Bunk'Art 2

About this place

Bunk'Art 2 is a museum inside an underground bunker in central Tirana, behind the Ministry of Interior and steps from Skanderbeg Square. It covers the Sigurimi secret police and state security under communist rule, and is separate from the larger Bunk'Art 1 on the edge of the city. The bunker was designed for secrecy and emergencies during the Cold War, when underground fortifications spread across Albania. The exhibits trace the formation of the Interior Ministry and the rise of the secret police, and the persecution of intellectuals, religious figures and opponents, up to the fall of the regime in 1990. Everything is presented in Albanian and English. You pass through narrow corridors and low rooms, among documents, listening devices, photographs, sound displays and artworks. The design aims to convey the confinement of those who passed through here, so it may not suit anyone uneasy in closed spaces. The subject is also heavy, and may not suit young children. The museum says a full visit takes an hour and that it opens every day. A combined ticket covers Bunk'Art 1 and 2 for 72 hours, and a personal guide or audio guide is available. It is cool inside, so bring a light jacket even in summer. The Grand Park is 1.7 km away in a straight line.