‘I went on one of Europe’s cheapest city breaks’
As prices soar for holidays in top destinations such as Spain, Greece and France, it’s getting harder to find a budget break. However, it’s not impossible to find a bargain if you’re willing to think outside the box when it comes to choosing a destination.
This summer I went to Tirana, Albania’s capital city, and had an incredible time and spent far less than I would have done in Spain. The lively city is extremely well-priced and a meal at a posh restaurant with wine rarely costs more than £15 per person.
A cocktail cost just £5 while a three-night stay in the city for two people came in at £120 in a centrally located Airbnb.
What to do
Albania only officially opened to tourists in 1991 after the collapse of its Communist regime, which closed the country to foreigners.
Its difficult history is explored in several top-rated museums in Tirana. I visited the House of Leaves Museum which covers the country’s history of secret surveillance. I also went to Bunk’Art 2, a converted nuclear bunker, which details how residents were persecuted by the Communist-era police. I would recommend visiting both of these to understand more about Albania’s history and the resilience of its people.
Despite its past, Tirana is a lively and welcoming city today with a thriving cafe culture and friendly residents. I’d recommend taking the Dajti Ekspres cable car to the top of Dajti Mountain for incredible views of the city. At the top, there are plenty of activities for children including horseback riding and mini-golf.
Tirana is a relaxed city and you could easily spend the day cafe hopping or relaxing in the Grand Park. It’s also not far from the coast and it takes just 45 minutes to reach Durres, one of Albania’s most popular beach resorts. There are some incredible places to stay in Durres, many of which are available for under £50 a night.
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Eating and drinking
Restaurants are incredibly good value in Tirana and I found it hard to spend more than £15 a head on a meal with wine.
My favourite restaurant was Oda which serves traditional Albanian cuisine in a beautiful open courtyard by Tirana’s main market. A vegetarian main meal of stuffed eggplant cost just 480 lek (£3.91) while a lamb dish came in at 550 lek (£4.48).
Tirana has an exciting nightlife scene with plenty of bars to choose from. I loved Radio Bar which served a huge range of cocktails for around £5 each. The eclectic bar is decorated with old-school furniture and has a courtyard garden.
How to get there
British tourists can get direct return flights from London to Tirana for as little as £56 in September. You can fly direct from London to Tirana with easyJet for as little as £36.99 at certain times of the year.
Wizz Air also offers direct flights to the city. Flights take around three hours direct from the UK, but tourists travelling from other areas of the UK can get a connecting flight to the Albanian city.
I also visited breathtaking Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia as part of my trip, why not combine the two for a longer break?
Where to Stay
I stayed at an Airbnb in the Blloku neighbourhood at a cost of just £119.64 for two people for three nights. I felt this was great value, and the apartment came with a large living room and balcony.
During Communist rule, Blloku was a closed-off area for the party elite but now it’s one of Tirana’s trendiest neighbourhoods.
I’d really recommend it as an area to stay in as it’s packed with cafes, bars and restaurants and is walkable to most of the city’s main attractions.
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, there are plenty of affordable options on Booking.com, as well as an array of self-catered options.
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