Tirana has an attraction that allows us to enjoy the heights. This is the Dajti Ekspres cable car (often referred to by the English term ” Cable Car “).
Datji Ekspress – Cable Car Tirana
The cable car ascends to the top of the Datji Mountains, always visible from the Albanian capital. The mountains are integrated into the nature park, a real reserve for flora and fauna. The Datji Ekspress is not only an experience in itself, “flying” up into the mountains, but also the quickest way to access the leisure area high above Tirana. It is the longest cable car in the Balkans in terms of distance and travel time, taking approximately fifteen minutes to cover the two points, and 4.7 kilometres.
What to do in the Datji Mountains
Families come here to get out of the city and experience nature. There is a viewpoint at the other end of the cable car. From the arrival tower there are several hiking and biking trails through the mountains, eating at various restaurants – the one with the best views is the “Ballkoni i Dajtit” -, or opting for adventure parks such as the Dajti Adventure Park with zip lines and hanging walkways in the forest.We can also play mini-golf with the children or, if we are more daring, go paragliding.
Tirana Datji Cableway
FLYING
Take the cable car to (almost) the top of Dajti Mountain and enjoy the fantastic views. The 15-minute scenic ride takes visitors past forests, farms, peaks and even bunkers.
SLEEP
The Dajti Tower Hotel is a 24-room hotel and conference centre on top of Dajti Mountain. Located at an altitude of 1,100 metres above sea level, the hotel rooms offer panoramic views of the city or the national park. On the seventh floor of Dajti Tower, the bar rotates 360 degrees, giving visitors an incredible view of both the national park and the city of Tirana. The bar completes a full rotation every 45 minutes, so enjoy a hot or cold drink, relax and enjoy the view!
Dajti Tower Hotel
How to get to Dajti Ekspres “Cable Car”
The cable car ride takes about 15 minutes, while it will take up to an hour by car to reach the top of the cable car
There are several ways to get to the Dajti Ekspres by bus. The best is the bus line: QENDER – PORCELAN
The “Porcelain bus” is blue and departs from the clock tower (Sahati) in the centre of Tirana, near Skenderbeg Square. It is faster and more direct (it is only a short walk (uphill) from the last bus stop to the cable car station.
The Porcelan bus has approximately 17 stops. It operates from 05:30 to 24:00 all year round. Frequency varies from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the time of day. The journey from the centre takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
Another bus is the KOMBINAT – KINOSTUDIO , which is orange in colour and departs from Garibaldi Square (Sheshi Kombinat). There are 20 stations in total, the first station is Garibaldi Square and the last station is called IKV. This bus operates from 5:30 to 24:00 all year round. Frequency varies from 5 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day. The journey from Kombinat takes approximately 45 minutes. The trip from the centre takes approximately 15-20 minutes.
Finally there is the DAJTI EKSPRES MINIBUS , which connects the last stop of the non-walking buses, the IKV where you will find the Dajti Ekspres minibus. Visitors can get off this bus which goes directly to the cable car station every 30 minutes. The bus operates between 09:00 and 20:00 during the summer months and from 09:00 to 18:00 during the winter months.
PARKING Free parking is available at the Dajti Ekspres lower station. Please note that in winter, when it snows or if there is a special event, the car park can fill up very quickly. During busy periods, it is recommended to leave your car at home and use the public bus lines, carpool with friends or take a taxi.
Information and timetables
Dajti ropeway opening hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (winter); extended hours until 10 p.m. during the summer months. The Dajti Ekspres cable car is open every day except Tuesdays.
Prices and ticket types
There are a variety of tickets, from one-way, round-trip, and others that include the cost of an activity (such as Mini Golf or Adventure Park). Purchasing a combined ticket at the lower station results in a discounted price on the chosen activity.