Hi, I visited Tirana with friends and family in May. Our group was originally avoiding Tirana because of old reports of a gray, boring, ex-communist capital. An Albanian ex-pat strongly advised otherwise and Tirana was, to our group (3 adults and 2 teenagers), a welcome and fun surprise. We stayed in a 7th-floor walk-up overlooking the square. Even now, the city is still emerging from its prior mind-control and civil chaos with a riot of art, food, and thought. We were tipped off that the National Museum was boring but BunkArt was an immersive haunted house. The House of Leaves was even more creepy: silent where Bunkart was loud, no cameras but you were on camera at all times, a handler always in the background: very effective!

The city was very walkable. We stayed at the main square and walked easily to Mother Teresa square (saw the president on the way!) to meet a friend to take us into the Great Park of Tirana to a restaurant inside. Yes, look both ways before crossing! Same as in any urban environment!

❤❤❤❤❤