All you Need to Know when Visiting Dajti Mountain National Park, Tirana

Dajti Mountain National Park

Dajti Mountain National Park was established in 1966 in central Albania. The park covers a substantial area of 293.84 km2 (113.45 sq mi) making it a great place to visit to escape the bustling city of Tirana.

Tirana sits in the shadow of Dajti Mountain. The city itself is small and quirky. A long and complicated history has resulted in much diversity and culture in this rapidly developing metropolis. Throughout Tirana there are reminders of the Ottoman era, Italian rule and, more recently, Communism. The architecture across the city is varied and beautiful in its own way.

If you are looking for some time out of the city, Dajti Mountain National Park is a great option. From the top of Mount Dajti, you are treated to a panoramic view over the city of Tirana and the surrounding mountains. As a result, the mountain has been nicknamed “the Balcony of Tirana”.

The Dajti Ekspres

The most relaxing way to ascend the mountain is the Dajti Ekspres cable car. This is the longest of its type in the Balkans at 4.7km and in 15 mins you will travel far above Tirana up Dajti Mountain. The cars are Austrian made and very safe but this is not a trip for the faint hearted.

The views of the city are incredible and as Tirana fades into the distance you pass over small, rural houses and farms, a little lake and plenty of greenery. Mount Dajti National Park is located near the summit.

It is well worth exploring the trails that wind up and down the mountain but make sure you keep going beyond the fairground style antics located as you get off the car, unless of course that’s your thing!

The peak of Tujani

The peak is another 2 hours climb from the cable car terminal. One trail leads to the peak of Tujani (1,580 m), which is the highest point that can be reached by foot. The trail will take you through the oak forest to the Cherry Pass between the two peaks of Dajti. The track is well used, however, it is advisable to wear good walking shoes for the hike and bring an extra layer as the weather can change quickly. If it’s hot, don’t forget water and sun cream! For a detailed route guide, click HERE.

In summer months, temperatures can reach a pleasant 25°C on the mountain. In the winter it can dip to a chilly -10°C so warm clothing is necessary when hiking in winter months.

The remains of Dajti Castle lie within Dajti Mountain National Park. The ruins were not discovered until 1963 but the castle is thought to date back to Roman times. The views from this part of Mount Dajti look over Western Albania to the Adriatic Sea.

Other activities at the Dajti Mountain National Park

If hiking is not for you, you can stop for refreshments at the Dajti Tower hotel. There is a rotating bar and a viewing terrace where you can gaze over Tirana and beyond. Restaurant Ballkoni Dajtit is also near the cable car terminal. This cozy place serves traditional Balkan food in a log cabin style setting.

Dajti Adventure Park is a Zipline & Aerial Adventure Park which is great if you’re travelling with little kids – and big kids! Your cable car tickets are included in the price of the admission which is €8 for ages 5-7 and €11 for age 8 and up. Mountain biking and Paragliding are also available – check the website HERE.

How to get to the Dajti Ekspres

Bus: To get to the beginning of the Dajti Ekspres cable car you can take the bus to Linzë from the Palace of Culture by Skanderbeg Square. To return, the same bus will depart from the other side of the road.

Walk: You can easily walk from the centre of Tirana in about an hour. See the route HERE.

Taxi: You can also hail a cab from the city centre but this could cost 700 – 1000Lek each way (€5.50 – €8) and must be negotiated.

Entry Fee: A return ticket on the cable car costs 800 Lek, which is around €6.50. There are also concession options.

Practical tip: Withdraw enough cash for your day before you set off. There is an ATM at the cable car but it is temperamental and may not work.

Try Bunk’Art while you’re there

Near the lower cable car Station is Bunk’Art. Bunk’Art is a museum exhibition set inside the atomic bunker of Dictator Enver Hoxha. This is not your regular, stuffy museum. The exhibition displays relics of a not so distant past when Albania was one of Europe’s most secretive countries.

Its paranoid dictator created a Bunkerization Project during the Cold War. This resulted in tens of thousands of bunkers being built across Albania. This particular bunker in Tirana was designed to shelter up to 300 military personnel, including some of the country’s most important men, and was opened to the public in 2014 as a museum. It is very easy to do both the cable car and the bunker in one day and still have time to enjoy a leisurely lunch. If you are already at Bunk’Art, it is a 5-10 minute walk uphill to the cable car – check it out on the map HERE.

Whilst in Tirana we did a bit more exploring which you can read about in our post “7 of the Best Things to do in Tirana“.

For More Information on Tirana

• Bunk’Art Website can be accessed HERE
• Dajti Ekspress Website can be accessed HERE
• Tirana Tourist info can be accessed HERE

Where to go next?

Take the bus from Tirana to Podgorica, Montenegro. Read our blog HERE to find out why you must take this trip and how to do it

Final note: Things change in Albania all the time and there is not much information online. 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 climbed Mount Dajti? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!