Albania
Things to do in Tirana
40 places29 stories3 routes
Sightlore has 40 places to explore in Tirana, and 29 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Tirana's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Bunk’Art 2
A 1,000 m² bunker with 40 rooms near the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tirana, presenting history from 1912 to 1991 through State Archive and ministry records.
- 2
Bunk’Art
A five-storey underground bunker in the Shish Tufina area of Tirana, built between 1972 and 1978; it displays objects once used by Albania's communist leaders.
- 3
National Historical Museum
The National History Museum is a historical museum in Tirana, Albania. It was opened on 28 October 1981 and is 27,000 square metres in size, while 18,000 square metres are available for expositions.
- 4
Pellumbas Cave
The Cave of Pëllumbas is a karst cave in central Albania, located in the Skorana Gorge close to the village of Pëllumbas in Tirana County.
- 5
Pyramid of Tirana
The Pyramid of Tirana is a structure and former museum located in Tirana, the capital of Albania. It opened as a museum in 1988 and became a conference center in 1991 following the collapse of Communism.
- 6
Petrelë Fortress
Petrelë Castle is a castle in Petrelë, central Albania. Its history dates back to the 6th century, when it was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Petrelë Castle is 329 metres (1,079 ft) above sea level.
- 7
Tanners' Mosque
The Tanners' Mosque is a Sunni mosque located near the Tanners' Bridge in Tirana, capital of Albania. The mosque was built in the neighborhood of the handicraft-trade Tanners' guild in c. 17th – c. 18th century, during the Ottoman era.
- 8
Postbllok Memorial
The Postbllok Memorial is a work of installation art by writer Fatos Lubonja and artist Ardian Isufi.
- 9
House of Leaves
The Museum of Secret Surveillance, also known as House of Leaves (Shtëpia me Gjethe) is a historical museum in Tirana, Albania. It opened on 23 May 2017 in the building that served as the Sigurimi's headquarters during the communist era.
- 10
Skanderbeg Square
The Skanderbeg Square is the main plaza in the centre of Tirana, Albania. The square is named after the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. The total area is about 40,000 square metres.
Discovery routes in Tirana
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Tirana: Skanderbeg Square and around
From Skanderbeg Square and its statue to the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower, past the National History Museum, the Palace of Culture and the National Gallery to Bunk'Art 2, the cathedrals, Tirana Castle and the Tanners' Bridge.
Tirana: the Pyramid, Blloku and the Grand Park
From the Pyramid of Tirana and Rinia Park to Blloku, once a closed quarter, past the House of Leaves and the Postbllok memorial to the Palace of the Brigades, the Archaeological Museum, the Grand Park and the Botanical Garden.
Around Tirana: Bunk'Art, Dajti and Petrela
From the Bunk'Art bunker to Mount Dajti, from the Martyrs' Cemetery and the Mother Albania statue to the Tirana Mosaic, Petrela Castle and Pëllumbas Cave.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Tirana Clock Tower
The Clock Tower of Tirana is an Ottoman-era monument of cultural heritage located in Tirana, Albania. It was first recognized as a cultural heritage site by the Institute of Sciences through decision no.
Palace of Culture of Tirana
The Palace of Culture of Tirana houses the National Library of Albania as well as the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet.
Justinian Fortress
Fortress of Justinian or simply known as Tirana Castle is a castle in Tirana, Albania. Its history dates back before 1300 and is a remnant from the Byzantine-era.
Tanners' Bridge
The Tanners' Bridge is an 18th-century Ottoman period stone footbridge located in Tirana, Albania. The bridge, built near the Tanners' Mosque, was once part of the Saint George Road that linked Tirana with the eastern highlands.
Ish-Blloku
Ish-Blloku, commonly Blloku, is an upmarket area in Tirana, Albania. It widely known as an entertainment destination with its boutiques, shops, restaurants, trendy bars, pubs, and cafes.
Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace, formerly the Royal Palace and popularly known as the Palace of Brigades, is the official residence of the president of Albania.
Tirana Mosaic
The Tirana Mosaic is a landmark in Tirana, Albania. It is believed to have been part of a 3rd-century Roman house, referred to by local archeologists as the 'Villa rustica'.
Petrelë Fortress
Petrelë Castle is a castle in Petrelë, central Albania. Its history dates back to the 6th century, when it was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Petrelë Castle is 329 metres (1,079 ft) above sea level.
Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family
The Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family is a building in Tirana, capital of Albania, which holds the remains of King Zog and other members of his family (House of Zogu).
Kapllan Pasha Tomb
The Kapllan Pasha Tomb is a Muslim Türbe built in 1817 in the center of Tirana, Albania.
Sheh Dyrri Teqe
The Sheikh Dyrri Tekke or Shaykh Duri Tekke is a tekke, located in Tirana, Albania. The tekke was designated as a Cultural Monument of Albania in 1963. The tekke relates to the Qadiriyya, a Sufi order.
Madrasa of Tirana
The Madrasa of Tirana, also known as the Medrese of Tirana and the Hadji Mahmud Dashi Madrasa, is an Islamic educational institution (madrasa) in Tirana, Albania.
Museums
National Historical Museum
The National History Museum is a historical museum in Tirana, Albania. It was opened on 28 October 1981 and is 27,000 square metres in size, while 18,000 square metres are available for expositions.
National Art Gallery of Albania
The National Museum of Fine Arts is a national art museum in Tirana, Albania, under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation.
Bunk’Art 2
A 1,000 m² bunker with 40 rooms near the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tirana, presenting history from 1912 to 1991 through State Archive and ministry records.
House of Leaves
The Museum of Secret Surveillance, also known as House of Leaves (Shtëpia me Gjethe) is a historical museum in Tirana, Albania. It opened on 23 May 2017 in the building that served as the Sigurimi's headquarters during the communist era.
National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum is the national archaeological museum in Tirana, Albania opened on 1 November 1948. It was the first museum founded after the second World War in the country.
Bunk’Art
A five-storey underground bunker in the Shish Tufina area of Tirana, built between 1972 and 1978; it displays objects once used by Albania's communist leaders.
Natural Sciences Museum Sabiha Kasimati
Natural Sciences Museum "Sabiha Kasimati" is a natural science museum in Tirana, Albania.
Places of worship
Et'hem Bey Mosque
The Et'hem Bey Mosque, officially the Haji Et'hem Bey Mosque, is a Sunni mosque located in Tirana, Albania. The mosque is well known for its frescoes outside and inside the portico which depict trees, waterfalls and bridges.
Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral
The Resurrection of Christ Cathedral (Katedralja Ngjallja e Krishtit) is an Albanian Orthodox church cathedral situated in the center of Tirana, Albania. It is considered among the largest Eastern Orthodox churches in the Balkans.
St Paul's Archcathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is a cathedral in Tirana, Albania. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tiranë-Durrës. The stained glass window to the left of the front door features Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa.
Tanners' Mosque
The Tanners' Mosque is a Sunni mosque located near the Tanners' Bridge in Tirana, capital of Albania. The mosque was built in the neighborhood of the handicraft-trade Tanners' guild in c. 17th – c. 18th century, during the Ottoman era.
Baitul Awwal Mosque
The Baitul Awal Mosque, also spelled as the Bejtul-Evel Mosque, is an Ahmadiyya mosque, located in Tirana, Tirana County, in Central Albania. With a capacity of 2,500 worshippers, it is one of the largest mosques in the country.
Kokonozi Mosque
The Kokonozi Mosque, officially the Mosque of Mahmud Agha Kokonozi, also known as the New Bazaar Mosque, is a mosque in Tirana, Albania.
Zemra e Krishtit Catholic Church of Tirana
The Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic church in Tirana, Albania. Built in 1939 during the Italian invasion of Albania, it is the oldest Catholic church in the city.
Great Mosque of Tirana
The Namazgah Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tirana (Xhamia e Madhe e Tiranës), is a Sunni mosque, located in Tirana, Albania. With a capacity of 10,000 worshippers, it is the largest mosque in the Balkans (excluding East Thrace).
Monuments
Skanderbeg Square
The Skanderbeg Square is the main plaza in the centre of Tirana, Albania. The square is named after the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. The total area is about 40,000 square metres.
Skanderbeg Monument
The Skanderbeg Monument is a monument in the Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania. It commemorates Skanderbeg, the national hero in Albania for resisting the Ottomans.
Pyramid of Tirana
The Pyramid of Tirana is a structure and former museum located in Tirana, the capital of Albania. It opened as a museum in 1988 and became a conference center in 1991 following the collapse of Communism.
Postbllok Memorial
The Postbllok Memorial is a work of installation art by writer Fatos Lubonja and artist Ardian Isufi.
National Martyrs Cemetery of Albania
The National Martyrs' Cemetery of Albania is the largest cemetery in Albania, located on a hill overlooking Tirana. The Mother Albania statue is located at the Cemetery.
Mother Albania
Mother Albania is a 12-metre-tall (39 ft) statue located at the National Martyrs' Cemetery of Albania in Albania, dedicated in 1972. The statue represents the country as a mother guarding over the eternal slumber of those who gave their lives for her.
Unknown Soldier
The Unknown Soldier is a war memorial statue in Tirana for the soldiers that fell in the struggle against the Italian invaders during Second World War. The statue is located near the Albanian parliament and the Tomb of Kapllan Pasha.
Nature
Rinia Park
Rinia Park is the central public park of Tirana, Albania. Built in 1950 during the communist era, it covers an area of 2.98 hectares (7.4 acres).
Grand Park of Tirana
The Grand Park of Tirana, or the Park on the Artificial Lake, also as Artificial Lake Of Tirana, is a 289 hectare public park situated on the southern part of Tirana, Albania, and administered by the Agency of Parks and Recreation of the Municipality of Tirana.
Botanical Gardens of Tirana
The Botanical Gardens of Tirana is a botanical gardens complex located in southern Tirana, Albania. It is the only botanical gardens complex in Albania.
Mount Dajti
Dajti is a mountain located in central Albania, just east of the capital, Tirana.
Pellumbas Cave
The Cave of Pëllumbas is a karst cave in central Albania, located in the Skorana Gorge close to the village of Pëllumbas in Tirana County.
Tirana Zoo
Zoopark Tirana is a public zoo located in Tirana, Albania. It is the only zoo of its kind in the country.
Explore Tirana with your camera
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