Albania: De Tirana a la famosa Riviera Albanesa

About the destination: Tirana, the vibrant capital of Albania, is a fascinating mix of Ottoman heritage, Italian architecture, and bold Communist-era planning, all wrapped in a fresh coat of color and creativity. Once a gray, austere city, it has reinvented itself with lively murals, pastel façades, and a youthful energy that’s hard to miss. Skanderbeg Square, the monumental heart of Tirana, is the ideal starting point: from here you can visit the National History Museum, recognizable by its grand socialist-realist mosaic, and stroll toward the Et’hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower, which recall the city’s Ottoman past. One of Tirana’s most distinctive attractions is its Communist legacy. Bunk’Art and Bunk’Art 2—underground bunkers turned museums—offer immersive exhibits on daily life under Enver Hoxha’s regime, with chilling corridors and preserved rooms that make history feel close and personal. Nearby, the “Pyramid,” once a museum dedicated to Hoxha and now an urban playground and cultural venue, symbolizes Tirana’s transition from dictatorship to a more open, creative society. Tirana’s modern personality shines in its neighborhoods and public spaces. The trendy Blloku district, once reserved for the Communist elite, is now full of cafés, cocktail bars, and restaurants where locals linger late into the night. The Grand Park and Artificial Lake provide a green escape, perfect for jogging, cycling, or a relaxed picnic. For a panoramic view, take the Dajti Express cable car up Mount Dajti, where you’ll find hiking trails, restaurants, and sweeping vistas over the city and the Adriatic coast beyond.

About the destination: Saranda (Sarandë) is a small city located in southern Albania, near the border with northern Greece. It is a destination that in recent years has become fashionable in Albania due to the recent arrival of several cruise ships to its port. A quiet city, well located, that always has something to do, with cafes and terraces open all year round and with a Mediterranean climate to enjoy its beaches. Not surprisingly, it was chosen as the stopover for their Greek island cruises

About the destination: Tirana, the vibrant capital of Albania, is a fascinating mix of Ottoman heritage, Italian architecture, and bold Communist-era planning, all wrapped in a fresh coat of color and creativity. Once a gray, austere city, it has reinvented itself with lively murals, pastel façades, and a youthful energy that’s hard to miss. Skanderbeg Square, the monumental heart of Tirana, is the ideal starting point: from here you can visit the National History Museum, recognizable by its grand socialist-realist mosaic, and stroll toward the Et’hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower, which recall the city’s Ottoman past. One of Tirana’s most distinctive attractions is its Communist legacy. Bunk’Art and Bunk’Art 2—underground bunkers turned museums—offer immersive exhibits on daily life under Enver Hoxha’s regime, with chilling corridors and preserved rooms that make history feel close and personal. Nearby, the “Pyramid,” once a museum dedicated to Hoxha and now an urban playground and cultural venue, symbolizes Tirana’s transition from dictatorship to a more open, creative society. Tirana’s modern personality shines in its neighborhoods and public spaces. The trendy Blloku district, once reserved for the Communist elite, is now full of cafés, cocktail bars, and restaurants where locals linger late into the night. The Grand Park and Artificial Lake provide a green escape, perfect for jogging, cycling, or a relaxed picnic. For a panoramic view, take the Dajti Express cable car up Mount Dajti, where you’ll find hiking trails, restaurants, and sweeping vistas over the city and the Adriatic coast beyond.