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Tirana Walking Tour & Cable Car to Mount Dajti
5.0
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Tirana
Explore Tirana's historical sights and enjoy breathtaking views from Mount Dajti on this immersive walking and cable car tour.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Dajti Ekspres - The Dajti Express is an Austrian-built cable car located on the outskirts of Tirana. You board at the lower station, and the journey to the upper station takes about 15 minutes, offering breathtaking views. You’ll glide over treetops, past mountain cliffs, and see small farmhouses below. The upper station is 1,613 meters above sea level, providing an impressive view from the balcony. You can see the entire city of Tirana, the Adriatic Sea, and the Port of Durres. Albania’s mountainous terrain offers views of various hills and valleys in the distance. At the top, the Balcony Restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows and is an ideal lunch spot (not included). You can also visit the viewing terrace or the rotating bar at the Dajti Tower Hotel.
- National Historical Museum - The National History Museum is a key landmark in Tirana, showcasing Albania’s archaeological treasures from Illyrian times to the present. The collection includes statues from the Greek and Roman periods and a replica of Skanderbeg’s sword. There’s also a gallery dedicated to the persecutions during the communist regime.
- Et’hem Bej Mosque - The Et’hem Bej Mosque is a small mosque located on Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana. Built between 1790 and 1820, it was closed during the communist era but reopened in 1991 without government permission, attracting 10,000 attendees. The mosque features beautiful frescoes of trees, waterfalls, and bridges.
- Clock Tower - The Clock Tower, standing 35 meters high, is next to Skanderbeg Square. Built in 1822 during the Ottoman Empire, you can climb it for a fantastic view of Skanderbeg Square and Tirana’s city center.
- Skanderbeg Square - The tour begins at Skanderbeg Square, the central square of Tirana, surrounded by important buildings like the National History Museum, the Clock Tower, the Palace of Culture, and the Et’hem Bey Mosque. The square was designed by Italian architects Florentano de Fausto, Gherardo Bosio, and Armando Brasini.
- House of Leaves Museum - The House of Leaves is a villa that served as the headquarters of Albania’s secret service, Sigurimi, during the communist era. Now a museum, it displays bugs, monitoring equipment, and wiretapping telephones, offering a fascinating insight into Albania’s secret service during the communist regime.
- Pazari i Ri - The New Bazaar Market (Pazari i Ri) is a charming food market near central Tirana. Here, you can buy local products like fruits, honey, handicrafts, and homemade food. The market is surrounded by lovely terraces where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the sunshine.
- Bunk’Art 2 - Bunk’Art 2 is a museum located in a large underground bunker in central Tirana. The museum guides you through the role of the police and security services during Albania’s communist period, offering a fascinating look at the disturbing regime.
- Tanners’ Bridge - Tanners’ Bridge is a well-preserved stone bridge from the Ottoman period, built in the 19th century. You can walk across the old bridge and look down at the river below.
- Fortress of Justinian - Also known as Tirana Castle, the Fortress of Justinian was a central point in the city during the Byzantine era, located where the main east-west and north-south roads crossed. Today, you can see the 6-meter-high remaining wall, which has been incorporated into the pedestrianized Murat Toptani Street leading to the main government road.
- Toptani Shopping Center - The Toptani shopping center is a mall in central Tirana. The highlight is the top floor, which features a selection of coffee houses and restaurants with panoramic views of the city.
- Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit - The “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation” is a wide street lined with many Parliament buildings. Along the boulevard, you can see the Pyramid of Tirana, the National Archaeological Museum, the Presidential Palace, and the National Art Gallery. The boulevard was designed by Italian architect Gherardo Bosio.
- National Gallery of Art - The National Arts Gallery showcases Albanian paintings from the early 19th century to the present. Albanian art is unique because, during the communist regime, the government censored it. Artists had to create works that idealized the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. The gallery also displays “inappropriate” art for which artists were imprisoned.
- Rruga Murat Toptani - Murat Toptani Street is a lovely pedestrian street with beautiful plane trees and many terraces. Along the street, you’ll find a 6-meter-high wall of the Fortress of Justinian. The street leads to the “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation,” which houses many Parliament buildings.
- Presidential Palace of Tirana - The Presidential Office is located at the end of the “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation.” It is the official workplace of the president and houses all presidential staff.
- National Archaeological Museum - The National Archaeological Museum displays Albanian treasures found during archaeological digs. Opened after World War II, it features pieces from prehistory to the Middle Ages. The museum is located at the end of the “Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation.”
- Enver Hoxha Pyramid - The Pyramid of Tirana is a controversial building initially designed as a museum for former dictator Enver Hoxha. After the fall of communism, it served various purposes, including a convention center and television station. There is ongoing debate in Albania about whether to refurbish, repurpose, or demolish the pyramid.
- Blloku - The Blloku area is the trendiest and most vibrant part of Tirana. Once reserved for the communist government and closed to the public, it is now filled with restaurants, clubs, and coffee houses. It’s a great place to enjoy Tirana’s nightlife.
- Enver Hoxha’s Former Residence - The three-story villa of former communist dictator Enver Hoxha is located in the Blloku area. The villa remains as it was when Hoxha died in 1985. The entire Blloku area was once sealed off from the public and accessible only to the party elite and their families. Hoxha’s residence is visible from the street but closed to the public.
- Grand Park (Parku i Madh) - The Grand Park of Tirana is the city’s central park, featuring a large lake with beautiful paths and running tracks along the waterfront. There are numerous playgrounds for children and lovely coffee houses with lake views.
What's Included
- Private tour guide
- Private transportation
- Entrance to the Dajti Express Cable Car
- Local guide: receive recommendations for where to eat, drink, or shop in the city
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Entrance fees to museums in the city center of Tirana, due to limited time
Additional Information
The tour combines a 3-4 hour walking tour of the city center of Tirana with a visit to the Dajti Express Cable Car.
In the morning, you will see the historical sights, such as Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower, the Et’hem Bey Mosque and the main government street. We will pass by the communist landmarks, like the Blloku Area, the house of the former dictator, the Bunk’Art 2 Museum and the Museum of Secret Surveillance. We also visit new attractions like the new food market and the Grand Park.
Then, in the afternoon you will take the cable car to Mount Dajti. From the cable car you look down on treetops, little farm houses, lakes and impressive mountain cliffs. Then, once you reach the mountain balcony, you will have a panoramic view of the entire city center of Tirana, the Adriatic Sea and the coastline.
During the tour, we will pass by all the most important museums and explain what there is to see inside. Please note, we will not enter all the museums, due to the limited time.
- Check our Terms and Conditions here:
Location
Dajti Ekspres
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
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Marie-laure
Aug 20, 2021
Excellent tour - The tour was excellent and Jack was very friendly. He carried out the tour in a highly professional way; thanks to him I learned a lot of things (related to Albanian politics and history) that I didn't know at all.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
