Tirana Walking Tour with Byrek and Raki Tasting Experience

Begin your journey at the ancient Fortress of Justinian, one of Tirana’s oldest historical sites. Your guide introduces the city’s origins, the old fortifications, and how this area evolved into today’s lively center. It’s the perfect place to set the tone for the cultural walk ahead.

Step into Tirana’s main square surrounded by its most important landmarks — the National History Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Et’hem Bey Mosque. Learn how this grand square has changed from Ottoman times through the communist era to modern Albania.

Visit one of the few mosques that survived the communist period. Admire the unique frescoes depicting trees and waterfalls, rare in Islamic art, and learn about its symbolic reopening in 1991 as a moment of national unity.

Discover Tirana’s main Orthodox Cathedral, a modern spiritual landmark representing Albania’s post-communist religious revival. Learn about the peaceful coexistence of religions in Albania, one of the country’s proudest features.

Pass by this lively park.

Explore the once-restricted neighborhood where Albania’s communist elite lived. Now transformed into a vibrant quarter filled with trendy bars, street art, and boutiques, it’s the perfect contrast between past and present.

Visit the open-air installation known as “Checkpoint.” See a real Cold War bunker, a piece of the Berlin Wall, and remnants from an Albanian labor camp. This stop offers a vivid insight into the country’s difficult communist past and its path to freedom.

Pass through this elegant square built by Italian architects, surrounded by university buildings and the national stadium. Learn about Tirana’s 20th-century urban development and modern-day cultural events.

We’ll pass by the impressive Air Albania Stadium, the country’s largest and most modern sports arena. Your guide will share insights about its architecture, how it replaced the old “Qemal Stafa” stadium, and its role as a national symbol where sports and concerts bring Albanians together. Although we won’t enter, it’s a great spot for a quick photo and to appreciate Tirana’s blend of old and new.

Relax in a nostalgic communist-themed bar filled with vintage memorabilia. Choose from a large selection of raki (fruit brandy) and enjoy one complimentary shot per person. It’s a warm and authentic way to end your walk.

After Komiteti, the group walks back through the Castle of Tirana — a restored historical area blending ancient walls with modern cafés and artisan shops. It’s the final stop before returning to the starting point at the Fortress of Justinian.