Wikimedia Hackathon 2020/Venue and Tirana

9–11 May, 2020 | ~~Tirana, Albania~~ Event happens online

Tirana

Venue

OFIÇINA will be the venue of the Wikimedia Hackathon 2020, located near the centre of the city and easily accessible via public transportation. Main building: Rruga Asim Vokshi, Tirana, Shqipëri (map link)

A short guide to find the hackathon venue by walking, from the centre

If you are down-town at Skanderbeg Square then orient yourself towards the Tirana Hotel by following the “Zogu i I” Boulevard. After you pass the Faculty of Natural Sciences, you turn left on Rruga “Reshit Petrela” (main ring road). After walking for about 200 m straight, on your right you will notice the Harry Fultz Institute. Enter the main gate and head to the left towards OFIÇINA area.

Accommodation

Tirana International Hotel (on the right)

We are reserving rooms at the Tirana International Hotel for scholarship recipients and Wikimedia Foundation Staff.

They should still have more space. The cost is 74-89 EUR per night depending on the room type and the hotel is 20 minutes walking from the venue.

Other suggestions in the city are

Rogner Hotel – 87.86 EUR per night and 34 minutes walking from the venue
The Plaza Tirana – 99 EUR per night and 23 minutes walking from the venue

For more cost effective options have a look online for example on booking.com or check the discussion page.

Albania

The local currency is the Albanian lek (ALL). 1 Eur = 121 ALL. EUR is also accepted in most of places in Tirana.

Tirana

Tirana is the capital of Albania. It lies in the centre of our country and it is considered a city of religious coexistence, as well as the center of culture, art, politics, and the economy. Tirana became the capital of Albania in 1920 with more than 763,634 inhabitants today. It is an old settlement as confirmed by the Mosaic of Tirana, which was part of an old Roman villa build in the III century. One famous building is the Clock Tower in the center of Tirana, which was built in XIX century, between 1822 – 1840.

Part of the cultural heritage of the city are also the old houses, which are known as the real architectural ensemble of the historical core of Tirana. Just to mention a few, the house of Toptanas was built in XVIII century, the house of Sali Shijaku in 1400, the house of Bunec in XVII, and the mosque in the centre of the city was built in 1793.

For those, who are interested in exploring the city, its heritage and history, get some tips where to eat, the information on wikivoyage can be handy: Tirana @ Wikivoyage.