🇦🇱 Albania
Hej! I’m sharing a glimpse of my experience visiting picturesque Albania. I was there in 2025. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to.
Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and does not cover all the wonderful local features and places ☺️.
🗺 Places: Tirana, Krujë, Durrës.
🏛 Top sights visited:
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- Tirana
- Skanderbeg Square (Sheshi Skënderbej)
- Fortress of Justinian (Kalaja e Justinianit)
- Pyramid of Tirana (Piramida e Tiranës)
- Bunk’Art-2 (Bunk’Art-2)
- Building of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë)
- Polytechnic University of Tirana (Universiteti Politeknik i Tiranës)
- New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri)
- Grand Park of Tirana (Parku i Madh i Tiranës)
- Murat Toptani Street (Rruga Murat Toptani)
- Resurrection of Christ Cathedral (Katedralja Ngjallja e Krishtit)
- Bektashi World Center (Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane)
- Krujë
- Kruja Castle (Kalaja e Krujës)
- Watchtower of Krujë (Kulla e Kalasë së Krujës)
- Sultan Mehmed Fatih Mosque of Krujë (Xhamia e Fet’hijes)
- Skanderbeg Museum (Muzeu Kombëtar “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu”)
- Old Bazaar (Pazari i Vjetër)
- Durrës
- Durrës Amphitheatre (Amfiteatri i Durrësit)
- Venetian Tower (Kulla Veneciane)
- Town Square of Durrës (Sheshi Liria)
- Royal Villa of Durrës (Vila Mbretërore e Durrësit)
- Byzantine Forum (Forumi Bizantin)
🎧 Local musicians:
- 🇦🇱 Alban Skenderaj (singer). Genre: pop
- 🇦🇱 Alis Kallaçi (singer). Genre: pop
- 🇦🇱 ARNON (DJ). Genre: house
- 🇦🇱 David Dreshaj (singer). Genre: pop
- 🇦🇱 Besa (singer). Genre: pop
- 🇦🇱 Alban Chela (DJ). Genre: house
- 🇦🇱 Noizy (rapper). Genre: hip-hop
- 🇦🇱 Elvana Gjata (singer). Genre: pop
- 🇦🇱 Shkodra Elektronike (band). Genre: folktronica
🍽️ Local food & drinks:
- 🥙 Lakror (Laknor)
- 🥘 Tavë Kosi (Tavë Kosi)
- 🥘 Qofte Fërguara (Qofte Fërguara)
- 🍰 Krafne (Krafne)
- 🍰 Petulla (Petulla)
- 🍰 Albanian Yogurt (Kos)
- 🫓 Flia (Flia)
- 🍶 Albanian Salep (Salep)Tirana - Regional Special:
- 🥘 Fërgesë of Tirana (Fërgesë Tirane)
🎬 Local movies:
- A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On (Një Filxhan Kafe dhe Këpucë të Reja Veshur). Year: 2022. Genre: drama
- Bloodlands (Tokë Gjaku). Year: 2017. Genre: horror
🪔 Authentic features:
- Authentic Concept: Besa (Besa)
- Bektashism (Bektashizmi)
- Shota Dance (Shotë)
- System of Albanian Tribes (Fiset Shqiptare)
- Title of Dedebaba (Kryegjyshi)
- Legend of Skanderbeg (Legjenda e Skënderbeut)
- Albanian Iso-Polyphony (Iso-Polifonia Shqiptare)
- Albanian Bunkers (Bunkerët Shqiptarë)
- Albanian Folklore (Folklori Shqiptar)
- Authentic Musical Instrument: Çifteli (Çiftelia)
- Authentic Garb: Xhubleta & Xhamadan (Xhubleta dhe Xhamadan)
- Heritage of the Medieval Kingdom of Albania (Mbretëria e Arbërisë / Regnum Albaniae)
- Heritage of the League of Lezhë (Lidhja e Lezhës)
🎊 Authentic holidays & celebrations:
- Independence Day of Albania (Dita e Pavarësisë). Month: November
- Dita e Verës (Verëza). Month: March
💐 National flower:
- Red Poppy (Lulëkuqe)
🦉 Local wisdom: “Only two men can disrupt an assembly: one who know and doesn’t speak, and the other who doesn’t know and speak.” / “Dy burra mund ta prishin kuvendin: njëri që di dhe nuk flet dhe tjetri që s’di dhe flet." — Albanian proverb
👨🎓 The oldest university: The Polytechnic University of Tirana (Universiteti Politeknik i Tiranës), Tirana, est. 1951.
