The Pyramid of Tirana is a 1980s concrete monument that was built as a museum to Enver Hoxha and is now a youth tech center you can climb for free. Since its 2023 makeover by the Dutch architects MVRDV, steps run up its sloping sides to a viewing platform at the top.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Where | Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit, on the Lana river about 10 minutes south of Skanderbeg Square (Google Maps) |
| Price | Free |
| Hours | The steps are open all day; the lift and indoor spaces keep shorter hours |
| Time needed | 20–40 minutes |
History of the Pyramid
The Pyramid opened in 1988 as the Enver Hoxha Museum, three years after the dictator’s death; it was designed by his daughter Pranvera Hoxha together with her husband. After communism fell, it lost its purpose and became, at various times, a conference center, a NATO base during the Kosovo war, a TV station, a nightclub and a crumbling ruin covered in graffiti.
For years the local thing to do was climb the slippery concrete beams and slide back down. There were serious debates about demolishing it. Instead, MVRDV was hired to redesign it, and the building reopened in October 2023.
The Pyramid today
MVRDV kept the shell and added sets of concrete steps up the sloping sides, so anyone can now do safely what Tirana’s teenagers used to do illegally. Colorful boxes are stacked inside and around the building. About half of them are classrooms for TUMO Tirana, a free after-school program teaching 12- to 18-year-olds coding, robotics, animation and music; the rest hold cafés and studios.
There’s a lift on the western side for anyone who can’t manage the steps, and one beam has been left as a slide, at your own risk.
Tips
- Go at sunset. The view across to Mount Dajti is lovely, and half of Tirana has the same idea.
- The steps are steep and in full sun; avoid midday in summer.
- Combine it with Rinia Park and Bunk’Art 2, both a short walk away.
FAQ
Is the Pyramid of Tirana free?
Yes, climbing the Pyramid is free.
Can you still slide down the Pyramid of Tirana?
One beam has been kept as a slide, though you use it at your own risk.
What is inside the Pyramid of Tirana now?
Classrooms for the TUMO Tirana tech school, plus cafés and studios.
