7 Best museums to visit in Tirana

These are the top 7 best museums to visit in Tirana

If you had seen our article about things to do in Tirana, you might have noticed quite a few museums in this city. However, not everyone spends a lot of time when they are visiting Albania’s capital. Some people might only want to spend a couple of days in Tirana. If you are a bit in a rush of time, there is a high chance that you don’t want to see every museum in Tirana. After all, Tirana has a lot of important landmarks, restaurants, and monuments that you can visit. We thought it would be a great idea to make a list of the best museums to visit in Tirana.

Does Tirana have a lot of museums?

If you are into history or art and want to visit cities, then there is a high chance that you want to see museums. Tirana doesn’t have that many museums compared to other capitals in Europe. However, that doesn’t mean Tirana is not worth visiting. What Tirana lacks in the number of museums, it does makeup in the quality of the museums. Off this list of high-quality museums, we compiled a list of the best museums in Tirana.

A quick overview of the best museums in Tirana

If you are short on time and want a quick overview of the best museums to visit in Tirana, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here is a quick overview of the best museums in Tirana and what to expect.

1. Bunk’Art 2 Museum
   Easily accessible near Skanderbeg Square, this museum offers a deep dive into Albania’s communist past and tragic history.
   
2. Bunk’Art 1 Museum
   Located on the outskirts of Tirana, this five-floor underground bunker showcases Albania’s history with contemporary art in over 106 rooms.
   
3. National Historical Museum
   Situated on Skanderbeg Square, this iconic building is perfect for exploring Albania’s traditions and rich historical legacy.
   
4. House of Leaves Museum
   Known as the Museum of Secret Surveillance, it reveals the dark history of communist-era spying and interception in Albania.
   
5. National Archeological Museum
   Near Mother Teresa Square, this museum displays over 2,000 artifacts from prehistoric times to modern days, ideal for history buffs.
   
6. Women’s Museum Tirana
   Highlighting Albania’s history through the lens of women, this museum showcases the vital role of women in shaping the nation.
   
7. Museum of Natural Sciences Tirana
   A lighter museum experience, it offers insights into the flora and fauna of Albania, making it a fun and educational outing.

1. Bunk’Art 2 Museum

There are two Bunk’Art Museums in Tirana. They both have the same subject. However, Bunk’Art 2 Museum is a bit better to reach. It is directly next to Skanderbeg Square and some of the best neighborhoods in Tirana. This museum takes a deep dive into the tragic history of Albania and its communist past. It’s definitely a museum that’s worth visiting in Tirana.

2. Bunk’Art 1 Museum

Bunk’Art 1 Museum is the original Bunk’Art museum. Both the museums are in bunkers. Former communist dictator Enver Hoxha was suffering from paranoia. That’s why you will find bunkers all over Albania. Bunk’Art 1 can be found on the outskirts of Tirana, on Rruga Fadil Deliu. This 5-floor underground palace has become a museum about Albania’s past with contemporary art. It has more than 106 rooms and an assembly hall. If this museum were closer to the center, it would be number one on our list.

3. National Historical Museum

If you are already in Tirana, there is a high chance that you have seen this museum. The National Historical Museum in Tirana lies directly on Skanderbeg Square. It is the building with the amazing drawings. If you want to learn more about the traditions of this beautiful country and the history of Albania, this is one of the best museums in Tirana for you.

4. House of Leaves Museum

This museum opened its doors on the 23rd of May 2017 and is one of the newest museums in Albania. House of Leaves Museum can also be called the museum of secret surveillance. This museum also takes a deep dive into the nation’s dark history. The Museum of Secret Surveillance (House of Leaves) also delves into the communist era, where everything could and would be used to spy and intercept.

5. National Archeological Museum

The National Archeological Museum of Tirana is the first museum built after the Second World War. This museum is next to Mother Teresa Square and has a lot of important historical information about the country. You can find artifacts from prehistoric times, the Middle Ages, and modern times. This museum has more than 2000 artifacts, ranging from ancient jewelry to Roman statues. This is one of the best museums to visit in Tirana for the history buffs.

6. Women’s Museum Tirana

The Women’s Museum Tirana is a museum that is not talked about in different blogs and publications online. Which is a shame as it is one of the best museums in Tirana. This museum travels through time and shows some of the most important events in Albania’s history. However, this is all done through the lens of the woman. The museum shows the importance of women in Albania. This museum in Tirana is worth writing down when planning your Tirana itinerary.

Photo via Balkan Insight. © All rights reserved. 

7. Museum of Natural Sciences Tirana

The museum of natural sciences in Tirana is one of the best museums in Tirana if you are looking for a fun day out. This museum contrary to some of the other museums in Tirana, is not that heavy and won’t leave you drained. If you want to know more about the flora and the fauna that can be found in this area then this is a great choice.

Conclusion

These were the best museums in Tirana. As you can see a lot of the museums in Tirana are about the country’s dark past. A past that some might want to forget, but most Albanian people want to remember it, to prevent something similar happening in the future.

If you want to see all the best museums in Tirana, we advise you to plan at leat one or two days to make sure you have enough time for all your visits. After all, there are more than enough things to do in Tirana.