Tirana holidays

Clothes, bags, shoes and toys can all be picked up on the cheap at Tregu Cam – a daily market in the heart of Tirana. Most stalls open early in the morning and close around 2pm, so come early to avoid missing out on a bargain.

You’ll find a pick ‘n’ mix selection of shopping malls in Tirana, packed with local stores and UK-known fashion outlets, as well as restaurants and entertainment complexes. Some of the biggest malls include Tirana East Gate, QTU and City Park.

Historically, there’s a huge Italian influence across Albania, which means top-notch Italian leather goods are easy to get your hands on. Designer shoe stores are super popular, and you can pick up a new pair for much cheaper than elsewhere in Europe.

Cafés and chilled-out restaurants are peppered throughout Tirana, making it a great city for people-watching with a coffee or a beer in hand. While Islam is the most common religion, it’s practised in a very tolerant way, so drinking alcohol is widely accepted here.

You’ll find Tirana’s nightlife scene centred around the former Soviet neighbourhood of Blloku. Here, trendy rooftop bars, underground nightclubs, cocktail spots and wine bars take the tempo up throughout the evening and into the early hours.

Fergese’s a rustic dish of bell peppers, tomatoes, and salted cottage cheese, baked in a rich tomato sauce. It’s one of Albania’s most traditional foods and actually originated in Tirana, so you won’t have any trouble finding a restaurant in the city that sells it.

You’ll typically see dolma – meat-stuffed vine or cabbage leaves – tucked among other Albanian nibbles on a mezze board. Dolma’s served hot or cold, with a side dish of garlic yoghurt sauce. Pair it with cured meats, pickled vegetables and hard-boiled eggs for a real taste of rustic Albania.

This dessert looks like a pile of shredded, shoelace-style filo pastry. Originating in the Middle East and Turkey, it used to be made with cheese. However, Albanian kadaif caters to those with a sweet tooth, and is made with chopped walnuts sprinkled with vanilla sugar, then baked to crispy perfection.

Wash down a traditional Albanian meal with a traditional Albanian drink, called boza. This thick malty non-alcoholic bevvie was introduced by the Turks over 10,000 years ago, and is made with fermented grain. Think milkshake, Balkans-style.

This melt-in-the-mouth cake makes an appearance in most bakeries on Tirana’s streets. It may look like a simple slice of cake, but the recipe mixes up a combination of eggs, milk and caramel to make this creamy sweet treat. Try and find a slice made in the traditional way – with milk from cows, goats and buffalo.