The Archaeological Museum of Durrës is the largest and most important archaeological institution in Albania, established in 1951 to preserve, study and present the historical heritage of the ancient city of Dyrrachium/Durrës and its surrounding region. It constitutes a major reference point for archaeological studies and a cultural destination for local and foreign visitors.
The museum is located near the seaside promenade, a few meters away from the 6th century Byzantine wall, in an area with a high density of archaeological finds and near the city's main historical sites.
Since its opening in March 1951, the museum has collected thousands of objects discovered in archaeological excavations in the Dyrrachium area, spanning the ancient Greek, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. Its collection consists of more than 3,000 artifacts, including Roman funerary stelae, stone sarcophagi, small Venus busts, mosaics, sculptures, ancient vases, rare coins and objects of daily use, reflecting the life, cult and art of the city over 2,000 years of history.
The objects are organized chronologically in different halls, offering the visitor a clear journey through historical eras, from early antiquity to the Middle Ages.
The museum has gone through various phases of restoration and modernization. Due to damage from the 2019 earthquake, it was closed in 2022 for an extensive restoration aimed at restoring the objects to contemporary exhibition standards, as well as developing new educational pavilions and spaces for cultural activities. When this process is completed, it is envisaged that the museum will exhibit more than 2,400 archaeological objects in a more modernized and attractive way for the public.
The Archaeological Museum of Durrës represents a fundamental center for documenting the history of the oldest coastal city in Albania and its cultural contact with the Greek, Roman and Byzantine worlds. It is one of the main institutions that preserves and interprets the archaeological remains of one of the most important cities of the ancient Adriatic, providing a deep understanding of the historical and artistic developments in the region.
