A new cultural attraction has opened its doors in the heart of Durrës. The Ottoman-era bathhouse, a first-category cultural monument dating back to the 18th century, has officially reopened to local and foreign visitors after a full restoration funded with 32 million lek through the EU’s cultural program.
The structure is one of only ten remaining bathhouses of its kind in Albania and is being made accessible to the public for the first time, having previously been closed due to its deteriorated condition.
Alban Ramohitaj, Director of the Durrës Museum Center, highlighted the site’s importance:
“The bathhouse is a very significant monument, now opening for the first time to visitors in Durrës. It has played an important role in the city’s history. With this restoration, we are completing the missing piece of Durrës’ historical puzzle.”
The bathhouse suffered major damage during the 2019 earthquake and was included on the list of EU-funded restoration projects. Also affected was the National Archaeological Museum of Durrës, which has been under restoration for the past three years and is expected to reopen in fall 2025.
According to the Museum Center, tourism at Durrës’ historical sites is on the rise.
“We’ve seen an increase in numbers this year compared to last. 2025 is a promising year. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve had 10,000 more tourists visiting our sites,” Ramohitaj noted.
Located on Epidamn Boulevard, the bathhouse functioned as a public bath until the late 19th century. In the early 2000s, it briefly operated as a café before being severely damaged by the earthquake. Now fully restored, the hamam is officially part of the city’s growing tourist offerings.
