From Budva, Montenegro I took a bus (trains didn’t just magically appear– rude) to Tirana, Albania- arriving at Tirana International Bus Terminal.
Tirana is a funny one. Not sure if you ever encountered stale potpourri in your great grandmother’s house, but it’s the best way for me to describe Tirana. A potpourri city- a mix of various, questionable architecture styles and unfinished buildings that don’t really fit together.
I’m all over the map here with my analogies, but you know in primary school when 400 kids run a race and the first 10 get a fancy medal and the rest get a flimsy, discoloured ribbon that says “trier award”.
You can guess what place Tirana came in.
where can I take out cash with no atm fees in Albania?
Credins Bank is the only one in Albania that doesn’t charge fees to take out cash and you need cash in Albania- all the buses, most of the accommodation etc. will only accept cash.
where to stay in Tirana?
The people in Albania are absolutely lovely whether it’s asking for directions or chatting in a cafe. I stayed one night at Ladi Rooms – really clean, new rooms, breakfast was massive and delicious and, again, lovely people although although the accommodation is a bit of a walk to both the center and the bus station.
how long should I stay in Triana?
I arrived in the late afternoon from Budva and then left the next day for Berat in the morning. It was enough.
what can I do for free in Triana?
I did the free walking tour of Tirana. It was enough.
There was a lot of history that I wouldn’t have bothered to Google so it was nice to hear someone speak it to me so I didn’t have to strain my eyes on my computer screen.
I know tipping means a free walking tour is not technically free, but when I was a young, cheap backpacker, I gave €5 usually. Sometimes my friends and I would pool together €5. Now as an older, cheap backpacker I give €10-15, depending on how good it was.
I didn’t go into any museums, but I heard House of Leaves Museum was the better of them. I put this under free things to do because day dreaming about entering a paid museums is a free thing to do.
where should I eat in Tirana?
I ate at OPA – Greek Street Food and it was decent, but overpriced.
Oda Garden/ Oda traditional Albanian Restaurant near the new bazaar is where the tour guides recommend to eat. There are two locations, but both owned by the same person- 70% sure of that. Both were quite busy, but looked good from the outside.
Shëtitorja Murat Toptani is a nice walking street with restaurants near Tirana castle (there isn’t actually a castle).
where is the bus station from Tirana to Berat?
Mostly because I don’t like paying money for things, I walked from my hotel to the South and North Albania Bus Terminal (Bus Station) (Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut), which took 40 minutes or so. It’s a little bit industrial, a little bit 4 lane highway, but there is a pedestrian path so deal with it.
At the bus station/ open parking lot with mini buses there is a departures board, but it isn’t accurate. The buses leave when they are full.
If good, clear signage is your thing- there isn’t any, you have to walk around and read the makeshift signs in the bus windows/ on the front of the bus. On the board it said there was a bus to Berat at 11:00.
At 10:40 I got the last seat in a bus. A guy (not the driver) took my bag and I don’t know what he did with it. It always amazes me how unbothered I am about things.
At 10:45 the mini bus left with two people sitting in the aisle, one on their bag, the other on a little foldable stool. Not sure if I was on the 10:20 bus or the 11:00 bus. Re-read that, I promise it makes sense.
These mini buses are quite hot since there is no air conditioning- sometimes they leave the door open at the front, which invites a warm breeze inside. You will probably be sweaty and slightly annoyed at how long the journey takes, but this is the cheapest way to travel so deal with it.
would I go to Tirana again?
Nah.
Onwards to Berat and Gjirokastër.
