Tirana

Tirana City

Tirana is the capital city of Albania, and I flew there from Athens. I didn't know much about Albania, but I ended up really liking this country. Albania was cut off from the rest of the world for over 40 years until 1991 and built a unique culture during that time.

Albania is a small country in the Balkans, located on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, just across from Italy. With a population of about 2.7 million, it's known for its stunning beaches, rugged mountains, and rich history shaped by Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and communist influences. Albania was one of the most isolated countries in the world during the communist era under Enver Hoxha (1944–1985), cut off from both the West and the Soviet bloc. After the regime fell in 1991, the country opened up and is now one of Europe's emerging tourist destinations. It's known for its surprisingly affordable prices, friendly people, and unique mix of European and Middle Eastern cultures. The capital Tirana is famous for its colorful buildings, painted to bring life back to the city after decades of communist gray.

Also, their economy is growing rapidly at around 5% per year, and I saw a construction rush in Tirana. The culture is very different, but I found similarities with Vietnam (Albania was also a communist country in the past). I also strongly felt that the Albanian people I met were really kind and had great hospitality — maybe because tourism is one of their major industries?

There aren't many landmarks in Tirana, but I visited the big square in the center and walked around a bit.

Skanderbeg (1405–1468) is Albania's national hero. He led a 25-year resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, successfully defending Albania despite being vastly outnumbered. His statue stands in Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana, and he remains a powerful symbol of Albanian identity.

Hiking in Tirana Suburb

I joined a tour to hike a small mountain in the Tirana suburbs. It's called Gamti Mountain, and you can also see an artificial lake called Bovilla Lake. The lake was built to supply water to Tirana, and the guide said many people had to relocate due to the construction. The road to the mountain wasn't easy — it was unpaved — but the nature here was amazing and felt like a hidden gem.

Then we hiked the mountain, which took around 40 minutes, and took pictures. I saw some people climbing the rocks right next to the cliff — it looked so dangerous!!

Albanian Food

I visited some local restaurants in Tirana and found great food. This restaurant was especially great and I had dinner there twice — the owner warmly welcomed foreigners! Albania's major religion is Islam, but they don't strictly forbid alcohol or pork, so I found many local beers too. The one I had at the restaurant tasted familiar and was very good.

It seemed eggplants are popular here, and I saw several menu items using them. I ordered stuffed eggplants with risotto and it was really nice! I hadn't had rice in over a week — I'd been missing it.

I didn't expect Albania to be such a nice country, and I'm confident it will become a more famous destination in the near future.

Continuing to Ohrid