archeological museum

It seems like this museum hasn't been tended to in years. Even though I don't speak Albanian, I was able to follow the displays. It seems there is a lot of overlap with the items in the National History museum

Actually 4 * if you are into the very early ears and it is laid out in a rather old fashioned way. Lots of good exhibits but not are labelled in English.

I would suggest everyone stop by this museum. Not because they have amazing displays but because it is a window into wonderful Albania where the people are so proud of their heritage and struggling to understand how to show it off. There were three people working at the front desk. After we bought our tickets one woman had to find the key to the door and then the switches for the rather sparse lighting. The first thing we noticed was the musty smell. It was like unlocking a long sealed tomb and that just piqued our curiosity.The overhead lights were dim and the collection was minimal, many times were not identified and, if they were, the notations were in Albanian. However, this is not to say you will waste your time in this small space. I am fascinated by anything ancient and just looking at a tool or a weapon or belt buckle is a treat even if I don't know where the item came from. But walk a little further and you find life-size statues from Apollonia and a giant urn from the second century. You are alone, standing right beside these amazing things - no glass, no ropes, nothing to keep you from putting your fingertips on the surface and closing your eyes and imagining who used this? Who made it? How did it survive? When The Pieta is behind glass and the Mona Lisa is roped off I can appreciate their beauty from afar. When I can stand so close to feel the vibration of an ancient thing, that is a unique and marvelous experience. If you remember, this is not the Louvre or the Met you will enjoy this experience. Love this museum for what for what it is.

Just to be clear: this review is for the Archaeological Museum on Mother Teresa Square (Sheshi Nene Tereza) and is NOT the National Museum on Skanderbeg Square. There are reviews for both museums in this listing. I was disappointed in this museum. The admission price is on the high side (300 Lek for adults) and the museum doesn't seem to have a great collection. I don't want to offend, but I'd pay only 100 Lek for this because the captions are in Albanian only, there is little information on the ancient artifacts/items, and it's quite dark and out of date.If you want to see a nice collection of same period archaeological treasures presented professionally and with English captions, save your money and go to the National Museum (the one on Sanderbeg Square). I would like to see the Archaeological Museum live up to its potential, but it takes money and vision. And patience.

The meusum is very interesting and if you want to learn more about the civilisations in Albania you must visit this meusum.

This is the place to go if you are interested in Albanian history ranging from Illyrian, through the communist era to present day. The museum is well situated in the center of Tirana and well maintained. The displays of material objects and photos are clearly marked in English and could use more lighting. The chronological order of Albanian history is easy to follow going from one floor to the other. All three to exact. The museum covers the Turkish dominance of Albania to a"T" and could not be better. The part delving into the Albanian partisan activity during WWII isexcellent. The visual and material displays are real eye openers if you are especially interestedin how Albania became a communist block member after WWII. There was so much to see that I had to return the next day to complete the tour. For $2...a great buy. Bravo Albania!

Recommended in the guide books but was closed and undergoing renovation work when we visited 23rd September 2013.

Jou just have to go here is you are in Tirana. Very nice palce to visit, with a lot of history to reveal.There is a fee entrance for about 1 euro/ person and 0,5 euro if you are a student or child.

I am not an archeological connoisseur, but i didn't find the visit at this museum very exciting, although is very big, i have never felt thrilled about anything there. A lot of "war" rests, clothes of poor people killed by the communism, and some interesting pieces from ancient times.

This museum is very interesting but there is no heating. I visited in february, it was much colder than outside !! Even in summer, it is very cold. So I recommend to wear if you want to visit well.....

A Really good museum and also is like a small picture of albania i thing is a must if you are going to albania!

We found the archaeological museum with the help of a student at the polytechnic branch of the university. She persuaded the receptionist to open the museum for us, and then we met the director, who kindly talked with us briefly before we moved on to the historical museum. The collection on dispay is small, but nicely done, with some terrific examples of Roman glass vases, and bronze tools and weaponry from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. There are also some bronze horse trappings from a large memorial statue of the Roman period. Overall a very worhtwhile visit. I'm glad they opened up for us!

Excellent value for money at 100 leke per person entry fee. Wonderful mosaics and Roman statues. Also an awful lot about Albanian history, modern and ancient. However, more little bits of information written in English would have been really helpful for the non Albanian speaking person.

We weren't prepared for such a nice surprise in this country.To many archeological discoveries.Thousand of objects only in one museum.Big history.

you can see lot of findings from the ancient Illyrian period, documenting the Illyrian, Roman and Hellenic dominance in the region. I find it interesting.