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.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
99 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
30
Average
27
Poor
9
Terrible
6
KrisD_pl
Warsaw, Poland7,784 contributions
Aug 2019
Secretly built during the 1960s under Enver Xoxha regime. It has 80 rooms that were to be used by the local authorities during the invasion that Xoxha was afraid of all the time. The tunnels and rooms are deserted and partly destroyed, so it feels bit creepy. it is only accessible on guided tours run from the tourist information booth nearby.
Written July 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Diversity Mel
25 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
A smaller bunker for local bigwigs, which was fortunately never used. The rooms are mainly empty or sparsely decorated, but the tour guide helps you to imagine what it would have been like down here for two hundred people for three months.
Worth a visit.
Worth a visit.
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sally ❤️ Travel
Sydney, Australia414 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
The tunnel is an amazing remnant of Cold War history. Seeing the underground rooms where the local Communist Party leadership planned to survive a nuclear attack was both fascinating and chilling. Unfortunately the tour was rushed and cursory and the guide seemed to care only about getting it done as quickly as possible. We were in and out in under 15 minutes and got very little information. Seems like a really wasted opportunity for Albania to make the most of its rich history and expand its nascent tourism industry.
Written August 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cesar D
21 contributions
Jul 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 July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ellen M
Hong Kong, China27 contributions
Jul 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 July 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lorena
Tirana, Albania117 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 June 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Pontus H
Lund, Sweden29 contributions
Jul 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 July 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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 December 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
UniverseExplorer
Bohinjsko Jezero, Slovenia187 contributions
Jul 2019
It is a short U shaped tunnel with rooms and facilities for party leaders and soldiers.
You can not see much since most rooms are empty and you are making a 5 minute tour through something that maybe was sometime in the past.
The cost for the 5 minutes tour is 2EUR PP.
You can not see much since most rooms are empty and you are making a 5 minute tour through something that maybe was sometime in the past.
The cost for the 5 minutes tour is 2EUR PP.
Written August 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michel B
10 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
We were guided thru the tunnels by a young lady volunteer historian student. So happy to have her commentary as she added so much to the visit. The electric lights were not working, a proper flashlight would have made me feel more comfortable. We only had the lights on our cellphones.
Deep in the tunnels it is somewhat claustrophobic.
So interesting! A must do while visiting.
Deep in the tunnels it is somewhat claustrophobic.
So interesting! A must do while visiting.
Written May 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
No questions have been asked about this experience
The Cold War Tunnel, Gjirokaster
Frequently Asked Questions about The Cold War Tunnel
- We recommend booking The Cold War Tunnel tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 The Cold War Tunnel tours on Tripadvisor
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- Restaurants near The Cold War Tunnel:
- (0.03 mi) Fish Restaurant
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