Communist Heritage Sites (Self Guided), Tirana

The people of Albania lived in a Communist state from 1976 through 1992. The country was ruled by one party, the Party of Labor of Albania. Dictator Enver Hoxha held power over the country and established a Stalinist-style of administration.

Citizens were oppressed by the secret police, known as the Sigurimi. They would spy on anyone who they believed to be an enemy of the state. Those who were suspected of being political opponents of the Labor Party were often interrogated, tortured, imprisoned or even killed.

Communism fell in Albania in 1991 when the first multi-party elections took place, though The People's Socialist Republic of Albania wasn't officially dissolved until a new constitution was adopted in 1998.

The memories of Communism in Albania are still very much alive in the memories of those who lived under the dictatorial rule of this repressive government. The new government strives to remind visitors of the horrors under this regime. They have done so by offering a number of spots that visitors can learn from and see.

The House of Leaves, also known as the Museum of Secret Service, provides deep insight into the spying and interrogation techniques of the Sigurimi. The National History Museum offers exhibits that cover a great deal of Albania's history that includes its dark days under Communism. BunkArt 2 is a museum and gallery that is located in a former bunker built by Enver Hoxha. These and many other places are important stops when touring the past communist sites in Tirana.

If you want to learn more about the history of Communism and how it shaped Albania, follow us on this Communist Heritage Sites walking tour.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Les Haines.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Communist Heritage Sites
Guide Location: Albania » Tirana (See other walking tours in Tirana)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk or build your own)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Tirana?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Tirana Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Tirana?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Tirana, Albania

Create Your Own Walk in Tirana

Creating your own self-guided walk in Tirana is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Tirana Introduction Walking Tour

Tirana is Albania's largest city. It is also the country's center of culture and government. Though the city itself was founded by the Ottomans in 1614, its history goes back to earlier times.

The Romans settled in the area that would become Tirana in the 3rd century. The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I built a castle that has some remnants left for tourists to see today. Tirana Castle,... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles