Skanderbeg Square (Sheshi Skënderbej)

The basics

If you spend any time in Tirana, you will more than likely pass through Skanderbeg Square. Not only is it where so many of the city’s cultural and historical attractions are located, but it’s also close to other Tirana sights like the Museum of Secret Surveillance (aka the House of Leaves) and Bunk'Art2. While you can easily explore the square independently, if you’re short on time or new to the city, consider a guided walking tour to get you oriented.

You can get an excellent refresher on Albania’s turbulent history at the National History Museum, whose eight pavilions span antiquity to the country’s 20th-century communist dictatorship. And be sure to climb the clock tower for bird’s-eye views overlooking the square. The adjacent mosque—Eth’em Bey—is known for its Ottoman frescoes and is open to visitors at select times, typically mornings.

Things to know before you go

• Interested in reading about Albania or picking up a guidebook? Albania’s biggest bookstore, Adrion, is located at Skanderbeg Square. Here, you can peruse a well-stocked collection of English-language books, including translated novels from Albanian writer Ismail Kadare.

• Skanderbeg Square often hosts special events such as culinary festivals, outdoor concerts, and a seasonal Christmas market. Check online or inquire with your hotel to see if anything is planned while you’re visiting Tirana.

• While the square is the city’s most central pedestrian zone, you will need to keep an eye out for cyclists and electric scooter riders.

• You can surf the web in the square using complimentary Wi-Fi.

How to get there

Skanderbeg Square is located in the center of Tirana, so chances are, your hotel or bed-and-breakfast is within walking distance. Otherwise, it’s easy and affordable to navigate the city using rideshare apps or taxis. If you’re taking a bus or shuttle from the airport, Skanderbeg Square may be your first glimpse of Tirana: The Rinas Express drops travelers off smack-dab in the middle of the plaza.

When to get there

There’s no wrong time to visit Skanderbeg Square, which remains open day and night and is a great spot to soak up good weather in the spring, summer, and early fall. The square can be particularly magical at dusk when the city’s lights start to turn on. Midday to afternoon tends to be the most hectic time, while nighttime brings out restaurant-goers and bar-hoppers; aim for the early morning if you’d like the square to yourself.

Revisiting Albania’s Stalinist regime

In different ways, both the House of Leaves and Bunk'Art2—each located near Skanderbeg Square—recreate the terror of Albania’s draconian communist system. Spread over two floors of a tranquil brick home, the House of Leaves explains the surveillance and interrogation tactics that the Sigurimi—state security—used against Albanian citizens. At Bunk'Art2, you'll find a converted underground bunker dedicated to victims of communist terror under the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs.