VISIT: MOUNT DAJTI
Mount Dajti. 1,612m high. Offers great views of Tirana. A very relaxing area, mount Dajti can be reached through an Austrian-built express cable car. The view along the route is worth the cost even if you don't stay atop the mountain.
A place where one can spend holidays and engage in various activities like trekking, excursions, sky sports,ski etc.The area has a limited number of hotels and restaurants, but it is great for taking a breath of fresh air, mountain sports, or to just get out of the city for a while.
The beautiful scenery still makes the trip worthwhile. 500 lek.
STAY FOR THE FILM FESTIVAL
This eighth edition of TIFF brings several important changes to its previous years. For the first time, TIFF announces a feature film competition along with its prestigious shorts program. TIFF also extends its program to six days, December 13 - 18 in order to encompass not only the competing shorts and features but to allow for retrospectives, seminars, classes, press events and special presentations at theatres all over the Albanian capital.
It is the intention of TIFF to bring filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from all around the world to Tirana, Albania in the hopes of fostering future co-operation in this extraordinarily scenic area.
By bringing together these distinct voices and their work, the TIRANA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL commits itself to introducing audiences to alternative visions of extraordinary diversity.
GETTING TO TIRANA: PLANE
Tirana is served by Mother Teresa Airport (TIA), 17 km from the centre of town.
The following airlines offer service to/from Tirana:
Adria Airways (Ljubljana), Aegean Airlines (Athens), Albanian Airlines (Amsterdam, Athens, Bologna, Frankfurt, Istanbul-Atatürk, London-Stansted, Milan-Malpensa, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Prishtina, Rome, Turin, Verona, Zürich), Air One (Milan-Malpensa, Rome-Fiumicino), Austrian Tyrolean Airways (Vienna), Belle Air (Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Cuneo, Florence, Forli, Genoa, Milan-Malpensa, Milan-Orio al Serio, Parma, Perugia, Pisa, Pristina, Rimini, Rome-Fiumicino, Trieste, Venice-Treviso, Verona, Zurich), British Airways (London-Gatwick), Lufthansa (Munich), Malév Hungarian Airlines (Budapest), Olympic Air (Athens), Sky Express (Heraklion), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul-Atatürk)
Rinas Express operates an hourly bus between 6:00am and 6:00pm between the airport and Skanderberg Square. The bus costs 250 lek. A taxi to the centre costs around 2,000 lek and takes 20-25 minutes
GETTING TO TIRANA: BUS
Buses can be used to reach Tirana from other cities in Albania and internationally. There is daily bus service from Turkey, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, and Athens, Greece and multiple services per day to Pristina, Kosovo and other cities in Albania. Schedules change frequently so check the latest info in your place of departure.
From Montenegro, take a bus or taxi to Ulcinj, then take a bus or taxi to Shkodra in Albania, crossing the border at Muriqan. Buses leave Shkodra frequently for Tirana.
Buses to and from Kosovo depart from downtown (behind museum where one also can find buses to Rinas airport)
Buses and furgons(minibuses) are generally the best method for traveling within Albania, but they are not in the best of shape. There are few bus companies; many are operated by individual drivers. Bus lines have schedules, but are often delayed until the coaches are full or a the whim of the driver.
GETTING TO TIRANA: TRAIN
Tirana has no international train connections. You can only reach Tirana by train from the following cities: Durrës (100 lek, one hour, 8 daily), Shkodra (1600 lek, 3.5 hours, twice daily), Elbasan (200 lek, 4 hours, 3 daily), Vlorë (210 lek, 5.5 hours, twice daily) and Pogradec (350 lek, 4 hours, twice daily).
Even though train services are very poor, when compared to West Balkan standards, they may be more frequent, cheaper, and more scenic than taking the bus.
