Car hire Tirana

Introduction

Tirana, Albania's capital, doesn't have many places of interest and still tourists think it's a pleasant city. The central square (Sheshi Skënderbej) is enormous, just like the communists liked it. This square will be taken in hand the next few years: there'll be more parks and gardens, it will become a pedestrian zone and new buildings will be constructed around the square. Tirana's nightlife has flourished in recent years, with for example some trendy nightclubs.

Population

The Albanian capital has approximately 625,000 inhabitants.

Location

Tirana is centrally located on the river Ishëm, over 30 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea. The city is surrounded by hills and there are 4 (artificial) lakes within the city limits. A large park was constructed near the Tirana Lake in the southern part of town.

Economy

The city is an important economic center with factories for food, (agricultural) machinery and metal products. The textile industry is also an important source of income. Since the fall of communism, the service sector has grown significantly.

Airports

The airport of the Albanian capital is officially called Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, after Mother Teresa who was of Albanian descent. It's situated 17 kilometers northwest of the Albanian capital and is reachable by rental car via the new freeway from Tirana to the port city of Durrës. The exit to the airport is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

Tirana's public transport consists of a reasonably good network of bus lines. Buses with the sign 'Unze' run over the inner beltway around the center. There are also buses to destinations outside Tirana, including the seaside resorts on the coast and there are long-distance buses to for example the Greek Thessaloníki, the Macedonian capital Skopje and to Priština in Kosovo.

Traffic and Parking

Albania is improving its infrastructure with European financial support. Several new freeways have been constructed from Tirana and the beltway around the capital will also be improved. There are many old cars in Tirana, resulting in air pollution sometimes growing to an alarming extent. Finding a free parking place for your rental car isn't easy. The only parking garage in the center is located under the Vesa Center on the Rruga Abdyl Frashëri.

Hotels

In recent years, many good hotels have opened up in Tirana and there's suitable accommodation in every price range. More expensive hotels are mainly located south of the city center, while cheaper accommodations can be found in the northern part, between the central square and the train station. There are also hotels in the entertainment area Blloku, but in the evening and at night it can be noisy here.

External Sources

For more information about Tirana, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Tirana
• Official website Tirana
• Tourist Information Tirana