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Post-communism, the city has undergone a vibrant transformation, blending modern architecture with historic landmarks.
I would confidently recommend Tirana to anyone seeking an unconventional European destination, either as a place to work from or as a base to explore Albania from.
I initially visited Tirana as part of a journey through the Balkans in 2021, with the country having more of a relaxed attitude to covid restrictions than in Western Europe.
I subsequently returned to visit for two months in 2023 and was impressed once more.
Tirana has a great range of options on Airbnb and with it still being somewhat off the radar as a mainstream tourist destination, you shouldn't have any problems getting a great quality apartment for a very reasonable price.
There are a number of options in the city centre with Coolab being the stand out choice.
Tirana has apparently the highest per capita of coffee shops in the world, and whilst I don't for a second doubt the validity of that statement there weren't many that struck me as good working environments.
Tirana is great value with an abundance of places to eat out for casual meals and lunches making it on a par with other neighbouring countries in the Balkans and noticeably better value than in Western Europe.
At first glance, it’s hard to claim Tirana as an exciting destination. However, I found it surprisingly satisfying to spend time wandering around the city. Blloku is always busy on weekends, and the adjacent park and lake are consistently popular spots for relaxation. The city has one of the highest volumes of coffee shops per capita in Europe, which seem to draw people together throughout the day. While "exciting" might not be the right term, it’s a place where I never felt unstimulated.
Albania operates on Central European Time (CET), aligning with Western Europe.
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Tirana isn't enormous but you'd be best off staying close to one of these areas mentioned below.
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Having worked from three different spaces across the city I can say confidently that Coolab is the best of what is on offer in the city.
Situated about 15 minute walk from Blokku, it has a large open plan space, with a cafe where members can get discounted rates on coffee and snacks.
Enquire on availability ahead of time as it is often close to capacity and try to reserve a desk in advance.
There are numerous lunch options available within a 5 minute walk and a supermarket directly behind the building.
Albania has introduced a new Unique Permit scheme which includes a Type D visa option for digital nomads. This visa allows them to stay in Albania for one year, renewable up to five years. Introduced in early 2022, the scheme streamlines the application process compared to previous visa options.
To apply via Albania's online visa portal, digital nomads must provide a contract with a foreign company, service contract with a foreign contractor, or contract for a specific remote project. While no minimum income is officially stated, it is anticipated to be at least $9,800 per year for an individual, matching the minimum for a retirement visa. However, some requirements still need clarification from Albanian authorities.
Enormous, forested mountain which towers over the city to the east. Unless you're a particularly keen walker, you are better off taking the cable car to close to the summit, where a range of walks can be taken from.
⚠️ If you do head up on foot via the paths, watch out for dogs.
In my two April visits to Tirana, the weather was impressive on both occasions with most days mild with clear skies and the occasional period of rain. Summers regularly surpass 30 degrees, which could make hiking and exploring the mountains more challenging.
The closest beaches are towards the costal town of Durres, about an hour's drive away.
With a number of sights to see within the city itself and the rest of the country accessible via public transport, a month-long stay feels comfortably fulfilling.
Tirana and Albania as a whole are still moderately under the radar for the majority of European tourists in comparison to their Croatian an Greek neighbours.
Even still, there is a moderate amount of international tourists with both Northern & Southern American tourists well represented.
There are a number of remote workers to be found in the coworking spaces but the audience is mainly local.
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