Tirana on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Tirana is excellent for budget travellers at about ALL 4,600 per person per day (roughly €45) sharing a room. Hostels, cheap local food and free sights make it one of Europe's best-value capitals.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ALL2,000 | ALL5,000 | ALL11,000 |
| Food & drink | ALL1,800 | ALL3,500 | ALL7,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ALL600 | ALL1,700 | ALL3,500 |
| Local transport | ALL200 | ALL800 | ALL2,500 |
| Per person, per day | ALL4,600 | ALL11,000 | ALL24,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Tirana day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Skanderbeg Square and the statue of the national hero
- The Et'hem Bey Mosque (cover shoulders and knees)
- Climbing the steps of the Pyramid of Tirana
- The Grand Park (Parku i Madh) and its artificial lake
- Blloku and the exterior of Enver Hoxha's villa
- The New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri) and the Tanners' Bridge
Cheap eats
- Byrek from a bakery: about ALL 100–200
- Sufllaqe (Albanian gyros): about ALL 300–500
- Qofte (grilled meatballs) plate: about ALL 600–900
- Fërgesë with bread: about ALL 600–900
- Espresso: about ALL 100–150
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and guesthouses around the New Bazaar, in old houses within a 10-minute walk of the centre, at about ALL 3,000–6,000 for a double (around ALL 2,000 per person sharing) or roughly ALL 1,200–2,000 for a dorm bed.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the centre; Skanderbeg Square to Blloku is 15 minutes. City buses cost about ALL 40–50. The Rinas Express bus from the airport costs about ALL 400.
A sample budget day
- Morning: coffee and byrek at the New Bazaar (about ALL 300)
- Lunch: qofte in a local restaurant (about ALL 800)
- Afternoon: Bunk'Art 2 (about ALL 700–800) and Skanderbeg Square
- Evening: Pyramid of Tirana (free) and a walk in Blloku
- Total: about ALL 4,600 including a shared budget room
More ways to save
- Carry small notes for buses and cafés; cash is king.
- Eat the lunch specials at local restaurants.
- Take intercity buses for day trips to Krujë or Durrës.
- Visit in spring or autumn for the best weather and prices.
- Ask hostels for local food recommendations away from Blloku.
- Combine Bunk'Art 1 and the Dajti cable car in one trip to save on transport.
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Common questions
Can you visit Tirana on a budget?
Yes, at about ALL 4,600 a day per person (roughly €45) sharing a room.
How do I get from Tirana airport to the city?
The Rinas Express bus runs about every hour to the National History Museum for around ALL 400; a taxi costs about ALL 2,500.
Is the Pyramid of Tirana free?
Yes, you can climb the steps to the top for free.