Rogner Hotel Tirana

Rogner Hotel Tirana is the city’s long-standing grande dame, opened in 1995 when Albania was just emerging from isolation and still the hotel many diplomats and returning visitors prefer. It sits on Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit, the grand boulevard running south from Skanderbeg Square, in a low crescent-shaped building of four floors wrapped around a Mediterranean garden that feels like an oasis in the middle of the city. In the garden you find an outdoor swimming pool with the Bubbles Pool Bar, a tennis court used all year round and a putting green. Dining is spread across Restaurant Apollonia, Der Biergarten, a nod to the hotel’s Austrian roots, and Cafe Bar Pirro. Rooms are split between the quieter Garden Side and the Boulevard Side. Expedia lists it as a five-star property rated 9.4 out of 10 from more than 600 reviews.

Location and getting around: the Rogner is on the main boulevard between Skanderbeg Square and the university, so you can walk to the Pyramid and Blloku in a few minutes and to the square in about fifteen. The Grand Park and its lake are a pleasant walk to the south. Taxis are easy to find on the boulevard, and tour pickups in the centre are close.

The rooms: there are around 136 rooms and suites. Garden Side rooms look over the pool and lawns and are the quietest; Boulevard Side rooms face the avenue and can hear traffic. Ask for the garden when you book.

Who it suits: travellers who want space and greenery in the city, families who will use the pool in summer, tennis players and business visitors who appreciate a calm, established hotel. It also works well as a base for day trips, since you can come back to the garden in the evening.

Good to know: the pool is outdoors, so it is a summer pleasure rather than a year-round one. The hotel often hosts conferences and events, so the public areas can be busy on weekdays.