Tirana & Baden in Vlore

About the destination: Tirana, the vibrant capital of Albania, is a fascinating mix of Ottoman heritage, Italian architecture, and bold Communist-era planning, all wrapped in a fresh coat of color and creativity. Once a gray, austere city, it has reinvented itself with lively murals, pastel façades, and a youthful energy that’s hard to miss. Skanderbeg Square, the monumental heart of Tirana, is the ideal starting point: from here you can visit the National History Museum, recognizable by its grand socialist-realist mosaic, and stroll toward the Et’hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower, which recall the city’s Ottoman past. One of Tirana’s most distinctive attractions is its Communist legacy. Bunk’Art and Bunk’Art 2—underground bunkers turned museums—offer immersive exhibits on daily life under Enver Hoxha’s regime, with chilling corridors and preserved rooms that make history feel close and personal. Nearby, the “Pyramid,” once a museum dedicated to Hoxha and now an urban playground and cultural venue, symbolizes Tirana’s transition from dictatorship to a more open, creative society. Tirana’s modern personality shines in its neighborhoods and public spaces. The trendy Blloku district, once reserved for the Communist elite, is now full of cafés, cocktail bars, and restaurants where locals linger late into the night. The Grand Park and Artificial Lake provide a green escape, perfect for jogging, cycling, or a relaxed picnic. For a panoramic view, take the Dajti Express cable car up Mount Dajti, where you’ll find hiking trails, restaurants, and sweeping vistas over the city and the Adriatic coast beyond.

About the destination: Vlorë (en albanés Vlora, en italiano Valona, en griego Αυλών) es una ciudad portuaria y municipio de Albania, capital del condado de Vlorë. Situada en la bahía de Vlorë (con la famosa isla de Sazan o Saseno en la entrada), es uno de los puertos importantes de la conocida ribera albanesa y el segundo del país después de Durrës, con 93.812 habitantes (datos del 2006). Vlorë es el punto más cercano al puerto italiano de Bari y de la costa de Salento, de la que está separada por el canal de Otranto. El municipio comprende, desde la reforma territorial de 2015, las unidades administrativas de Novoselë, Orikum, Qendër Vlorë, Shushicë y la capital Vlorë. Anteriormente Vlorë fue capital del desaparecido distrito de Vlorë.