Travel guide Tirana

Not very beautiful, the capital is nevertheless a pleasant city. Nowadays, it's a popular weekend getaway for tourists, even in the middle of winter. Tirana's version of la dolce vita has a lot to offer: a large park, good cafés, night bars concentrated in the Blloku district and, above all, a wide range of excellent restaurants in town and the surrounding area. As for places to visit, there are plenty of museums, not always very well presented, and very little in the way of ancient heritage. But lovers of architecture will appreciate the mix of styles: neoclassical or modernist buildings from the Italian Fascist period, Communist heritage and huge futuristic towers. The problem with the latter is that their financing remains highly secretive, and they have had the effect of driving up rents and driving residents out of the city center. By trying too hard to appear modern, Tirana risks losing its soul.