DAJTI MOUNTAIN
The perfect day trip from Tirana- Dajti Mountain and the Dajti Express
Dajti Express cable cars
Albania has gifted me memories of many stunning sunsets but one of my favourites has to be the view from the cable car, on the descent from Dajti Mountain.
If you’re looking for an experience that combines stunning views, a thrilling cable car ride and mouth-watering traditional food just outside of Tirana, Dajti Mountain and The Dajti Express Cable Car is the perfect place to start. And if you’re lucky enough to be there during sunset, even better!
Sunset at Dajti Mountain
Sunset from the Dajti Express cable cars
Sunset from the Dajti Express cable cars- I shot this in 2019 before the cable cars had a glow up
Getting There
Dajti Mountain is really accessible from central Tirana so it makes the perfect daytrip if you’re visiting the city for a long weekend
It’s only a short drive to the Dajti Express Cable Car station or you can also get there by taxi or bus.
You can also drive straight to the Dajti resort without taking the cable car. The drive is a bit longer this way and you don’t get quite the same panoramic view as with the cable car but it’s still a great trip up.
View from the drive to Dajti mountain
Another view from the drive to Dajti mountain
If you choose to take the cable car up, it’s a 15 minute trip above lush forests, rolling hills and the sea in the distance. If you’re lucky enough to travel during sunset, you’ll be immersed in a sky ablaze with colour for as far as you can see.
Once at the summit, you’ll find plenty of activities to enjoy. Whether you’re into hiking, horse riding, or just want to chill with a coffee and take in the stunning scenery, there’s something for everyone. But for me, the highlight of the trip was of course going to be the food!
Wild horses at Dajti Mountain
Eating at Ballkoni Dajtit – A Taste of Traditional Albanian Food
At the top of Dajti Mountain, you’ll find Ballkoni Dajtit, a restaurant that offers incredible views and delicious traditional Albanian food. With its rustic wooden decor and warm hospitality, this place instantly makes you feel at home.
There is a special section of the menu dedicated to traditional Albanian food that I’d recommend you check out before easing into the other, more familiar dishes such as pizza that are also on the menu.
My favourite dish by far is the tavë dheu. Once you dip a chunk of bread into the sizzling clay bowl of tender beef cooked in a rich sauce of tomato and cheese, there will be no going back. Actually, my experience of trying this at Ballkoni Dajtit led it to become my favourite Albanian dish!
Clapping for the live music but we could have actually clapped for this tavë dheu because it was perfect!
Other traditional Albanian dishes to Look out for:
Fërgesë- A rich dish made from peppers, tomatoes, and Albanian cottage cheese, which is similar to feta. Like tavë dheu, it’s perfect with some fresh bread to mop up every last bit of the sauce.
Tavë Kosi- Albania’s national dish of lamb cooked in yoghurt, this is another incredibly rich and comforting dish that just melts in your mouth.
Byrek- No trip to Albania is complete without trying byrek! It’s a savoury pastry filled with cheese, spinach, or meat. At certain times of the year, it’s traditionally made with ingredients like pumpkin and walnuts too.
Trilece- If you have a sweet tooth, don’t leave without tasting trilece, a soft sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk and topped with caramel.
The delicious Tavoli tavë dheu that I created after my experience at Dajti
If you’re planning a trip to Albania and need any more tips on places to visit, get in touch! I’m always happy to help with any recommendations.
I’m so excited to be sharing my top secret tavë dheu recipe with you! You can find the full recipe here.
If you’d like to try some more traditional Albanian dishes, you can find them on the Albanian recipe page here.