Cultural Tour in Tirana including House of Leaves

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Embark on a captivating cultural journey through Tirana, where history and art converge. Our tour begins at Skanderbeg Square, the heart of the city, featuring a grand statue of Albania's national hero and surrounded by stunning neo-Renaissance architecture. From there, we visit the Et’hem Bey Mosque, a serene haven renowned for its intricate frescoes and significant role in Albania’s path to democracy. Next, we ascend the Tirana Clock Tower for panoramic views of the city, capturing the lively streets below.

Delve into Albania's intriguing past at the House of Leaves, a former secret police headquarters now transformed into a museum revealing the complexities of surveillance and resistance during the communist era. Following this, we explore the Sali Shijaku Villa, where the legacy of Albania’s most celebrated painter comes to life through his evocative artworks. Our tour concludes with a vibrant stroll through the New Bazaar, a glimpse into contemporary Albanian life.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Not recommended for people over 95 years old

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Museum tickets

Landing and facility fees

What To Expect

Skanderbeg Square

The best place to start your sightseeing is Skanderbeg Square. Not only is Skanderbeg Square Tirana’s main square, it’s also home to some of the city’s best known attractions. The large plaza is named after Gjergj Kastrioti, an Albanian national hero who went by the name Skanderbeg. In the middle of the square stands Skanderbeg Statue, while around it you’ll find neo-Renaissance buildings and interesting landmarks such as the Opera & Ballet Theater, the National Library, and various government buildings.

20 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Museum of Secret Surveillance

While you will have already learned a bit about Albania’s communist era in other museums around Tirana, the House of Leaves is a great museum to visit if you want to learn more. The building was the headquarters for the secret police and now serves as a museum to reveal the way in which people were surveilled and victimized by the state during that period.

1 hour • Admission Included

Options

Cultural Tour in Tirana including House of Leaves

Reviews

5.00

3 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great experience. Very...
m95d94mgm2,
Dec 3, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great experience. Very knowledge and friendly guide. Highly recommended. Great to see some hidden gems…
Excellent experience
Julie D,
Oct 17, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Gjuljana was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about what she was showing me. The tour had a good range of sites. Unfortunately some were closed but this did not shorten the tour. Gjuljana kindly took photographs as I had a problem with my phone battery, she conducted the tour at my pace and walked me to my hotel afterwards. I was very happy with the experience.
HOUSE OF THE LEAVES IN TIRANA
supermila1968,
Sep 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The building known as the House of Leaves (so named because of the climbing plants that covered its facade) has now become the Museum of Secret Surveillance. Opened on May 23, 2017, it is the newest museum in Albania and certainly the most intriguing one that seeks to tell young generations and foreigners about one of the darkest periods in the country's history. Located in the center of Tirana, opposite the Orthodox Cathedral and near the National Bank, the building, which temporarily housed the Gestapo during the occupation of World War II, was the Central Directorate of the Secret Service from 1944 to 1991. Like the history of Albania itself under communist dictatorship, which was established at the end of World War II and continued for almost half a century, the House of Leaves was also covered for a long time by all sorts of legends including the unknown, the mystery. By opening the doors of this house, presenting the activities that were conducted there and many other related things, this museum will simultaneously reveal aspects of Albanian society under the conditions of a regime that aimed at total control over the bodies and souls of men. Wiretaps, controls, espionage... leading to arrests, internments, torture, severe penalties for so many innocent people. This museum is dedicated to them... Conceived in 9 sections, the House of Leaves consists of 31 rooms that are connected coherently with each other and each of them has a specific function.