As you go along the road from Fushë Kruja to Kruja, Albanopolis appears on the right hand side, close to the village of Halil. Austrian Albanologist Hahn on visiting Illyrian Castle at Zgërdhesh in 1871 identified this as a prime settlement of the ancient Alban tribe. The surrounding country came to be known as Albanopolis. During that period, the town covered an area of 10 hectares, and was situated on top of a hill, protected by a 1,400 m long wall. Only 90 m of that wall is what you can see today. A third of this area was occupied by the acropolis.

A small marble figurine of Goddess Artemis was among the archaeological findings at Zgërdhesh, but this town, which flourished for three to four centuries, lay derelict by the 2nd century A.D.

Built in 1822, the Tirana Clock Tower has a spiral staircase going up 90 steps to a height of 35 m. Till 1970, the tower was the tallest building in the capital city. Initially a Venetian bell tolled hourly from the tower. In 1928 the tower got its first clock, a German one that was destroyed during the Second World War. A church clock from Shkodra, which had Roman numerals on the dial, was installed in 1946. The clock that is seen today was installed in 1970. The clock tower roof is reminiscent of the San Marco architecture. The tower clock is a prominent landmark (in case you are going around Tirana on your own), and features the emblem of the Tirana Town Hall. The tower was opened to visitors only in 1996.

In the centre of Tirana town is the Ethem Bey's Mosque, the construction of which started in 1798 and was completed only in 1821. The mosque's architecture reflects the Albanian style and has painted carvings on the inside of the dome.

The famous Tirana Mosaic, also known as ‘The mosaic of the Church of Saint George's Spring', is thought to be part of the floor of a 3rd century Roman villa. Later this very site was used when the paleo-Christian church of Saint George's was built. It is located on Niam Frashëri Street.

Walking through Tirana is like walking back in time. Close to Millennium Cinema, you can see the six metre high ruins of the walls of the Justinian Castle. The castle was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, who ruled during the 6th century. Housed in modern Murat Toptani Street, the Tirana Castle is believed to have been a regular stop for travellers going via Egnatia, from Durrës to Elbasan, and ahead. 

If you have an interest in tombs, then this is something you must not miss. The only remaining tomb of the First Tirana Mosque, the Kapllan Pasha's Turbe was built in memory of Kapllan Pasha, one of the rulers of Tirana. The mosque complex, including the other tombs, was destroyed in the Second World War. Located on 28 Nëntori Street, this octagonal structure is definitely worth visiting, though the remains of Kapllan Pasha was taken from here to Istanbul. 

Albania's history from the mid-Palaeolithic to the present time can be seen in the National History Museum, the largest in Albania. While in Tirana, do not miss the opportunity to visit this museum, which was inaugurated in 1981. The museum has various sections, such as the Middle Ages, the National Revival, the Independence period, the World Wars, as well as areas devoted to antiquity, dictatorship, ethnography and iconography.

The museum has some of the finest samples of art on display. Here you can see the Gllavenica Epitaph, which is gold and silver thread embroidery of Jesus, done on silk. The piece dates back to 1373. Also on display are the bust of Dea (Butrinti's Goddess, today identified by Apollo's head) and the Bukuroshja e Durrësit (The Beauty of Durrës) mosaic. The museum façade displays the largest mosaic in the country, known as Albania.

The National Art Gallery is a repository of more than 4,000 pieces of art and artefacts, both by Albanian and foreign artists. As you walk along the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, you just cannot miss this structure with 5,300square metres of exhibit ground. Opened for public viewing in 1946, the gallery has diverse sections ranging from the National Revival, Byzantine Art, charcoal and graphite drawings, to the post 1950s era.

One of the most prized possessions of the museum is the bust of Skanderbeg, sculpted by Murat Toptani, in 1908. You can spend your day at the Gallery library, opened since 1999, going through the huge collection of albums, magazines, art critiques and literature. The gallery showcases the Albanian history and culture from the 13th century to modern times.

Apart from Tirana the place worth visiting is the historically rich town of Kruja. You can drive down to Kruja, which is only 32km from Tirana. Kruja, the hometown of Albania's national hero Gjergj Kastrioti, better known as Skanderbeg, has some sites worth visiting. If you are at Kruja, do not miss the Kruja Castle and the Kastrioti Museum.

The castle was built in the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. The walls that run around the castle surround an area of 804 metres and are fortified with nine turrets. There is a clock tower to the north-eastern part of the castle, which at one time was used for observation and signalling to the Petrela Castle and Durrës.

The Gjergj Kastrioti Museum is inside the main entry of the castle. Opened to the public in 1982, the museum pays tribute to Skanderbeg's heroism and bravery and also houses a library that has hosts of publications and documents related to Skanderbeg. As the museum prominently displays Skanderbeg, it is no surprise that it is built in a Memorial style, with stained glass pictures and imposing stone arches.

There are houses on the palace grounds and also the shrine of the saint, Mustafa Dollma. This present shrine, called Dollma Tekke, was built in 1779. The western part of the castle has a 15th century hammam.

For those of you who have had enough of historical sites, a soccer match at the Qemal Staffa Stadium can be just the right entertainment. You can watch Tirana's best teams, spending just 300 Lek (US$ 3). This is, however, not advisable if you are a single woman, as you could end up alone in a stadium full of men!