King Zog of Albania: The Rise, Reign, and Exile of a Self-Made King
Key Takeaways Ahmet Zogu made himself king from nothing — a tribal chief’s son from Mati who became Prime Minister,
The Blog
Stories, guides, and local perspectives from 21 years of living in Tirana.
Shkodër, Albania: A Local’s Guide to the Northern Capital
Key Takeaways Shkodër is northern Albania’s cultural capital — flat, low-rise and genuinely cyclable, with bike lanes on most main
Vlorë, Albania: A Local’s Guide to the City and Its Beaches
Vlorë is where Albania declared its independence in 1912 — a big coastal city that marks the meeting of the
Getting Around Tirana: Taxis, Buses, Airport Transfers, and More (2026)
Key Takeaways Central Tirana — Skanderbeg Square, Blloku, the Pazari i Ri bazaar — is genuinely walkable. Most visitors barely
The House of Leaves: Inside Tirana’s Museum of Secret Surveillance
Inside Tirana’s House of Leaves, the former Sigurimi HQ, now a museum of bugging devices and informant files — what to expect, plus hours and price.
Bunk’Art 1 & 2 in Tirana: Which Bunker Museum to Visit
Bunk’Art 1 or Bunk’Art 2? A Tirana native explains Albania’s Cold War bunker museums – history, Sigurimi secrets, prices, hours, and which one to pick.
Përmet, Albania: The Bënjë Thermal Springs and the Vjosa Valley
Bënjë’s thermal pools sit beside an Ottoman bridge in Lengarica Canyon, near Përmet on the wild Vjosa. A local’s honest guide to visiting.