Guide to Albania
Must See Albania
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Albania's capital since 1920, Tirana is compact and easy to explore. It lies almost exactly midway between Rome and Istanbul, and its architecture has been influenced by both, as well as by Russia. Most visitors to Tirana begin at Skënderberg Square, a great open space in the heart of the city.
The National Museum of History is the largest and finest museum in Albania, and you'll find it next to the 15-storey Tirana International Hotel, the tallest building in the country. A huge mosaic mural entitled Albania covers the facade of the building.
Mt Dajti rises to the east, and the market on that side of town is well worth exploring. Also to the east, the architecturally clunky Palace of Culture has a theatre, restaurant, cafes and art galleries. The entrance to the National Library is on the southern side of the building. Opposite that is the cupola and minaret of the Mosque of Ethem Mey, built in 1793 and one of the city's most distinctive buildings. Tirana's clock tower, built in 1830, stands beside the mosque.