“The Star” ranks Tirana among the European cities to discover in autumn

Autumn is a suitable period to explore some of Europe’s most beautiful cities, in a calmer atmosphere and without the high flow of visitors during the peak of the season, as the Malaysian English-language media outlet “The Star” writes.

October is often considered the “in-between season” of travel, a period during which the number of visitors usually falls and tourists can benefit from more favourable offers, precisely because of the calmer pace of tourism.

“Flight and hotel prices can fall significantly at this time of year,” says Laura Carden-Lovell, a travel expert and head of operations at “Transfer Travel”, a platform based in England.

However, she advises tourists who choose periods outside the summer season to also take into account other expenses, which can increase significantly during the trip.

It is also important to consider transport within the city you want to visit and to find out in advance how much it may cost you.

Cities where most attractions can be reached on foot are particularly suitable for short trips, as visitors can explore a large number of places without transport expenses.

Places where you can move around easily on foot are a good choice if you are planning a short trip. Also, car rental prices usually fall during in-between season periods, compared with the peak of the summer season.

Carden-Lovell also notes that many lesser-known destinations in Europe, especially in the Balkan region, have gained popularity in recent years, partly also because of exposure on social networks.

Videos presenting an ever-growing number of these affordable cities have recently appeared on TikTok and Instagram, and this has played an important role in increasing their popularity.

Social networks offer visitors a quick overview of the attractions and activities that can be carried out in a given destination, turning these platforms into a useful source of inspiration for planning holidays.

Social networks offer tourists a view of what they can see and do in a given destination, so such platforms can be a good source of inspiration for planning holidays.

If you have been waiting for a suitable opportunity for a last-minute trip to a European city, visit the destinations recommended by “Transfer Travel”, at an affordable cost.

According to “The Star”, the five affordable European cities to discover at the start of autumn are Tirana, Albania; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Sofia, Bulgaria; Tallinn, Estonia; and Riga, Latvia.

Tirana, Albania

“Tirana in Albania is a bright, colourful city with a rich history,” ranking among the destinations that can be explored on an affordable budget.

Albania is one of the largest and fastest-growing tourism markets in Europe, so its capital, Tirana, has become ever more well known.

Tirana includes a number of different and interesting areas to explore, where the city’s modern and dynamic culture is intertwined with the distinctive heritage of the communist period and Ottoman history.

First, it is recommended that the exploration start from Skanderbeg Square, the main square in the centre of Tirana, which can be visited free of charge.

After the visit to the city centre, she suggests continuing the itinerary towards the Blloku, one of Tirana’s liveliest areas, where visitors can stop at various cafés and enjoy the atmosphere of the neighbourhood.

To enjoy panoramic views of Tirana, another possibility is to use the Dajti Ekspres, the cable car that links the area on the outskirts of the capital with the part near the Dajti Mountain National Park.

The Dajti Ekspres is the longest tourist cable car in the Balkans and a return trip costs around 15 British pounds.

Meanwhile, the Dajti Mountain National Park itself can be explored free of charge.