• Skanderbeg Square - The meeting point will be Skanderbeg Square, the heart of Tirana. Here, one can observe the diverse influences of various invaders on the city’s culture and architecture.

• Bank of Albania Museum - The first stop is the National Museum. For those with a passion for history, this is an opportunity to explore the history of a land inhabited for thousands of years, even before the Stone Age. As we walk through the pavilions, we will journey from ancient times to the present.

• Fortress of Justinian - COFFEE BREAK!
  After delving into history, it’s time to return to the present with a traditional Albanian coffee. The Fortress of Justinian, or the Castle of Tirana, is a 700-year-old Byzantine-era castle. Once a battleground, it is now a popular spot for locals and tourists, featuring restaurants, cafes, art shops, and more. A must-see in Tirana.

• BunkArt 2 - Things are about to get intriguing!
  The former anti-nuclear bunker of the Ministry of the Interior is a relic from a distant and obscure period (‘44-‘91). Constructed in the 80s, it was intended as a shelter for high-ranking officials in the event of a nuclear or chemical attack, with double concrete walls for protection.
  Today, it is an ongoing project, a museum where the rooms once meant for inhabitants are now historical and artistic exhibition spaces, featuring information and art installations from Albania’s communist history.

• Enver Hoxha Pyramid - (The Boulevard of Tirana - Part 1/3)
  As we stroll along the Boulevard, we will discuss our experiences at Bunk’Art, compare with other countries (Eastern and Western), and talk about the country’s current state and more.
  The Pyramid of Tirana, or the Enver Hoxha Pyramid, is an unusual structure built as a museum dedicated to Enver Hoxha, the country’s supreme leader from ‘44-‘85. His daughter was one of the architects and co-designers.

Since the fall of Communism in ‘91, it has served various purposes, including a cultural center, a NATO base, and a National Television headquarters. Currently, it is undergoing a transformation into an IT center for youth, focusing on computer programming, robotics, and startups.

• Postbllok - Checkpoint Monument - (The Boulevard of Tirana - Part 2/3)
  Continuing along the Boulevard, we will arrive at the ‘Post-Block’.
  The ‘Post-Block’ is a Memorial to Communist Isolation, featuring relics from the past. It was created by artist and former regime dissident Fatos Lubonja and artist Ardian Isufi. It includes three main elements:

1. The bunker remains in its original position, guarding the main entrance of the segregated residential block where the late dictator Enver Hoxha and senior communist officials lived from 1945-1991.

2. The concrete supports are from the Spac labor camp, the regime’s most notorious labor camp, where thousands of political prisoners suffered from 1968-90.

3. The brightly painted wall is a piece of the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the separation imposed by regimes.

• Blloku - (The Boulevard of Tirana - Part 3/3)

The Block is a lively, colorful, vibrant, trendy, and tourist-friendly area, the heart of Tirana’s nightlife, and one of the most famous and expensive districts. It boasts bars on every corner, pubs, cafes, upscale restaurants, boutiques, and more.
In the past, during the dictatorship era, it was a closed ‘block’, a protected area for the regime’s elite.
Here, we will explore what was once the neighborhood of the highest officials and pass by Enver Hoxha’s villa, which can be viewed from the outside (it is not open to the public).

• Jenny’s Food Court - Savor the flavors of Albanian traditional cuisine!
  After immersing in another world, era, and reality, we return to modern-day Tirana. It is important for travelers visiting Albania to experience traditional flavors and cuisine. Therefore, we will stop at a traditional restaurant in the Block (Blloku) area to enjoy some well-deserved local food.
  After satisfying our appetites, we will take a final stroll to the hotel or the tour’s starting point and bid farewell, perhaps to meet again another day.

• Entrance Fees
• Lunch
• All fees and taxes included
• Tea and coffee

An excursion recommended for all non-natives, or at least consider exploring its components for a remarkable journey.

An excellent blend of history and contemporaneity, you will get an exclusive look into Albania’s past preserved in archives. As we stroll through the urban scape with its vibrant, street-art decorated infrastructures and varied communities, we will halt at various points, notable for their significant role in history.

The pivotal focus of this expedition will revolve around existence during the Communist rule in the country.

We will probe into the concealed truths of the nation’s Communist ruling as we visit these heritage places and comprehend their political, societal, and economic resonance. This tour opens a novel doorway to spelunk into the lesser-known aspects of Albania’s past.

This will also present an excellent chance to deepen your understanding about Tirana and Albania, the comprehensive culture, local operations, typical traditions, the lifestyle, current politics, tips particularly for tourists, ways to evade ‘tourist snares’ & frauds and so forth.

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