Skanderbeg Square is where every visit to Tirana begins. The huge open plaza at the centre of the city was given its name in 1937, and today it is entirely pedestrian, paved with stone brought from all the regions of Albania and cooled by fountains that reuse rainwater. In the middle stands the Skanderbeg Monument, the bronze horseman of the national hero who held off the Ottomans in the fifteenth century, unveiled on 11 January 1968 to replace a statue of Stalin. On the south-east corner is the small, beautiful Et’hem Bey Mosque, begun by Molla Bey at the end of the eighteenth century and finished by his son Haji Et’hem Bey around 1821, its porch and interior painted with rare landscapes and floral designs. It is the only one of Tirana’s eight historic mosques still standing, a first-category cultural monument since 1948, and it forms a pair with the slender Clock Tower beside it. Walking the square and visiting the mosque costs nothing.
How to see it: start at the Skanderbeg Monument, then walk to the Et’hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower on the corner. Visitors are welcome in the mosque outside prayer times; dress modestly, take off your shoes and keep your voice low. From the square it is a few minutes’ walk to Bunk’Art 2, the Pyramid and the boulevard of Dëshmorët e Kombit leading south towards Blloku and the Grand Park.
What surrounds it: the square is framed by the big set pieces of the twentieth century, from the Palace of Culture with the Opera on its east side to the Italian-era ministries to the south and the National History Museum with its huge mosaic to the north. The museum is closed for a multi-year reconstruction, so you can only admire the mosaic from outside for now. The Maritim tower on the corner has a bar high above the square for the best view down.
Making the most of it: come in the early evening, when families stroll, children ride toy cars and the buildings light up. The square is also the stage for concerts, festivals and the New Year celebrations, so check the city calendar if you are visiting in December.
What to expect
The experience
A free self-guided walk around the pedestrian square, the monument, the mosque and the Clock Tower.
Best time
Early evening, when the square fills with strolling families and the buildings are lit.
How long
One to two hours, longer if you linger in the cafés nearby.
Tips
Visit the mosque outside prayer times, dress modestly and take your shoes off at the door.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every first-timer, since this is the centre of everything in Tirana.
- Families
- Traffic-free space to run around, fountains and toy cars to rent in the evenings.
- Couples
- An evening walk across the lit square, then a drink high above it in the Maritim tower.
- Pair with
- Bunk’Art 2 and the Pyramid of Tirana, both a short walk away.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
Is Skanderbeg Square free to visit?+
Yes, the square is a public pedestrian space open at all hours. Entry to the Et’hem Bey Mosque is also free.
Who was Skanderbeg?+
Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg was the fifteenth-century Albanian noble who led a long resistance against the Ottoman Empire. He is Albania’s national hero, and his monument was unveiled here in January 1968.
Can tourists visit the Et’hem Bey Mosque?+
Yes, visitors are welcome outside prayer times. Dress modestly, remove your shoes and avoid Friday midday prayers.
Is the National History Museum open?+
No, the museum on the north side of the square is closed for a major reconstruction expected to take several years. You can still see its famous mosaic from the square.
What is the best time to visit the square?+
Early evening is liveliest, when locals come out to walk and the buildings light up. Mornings are quieter for photos of the mosque and the Clock Tower.
