11 Fun And Fascinating Things To Do In Tirana That Are Kid-friendly

Curious about Albania? Tirana might just be the most surprising capital in Europe. It’s walkable, affordable, and packed with history. One minute you’re in a Cold War bunker learning about why Albania was known as the North Korea of Europe, the next you’re eating Italian-quality pizza in a lively bazaar or riding a cable car up a mountain.

If you’re wondering what to do in Tirana, and especially what you can do with kids, here’s how to make the most of your visit.

Are you looking for good hotel and apartment rental recommendations in Tirana? Find out where we stayed in a super cheap apartment and the hotels that are in the best locations in the city and great for kids.

2. Visit the Museums

• Bunk’Art 1 – 20 min taxi/ 30 min bus ride from Skanderbeg Square
• Bunk’Art 2 – 3 min walk from Skanderbeg Square
• House of Leaves – 3 min walk from Skanderbeg Square
• National Historical Museum (*closed for renovations)- on Skanderbeg Square

Many of Tirana’s museums dive deep into Albania’s recent past, specifically its years under the communist regime of Enver Hoxha. For roughly 45 years, Hoxha ruled with an iron grip, turning the country into a closed-off state and littering the landscape with over 30,000 bunkers in anticipation of an attack that never came.

Two of those massive underground bunkers in Tirana have been turned into museums– Bunk’Art 1 and Bunk’Art 2.

Bunk’ Art 1

Bunk’Art 1 sits just north of the city, near the Mount Dajti Express cable car. You can get there easily by taxi or bus. Inside, you’ll find a massive 30,000-square-foot maze of rooms, each containing an exhibit or modern art installation covering Albania’s journey through both world wars, the rise of communism, and life under dictatorship. It takes two to three hours to explore, but it’s well worth it.

It might be too much for younger kids but I think even older elementary kids will find the exhibits interesting and of course wandering the bunker itself is fun. The large meeting room holds at least 100 people and will impress them with its size. They will just probably peter out before you get through all the rooms as there are so, so many.

Bunk’Art 2

Bunk’Art 2 is located near Skanderbeg Square and originally served as a hideout for top government officials. It focuses more on the chilling tactics of the secret police, including surveillance, torture, and prison labor camps. It’s more intense than Bunk’Art 1, with some photos and specific stories that stayed with me so this might be too much for younger kids.

House of Leaves

Just around the corner from Bunk’Art 1 is the House of Leaves. Housed in the actual former headquarters of the Sigurimi, Albania’s secret police, it showcases old surveillance equipment, personal testimonies, and artifacts that paint a clear picture of how thoroughly people’s lives were watched and controlled. It’s unsettling, but incredibly informative.

*Heads Up- The massive National History Museum on Skanderbeg Square is undergoing renovation and won’t reopen until 2028. It covers Albania’s full story from antiquity through the modern era and has thousands of artifacts. We were bummed to miss it.

3. Stroll Through The New Bazaar

• 10 min walk from Skanderbeg Square

The New Bazaar, or Pazari i Ri, is a pedestrian square/ market and became one of my favorite places to hang out in the city. It’s been a central market space since 1931 and was recently revamped in 2016–17. There is a glass- covered, central pavilion with vendors selling produce, bags of spices and tobacco, as well as tchotchke tourist souvenirs.

You’ll also find butchers and fishmongers in the shops adjacent to the square as well as restaurants and coffee shops so the bazaar is pretty lively day and night. I particularly liked going in the evening, when locals would come out for a walk or visit with neighbours and kids would be kicking soccer balls near the older part of the square.

4. Explore One of Tirana’s Many Houses of Worship

• Et’hem Bey Mosque– on Skanderbeg Square
• Namazgah Mosque– 5 min walk from Skanderbeg Square
• Resurrection of Christ Albanian Orthodox– 5 min walk from Skanderbeg Square
• St. Paul’s Cathedral– 10 min walk from Skanderbeg Square

Under communist rule, Albania was declared an atheist state and many religious buildings were demolished or repurposed. Now Tirana is rebuilding their houses of worship as quickly as they can and celebrating their freedom to practice religion. The city is home to Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim communities, and you’ll see signs of peaceful coexistence everywhere.

The Catholic St. Paul’s Cathedral was funded with American donations and features a statue of Mother Teresa outside. Although she was born in North Macedonia, most Albanians will be quick to tell you her parents were Albanian, so they are happy to claim her. The modern style church is not as impressive as say one of Europe’s classic Gothic cathedrals but it is worth a stop.

Across from the House of Leaves, the Resurrection of Christ Albanian Orthodox Church was recently rebuilt and has some of the most stunning mosaics I’ve ever seen on the inside, covering the walls and the ceiling.

Meanwhile, the massive new Namazgah Mosque near the city center is huge and can be seen from many points in the city. It can hold more than 10,000 worshipers between its interior and courtyard. It was built with funding help from Turkey and is now one of the most prominent landmarks in Tirana.

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5. Ride The Mount Dajti Express

• 20- 30 min taxi or bus ride from Skanderbeg Square

For one of the best views in Tirana, hop on the Mount Dajti Express, a Swiss and Austrian-built cable car system that takes you up into the national park. From the top, you’ll get sweeping views of the city, plus a break from the heat and great views to the other side of the mountains surrounding the city.

At the top of the cable car, there’s a hotel, a restaurant, and a few activities like horseback rides, a zipline, and mini golf. If you’re up for a hike, then you walk one of the many trails in the park.

Hike up to Mount Dajti or split off to Maja e Tujanit, a nearby peak with even better views than Mount Dajti itself. The 3.5-mile trail from the cable car to the top of Maja e Tujanit is steep but rewarding. We did it in mid- June and while it was hot, it was super pretty. Go early though!

6. Take A Day Trip

• 1- 4 hours from Skanderbeg Square

Tirana’s central location makes it an ideal jumping-off point for exploring more of Albania. Driving in the country wasn’t as chaotic as I expected, though I wouldn’t recommend driving in the city center. If you’re not up for renting a car, there are plenty of guided day tours available.

You can head to Durrës, a nearby beach town, or explore the lakeside town of Shkodër, known for its charming pedestrian streets. If you’re willing to spend more time on the road, you can take longer day trips to the UNESCO-listed towns of Gjirokastër or Berat. There are even day trips that take you into neighbouring countries—like town of Podgorica in Montenegro or the stunning Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia.

7. Eat Everything

Tirana is a fantastic food city. Thanks to Albania’s history being invaded by Italy multiple times, the pasta and pizza here are excellent, but you’ll also find plenty of traditional Albanian dishes like fërgesë, and tavë kosi, and my personal favorite, byrek- a type of pastry that is amazing.

Some of the best neighborhoods for dining are found around Pazari i Ri, in trendy Blloku, and at Tirana Castle—an open-air pedestrian arcade built around the ruins of an old fortress. We ate very well in Tirana and could have happily stayed a few extra days just to try more spots.

Pro- Tip- the coffee and gelato scene is also superb thanks to the Italian influence. Some of the best cappuccinos I have ever had were in Tirana and I think I had pistachio ice cream every single day.

8. Climb The Pyramid

• 10 min walk from Skanderbeg Square

One of the most unusual landmarks in Tirana, the Pyramid was originally built in 1988 as a museum to honor dictator Enver Hoxha. After the fall of communism, the building went thru a variety of uses- nightclub, radio station, and even a NATO military base during the Kosovo War. Climbing up its sloped walls and sliding back down was a favorite activity of locals.

Now the structure has been transformed into a creative hub, with stairs to the top, colorful boxy additions that house classrooms and cafés, and one slope left just as it was so people can still climb and slide. We enjoyed climbing to the top and sipping coffee with a view and it was steeper than you might think. It’s a brilliant example of repurposing the past while still respecting what it meant to the people who lived through it.

9. Walk Through the Grand Park

• 25 minutes from Skanderbeg Square

This very large park goes by a few names—Parku i Madh, Tirana Lake Park—but just say “big park with the lake” and you’ll be pointed in the right direction.

The park is sprawling, with crisscrossing paths that lead to playgrounds, memorials, cafés, and even an amphitheater. You can’t swim in the lake in the middle unfortunately, but the big path around its shore is very scenic and great for exploring by bike or by foot. We saw lots of families, joggers, and people lounging in the shade. If you’re traveling with kids, you could easily spend an entire day here.

If you’re into food, make a reservation at Mullixhiu, one of Tirana’s most famous restaurants, located just next to the park. It’s a must for rustic traditional Albanian dishes.

10. Explore Blloku

• about 15 min walk from Skanderbeg Square

Once a neighborhood reserved exclusively for Albania’s Communist elite, Blloku is now the city’s trendiest area. It’s full of cafés, restaurants, rooftop bars, and boutiques.

Pro Tip- Blloku is one of Tirana’s best neighbourhoods to look for apartment rentals.

At the entrance to the neighborhood, you’ll spot a small park with a bunker that was commonly found around the country and used a guardhouse for the neighbourhood. You’ll also find a piece of the Berlin Wall and part of the tunnel from a prison labor camp where political opponents were sent. It’s a stark but important reminder of the past.

Just a few blocks away is Enver Hoxha’s former house. It’s not overly grand, but considering most Albanians at the time lived in cramped apartments, it was considered pretty luxurious. Today, the home is used for an artist residency program, which feels fitting since Hoxha worked hard to suppress creative expression.

Blloku is a great neighborhood to explore on foot. Grab a coffee, linger at a sidewalk café, and soak up the city’s new energy. If you are a foodie or into nightlife, this is the neighbourhood for you.

11. Walk Along Pedestrian Murat Toptani And See “The Cloud”

• 5 min walk from Skanderbeg Square

One of my favorite areas in Tirana was Shëtitorja Murat Toptani, a pretty pedestrian street. It was shady during the day and lit up at night with fairy lights and an all-around nice place for a walk.

At one end, you’ll see “The Cloud,” a modern art installation made from white interlocking poles. It’s not just for looking—you can actually climb on it, which makes it a hit with kids.

Further along the street, you’ll come to Tirana Castle, a pedestrian shopping and dining area built among the ruins of a Byzantine fort. The vibe here is relaxed and inviting, with outdoor seating, wine bars, ice cream shops, and local artisan stores tucked into stone-walled walkways.