Best neighborhoods in Tirana

What are the best neighborhoods in Tirana to stay in?

You might have read something about Tirana online or have read our Tirana itinerary and are now looking to spend your city break in Albania’s capital. We can imagine! After all, there are more than enough things to do in Tirana. However, you need to book an accommodation in Tirana. It is essential that you stay in a good neighborhood—a safe area with all the amenities you might need nearby. You would like to know some of the best neighborhoods in Tirana to stay in.

After spending some time in Tirana, visiting multiple landmarks and museums, and talking with locals, we compiled a list of the best neighborhoods. So, you can book a hotel or Airbnb and ensure you are in a neighborhood that will help you enjoy your travels. For all neighborhoods, we have also added pros and cons, as well as what to expect from each neighborhood. These are our actual experiences and our favorite neighborhoods when we visited Tirana.

The best neighborhoods in Tirana

If you are not ready to read through the whole blog, you can check the best neighborhoods in Tirana below.

Blloku: Tirana’s iconic high-end neighborhood

Blloku is one of, if not the most famous neighborhood in Tirana. The area was once closed off entirely to the public. Only the inner circle of the leadership of the Communist Party, which ruled Albania, was allowed to be there. In recent years, it has gone through a significant renovation. The area now not only has communist buildings but is also one of the liveliest neighborhoods in Tirana. The area did not wholly lose its prestigious charm, though. It is still full of boutique hotels and designer bars. Many of the buildings in this area have been turned into masterpieces in modern architecture. If you are looking for an area full of bars and arguably has the best nightlife in the city, Blloku is the best neighborhood in Tirana for you. This neighborhood is in the center of Tirana; you will not have any issues visiting museums and landmarks—Enver Hoxha’s former residence, the famous sushi restaurant Salt, and many luxury hotels are all here. If you don’t like very crowded areas, other neighborhoods might be more suited for you.

Photo by Visit Albania. © All rights reserved. 

Tregu Çam: Full of history and monuments

If you are coming to Tirana to learn more about the history of Albania, Tregu Çam is the best place you can be. This iconic neighborhood in Tirana lies directly behind Skanderbeg Square and has some of the best museums in Tirana nearby. This area is mostly suited for travelers who want to stay close to the center of Tirana but don’t want to pay the prices of the designer hotels in Blloku. Tregu Çam is a residential neighborhood in Tirana, so this might also be a good option if you want to go to a place with supermarkets and other nearby services. Although Tregu Çam is near Tirana’s famous landmarks, such as The National History Museum and Bunk’Art 2, the neighborhood is not that pretty. However, this is still a great pick if you are traveling on a budget to Tirana and still want to be in a safe and central neighborhood.

Photo by Dario Daniel Silva via Unsplash. © All rights reserved. 

21 Djhetori: For people who like their morning coffee

Another area that you can go to that is relatively close to the center but cheaper than Blloku is 21 Djhetori. This area is full of coffee shops. It is also one of the busiest areas of Tirana. The German Embassy is located in this neighborhood in Tirana. You might have to walk further to visit famous landmarks in Tirana, as this area is only a few streets away from Tregu Çam. However, you can find one famous landmark in the neighborhood of Tirana: the Mosaic of Tirana. As this area is also quite residential, you will have no issue finding supermarkets, banks, or clinics. Because the area is a bit further away from the center, hotels and hostels are affordable. Tregu Çam and 21 Djhetori are the best neighborhoods for budget travelers who want a good neighborhood to stay in Tirana.

Photo by Century 21 . © All rights reserved. 

Pazari I Ri: Family-friendly neighborhood with a market

This neighborhood is a bit further from the museums in Tirana but still within walking distance (almost everything in Tirana is). Pazari I Ri is also known as The New Bazaar because of the grocery marketplace in the area. However, don’t let the proximity to the museums set you off. Although the name of the neighborhood is The New Bazaar, it is one of the oldest areas in Tirana. It was even part of Tirana’s old town. The New Bazaar was built in 1931 and reconstructed and renovated in 2016. There are now plans to make the bazaar a tourist attraction, which you can see in the area. The area is full of lovely bakeries, restaurants, and colorful buildings. The market, the biggest tourist attraction in the area, has locally produced wine, raki, fresh fish, meat, and vegetables.

Photo by Gent Onuzi via Flickr. © All rights reserved. 

Around AirAlbania Stadium: Luxury living with history nearby

We picked this area when looking for a place to stay in Tirana. This area is full of lovely clothing shops such as BOSS clothing, restaurants, and bars. Most of this area is modern, as the AirAlbania Stadium was recently renovated. The apartment complexes surrounding the stadium are also very modern and are a great place to stay when visiting Tirana. The area also has multiple supermarkets and a couple of pharmacies close. Although the neighborhood is modern, it is only a ten-minute walk to Skanderbeg Square and many other famous landmarks Tirana offers. We stayed at the Marriott in the AirAlbania Stadium and loved it. However, there are also multiple Airbnbs around this area. If you want to travel to Tirana on a budget, this area is not the best option.

Photo by Xhiliana via Unsplash. © All rights reserved.

Rruga E Kavajes: Central street with loads of things to do

Rruga E Kavajes, or Kavaja Street, is not a neighborhood. This is a street. The street stretches from Skanderbeg Square to 21 Djhetori, another neighborhood on our list of best neighborhoods in Tirana. If you want to stay in Tirana and in beautiful buildings, this could be the best option. The street is the most important in West Tirana, and the Universal Hospital Tirana is located here. If you are looking for hostels in Tirana, this is not the neighborhood for you. The street is known for its prime real estate and boasts some of the highest house prices in all of Tirana. However, if you want to stay in the center of Tirana, this might be the best neighborhood for you. You have to be willing to spend a bit extra if you want to stay in this street.

Photo by Arturi_Photo via Flickr. © All rights reserved.

Myslim Shyri: Main avenue with bars, restaurants and cafes

Myslim Shyri is one of the other main streets of Tirana. This street starts from Tirana Castle, one of the most lively places in Tirana, and stretches to Rruga Muhamet Gjollesha. This could be a good option if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Kavaja Street. Although not the most affordable neighborhood in Tirana, this street is filled with residential apartments that are not as high-end as the ones on Rruga E Kavajes. Furthermore, this neighborhood in Tirana is within a stone’s throw of Tirana Castle, surrounded by nice bars, cafes, coffee shops, and some of Tirana’s best restaurants. This avenue is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in when visiting Tirana for people who want to be close to all amenities and the most famous landmarks.

Photo by Century 21 . © All rights reserved. 

Best neighborhoods in the suburbs of Tirana

If you are not just in Tirana to visit this beautiful city but want to stay in Tirana for a long time, the chances are high that you don’t want to live in the center. Albania and Tirana are one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe. The center in the tourist season will be packed with people. You might want to look for a place outside the city center. Thankfully, there are also more than enough places outside the city center to stay in. These are the best neighborhoods in the suburbs of Tirana. These neighborhoods in Tirana have everything you need for everyday living, such as supermarkets, banks, and clinics. If you plan to stay or live in these areas, you might want to rent a car or public transport. Although Tirana is very walkable, these neighborhoods are not within walking distance from the capital’s museums and monuments. These are the best neighborhoods in the suburbs of Tirana.

Laprakë

Laprakë is a mainly residential neighborhood in Tirana. It is perfect for people who want to live there for a long time. Laprakë also contains the Military Hospital of Tirana, the ProCredit Bank building, and the Albanian Mobile Communications building.

Don Bosko

If you are looking for a neighborhood in Tirana that has a bit more options for eating and coffee, the Donbosko neighborhood is the best neighborhood in Tirana for you. Don Bosko has a big school, an oratory, and a parish. This neighborhood is now home to many students, and young families.

Selita

Selita is the last neighborhood in the suburbs of Tirana that we recommend. This neighborhood was once part of Farkë county. However, after the reform of Tirana in 2015, it became part of the larger municipality of Tirana. The area has everything you need to live in, such as supermarkets, clinics, services, and more. It is one of the best neighborhoods in Tirana if you plan to stay longer.

How do you choose the best neighborhood in Tirana?

We hope our experiences can help you pick a good neighborhood in Tirana. As travel bloggers, we can not cater to every reader. However, we hope this guide and the information about every neighborhood can help you pick the best neighborhood in Tirana for you.