Visiting Bunk Art Musuem in Tirana in 2024.
As I walked through the dingy corridors I could hear air raid sirens ringing from exhibitions inside the bunker….
It felt like I was back in communist Albania!
Bunk'art Tirana is a unique museum located in the heart of Albania's capital city. This underground museum offers visitors a chance to explore the country's rich history, from its communist past to its modern-day culture. With interactive exhibits and hidden secrets waiting to be discovered, Bunk'art Tirana is a must-visit destination in the Balkans for anyone interested in Albania's fascinating history.
This darker side of tourism is still felt throughout the capital, as an underbelly of the days behind the iron curtain still lurk. This vast nuclear bunker (turned into a museum) wouldn’t look out of place in one of the famous James Bond movies.
Creepy looking entrance to BUNK’ART.
Bunk’art is one of the best museums to visit in Albania, and is integral to teaching international visitors about the historical Albanian regime. A wander round the harrowing corridors of the museum takes you on an imaginative journey into the socialist past of one of Europe’s most controversial nations.
There is no doubt that a walk on the side of dark tourism through Tirana’s most popular day trip is fascinating and well worth a visit!
Read on as I take you on a little journey through Albania’s turbulent history!
Over the last century, Albania has certainly had a chequered history, which is relatively unknown to many international visitors of Tirana. Bunk’Art provides an educational experience into the once-isolated nation’s past, making for a very popular day trip in Tirana.
The former secret underground bunker provides the perfect blend of modern technology and historical original artefacts/photographs to bring an authentic dystopian experience.
You will be left to explore the museum at your own leisure, but be warned there is a lot of information to absorb, so plan to spend a couple of hours at Albania’s creepiest tourist attraction!
Map showing the underground layout of BUNK’ART in Tirana. (bunkart.al)
The layout of Bunk'Art is split into different themes, chronologically depicting different notable time periods in Albania’s history.
All exhibits and descriptions can be found in both Albanian and English throughout the bunker leaving tourists with a very informed idea of what the Albanian people lived through.
A must on any Tirana itinerary for sure!
Albania under fascist Italy (1939 - 1943).
(Viole Area).
Albania was subject to invasion by the Italians back in 1938. In May of that year the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Galeazzo Ciano submitted a detailed project for the invasion of Albania, around a month after his participation as a best man at the wedding of King Zog (Albania).
Following a year of putting strategic plans in place to prevent the invasion (none were ever used), Albania was invaded by Italy in April 1939. The Italians moved undisturbed through port cities such as Durres, Vlora and Saranda.
It is hard to imagine Albania not defending itself from attack as you wander around the bunker, which would be fit for a nuclear apocalypse. Boasting a total of 106 rooms across five floors underneath the ground level of Tirana. Certainly shows that the Italy occupation had a long lasting impact on the minds of the Albanians.
As you wander through the impressive bunker (turned museum), it becomes clear why Bunk’ART is Albania’s number one visited attraction, as it has had significant development from a touristic perspective.
Fascism was widespread during Italy’s annexation process of Albania during 1939 - 1940, as the invaders imported their ideologies onto the Albanian lands. In 1941, the Albanian people finally put up some resistance against the occupiers as economic hardship swamped the Balkan nation, following the Italian’s domination of the Albanian economy.
On September 8, 1943, Italy capitulated, however, it was now the Germans turn to occupy Albania!
The main entrance to Bunk’art.
Diplomacy during the war (1941 - 1945).
(Blue Area).
The Albanian government was not recognised while in exile and under occupation, therefore, was not allowed to sign the United Nations Declaration in January 1942.
Wouldn’t be the last time that the nation felt isolated and cut off from the rest of Europe!
By the end of 1942, Albania’s resistance against foreign invaders was recognised by the USA, Great Britain and the Soviet Union and the three superpowers promised to restore Albania’s independence after World War II.
As you walk round the maze of concrete tunnels you will hear the shuddering noise of the old communist propaganda reels on repeat and air raid sirens echoing off the walls to provide a very unique moment of imagination and reflection of historic times.
For added effect, the first thing you notice as you enter the bunker is a warning sign about potential blackouts. Potential pitch black darkness compounding on the wet and cold feeling within the premises, to really create the sense of eeriness.
By the fall of 1943, Albania was finally given aid from its (now) allies, the United Nation, through financial, military and civilian help. There was some uneasiness around maintaining a relationship in 1945, when Enver Hoxer was in control of Albania. Eventually the USA and UK conditioned it, as long as there were free and democratic elections.
Maybe a sign of the future exile facing the nation?
Tunnel leading to the main entrance at Bunk’Art.
Albania under the German occupation (1943 - 1944).
(Cherry Area).
It is very thought provoking exploring the different rooms, especially, considering it was designed and built to shelter up to 300 military personnel, along with protecting some of the most important men in the country. The museum was unveiled to the public in 2014. Bunk’art has a very unique method of presenting different information.
In the cherry area, you learn about Albania under German occupation.
The Germans only had short-term interests in Albania and preserved the nationalism of the proud nation. Having been a de facto state under the control of Italy for several years, the Germans wanted to set up an autonomous government, so the Albanians could look after themselves.
In October 1943, Albania’s independence and neutrality was announced at a National Assembly.
On 28 November 1944, the Democratic Provisional Government entered Tirana. led by Enver Hoxha. He was to rule over over the nation for the next five decades.
If you want to add a level of detail to your day trip, then you can take your own earphones and download the Bunk’Art app on the free available wifi. This gives you an audio guide to provide you more detailed descriptions about all the different rooms and important parts of Albania’s history.
Be advised, it can get cold inside the bunker so bringing a jumper or coat isn’t a bad idea!
Albania sign inside of the rooms in Bunk’Art.
After the war - Hope and disappointment (1945 - 1947).
(Green Area).
Albania received a considerable amount of damage from the Italian and German invasions, including burned towns, unuseable bridges and an economy in the doldrums.
The Albanian government also accused the Itaians of stealing a large number of cultural archeological objects.
After being recognised for its valiance against the occupiers, the nation benefited from humanitarian help from UNRRA.
After being invited to be a part of the Peace Conference in Paris (July-October 1946), the troubled state was recognised as an associated power. On 10 February 1947, the Albanian state was one of the states to sign the Peace Treaty with Italy.
Old school military style room in Bunk’Art.
Albania after liberation (1945 - 1990).
(Red Area).
After liberation, Albania entered its communism stint!
Propaganda was used to create a cult around the leadership of Enver Hoxha, eulogising the achievements of his regime.
Violence was also used to ensure that the Albanian people followed Hoxha. Concentration camps, along with violation of human rights was a regular occurance across the country.
Walking through the various dark and dingy tunnels certainly gives this feeling.
Albania became one of the most isolated nations in Europe under the communist regime.
A running theme over the next five decades casting an exile shadow over the state!
Bunkerisation of the nation.
In the height of Hoxa’s paranoia, Albania built over 170,000 bunkers throughout the nation, ready for another invasion which never came.
Bunk’Art was originally codenamed ‘Objekti Shtylla’, and was the most impressive of all the bunkers!
The construction was completed in the 1970’s, and had personal rooms for Hoxha and his close associates, which still remain on show now, for visitors to see an example of the communism which held Albania back for over 40 years.
Albania was cut off from the modern world and Bunk’Art has ensured that the theme of the museum maintains the feeling of exile, to give tourists a feeling of the dark times.
How do you visit Bunk’Art Tirana?
Bunk’Art 1 is located on the outskirts of the city, very close to the Dajti cable car station. It is one of Tirana’s most booked day trips, so if you want an easy visit to the museum without any planning, there are plenty of options to book a guided tour here.
If you prefer to explore at your own leisure, then some key information is here:
Opening times:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost.
Like everything else in Albania, Bunk’Art is cheap!
It costs 500 LEK (£4) for entry for adults. Seniors or children can enter for 300 LEK (£2.50).
For an extra 200 LEK you can use the audio guide.
Map showing directions from Skanderbeg Square to BUNK’ART 1 in Tirana.
Taxi.
If you are short of time or are in a group to split the costs, then a taxi is a good option. It is approximately 800 LEK (£6) each way.
Bus.
You will find the main bus stop in the Tirana city centre close to Skanderbeg Square.
A little stroll through the park near the Et’hem mosque will bring you to the city bus station. From here, take the blue coloured bus to Porcelan. There are regular buses every 10/20 minutes from early in the morning until midnight.
Bus Ticket Price: 30 Lek (0.25p).
Leave the bus at ‘Dajti Ekspres', then follow the easily signposted route to the entrance of Bunk’Art. If you get stuck, any bus driver will be able to guide you.
Depending on traffic, the bus will take approximately 20-30 minutes each way.
Walk.
During the summer months, the weather in Albania is beautiful, so walking at least one of the legs of the journey is a good way to get some nice sunshine and exercise. It is around 5 km each way.
I took this option when I visited Bunk’Art in June. It is a fairly straight route and you pass by many shops, cafes and restaurants - all of which are very cheap!
Assembly Hall in Bunk’Art.
Is Bunk’Art Tirana worth visiting?
Having spent a day taking the cable car up Mount Dajti and Bunk’Art, it is clear why they are the most popular activities in Tirana. Both are essential on a Tirana itinerary, to make the most of the charming capital.
An afternoon at Bunk’Art has the feeling of dark tourism, which is pretty unique. There is no doubt that you get more than you bargained for as you come to the end of the eerie long tunnels to the museum’s entrance. The storytelling exhibition is world class and incredible value for money.
Bunk’Art is just one example of how Tirana is developing as a tourism hub. The modern city could certainly be mistaken for Barcelona with its vibrant restaurants and shops. This unique museum exhibits entrepreneurship which goes far beyond telling the dark stories from the nation’s past.
It gets the imagination racing about some of the true horrors that may not have been revealed.
This is their history and they want visitors not just to read about it, but to feel it!
The future is bright for the nation!
Bunker corridors.
Other museums to visit in Albania.
The National Historical Museum in Tirana.
The largest museum in Albania houses a collection of over 6000 artifacts that span the country's history, from prehistoric times to the present day. The National History Museum is located in Skanderbeg Square and has been in operation since 1981.
The National Museum of Archaeology in Tirana.
This museum is home to a collection of archaeological artifacts from all over Albania. The museum's collection includes items from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Ages, as well as from the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. You can visit the museum every day between the hours of 9am and 2pm, with it being located in close proximity to Mother Teresa Square, and the University of Tirana.
Bunk'Art 2 Museum.
Bunk’Art 2 is one of the most recent museums in Tirana and is located in a former nuclear bunker that was built by the communist regime in the 1970s. Similar to Bunk’Art 1, the museum exhibits the history of the bunker and the communist regime in Albania. Bunk’Art 2 focuses on the history of the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs from 1912 to 1991
The House of Leaves Museum.
Located in a former political prison that was used by the communist regime, this museum exhibits the history of the prison and the stories of the people who were imprisoned there.