The New Bazaar
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I adore this place. Newly renovated and painted in a myriad of bright colours and patterns, the New Bazaar is the perfect place to swing by for a coffee and pick up some shopping. The market itself is full of fresh, seasonal, and organic fruits and vegetables as well as nuts, olives, honey, and freshly baked bread and pastries. There are some great fish restaurants nearby that serve up delicious fresh peshk and krudo. This place is buzzing and alive and as well as being a bit off the beaten track, it is a great place to take some photographs. Surrounded by parts of the old Tirana, as well as the brightly coloured new buildings, you can snap some of the original architecture of the city, some of it dating back a few hundred years.
The Piramida
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The Piramida of Tirana is a vast structure that used to be a museum. Located on the main boulevard of the city centre, it originally opened as the Enver Hoxha Museum designed to commemorate his legacy. Hoxha was the long-time communist dictator and the structure was designed by his daughter and her husband, as well as Pirro Vaso and Vladimir Bregu. At the time of its building, it was said to be the most expensive structure ever constructed in Albania. Over the years it has been used as a conference centre, a base by NATO, a broadcasting centre, and even a concert venue. Today it is falling to pieces but it makes for some super shots. If you have the guts, and the steady balance to climb to the top, it offers some beautiful views over the city centre.
The Lake
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One of my favourite places in Tirana, the Lake offers a tranquil and green hideaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. The artificial lake and the Grand Park that surrounds it stretches over 289 hectares and contains Saint Procopius Church, the Presidential Palace, a Botanical Garden, a Zoo, and memorials to British and Australian soldiers that died in Albania in WWII. With over 120 species of fauna, it offers a wealth of beautiful views and photo opportunities regardless of the time of day or year. With the mountains in the background, and the city beyond, it is a paradise where you can run, walk, picnic, or just drink coffee to get away from the stress of day to day life.
Blloku
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Whilst I might get a bit of stick for this, as Blloku is not really a representative of the REAL Albania, it is an awfully pretty place. The old communist quarter where members of the public were not allowed to go, nowadays it is the hub of Tirana’s nightlife and full of cafes, coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. Its buildings are a mix of communist architecture, brightly painted buildings, and walls covered in street art, and its tree-lined avenues are great for capturing the mood of a sunny, spring afternoon. Go for a stroll, drink some wine, and take some photos of the colourful people, places, and art that you see.
Sky Tower
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Sky Tower is on the edge of the Blloku area, just next to the river. A towerblock consisting of various retail and commercial businesses, its crowning glory is the bar and restaurant on the top floor where you can experience unsurpassed views over the whole city and beyond. Sit back and enjoy a wine or two as you take in the impressive views and snap a few great pictures for Instagram.
Dajti
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Dajti forms a part of the mountain range that towers over Tirana and the surrounding countryside. You can take a cable car from the edge of the city to almost the top of the mountain and the views have to be seen to be believed. On a clear day, you can see out to Durres and the sea beyond and the feeling of seeing the city laid out before you like a highly detailed patchwork quilt is quite an experience. The combination of stunning countryside, lakes, houses, forests, and clear blue skies makes for some excellent photo opportunities. Take a day and explore the mountain, the National Park and then stop for some traditional food in one of the restaurants at the summit, before heading back to reality via the cable car.
Preze Castle
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A short drive outside of the city is Preze Castle. Situated on what feels like the top of the world, it offers incredible 360-degree views of the Tirana basin. You can see Durres, Vore, the airport, Kruje, Dajti, and of course Tirana itself, all from a great height. The castle itself is beautiful and you can walk around its ruins before stopping for refreshments in the coffee shop. This place, without a doubt, offers the best coffee with a view in the area.
Skanderberg Square
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Located in the centre of Tirana, Skanderberg Square is names after the Albanina national hero, Gjergi Skenderbeu and it totals 40,000 square metres. The Skanderberg Monument dominates the square but it is also home to the Tirana International Hotel, the Palace of Culture, the National Opera, the National Library, the Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, City Hall, various ministries and the National Historical Museum. A vast expanse full of history and cultural delights, many a beautiful photograph is taken here.
Bunkart 2
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I was hesitant to include this on my list but it made such an impression on me that I could not leave it out. Bunkart 2 is located just off Skanderberg Square and it was once a top-secret nuclear bunker, built by the communist regime. Whilst it was never actually used, it is now home to a museum full of history and relics of the communist era. Visiting it moved me to tears but it is somewhere that I feel everyone should visit to truly begin to get an idea of the atrocious events that this country endured.
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