Tirane travel guide — Tirane tourism and travel information

Tirane travel guide

about Tirane

Tirana (Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located at 41.33°N, 19.82°E in the district and county with the same name. Its population is estimated officially at 353,400 in 2003, though other estimates put the figure as high as 700,000. Founded in 1614, it became Albania's capital city in 1920.

Located on the Ishm River, Tirana is Albania's chief industrial and cultural centre. The principal industries include agricultural products and machinery, textiles, pharmaceuticals and metal products. Tirana has experienced rapid growth and established many new industries since the 1920s.

Tirana is presently trying to develop a tourist industry, although this effort is hampered by the political instability in the region, owing to military conflicts during the 1990s in Albania and neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia.

Tirane history

Tirana was founded in 1614 by the Ottoman general Sulejman Pasha, who built a mosque, a bakery and a Turkish sauna, and named it "Tehran", as a tribute to his military victory at Tehran in Persia (now Iran). The small town was selected as the temporary capital of Albania (as a compromise between South and North Albania) by the provisional government established at the Congress of Lushnjë (January 1920). In November 1944 the communist government of Enver Hoxha was established there.

The city's population, estimated at only 12,000 in 1910, rose to 30,000 at the 1930 census and 60,000 in 1945 despite the intervening years of foreign occupation and war. During the 1950s Tirana experienced a period of rapid industrial growth, raising the population to 137,000 in 1960. In the late 1990s Tirana experienced its fastest population upsurge as Albanians from the north moved to the capital in hopes of a better life.

Currently, the city suffers from the problems of overpopulation such as waste management, lack of running water and electricity. The problem is exacerbated by an aging infrastructure. Despite the problems, Tirana has also experienced a very rapid growth in the construction of new buildings. It is alleged that many of these buildings are the result of money laundering operations.

During the recent years pollution has also become a very big problem for Tirana as the number of cars has increased to several orders of magnitude. These are mostly older, diesel cars that pollute way more than the newer models in circulation elsewhere in Europe. Additionally, the fuel used in Albania contains larger amounts of sulphur and lead than is allowed in the EU countries.

The current mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama, has tried to beautify the city scape by cleaning up the banks of the Lana and painting old buildings.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s Tirana was the focal point of violent demonstrations which ultimately led to the collapse of the communist government.

Near cities to Tirane

• Kavaje travel guide 29 km
• Elbasan travel guide 33 km
• Durres travel guide 33 km
• Burrel travel guide 34 km
• Librazhd travel guide 44 km
• Lushnje travel guide 46 km
• Lezhe travel guide 52 km
• Peshkopi travel guide 63 km
• Berat travel guide 71 km
• Struga travel guide 72 km

Near webcams to Tirane

• Tirana webcam 2.3 km
• Skopje webcam 150 km
• Dubrovnik webcam 190 km
• Dubrovnik - airport webcam 210 km
• Santo Spirito webcam 260 km
• Thessaloniki webcam 270 km
• Thessaloniki webcam 270 km
• Split webcam 370 km
• Belgrade webcam 390 km
• Vrsac webcam 440 km

back to top

Tirane travel services

cheap flights to Tirane

• book cheap flights to Tirane »
• book cheap flights to Albania »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Tirane, cheap flights Tirane, also available cheap airline tickets to Albania and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Tirane deals also available.

cheap Tirane hotels

• book cheap hotels to Tirane »
• book cheap hotels to Albania »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Tirane, Albania hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Tirane hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Tirane vacations

• book Tirane vacations »
• book Albania vacations »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Tirane, Albania vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Tirane vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Tirane

• book cheap car rental in Tirane »
• book cheap car rentals in Albania »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Tirane, car hire in Albania and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Tirane car hire deals also available.

Tirane travel insurance

• Tirane cheap travel insurance »
• cheap travel insurance for Albania »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Tirane, accident health Tirane travel insurance, all using our online Tirane travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Albania. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Tirane real estate

• Tirane real estate guide »
• real estate listings in Albania »

City Travel Guide comes with Tirane real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Tirane property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Albania, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Tirane.

back to top

Tirane travel books

Tirane travel guide books

• Tirane travel guide books »
• Albania travel guide books »

Tirane maps and atlases

• Tirane maps and atlases »
• Albania maps and atlases »

back to top