Introducing the best spots in Tirana!

🇦🇱 Tirana - A city of today, shrouded in color and echoes of communism

Tirana, the capital of Albania.

Even during my travels through the Balkans, there was something different about this city.

My first impression was a contradiction: "Europe that doesn't feel European."

But that strangeness was precisely what made this city so appealing.

Memories of concrete, the silence of Bunk'Art

My first stop after arriving in Tirana was Bunk'Art.

This massive historical museum, housed in a former bomb shelter built under the dictatorship, was a sight to behold.

In its chilly underground corridors, propaganda footage and documents from that time were on display.

Government surveillance, censorship, and isolated relations with the outside world—

Even though this was a time before I was born, it felt strangely real, and I found myself suffocating.

It was a time when I saw with my own eyes and felt with my own skin that this country's "present" is still connected to its "past."

Brightly repainted Skanderbeg Square

Skanderbeg Square is the city center.

Surrounded by government offices, mosques, and the opera house, it's the "face of Tirana."

But upon closer inspection, the buildings have been repainted in vibrant colors.

Yellow, orange, pink, green...

The concrete, once inorganic, now resembles a patchwork.

Perhaps this is what a "city in the midst of change" looks like.

It doesn't deny the past, but continues to add new colors.

A city where religion is a part of life

At Ettahem Bey Mosque, people were praying peacefully.

Meanwhile, there was a Christian church nearby.

In Tirana, I got the impression that religion is rooted in "coexistence" rather than "conflict."

It was so natural that the word "diversity" sounded a bit cheesy.

I realized, "Ah, so this is another way of life."

What I felt while walking around Tirana

Tirana doesn't have many areas that could be described as "old town."

But instead, the city itself is in the process of being rebuilt.

It's a mysterious time, like traveling through history.

Retro cafes and bars where young people gather with their smartphones in hand.

Scars of communism and a longing for Europe.

On the corners of the roads, the colors of the past remain, unpainted.

All these elements blend together to create the Tirana of today.

Travel Note: For Travelers in Tirana

Bunkato 1 and 2 are different. If you're interested, visiting both is worth it. History buffs will be especially impressed.

There's no subway or tram, and bus routes can be confusing. Asking locals is the quickest way to get around. For short distances, Bolt (a ride-hailing app) is a smooth and convenient option.

The currency is lek (ALL). Cash is the norm, so ATM withdrawals are the norm. Cards are only accepted at large restaurants and shops.

A place better suited to "strolling" than "sightseeing." A city where you go to breathe air, not just to see.

How do I remember the city of Tirana?

At the end of my trip, I once again sat on a bench in Skanderbeg Square.

Children pedaled their bicycles, adults pulled out cafe chairs, and the city faded into darkness.

It's hard to simply describe this city as "fun."

But it remains deeply in my heart as a trip that "learned" something.

Tirana, Albania.

It's a bit tricky to recommend to others, but it's sure to give something to anyone who wants to think about the world today.

#Europe
#Communism
#EasternEurope
#Albania
#Tirana