Communist-Era Albania Tour: A Journey Through the Dictatorship’s Legacy

Upon arrival at Tirana International Airport, meet your English-speaking guide and driver. Begin your journey with a tour of Tirana’s communist landmarks, including Mother Teresa Square, the Palace of Congress, and the Presidential Palace. Visit the House of Leaves Museum, once the headquarters of the secret police, and then descend into Bunk’Art 2, a Cold War bunker transformed into a museum. Continue to the National Gallery of Arts to see works of socialist realism. After check-in at your hotel, enjoy the evening at leisure and explore Tirana’s restaurants for dinner on your own. Overnight in Hotel Dinasty or similar in Tirana.

Note: To make the most of the experience, the city tour for Day 1 is planned for arrivals before 12:00 PM. If your flight arrives later, the visits will be arranged for the following day. The remainder of the arrival day will be at leisure with overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, stop at the home of painter Sali Shijaku, before continuing to Bunk’Art 1, a vast underground shelter built for Albania’s leadership. Leave the capital and drive north through the mountains, pausing for a traditional Albanian lunch on the way. In the afternoon, arrive at Spaç Prison, one of the regime’s most notorious forced-labor camps. Walk through the abandoned prison blocks, isolation cells, and interrogation chambers while learning about the prisoners who endured life here. The prison’s remote mountain setting and decaying walls still carry the atmosphere of isolation, making it one of the most powerful places to reflect on Albania’s communist past. By evening, reach Shkodra, where you will enjoy dinner accompanied by a local folk performance. Overnight in Shkodra at Hotel Tradita or similar. 

Begin the morning with a walking tour of Shkodra, a city that resisted communist suppression with its religious and cultural spirit. Visit the Site of Witness and Memory, dedicated to victims of the dictatorship, and see the churches and mosques that survived decades of enforced atheism. Stop by the ruined train station, a relic of failed communist infrastructure, before heading to lunch at the renowned farm-to-table restaurant Mrizi i Zanave. Continue south with a stop in Kuçova, once a socialist industrial hub, and then arrive in Berat. Explore Berat Castle before checking into your hotel for dinner. Overnight in Berat at Hotel Onufri or similar. 

After breakfast, explore the UNESCO-listed old quarters of Berat, including Mangalem and Gorica, crossing the iconic Gorica Bridge and visiting the Ethnographic Museum. Depart toward Gjirokastër, stopping at the Tepelenë Internment Camp, where families accused of being “enemies of the people” were imprisoned under harsh conditions. Once described as Albania’s own “concentration camp,” Tepelenë Internment Camp was notorious for overcrowding, hunger, and disease that claimed the lives of many. The site offers a powerful glimpse into the suffering endured by innocent civilians during the dictatorship. Continue to Gjirokastër, where you will visit Enver Hoxha’s birthplace, walk through the Cold War Tunnel beneath the city, and tour the castle prison and arms museum. See the Stalinist-era apartment blocks that remain inhabited before enjoying a free evening to explore the old town. Overnight in Gjirokastër at Hotel Kalemi Twin or similar. 

Depart Gjirokastër and drive toward Porto Palermo, one of the most secretive Cold War sites in Albania. Stop to see the entrance of the vast submarine base, a 650-meter-long tunnel carved into the mountain to shelter submarines and fast attack vessels. Hidden for decades and still closed to the public, its dark mouth in the cliffs stands as a stark reminder of the regime’s paranoia and militarization. Climb to Ali Pasha Fortress above, once a strategic stronghold and later part of a restricted military zone during communism. For those who want a closer look, an optional boat trip takes you along the shore to approach the submarine tunnel from the sea, offering a dramatic glimpse into the scale of this once-classified base. Continue through the winding Llogara Pass, stopping to view bunkers and remnants of Albania’s military defenses, and enjoy lunch at a mountain restaurant overlooking the Ionian Sea. Arrive in Vlora, once a stronghold of the communist Party of Labour, and visit the Independence Monument and Museum along with Flag Square. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Vlora at Hotel Palace or similar. 

After an early breakfast, embark on a private boat trip to Sazan Island, a former top-secret military zone. Explore abandoned barracks, Cold War bunkers, officer housing, and fortifications built with Soviet and Chinese influence. Walk through the remains of schools, cinemas, and administrative buildings that once served the island’s community. Pause for a picnic lunch before returning to Vlora in the afternoon, with free time to relax or stroll along the seafront. In the evening, share a farewell dinner with your group. Overnight in Vlora at Hotel Palace or similar. 

This morning, return to Tirana for a meeting with members of Albania’s anti-communist association and survivors of the regime’s prisons, who will share personal testimonies. This final encounter offers a powerful human perspective on the journey. Transfer to Tirana International Airport for your departure flight.