The Best Things to do in Tirana when it Rains
Albania’s cosmopolitan capital city is a captivating place to visit at any time of the year. The weather in generally hot in the summer, cold in the winter and fair throughout spring and autumn. However, when it rains in Tirana, it really rains! But don’t let the wet weather stop you from discovering the great experiences the city has to offer. You will find plenty of indoor activities in Tirana that will appeal to everyone. Here is a brilliantly useful guide to the very best things to do in Tirana when it rains.
Explore Bunk’Art in Tirana When it Rains
Rainy days in Tirana don’t have to be dull! To escape a deluge, hide out in one of Tirana’s nuclear bunkers. Two of Tirana’s largest bunkers have recently been converted into enthralling exhibitions.
Bunk’Art 1 is a large military bunker designed for Political and Military bigwigs of the time. It sits quietly on the outskirts of Tirana, Albania. In 2014 this former atomic bunker reopened as a museum containing authentic objects, reconstructed rooms and tons of fascinating information about Albania’s history during the 20th century.
This exhibition is a great introduction to the recent struggles of the Albanian people under fascist rule, Nazi invasion and a brutal Communist dictatorship.
Bunk’Art also provides a really intense experience of how it might have felt to be in a working military atomic bunker. The halls echo with air raid sirens and the rooms have old communist propaganda reels playing on the small, black and white TV screens.
Bunk’art 1 can be found on the northeastern outskirts of Tirana – just near the Dajti Ekspres cable car.
Bunk’Art Entry Fee – 500Lek
Rruga Fadil Deliu, Tiranë 1001, Albania
The second bunker – Bunk’Art 2 – is also a great place to avoid the wet weather. This exhibition is in the very center of Tirana, just off Skanderbeg Square (Rruga Abdi Toptani, Tirana). The focus of this museum is the history of the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs from 1912 to 1991 and reveals the secrets of “Sigurimi”, the political police.
Enter the House of Leaves
The Museum of Secret Surveillance – aka The House of Leaves – is another great place to spend a rainy afternoon in Tirana. Set in the former SIGURIMI headquarters, this museum details some of the gruesome behaviours and paranoid surveillance techniques of the former secret service in Albania. The beautiful façade of the building deceptively masks the horrors that occurred within it.
House of Leave Entry Fee – 700Lek
Rruga Deshmoret e 4 Shkurtit, Tirana 1000
Take a Spa Day in Rainy Tirana
One of the best things to do in Tirana when it rains is to have a relaxing spa day. There are several amazing spas across the city. However, we would recommend Deluxe Spa and Massage. The staff are super nice and helpful, the whole place was exceptionally clean and the prices were good too!
Rruga Muhamet Gjollesha, 1023-Tiranë, Albania
Albania’s National Art Gallery
*Update – This is currently closed and we’re not sure if or when it will reopen*
Tirana has a thriving art scene. And, as such, there are many great art galleries to visit on a rainy afternoon. The National Art Gallery is the most famous of them all. This is where some of Albania’s greatest works of art are housed. There are also regular exhibitions and the “Cloud Pavilion” – a contemporary art installation – is located outside.
If you feel like braving the rain briefly – there is a “Sculpture Park” located just outside the National Art Gallery. This park is interesting as it contains discarded statues of fallen communist leaders such as Stalin and Lenin. Not something you see every day!
National Art Gallery Entry Fee – 200Lek (Sculpture Park is free)
Shëtitorja Murat Toptani 2, Tiranë 1001, Albania
For purely contemporary art, try Zeta. This gallery is in the heart of trendy Blloku and even offers regular workshops. This is a really fun indoor activity in Tirana.
Hekla Center, Abdyl Frashëri Street, 7, P31, A/4, 2nd floor, Albania
Visit some of Tirana’s beautiful Mosques
The influence of the Ottoman Empire is still apparent across Albania. Around 60% of the population identify as Muslim. However, during the days of communist rule, many places of worship were destroyed. In Tirana today, there are fewer than 10 mosques throughout the city. One of the oldest surviving Mosques is the beautiful Et’hem Bey.
It is possible to look inside and spend time under the serenely beautiful dome whilst avoiding a rainy Tirana day.
Sheshi Skënderbej, 1000, Albania
*There are currently restoration works being carried out. However, they are scheduled to finish in 2021*
Shelter in Tirana’s Toptani Mall
A great indoor activity in Tirana is a little bit of retail therapy! Stop at Toptani Mall for seven floors of shopping heaven. This mall has around 100 stores, bars and restaurants and is right in the centre of Tirana. If you’re in need of a shopping spree, refreshment or you just want to stay dry, then check it out. We didn’t buy much the last time we visited but we did enjoy some FroYo on the top floor (and cruising up and down the 7 stories in the awesome capsule lift).
The mall is located at Rruga Abdi Toptani 1001, Tiranë, Albania and is open from 9am – 10pm every day.
Explore the National History Museum, Tirana
In the centre of Skanderbeg Square, emblazoned with a spectacular mural, sits the National History Museum. You just know this museum is going to be powerful! The exhibition takes you through Albania’s history beginning with “Antiquity” and ending with “Communist Terror”. But brace yourself, this country’s history is intense, and it will take around 3 hours to complete the circuit.
National History Museum Entry Fee – 500Lek
Sheshi Skënderbej 7, Tirana 1001, Albania
The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet
While going to see a play in Albanian might be pushing the language barrier a little too far, there is no such issue when enjoying an Opera or Ballet. With tickets from as little as €4 this is a very entertaining way to spend a rainy evening in Tirana. For added convenience, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet is located right near the National History Museum, in Skanderbeg Square.
Sheshi Skënderbej, Tirana 1000, Albania
Enjoy a Night at the Movies in Tirana When it Rains
Anywhere you are in the world, the cinema is always a great rainy-day activity. There are several cinema complexes around Tirana showing films in English. Kinema Millennium is right in the heart of Tirana. There is only one screen, but they offer movies with English subtitles, as well as international films. Tickets are around 500Lek and there is a really nice garden to relax in before or after the feature.
Murat Toptani St, Tirana, Albania
Tirana Escape Rooms
Fancy yourself as a super sleuth? The setting is a communist generals office, you have one hour to escape. The clues are challenging but logical making this a really fun and exciting way to escape the rain for a couple of hours on a wet Tirana day.
Rr. “Him Kolli” Nd.24 Tirane, 1000, Albania
Chill at the Cafes and bars at Blloku
The trendy Blloku area of Tirana is great to explore whatever the weather. There’s nothing like sitting in a nice cozy café or bar watching the rain tumble down the windows outside. Blloku has loads of places to try out local food, great coffee and inventive cocktails. This area is super popular so there is always a great vibe, especially in the evenings. Try Ejona Restaurant for great vegan and veggie food options (they serve meat dishes as well) and Nouvelle Vague for quirky cocktails.
The Best Things to do in Tirana when it Rains
Albania’s capital is a city absolutely crammed full of weird and wonderful things to do. A rainy day in Tirana definitely won’t stop you from experiencing what it has to offer. There are loads of fun indoor activities that will suit everyone. Some of the best things to do in Tirana can be found when it rains!
Where to go next
Ready for another adventure? Why not try travelling from Tirana, Albania, to Montenegro’s capital Podgorica? There are plenty of mountains, rivers and lakes to discover in beautiful Montenegro.
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Tirana or Albania? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
Tirana sounds really interesting. The House of Leaves sounds particularly interesting, though pretty dark. But I’d like to learn more about the history. Good to know there are options for rainy days.
I love that you posted about things to do in rainy weather! Great article!
I love how you found fun things to do when it rains. Tirana looks amazing.
Same here! Tirana is really a great winter weekend break.
I hate when it rains when I’m raining but I wouldn’t mind here—so much to do! Bunk’Art looks so cool! And I love going to operas but they’re usually so expensive. Worth going to Tirana just for the 4 euro tickets I think!