Communist Regime Tour: Experiencing Albania's Dark History and Dictator's Crimes

This tour will take you to the frightening communist regime in Albania, which consists of presenting you the lifestyle, the old dictator’s Enver Hoxha crimes, bunkers built to survive the dangers of a nuclear war which existed only in the leader’s imagination, the Historical Museum and lots more.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Skanderbeg Square - Our journey begins at Tirana’s main square, featuring the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower of Tirana, the National Theater of Opera and Ballet (whose first brick was laid by former Soviet Union President Nikita Khrushchev), the National Bank of Albania, the historic Tirana International Hotel, and more.
  • Enver Hoxha Pyramid - One of Tirana’s most iconic structures, the Pyramid stands on the main boulevard as a reminder of the communist regime. Originally built as a museum dedicated to Hoxha, the Communist Party leader and First Secretary of the Party of Labor from 1944 until his death in 1985, it was co-designed by Hoxha’s daughter and opened as a mausoleum in 1988. After the fall of communism, it has served various purposes, including a cultural center and a National Television office, and has survived plans for demolition. Today, it remains a symbol of the notorious communist era and a popular tourist attraction.
  • Postbllok - Checkpoint Monument - The ‘Postbllok’ Memorial, created by former regime dissident Fatos Lubonja and artist Ardian Isufi, commemorates the Communist Isolation. It features three main elements: a concrete defensive bunker (one of thousands built by the dictatorship for each family in case of war), concrete supports from the Spaç labor camp where political prisoners suffered between 1968 and 1990, and a brightly painted section of the Berlin Wall from Potsdamer Platz.
  • Blloku - Once an exclusive area for the communist political elite, Blloku is now the vibrant heart of Tirana, filled with boutiques, coffee shops, bars, pubs, and street art. The former villa of Hoxha, now unused, stands as a testament to the dictator’s luxurious lifestyle. We will view it from the outside, as entry is not permitted. We will also enjoy traditional food and rakija at a nearby restaurant during a short stop.
  • Bunk’Art 1 - This museum, a recent addition to Tirana, is housed in a bunker built in the 1970s to protect the elite in case of an attack. The bunker, which remained secret for much of its existence, features nearly 3000 square meters of underground rooms, corridors, and container rooms spread over several floors. Designed to withstand nuclear attacks, it could accommodate over 100 people. The museum now showcases fragments of Albania’s communist history, and its labyrinthine layout and historical exhibits are sure to leave a lasting impression.
What's Included
  • Traditional Rakia tasting experience
  • Comfort with in-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and taxes included
  • Complimentary tea and coffee
  • Convenient hotel pick-up service
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Location
Skanderbeg Square
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(15 Ratings)
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Fabien_n
Jul 20, 2024
Great tour and amazing guide - We had a great moment with Dio who is really nice and knows everything about the history of Albania. We highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Afrime_o
Jul 17, 2024
Dio is extremely... - Dio is extremely knowledgeable and speaks perfect English. I highly recommend him and would book other tours with him.
Review provided by Viator
Gordon_m
Mar 22, 2024
Truest Face of Communism Day - We had a fantastic day with Mimi and DC on this tour. They were both highly knowledgeable and helpful, great to hang out with all day, went out if their way to help with any extra requests we had. The highlights were Bunker Art and The House of Leaves. We also loved having raki and coffee and trying byrek with both Mimi and DC. Thank you so much for a great day and for going above and beyond. We highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
James_h
Oct 28, 2023
Leo, our tour guide, was... - Leo, our tour guide, was knowledgeable, polite and personal. We had a very nice tour, and I would recommend Leo and this tour to others.
Review provided by Viator
Cynthia_n
May 21, 2023
Sooo interesting! - Aldo, my guide was great! I learned so much about Albania’s history, especially under communism. I reayenjoyed the stories Aldo told about how it was for his family during this time. The trip to Bunkart was fascinating. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
C5578sjalexr
Nov 25, 2022
Excellent Tour - The tour gave me an insight into Albanian History and culture. The tour guide, Dionis, was excellent and very knowledgeable. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in Albanian Culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Famcbm
Nov 3, 2019
Interesting and eye opening tour - Mimi was a great guide and driver. Four members of my family were on this tour and we were all fascinated by Bunk’Art. It was sobering to see how the Albanians had to live under their ruthless dictator. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hellodaz
Nov 1, 2019
Fantastic way to see Tirana! - I was only in Tirana for 48 hours and this day trip was a great way to get a personal experience and insight into the evolution of Tirana and the Albanian culture. I had not realised some of the very interesting history and our guide Leo gave great care of the tour and made it an experience to remember! I especially liked the bunker tours and it was much better having Leo talk me through it, rather than just reading the labels. If you are in Tirana then check it out!
Review provided by Viator
Bcieri
Oct 12, 2019
Great Intro To Albania - The tour was fascinating! We started with the Square in the center of Tirana where Mimi pointed out the different architecture and used that as an introduction to the history of his country. Then to the art museum where that history was further described and the communist period began to take on life before the bunkers drove the reality home. Great experience - Mimi answered all our questions carefully and completely. We really enjoyed our time with him and highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ronald_m
May 7, 2023
Great guide - Literature indicated the tour would be by air conditioned vehicle but it was a 100% walking tour covering nearly five miles. Notwithstanding that deviation the tour was very good and we saw everything on the schedule and then some. The Bunker museum was a favorite as it made to realize the struggles suffered by the Albanians during the cold war. The square and surrounding buildings are very nice and the founding point of Tirana is very interesting (All you need for a city is a mosque, a bath and a bakery). Our guide Eni was excellent and she made every moment and location great. Especially when she shared a personal family story. Lunch was phenomenal.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
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September 2024
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