Tirana, Albania

Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania and forms the heart of cultural, economic and governmental activity. Located in the western part of the country, Tirana is surrounded by mountains and hills like Mount Dajti and opens down to the Adriatic Sea. There are several theories about the origin of the name of the city: some think it comes from Tyrrenia (a name of Etruscan origin) while others believe that it refers to the word Theranda (collection), or to the Tirkan (a castle at the foot of the mountain Dajti). Tirana was founded in 1614, although the area was permanently inhabited since antiquity. One of the oldest monuments, the Mosaic of Tirana, is believed to be part of an ancient Roman house of the 3rd century. Later in the 5th and 6th centuries, a early Christian basilica was built around this site. Tirana did not enjoy any particular importance until the beginning of the 20th century, when the Lushnja Congress declared it the capital of Albania after the country's declaration of independence in 1912. It is the largest city in Albania and one of the largest of the Balkans with a population of about 800,000. The city is ranked among the ten sunniest cities in Europe, with 2,544 sunshine per year. Tirana is considered the heart of Albania because of its central position and its importance in the fields of finance, commerce, media, entertainment, art, international trade, education, services, research and health care. Almost all major companies in the country, the media and scientific institutions have their headquarters in the city. Tirana is also the seat of the country's government and here lies the President and Prime Minister of Albania. In Tirana there are Roman and Byzantine monuments as well as numerous Ottoman monuments.

Schedule your trip to Tirana with a rental car

By rent.it you can easily book your car hire at Tirana (TIA) airport. Rent.it works with a number of car rental companies and at their offices you can pick up the car booked on-line. The documents required for car hire are the driving license and the driver's credit card.

What to see in Tirana and its surroundings

Tirana, the heart and the capital of Albania, like all other European metropolises, is a frenzied and ever-moving city. With its clubs, bars, cafés and taverns, Tirana deserves to be visited day and night. Your car rental trip could begin with a visit to the museums and major sites like Sheshi Skënderbej, where you can visit the Et'hem Bey mosque (built between 1798 and 1812) and the Tower of the Clock Tower and Sahat, 35 meters high and built in 1822 with a dome in the style of San Marco in Venice. You can then visit the famous mosaic of Tirana, discovered on the floor of an ancient Roman house. In the center are the remains of the Giustiniano Fortress. It is also worth visiting the monumental Kapllan Pasha's Tomb and the Ura and Tabakëve (a bridge built at the beginning of the 19th century, located on Boulevard Zhan D'Ark). The National Museum of History, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Natural Science, the Private Museum of Mezuraj and the National Gallery of Art are certainly worth a visit in Tirana. You can also go to the National Museum of History, a pleasant evening at the National Theater or Opera and Ballet Theater. To eat, Tirana offers both a rich traditional cuisine and a variety of foreign cuisines, from Italian to Chinese, or even Indian. There are also several clubs and restaurants on Mount Dajti where to enjoy d pleasant evenings. The mountain can be reached by cable car, which offers a fantastic view over the city. In the area of ​​Tirana you can spend a day visiting the castles of Preza and Petrela or take a trip to the spectacular cave of Tujanit, Pellumbas, and Shkalla. About 30 km from Tirana is the town of Kruja, one of the most popular resorts thanks to its views and history. Here, Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg protested Albania and Europe from the Ottomans. The main attraction of the city is the National Hero Museum, Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, located in an Illyrian era castle. Inside the castle you can also visit the Ethnographic Museum. Kruja's traditional market is kept close to the castle and is one of the leading crafts markets in Albania. Also about 30 km from Tirana is Durres, Durrës in Albanian, the seat of the largest port in the country. It is the oldest city in Albania with nearly 3,000 years of history. Its foundation dates back to 627 BC. when Corinthians and Corfu settlers invaded the Illyrian territory of the Taulants. The most important tourist attraction in Durrës is the Amphitheater of the Roman Emperor Hadrian: 15,000 seats are the second largest amphitheater in the Balkans. During the ninth century, a small church with mosaic-covered walls was built nearby. You can also admire the bathrooms of the 2nd century AD and the nearby Byzantine hole of the VI-VI century with marble columns. In the city there is an important Archaeological Museum. The most famous archaeological find in Durrës is "Bukuroshja and Durrës", a mosaic of the 4th century BC today is exhibited in the National Historical Museum of Tirana. Durres is also a renowned seaside resort with numerous beaches, hotels and great restaurants. Situated on the Shkumbin River, the city of Elbasan is about 50 km from Tirana. Here you can visit the Church of Santa Maria, the King's Mosque (within the walls of the city), the Naziresha Mosque (from the rare female name) and the Ethnographic Museum. In the territory of Elbasan there are also two churches festooned by Onufri, the famous Albanian painter of the sixteenth century. You could then head with your car to the small towns of Shelcani and Valëshi, in the Shpat region. Coming from Tirana, a few kilometres short of the entrance to Elbasan, you can visit the monastery of St. Gjon Vladimiri, built by prince Karl Topia at the end of the 12th century.