Top things to do

This fantastic conversion – from a massive cold war bunker on the outskirts of Tirana into a history and contemporary art museum – is Albania's most exciting new sight and easily a Tirana highlight. With almost 3000…

Named for the owner's collection of antique Albanian radios, Radio is an eclectic dream with decor that includes vintage Albanian film posters and even a collection of communist-era propaganda books to read at the b…

Tracing the relatively brief history of Albanian painting from the early 19th century to the present day, this beautiful space also has temporary exhibitions. Downstairs there's a small but interesting collection of…

Despite its rather pretentious name, this place is all understatement, with a restrained decor and passionate staff who effortlessly translate the daily specials from a giant blackboard into English for guests. Ther…

The seafood is fresh here and forms the centre of the menu, but there's also a large range of pastas (as you'd expect), risotti and grilled meats on offer, and all are superb. There's a charming terrace to dine on o…

The largest museum in Albania holds many of the country's archaeological treasures and a replica of Skanderbeg's massive sword (how he held it, rode his horse and fought at the same time is a mystery). The excellent…

Uka Farm was founded in 1996 by former Minister of Agriculture Rexhep Uka, who started organic cultivation of agricultural products on a small plot of land. His son Flori, a trained winemaker and standout amateur ch…

Around the corner from the chic cafes of Blloku neighbourhood, Chef Bledar Kola’s Albanian food metamorphosis is hidden behind a row of grain mills and a wall of corn husks. Opened in February 2016, the restaurant i…

To get a sneak peak into life under Hoxha, pop into this quirky ‘cafe-museum’ (features various communist-era relics) for a coffee or one of 25 varieties of raki, the local fruit-based spirit.

Just 25km east of Tirana is Mt Dajti National Park (1611m). It is the most accessible mountain in the country, and many locals go there to escape the city rush and have a spit-roast lamb lunch. A sky-high, Austrian-…