The museums in Berat and Gjirokastër offer a deep insight into Albania’s UNESCO-listed heritage, featuring Ottoman houses, historic artefacts, and local traditions. Berat and Gjirokastër are Albania’s two UNESCO-listed historic cities. Both are known for their beautiful architecture, stone houses and castle views – but they also have excellent museums that bring their stories to life.
Berat: City of a Thousand Windows
Onufri Iconography Museum
Inside the cathedral within Berat Castle, the Onufri Museum houses a superb collection of icons and religious objects. Many works belong to Onufri, a 16th-century painter known for his intense red color and expressive faces.
Ethnographic Museum of Berat
Located in a traditional house, this museum shows how families in Berat lived, worked and celebrated. Rooms are arranged with original furniture, textiles, carpets, kitchen tools and clothing. It helps you see the city not just as architecture, but as a living place with customs and traditions.
Gjirokastër: The Stone City
Museum of Weapons, Gjirokastër Castle
Inside the massive castle, this museum presents weapons, uniforms and objects from the independence and World War II periods. Exhibits tell the story of fights, resistance and local heroes.
Traditional House-Museums
Gjirokastër is famous for its tall stone houses. Some of them operate as museums, such as Skenduli House or Zekate House. In these buildings you can explore decorated rooms, guest salons, storage spaces and family areas that reflect the life of wealthy families centuries ago.
How to visit both cities
- In Berat, plan at least half a day for the castle and its museums, and another half day for walking in the lower quarters.
- In Gjirokastër, explore the castle and museum in the morning, and house-museums plus old town streets in the afternoon.
If you love museums, these two cities are essential stops on your Albania journey.
