Europe and the Orient. Albania is considered a Muslim nation in the World, but it is not as fundamentalist, and in fact Albanians celebrate all holidays no matter whether it's part of their religion. Tirana also has a very lively night life.
Get in
By train
Railway service in the Balkans (so, former Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria) were drastically reduced in the 1990s. Albania, which never had a particularly good railway service, is left with just about nothing these days. International train service does not exist. So, you can only reach Tirana from another Albanian city, and, until now, train service only operates to Durrës, Shkodër, Elbasan, Vlorë and Pogradec. Even though train services are very poor, when compared to West Balkan stadards, they are strangely frequent - with up to 8 services a day to Durrës.
By bus
You can travel by bus to Tirana from other Albanian towns, or from Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece by international roads. There is usually one service per day from the afore-mentioned countries. Get current information about Tirana at the bus station before you leave that country. There is no regular bus service to Tirana from other parts of Europe (including Romania).
Buses aregenerally the best method for traveling in Albania, but the traveler should note that they are not in the best of shape. There are few bus companies - buses are usually private coaches. There are no set schedules - coaches depart when they are full, or at the whim of the driver (usually at 6 AM).
In Tirana there are no bus stations, just simple bus stops (usually consiting of a bench and a pole), even for international bus lines. Beware of pickpocketers when using the buses. Do not keep valuables and money on the easily accessible pockets. But remember, this is Albania, if you want to have fun here you need to take things with good humor and not get too annoyed.
By plane
Tirana is served by the Mother Teresa (aka Rinas) airport, 25 km from the center of town. Flights arrive here from many European destinations, so in many cases if you are coming from Europe or even other continents, flying may be the most common and certain way to arrive in Tirana. There is no public transportaion from Rinas to Tirana - you have to hire a taxi, which costs about 15 Euros, but you can try and bargain with the drivers. This is a bit expensive, but other options are generally not available.
By boat
Tirana is not a port, so you can't get there directly by boat. There are, however, reasonable sea routes from Italy (from the ports in Bari, Trieste, and Ancona) to Durrës, from where you can take the train (which comes approximately every two hours) or a bus to Tirana. You could also rent a car and be in Tirana in about 20 minutes. Traveling by boat is a pretty good alternative to traveling to Tirana, especially if you are arriving from Italy.
Get around
See
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Contact
Stay safe
Cope
Get out
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