14 Must-Visit Museums in Albania

Albania is a country that is rich in history, cultural diversity and home to some of the most fascinating times in history. While Italy and Greece may first come to mind for ancient history, Albania is the hidden gem in Europe when it comes to prehistoric sites and centuries of political shifts and invasions.

To truly understand and appreciate Albania’s important role in history, you can immerse yourself and get lost in history in any of the following museums.

Learn more about what each museum offers and why you need to mark Albania as your next travel destination.

Albanian National Museum Tirana

For the most inclusive insight into Albanian history, the best place you can visit is the Albanian National Museum, located in the heart of Tirana. Even before entering the building, you are caught standing in awe, looking up at the 4,300 square foot (400 square meters) mosaic that overlooks Skanderbeg Square that is always buzzing with people.

The mosaic, named “The Albanians,” is a representation of how Albanians fought against the invasion and occupation for more than 2,000 years. Created by five Albanian artists before the museum opened in 1980, you’ll see Albanians dressed for battle from the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Turkish Ottoman Empire, all the way up to fighting against Italians and German fascism.

What is truly fascinating about this mosaic is the representation of women. With one woman directly in the center of the mosaic, three women are also dressed for battle. Women played an integral role in Albanian history. This is something that you may not see appreciated or even acknowledged in other countries.

Once you enter the museum, you’ll discover more than 5,000 artifacts representing Albanian history from the Bronze Age up to the fall of communism in the early 1990s. Explore the Antiquity Pavilion to see the Beauty of Durres mosaic, the oldest mosaic in the country, along with 400 historical artifacts and pieces of art.

You’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the Medieval Pavilion, which splits into two halls. You’ll see beautiful silk pieces from the 14^th century, as well as an entire history leading up to Albania’s national awakening in the early 1900s.

The newest pavilion is the Communism Pavilion, where you’ll see objects representing this era in Albanian history from 1944-1991. Some items may be considered disturbing, such as bloodstained articles of clothing from protests during the fall of communism.

You could easily spend an entire day inside this museum, and every minute is worth it learning about the fascinating role of Albanians throughout the centuries.

Bunk’Art Tirana

For most of the time, when Albania was a communist country, Enver Hoxha ruled as the dictator. The most notable mark he left on Albania was the 700,000 bunkers he ordered to be built throughout the country. This was his defense strategy. He was paranoid enemies would invade the country at any moment. Even today, as you explore the country, no matter where you go, you will see bunkers everywhere.

In the capital city of Tirana, you can explore Bunk’Art 1 and Bunk’Art 2, two complex underground bunkers.

Bunk’Art 1

This is where you can explore Enver Hoxha’s five-floor underground nuclear bunker. You can truly feel the dictator’s paranoia as you walk through and discover the 105 rooms created deep underground. You can even explore the dictator’s military liaison room, telecommunication room, and the offices of military officers and the chief of staff.

As a museum, you can also learn more about Albania’s history from the Italian and German resistance in the 1940s until the overthrow of communism. 

Bunk’Art 2

This underground tunnel is more than 10,000 square feet (1,000 square meters) that were secretly built in the mid-1980s under the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the downtown Tirana area. This bunker was built toward the end of the communist regime. It was another way to protect against outside invaders.

You can explore 24 rooms that share the story of the political persecutions of more than 100,000 Albanians during communism. A chilling reminder of a dark chapter in the country’s history, but hope re-imagining what the country might become.

National Museum of Archeology Tirana

Located in Mother Teresa Square, the Archaeological Museum in Tirana is easily another place where you can spend an entire day. Established after World War II, this museum was one of the first of its kind in the country. It moved to its current location in 1958 due to the growing number of artifacts.

With more than 2,100 artifacts to explore throughout five halls, you can learn more about Albanian history from prehistoric times to pre-Turkish invasions.

National Gallery of Art Tirana

This museum showcases the finest pieces from Albanian artists throughout the decades. But what makes this museum so interesting is that the communist government established it in the late 1940s, during a time of strict censorship. So any artist during this time had to follow strict guidelines showcasing a positive light of the government and communist leader, Enver Hoxha.

You can see a mix of art commissioned by the communist government and pieces from artists who did not follow communist guidelines and suffered imprisonment. There are more than 4,500 pieces that also showcase non-Albanian artists. It’s another fascinating way to learn about Albanian history through the eyes of artists.

House of Leaves Tirana

Also known as the Museum of Secret Surveillance, this house showcases all the different ways the Albanian secret service under the communist government spied on its people.

Initially used by the Gestapo during World War II, the communist government converted the house for the Sigurimi, the name of the Albania secret service. This house is where menacing tasks of torture and murder happened to anyone who may have defied the communist regime.

You can explore nine sections of the museum where there are infinite tools and devices the secret service used to spy on citizens. If you’re wondering about the name “house of leaves,” that is the nickname because though the house is located in the center of Tirana, it was kept hidden from sight by a dense layer of trees.

Skanderbeg Museum Kruje

The Skanderbeg Museum in Kruje is one of the most popular museums in Albania. Just about an hour drive from Tirana, this is considered to be a place of national treasure.

Skanderbeg is the national hero of the country. Kidnapped as a child and raised in the Ottoman court, Skanderbeg escaped and returned to Albania. He successfully united several Albanian families and led armies to fight back against the Ottomans. Under his leadership, they prevented Ottoman invasion for 25 years!

The most significant battles took place in Kruje, the home of Skanderbeg’s Castle, and inside, you can explore a museum showcasing this unique chapter of Albanian history. Right when you enter, you’re met by larger-than-life statues of Skanderbeg and his soldiers. You can discover several artifacts and even see the very desk Skanderbeg used during his rule. And when you step outside, you’ll see an incredible view of the city of  Kruje.

Archaeological Museum Durres

The Archaeological Museum in Durres is the largest museum in the country that is dedicated to archaeology. Located right along the picturesque beach, north of the museum, you can still see six-century walls constructed during the Byzantine Empire.

There are more than 3,200 artifacts that represent centuries of history, from the Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman periods. Many of the items inside the museum come from the ancient excavation site of Dyrrhachium, the name of Durres back in 627 B.C. You can easily journey through Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman times by visiting this museum.

One of the most notable collections at this museum is the series of miniature busts that depict Venus, the goddess of love and fertility. Durres was the home of worship of this Roman goddess, so the amount of artifacts dedicated to her is astounding.

It’s a place of rich cultural heritage that is an absolute must-visit.

Archaeological Museum Apollonia

Many visitors say that the Archaeological Museum of Apollonia is one of the most memorable places to visit when it comes to Albanian history. On the tentative list of World Heritage sites, Greeks colonizers founded Apollonia, named after the god Apollo. It was known as one of the largest cities along the Adriatic Sea.

Austrian archaeologists started unearthing the city after World War I, followed by further excavations in 1924 French archaeologist Leon Rey. In the late 1950s, the museum opened, showcasing the hundreds of discovered objects. In 1991 it was closed due to looting during the fall of communism in the country.

After 20 years of being closed, the museum and the park reopened in 2011, where you can walk among monuments and ruins from such a captivating time in history. Then you can enter inside the museum, which is in a 14^th-century monastery, to view more artifacts and remains that will make you forget anything about the present.

National Iconographic Museum “Onufri” Berat

During the occupation of the Ottoman Empire, many Albanians did convert to Islam. However, Christians were still allowed to practice, but not out in the open. The Cathedral of the Assumption of St. Mary was built in 1797 and is hidden within Berat Castle. Once you walk through this beautifully gold-covered church, you step out of the main altar into the Onufri National Iconographic Museum.

Onufri is one of the country’s most notable painters when it comes to capturing 16^th-century iconography. There are nearly 200 pieces of art dedicated to Albanian churches and monasteries. There is nowhere else in the country where you can view such vibrant colors and tones devoted to religious art.

Museum of Medieval Art Korce

Built in 1980 and renovated in 2016, the Museum of Medieval Art in Korce is the newest museum in Albania but is home to some of the most historic pieces of medieval art in the country.

When the communist government banned religion, people gathered religious artifacts for safekeeping and took them to Korce. Inside the museum, more than 7,000 items showcase culture, religion, and art from the 14^th-18^th centuries.

One of the most notable pieces includes the Golden Wall, which is 31 feet (9.5 meters) high with various icons featuring Mary and Jesus, and Jesus and John the Baptist. The Black Labyrinth Pavilion showcases pieces by Onufri, one of the most well-known artists of the 16^th century, known for his fiery red iconography pieces.

National Museum of Education Korce

First opened in 1887 as the first Albanian school, the National Museum of Education in Korce is now where you can learn the history of the unique Albanian language.

First, the home of Korce patriot Diamanti Terpo, he donated the house to be a school. Ottoman authorities took it over a few years later, but during a revolution, the Albanians gained back control and reopened it as a school. It was a school until the late 1960s and then was converted into a museum.

You can view the first and second editions of the Albanian alphabet and books and texts used by students, patriots, and linguists. 

Murabi National Museum of Photography Shkodra

The Murabi National Museum of Photography is the only museum in the country dedicated to photography and home to the first-ever photograph taken in Albania in 1858.

This two-story building showcases more than 400,000 photographs depicting Albanian life from the mid-1800s until today. It’s also home to many photographs taken by Pietro Marubi, exiled from Italy, who opened this studio-now-turned-museum.

Pietro Marubi captured thousands of photographs showcasing life in Albania, most everyday citizens, some notable figures. He even documented the first signs of new diseases that entered the country. Today, you can view his incredible work, along with portraits of soldiers from both World Wars. 

Archaeological Museum Butrint

The Archaeological Museum of Butrint, also known as the Venetian Castle, is located on the north side of Butrint National Park. Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can walk through the remains of one of the most prominent cities during the Roman Empire.

If the well-preserved theatre, monuments, and mosaics do not captivate you as you journey through the park, you’ll be amazed when you enter the Museum of Butrint. Located in a 14^th-century castle, you can view more unearthed artifacts and take in the spectacular view of the Butrint Valley that overlooks the beautiful Ionian Sea. 

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More To Discover In Albania

If you are debating about a trip to Albania, this list of museums should be an overwhelming reason to visit the country. A country that was the first atheist state now known for religious harmony, places depicting tales of historical battles and larger-than-life heroes. A nation still recovering from decades of harsh communist rule, there is genuinely no other list of museums that can walk you through the changing shifts of time like the ones located in Albania.