This is a large museum with a fascinating collection. It’s very much in an old-school style of museum presentation, with static displays and lots of text panels. Unfortunately multilingual audio guides are not available so touring the museum is a very passive experience. Given the richness of the artifacts we’re certain that we missed out on a great deal of fascinating information.

There is a heavy emphasis on Stone & Bronze Age artifacts and history. These sections have the most English-language translations so are the most accessible for non-Albanian visitors.

Beyond those displays there are only sporadic sections where English language panels are available. One such area is the period of Italian intervention in Albania beginning in the 1930s and into the Second World War. This section of the Museum offers insight into how the various anti-fascist groups formed, and how eventually Enver Hoxha’s faction became dominant. This led, in turn, to the establishment of one of the most brutal totalitarian dictatorships of the 20th Century.

The lack of materials/stories about that brutal period is the most disappointing aspect of the museum. There are a number of empty galleries in the building; hopefully there are plans in the works to develop robust educational exhibitions highlighting the madness that was Hoxha-ism. For if we fail to learn the lessons of history we are doomed to repeat them.

At 500L per adult this museum is a bargain and well worth a visit.

*Note: the mueum is not air conditioned. While there are floor fans placed here and there if yiu visit on a hot day (as we did) expect to be very warm by the end of your visit.