In Gjirokastër, like in many other Albanian cities, a large bunker was built to house local communist party leaders in case of an expected enemy attack. The shelter under the Gjirokastra Castle was connected to the communist party’s Executive Committee building which is today a City Hall. Now it is open to the public in the form of a Cold War museum (Muzeu i Luftës së Ftohtë).
The labyrinth of corridors is 800 metres long and contains as many as 59 rooms. During the 20-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to peek into the decontamination room and see the electricity generator made in Czechoslovakia. Rather than an exhaustive commentary on the Cold War, you’ll be given an authentic experience that evokes the atmosphere of a totalitarian Albania led by a paranoid leader Enver Hoxha.
The entrance to the tunnel is behind the Town Hall in Çerçiz Topulli Square. The museum is open daily 8:00-20:00 in high season, in low season Mon-Fri 9:00-14:00, Sat 9:00-15:00, Sun 9:00-15:00. The tours always start on the hour, the entrance is 200 lek.
In addition to the museum, you can book a walking tour around Gjirokastër focusing on the Cold War era.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay in Gjirokastër.
Flights
Find the cheapest flight to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Experiences
Book a walking tour in Gjirokastër on Viator.com.