Doing Architecture research in Tirana for a week

  1. From the airport to Tirana is some 20 minutes by car, 30 minutes by bus. If you take a taxi it costs some 25$. The bus could be 5-7$, not sure. You can also rent a car for some 20-25 EUR per day. If it seems affordable, I work for a company that has an office at the airport. I guess I could get you a discount off the regular prices.

  2. It is very easy to exchange money. Just look for offices and not people waving money around the Central Bank of Albania. (I don't know if they do it anymore...) One of the best rates, (although you're not going to exchange millions, or are you?), can be found at Iliria Exchange, next to the Central Bank or maybe one of their other offices inside Taiwan (a commercial center in Tirana's heart).

  3. What's your budget for staying? There are hotels from 10-12$ per night, not close to city center, and closer ones for 30$ or more. Check booking.com and then ask again here about the hotel. Sometimes booking.com has incredible rates that you can never find if you knock on the hotel's door.

  4. Museums... there are 2 or 3 I guess. Galleries? There is the National Gallery of Arts and a couple of smaller, private ones. Not much cultural heritage here, sorry. If you want to check the National Albanian Film Archive, I can hook you up for a private tour. My wife works there :D

  5. Food... Nuts? Only if you order whiskey in a bar. We don't cook with nuts. I used to work in a restaurant and nuts are rarely used. Even when used, it is written on the dish's description. In cheap restaurants I don't think you'll encounter it. Sesame seeds? Unfortunately yes, we use it to cover some of the bread types we sell. In cooking not that much.

  6. Outside Tirana, don't miss Durres. Albeit full with new buildings, it is a very old city. If you go through the streets you'll find the Roman Baths or The Great Amphitheater. Only 35 km from Tirana. There is also Kruja, great scenery, a very old bazaar and also the castle of Scanderbeg, our national hero. Some 20 km from Tirana. If you're into industrial scenery, don't miss Elbasan. Beside archaeological stuff from the middle ages, you'll see the biggest steel factory built during the communism. It is also an environmental catastrophe unfortunately. Some 30 km away.

I don't think there is much time left but there is always Dajti mountain, you can go there with the cable car. It is a must since you're visiting Tirana for what it is.

If you have further questions, let us know :)

/r/albania Thread