A festive winter village fills Skanderbeg Square in December for the annual Tirana Christmas Market. The centrepiece is a beautifully decorated Christmas tree surrounded by classic wooden chalets.
Read on for the 2025 dates and details on visiting for Christmas and New Year’s.
Tirana Christmas Market 2025
Dates – Unconfirmed
Tirana dates: 5th December 2025 to 5th January 2026 (unconfirmed).
Update: This year’s schedule was released in October. Sign up for our newsletter for future updates.
Source: Information from the organiser is available here.
Plan Your Visit
Location and Times
Location: Skanderbeg Square, Blloku and Pazari i Ri.
Opening times: Around 10am to 7pm.
Christmas Day: May be closed.
Travel and Accommodation
Recommended tour: A fantastic walking tour of Tirana, ideal for first time visitors.
Public transport: Buses are widely available and affordable.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Where to stay: Maritim Hotel Plaza is highly-rated and only 2 minutes from the main square.
Amenities and Attractions
Admission: Free, no tickets required.
Lights: Not announced.
Santa: No.
Ice skating: No.
Reason to visit: Great atmosphere in the main square and delicious Albanian food. Much quieter in comparison to other European capitals.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian: Plenty of options.
Vegan: Some options.
Gluten-free: Limited. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Food specialities: Winter pickled salads, Kosova spicy sausages, craft beer, cheese burek.
Accessibility
Accessible: In most areas.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead.
Convenient Hotels
Tirana is a safe, walkable city with a busy centre surrounding Skanderbeg Square. This is where you’ll likely want to stay.
I’ve stayed at several hotels in this area, and the Maritim Hotel Plaza is my most recent favourite. It’s a modern hotel with large rooms and a fancy gym overlooking Skanderbeg Square and the mountains.
Interesting Tours
This walking tour of Tirana is a really nice introduction to the city. It’s worth it if this is your first visit.
Another option is this history and food tour that takes you from Tirana to the nearby cities of Durres (a historic coastal city) and Kruja (a hilltop town with a bazaar and castle).
Event Location
From twinkling lights to festive foods, we love seeing your holiday adventures. Use #UltimateChristmasMarkets to share your moments with us!
What to Expect
Having visited Tirana on many occasions over the years, I can assure you that it never gets old. It’s always changing and absolutely never boring.
Tirana has many interesting attractions, such as the National History Museum, Tirana Lake Park, the cable car to Mount Dajti, and the Bunk’Art 2 contemporary art museum. Blloku is known for its vibrant bars and restaurants.
In the heart of Tirana, you’ll find Skanderbeg Square, a focal point of activity and home to the main Christmas market opposite the Et’hem Bej Mosque. This event is perfect for enjoying festive decorations and holiday treats.
For a more intimate experience, visit the smaller market on Toptani Street, a lively pedestrian area with seasonal foods and handmade Albanian crafts. Pazari i Ri also hosts a market that is primarily focused on gourmet specialties.
Albanians celebrate the New Year more than any other holiday. The typical celebration brings family and friends together to eat a large feast with a variety of dishes. The celebrations culminate in a spectacular fireworks display at Skanderbeg Square.
Regional Specialties
- Qofte: Albanian meatballs made with minced beef, onion, garlic and spices like oregano. Vegetarian versions are often made with zucchini.
- Fergese: A slow-baked dish made with capsicum, tomatoes and a cheese similar to feta.
- Bakllasarmë: A savoury pie filled with rice, minced meat and herbs.
- Byrek: A savoury pastry filled with cheese or spinach. A classic Balkans dish.
- Mulled wine: Made with Albanian red wine.
- Rakia: A traditional fruit brandy that’s popular in the Balkans. I’ve often had hosts and neighbours give me a bottle of homemade rakia as a gift. It’s potent!
- Roasted chestnuts: A classic winter street food.
- Fried doughnuts: Always popular.
- Grilled meats: Various meat dishes, including sausages and kebabs, are grilled and served with different sauces. These are hugely popular in Tirana (and everywhere I suppose).
- Pita: The familiar flatbread stuffed with meat, cheese, or vegetables. Similar to what you might find elsewhere in Southeastern Europe.
- Falafel: A vegetarian option made with ground chickpeas and spices, served in a pita or as a snack on its own.
- Langos: A Hungarian deep-fried flat dough topped with sour cream, cheese and garlic sauce. This is one of many international foods available at the market stalls.
Sustainability Tips
- Shop mindfully by choosing locally-made crafts or goods made from sustainable materials. For example, consider purchasing handmade ornaments from local artisans.
- Travel with a lower impact by walking, cycling, or taking public transport to get around. Tirana’s bike-sharing program is cheap and convenient.
- Stay in a sustainable hotel that implements low waste and water conservation measures. Albania’s electricity is generated by renewable hydropower, so hotels are generally very low emission.
- Avoid using plastic or buying items made or packaged with plastic. Instead, bring your reusable bags and containers when shopping and eating out. Albania still experiences some pushback regarding plastic bags, but it has improved greatly in recent years.
- Try to eat locally sourced organic food where possible. There are plenty of options in Albania, and if you prepare food yourself, you can always head to a local food market for ingredients.
- Consider limiting your consumption of meat and dairy. Try vegetarian dishes like the traditional Albanian dish of fërgesë or the vegetarian version of the popular street food qoftë.
- Explore more than just the main tourist areas and support the local arts by attending events like the Tirana International Film Festival or concerts in small theatres.
Comment below if you want to leave a Xmas review, have any questions or would like to report any inaccuracies.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While we make every effort to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.
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