The Cold War Tunnel
The Cold War Tunnel
3.5
About
The Cold War Museum (also called the Color War Tunnel) is an underground bunker that served as an emergency shelter in the latter part of Albania’s communist era (1944-1990). This bunker, and the innumerable small bunkers found throughout the country, reflects the paranoia of Albanian’s communist dictator, Enver Hoxha. He feared a foreign invasion, especially after Albania’s breakup with Soviet Union in the early 1960s. Built in secret in the early 1970s, the bunker is 800 m long and has 59 rooms. Unlike Tirana’s bunker museum, Gjirokastër’s bunker has been left in its original state, making it less informative but much more atmospheric and genuine. This bunker was designed to accommodate many different functions in case of a nuclear attack. There are rooms for government ministries, local government, interrogators, and party elite, as well as places for sleeping, power generation, and water storage. Much of original furniture was looted from the site in 1990 but pieces still remain.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Annie LEdmonton, Canada21 contributionsPerfectFor 200 lek a person this tour was a nice 30 min info session with a guide that tells you things you wouldn't otherwise know. we had read some people saying it wasn't worth it, but we thought it was perfect. I recommend this is tour if you like history.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 June 2024
- Jennifer B53 contributionsWell worth a visit!Well worth going to see if you’re in gjirokaster. 200 leke per adult, and our 4 and 1 year old were free. Tour took about 20-25 minutes, and tour guide was informative. Also very cool in there compared to mid-day sun!!Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 11 July 2024
- PBJ1977Walsall, United Kingdom98 contributionsAlbanian travelsReally interesting insight into the exploits of the Albanian leaders during the Cold War. Great value for money at 200 Lek and well worth a visit. The tour takes 30 minutes.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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3.5
106 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
30
Average
28
Poor
11
Terrible
5
Annie L
Edmonton, Canada21 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
For 200 lek a person this tour was a nice 30 min info session with a guide that tells you things you wouldn't otherwise know. we had read some people saying it wasn't worth it, but we thought it was perfect. I recommend this is tour if you like history.
Written 18 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tomas O
Dubai, United Arab Emirates9 contributions
July 2023 • Friends
Tour took 7 mins from start to finish. We were basically walked through and told “this is an important room”, “this is the kitchen” etc with no context or information. The building itself is very cool to see but the tour left a lot to be desired.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer B
53 contributions
July 2024 • Family
Well worth going to see if you’re in gjirokaster. 200 leke per adult, and our 4 and 1 year old were free. Tour took about 20-25 minutes, and tour guide was informative. Also very cool in there compared to mid-day sun!!
Written 12 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cesar D
26 contributions
July 2022 • Couples
The bunker is so interesting but the guide makes that the visit doesn't worth. A guy that explain in 10 second, walk fast, doesn't give time to explore or takes pictures, just walk faster and faster to the exit. The bunker has a lot of possibilities, but not in this way
Written 12 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PBJ1977
Walsall, UK98 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
Really interesting insight into the exploits of the Albanian leaders during the Cold War. Great value for money at 200 Lek and well worth a visit. The tour takes 30 minutes.
Written 25 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Rists
21 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
From reading the mixed reviews, I think it must be luck of the draw whether you get a good tour guide or not. We were unlucky, and got one with no enthusiasm and little information. Bunk d'Art 2 in Tirana was much better. At least it was reasonably cheap and not too long.
Written 2 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellen M
Hong Kong, China27 contributions
July 2018 • Solo
If Besian is the same person, that’s very weird !!!
I go by myself with the guide, claimed Besian at 16:35, come out at 16:44.
He reads the names of room, starts to tell me not taking many photos when I just take the first one, unwilling to answer questions or just gives very short answer, shows no incentive to guide but runs, basically, throughout. He is in a rush of what??? I read several people comment him very well. But to me, travel through 52 countries and follow many local tour before, I have never experienced such thing before. I even asked him if I could slowly walk inside which obviously indicate his impatience.....
I am very disappointed. If there is a choice, I prefer to pay 500-800 lev to have a 30 minutes clear explanation and free asking tour.
Recall I did 5 hours local tour in Serbia and Bossina, both are very professional young guys with enthusiasm, everyone (I guess) give great tips.
I show happy face all the way, why this guide behaves this way?
I go by myself with the guide, claimed Besian at 16:35, come out at 16:44.
He reads the names of room, starts to tell me not taking many photos when I just take the first one, unwilling to answer questions or just gives very short answer, shows no incentive to guide but runs, basically, throughout. He is in a rush of what??? I read several people comment him very well. But to me, travel through 52 countries and follow many local tour before, I have never experienced such thing before. I even asked him if I could slowly walk inside which obviously indicate his impatience.....
I am very disappointed. If there is a choice, I prefer to pay 500-800 lev to have a 30 minutes clear explanation and free asking tour.
Recall I did 5 hours local tour in Serbia and Bossina, both are very professional young guys with enthusiasm, everyone (I guess) give great tips.
I show happy face all the way, why this guide behaves this way?
Written 23 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorena
Tirana, Albania120 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
For everyone attracted by the Cold War and the history of the dictatorial regime in Albania, the cold war tunnel is a must see attraction. Opened for the turists in Gjirokastra, is a place where you can get in touch with the past and experience a very important place of the history of the stone city.
Written 30 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pontus H
Lund, Sweden33 contributions
July 2018 • Family
We had guide that knew a lot about the tunnel and it's purpose but he was quite bored. When entering he asked if we had lights in our phones due to lack of working light in the tunnel. It was only broken light bulbs so it seems that the don't care about the tunnel. The guide didn't have any light. It felt quite poor in presentation eve if he knew when you asked.
Written 23 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wennn
Singapore, Singapore29 contributions
Oct 2019
sounds fancy but really is just one of those huge bunkers in albania. if you went to bunk'art in Tirana this would look a lot less impressive. but nice to visit anyway if you have some time to kill
Written 25 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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