Make a Historical Day Trip to Krujë

Have you seen all the sights in Tirana and still have some time left? Then take a day trip to Krujë. This is a historic castle town about a 40-minute bus ride away. Krujë has a lot of nice cafes and restaurants. It’s also known for its market with plenty of folklore and local products. On a small mountain, you’ll find the ruins of Krujë Castle. Inside the castle, you’ll find the contemporary Skanderbeg Museum. I found Krujë definitely worth a visit, and it’s also a bit cheaper than the capital. It’s also a great place for lunch.

Good Coffee in Tirana: The Trendiest Coffee Shops

In Tirana, you’ll find many specialty shops where you can drink real quality coffee. From espresso, macchiato, cappuccino to a delicious latte. A welcome alternative to the Turkish coffee often served in Albania, where the coffee grounds remain at the bottom of your cup. Wondering where those trendy coffee shops are? Here are the trendiest cafes with good coffee in Tirana!

Hana Corner Cafe might be the trendiest coffee shop in all of Tirana. With good coffee and a wide selection of cakes and pastries. You can also sit here with your laptop, to get some work done or study for a few hours.

For the best quality coffee in Tirana, you should go to Antigua Specialty Coffee. The name says it all, here you drink special coffee from beans from Antigua. And we can tell from personal experience: it tastes very good.

KINO is a nice cafe styled like an old cinema, with a beautiful inner garden. Besides delicious coffee, there are also some very good cocktails on the menu. This cafe is open from 09:00 AM to 02:00 AM.

Want to try local coffee? Give Mon Cheri Coffee Shop and Mulliri Vjeter a chance! These coffee chains have multiple locations in the city, and the coffee is fine – with some sugar or milk, at least.

COFFEE-LAB is also a good place for a cheaper coffee or iced coffee. Refreshing on a summer day.

Looking for a coffee shop where you can work comfortably? Destil Creative Hub Tirana is a good option. The name alone is inviting for laptop users. So feel free to stay here for a few hours.

The Best Restaurants in Tirana

One of the things you must do in Tirana is taste the local cuisine. In Tirana, you will find many authentic restaurants where you can try real Albanian cuisine. Some characteristic dishes are ferges (stew with peppers, both vegetarian and with meat), farmers salad (similar to a Greek salad without olives), and Tavë Kosi (meat with yogurt from the oven). I also found the local chicken soup and meatballs (qofte) very tasty.

My number one restaurant tip in Tirana is Restaurant Piceri Era. This is a traditional Albanian restaurant where you can try all the local dishes you want. And for a relatively low price. They also serve very good wine. Restaurant Era Piceri has two locations: one in Blloku and one near the lake of Tirana.

Looking for a quick and easy meal? Then head to Jenny’s Food Court. In this cozy food court, all the dishes are ready for you. So, you get your order served immediately, and it’s also very cheap. For example, I paid only €7.78 for a salad with a main course and a glass of white wine!

Eating at a real family restaurant that is also affordable can be done at Tek Zgara Tirones. Here, you can eat delicious qofte; local meatballs with mint. You order them individually, so feel free to start with five or so.

Restaurant Oda and Oda Garden are also traditional Albanian restaurants that are very well-reviewed. However, the prices are much higher here.

Thanks to its location near the sea, you can also eat very good fish in Tirana. For example, at Fish Time – Restorant Peshku Tirane. In the traditional way: grilled fish, served with grilled vegetables.

Meat lovers can also indulge in Tirana. Tradita Peja is, for example, a traditional meat house where you can order a grill platter. You get a delicious cabbage salad with it, and they also have salads, tzatziki, and other sauces.

Nice Shops in Tirana

If you love shopping, Tirana is the place to be. Since the country is quite anti-capitalist, you won’t see big brands like H&M or Zara. However, this gives you the chance to discover many new shops and brands, such as Kotton, L.C. Waikiki, and Defacto. In my experience, Tirana offers relatively trendy and high-quality clothing at low prices. Good to know if you want to go shopping for a day: most stores are located in shopping centers.

Renting a Car in Tirana, Albania

Do you want to rent a car in Tirana to explore the rest of Albania? You can rent a car at Tirana Airport and go on a road trip. Be surprised by the diversity of this unspoiled country and discover its many extremes. From beautiful beaches with crystal-clear seas to charming historic towns and rugged mountains in the east of the country. A holiday in Albania will not disappoint.

Where is the Best Place to Rent a Car?

If you want to rent a car at your holiday destination, you can easily do so online before departure. The advantage is that the car will be ready for you at the airport, allowing you to start your holiday immediately upon arrival.

Renting a Car Cheaply

The cheapest way to rent a car is through EasyTerra or Rentalcars. We personally find EasyTerra the best site for this. Through both sites, you can rent cars worldwide.

Renting a Car Without Hidden Fees

For a worry-free car rental experience, we recommend Sunnycars. You rent all-inclusive, so there are no surprises. The insurance for tire, window, roof, and undercarriage damage is included in the price. These are the most common damages and are not typically covered by most companies. The extra costs to insure this can be high, making it expensive even with a cheap rental company. With Sunnycars, there are no extra costs on top of the rental price.

What to Watch Out for When Renting a Car on Vacation?

There are a few things to keep in mind when renting a car on vacation.

Insurance
If you choose a cheap rental car, not everything is usually covered, and you run a bit more risk unless you purchase additional insurance. The most common damages are to tires, windows, roof, and undercarriage, often caused by gravel. It’s wise, especially if you’re driving on unpaved roads, to insure these.

Tip: If you rent a car through Sunnycars, this is standardly insured. Their all-risk car insurance is always included in the price. You pay a bit more than with other companies, but you can enjoy your road trip without worries.

Do You Need an International Driver’s License?
For some destinations, you need an international driver’s license. You can apply for this at the ANWB. Don’t forget to arrange this before departure!

Note: Have you had your driver’s license for less than a year? For some destinations, it’s a requirement to have held your license for a minimum period to rent a car. Check the rules before you leave!

Flight Tickets to Tirana

From Eindhoven, you can fly directly to Tirana with Wizz Air. This budget airline will take you to the capital of Albania in just 2.5 hours. Flying to Tirana from Amsterdam will also be possible directly with Transavia starting from April 2024. Alternatively, flying from Brussels is also an option. Ryanair offers direct flights to Tirana from Brussels Charleroi.

Weather in Tirana, Albania

Albania is located in southern Europe and has a Mediterranean climate on the coastal side. Summers in Tirana are mostly hot, and winters can be rainy but much milder than in the Netherlands. Generally, June through September are the most pleasant in terms of temperature. However, March, April, May, and October are also mild. For a city trip to Tirana, I would say: every season has its charm. In spring, the trees are in bloom, in summer, it’s wonderfully sunny and warm, and in winter, you even have a chance of snow. I’ve been there in both autumn and spring, and the weather in Tirana was very pleasant both times.

Traveling to Other Balkan Countries

Chances are, after your city trip to Tirana or vacation in Albania, you’ll be eager to explore more of the Balkans. You can! From Albania, you can travel beautifully upwards to countries like Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. Consider, for example, a city trip to Dubrovnik. Love hiking? Also consider walking the Peaks of the Balkans trail from Albania. An impressive trek of 8 to 10 days through three countries: Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. There’s a whole world waiting to be discovered. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy all the beauty.