The Clock Tower of Tirana (Kulla e Sahatit) is a 35-meter stone tower from 1822, standing next to the Et’hem Bej Mosque on Skanderbeg Square. For a small fee you can climb about 90 steps to the balcony for a view over the square.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Where | Corner of Skanderbeg Square, beside the Et’hem Bej Mosque (Google Maps) |
| Price | 200 ALL cash at the entrance |
| Hours | Usually mornings to mid-afternoon; hours are irregular |
| Time needed | 15–20 minutes |
The tower was built by Haxhi Et’hem Bej, the same man who finished the mosque next door, and for a long time it was the tallest building in town. It originally had a Venetian bell to mark the hours. A German clock went in around 1928, was destroyed in the Second World War, and the clock has been replaced more than once since.
The climb is a narrow spiral staircase, so it’s not suitable for anyone with limited mobility or small children who can’t manage steep steps. The view is nice rather than dramatic: you’re looking straight down at the square, the Opera and the National History Museum mosaic. For a bigger panorama, climb the Pyramid (free) or ride the Dajti Ekspres.
Go in the morning; the door is sometimes shut by early afternoon. Combine it with a visit to the Et’hem Bej Mosque right beside it.
