National Historical Museum

Located in the heart of Tirana, the National Historical Museum was inaugurated on October 28, 1981. It is the largest museum in Albania and showcases the country's history from antiquity to modern times. Visitors can see artifacts from the ancient Illyrian period, the Roman and Byzantine eras, and the medieval period, as well as exhibits on the Albanian National Awakening and the communist era. The iconic mosaic of the façade of the National Historic Museum is considered to be one of the finest examples of late Albanian Socialist Realism. Installed in 1981, it showcases some of the important milestones of the country’s history, spanning from antiquity to the Communist era, across its 565 m2 surface area.

I was really looking forward to visiting the National Historical Museum, but unfortunately, it was closed when I arrived. There was no clear sign or information about the closure, which was quite disappointing. The building looks impressive from the outside, especially at night, but that’s all I could experience. It’s a shame that such an important cultural site wasn’t accessible.

I recently visited the National Historical Museum in Tirana and was disappointed to find it temporarily closed. However, the museum's exterior is impressive, and the location is central, making it a great starting point for exploring the city. I’ve heard the exhibits showcase Albania’s rich history, and I can’t wait to return when it reopens.

Probably 4 stars but it is an extensive museum where you will surely learn things. Covers a wide time range, Bronze Age to WW2. Maps, objects, photos, clothing are all part of the museum. There is even an iconography section which includes stuff from Kosovo. Generally there is a bit too much writing in bunched up mega-paragraphs in each section. Not a great way to transmit the knowledge. People would walk right by a lot of it like “Sorry this happened to you Albania but I’m not reading all that.” Text is in Albanian and English only. Worth the 500 lek entry but hard to understand why they close at 4pm and don’t take euros or card. Definitely one of the best museums in the country.

A great museum depicting the ancient and modern history of Albania. From the cave people to modern evolution of Albania is captured via different artefacts and pieces of historical places and events.

The museum is full of excellent information, and is nicely laid out. I particularly liked the ancient history - artefacts from over 2,000 years ago, and a good explanation of the ancient Illyrians. It then walked through the middle ages through to the formation of the current Albanian state in the early 20th century, explaining the importance of language and how various people played their part. The second world war fight against fascism was also covered in detail, showing how the communist party led the fight. However, the museum's main exhibitions finished there, with nothing about the Hoxha years. The building was very nice, quiet but welcoming to children, and spacious. It gave me a lot of insight into the Albanian people. Some of the exhibits had English translations, but many did not. You need to give at least 2h to visit, but I think I stayed for about 5h. There was no food on sale.

The National Historical Museum in Tirana stands as Albania's most significant institution for exploring the country's rich and complex past. Here are key insights and recommendations about the museum, especially relevant for those interested in historical sites and cultural heritage.

I never expected to have an experience like this… Visiting this museum I learned even more than I thought I know from books or internet,also I found a lots of historical artcrafts that was amazing. The energy inside this museum is incredible. It felt like you were in another area of time. And for the last sunday of month entry was free from 10 am to 3 pm,you could just ask for a ticket and access all the exhibitions of museum.