The Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster (2024)

Introducing the City of Stone

Gjirokaster is a beautiful town in Albania set on a hill and filled with winding, cobblestone streets that seem to go on forever. This town was built with stones – from the cobblestone streets to the stone slab roofs of houses – which explains its nickname “The Stone City.” This town is an absolute must-visit while in Albania, it was easily one of our favorite spots during our trip. Between the Ottoman-style homes, the stunning Ali Pasha bridge, the lively Bazaar, and the massive castle guarding the town, Gjirokaster is a truly unique place to visit and you’re bound to fall in love with it quickly!

Fun Fact: People who live in Gjirokaster’s stone-roofed houses actually have to go up and adjust the stones when it rains to prevent water from getting in!

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The 6 Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster

1. Visit the Castle of Gjirokaster

The Castle of Gjirokaster is an absolutely massive fortress set on the hill overlooking the city. The castle was super cool to explore and much bigger than it looks, so definitely make sure to carve out a few hours to visit it. There is also a museum within the castle walls which we definitely recommend visiting; it sheds a lot of light on the tumultuous history of Gjirokaster and also gets you access to the castle prison and military museum.

Gjirokaster Castle Cannons — Cannons Lining the Hallway

Gjirokaster Castle Clock Tower — Cannons Lining the Hallway

The grounds of the castle are expansive and even contain a large stage where the Albanian National Folk Festival is held every five years. If you’re visiting Gjirokaster in the summer, we definitely recommend visiting the castle early in the morning because (1) it gets HOT in Gjirokaster in the summer so doing all your uphill walking in the morning is definitely the move and (2) it gets much more crowded if you wait until midday.

The castle is open from 9am to 7pm during the summer and 9am to 5pm during the winter. The entrance fee to the castle was 400 Lek, with another 200 Lek to access the museum.

2. Explore the Cold War Tunnel

There are a few tunnels around the city but the biggest and most interesting one shows up as “The cold war tunnel” on Google Maps. You have to go on a tour to see this one (which costs 200 Lek and takes about 20 minutes), but it’s definitely worth it. There are 59 rooms in this massive bunker, including offices for important people, a generator room, air filtration rooms, and rooms for sleeping. Make sure to bring a sweater or jacket as it is a bit cold in there!

3. Wander the Old Bazaar

Gjirokaster is famous for its artisans, so be sure to explore the Old Bazaar! At night, this whole area bursts with colors and life; it’s a lot of fun to walk around and look at all the trinkets. One notable shop we went into was Alma Souvenir, which is right at the main intersection in the Bazaar. The owner explained to us that that is the largest and oldest shop in the Bazaar, and she also showed us an old well through the floor of the shop!

4. Cross Ali Pasha Bridge

Ali Pasha was a ruler of this area while Albania was under the Ottoman Empire, and he commissioned this aqueduct during that time. Most of it was destroyed in 1932; this small piece is now the only piece remaining! The hardest part of this hike was just getting to the top of the old town; walking up nearly vertical streets was brutal even in the morning. Once you reach the top of the town, it’s about another 15 minute hike to the bridge. This is an amazing sight to see, and the view of the valley is beautiful. If you are interested in doing this and learning about the history of Gjirokaster, consider this walking tour that includes Ali Pasha Bridge!

5. Check Out Gjirokaster’s Stone Houses

There are two houses worth visiting when you’re in Gjirokaster that allow you to step back in time and immerse yourself in the life of a wealthy Ottoman family.

The Zekate House is “one of the grandest examples of Gjirokaster architecture in the Ottoman style.” It belonged to Beqir Zeto, a general administrator to Ali Pasha during his rule. This house truly offers a window into the lives of Gjirokaster’s elite and is so interesting to see. The house’s structure and style are so unique, and the panoramic view of the city from the top floor is stunning.

The Zekate House is open from 9am to 5pm daily and costs 250 Lek (about 2.6 USD) to visit

The Skenduli House: We didn’t make it to this house, but if you have the time, we definitely recommend it! Both this house and the Zekate house are so unique and truly offer a glimpse into the grandeur and architectural style of the Ottoman era.

The Skenduli House is open from 9am to 7pm daily and costs 300 Lek (about 3.15 USD) to visit

6. Visit the Blue Eye and the Field of Bunkers

Gjirokaster offers a unique day trip itinerary, combining a breathtaking natural wonder with a stark reminder of the city’s recent history.

The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) is a natural spring known for its mesmerizing turquoise waters. Located just a half hour drive from Gjirokaster. If you don’t have a car, you can get here by getting on the bus to Sarandë and asking to be dropped at the Blue Eye. From the location where you’re dropped, it’ll be about a 15 minute walk to the Blue Eye.

On your way back to Gjirokaster, take a quick detour to see the Field of Bunkers, which is located just off the highway. This open field is dotted with concrete domes and serves as a chilling reminder of Albania’s communist past. Spend some time here exploring the numerous bunkers at your own pace before heading back to Gjirokaster.

Did you know that Albania has over 175,000 concrete bunkers spread across the country? Built during the communist era, these were intended to defend Albania from a perceived “imperialist threat” from both the West and the East. As you travel through Albania, keep your eye out for these!

Day Trip to Përmet: Albania’s Adventure Capital

If you’re into adventure activities such as horseback riding, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, or ATVing, you should definitely plan on visiting Përmet. This small town is located about an hour from Gjirokaster, so it’s easy to do as a day trip. However, if you’re interested in multiple activities or want the experience of staying in a small Albanian town, we highly recommend spending a few nights in Përmet. It’s a really peaceful area with no shortage of outdoor activities!

Check out our post about the best things to do in Përmet!

Best Time to Visit Gjirokaster

The best time to visit Gjirokaster is definitely during the spring or fall months. Summers can get quite hot (and you certainly won’t be wanting to walk up Gjirokaster’s giant hill in the heat!) and winters are chilly. The spring and fall weather should be perfect for exploring all that Gjirokaster has to offer!

Where to Stay in Gjirokaster

While in Gjirokaster, we recommend staying in the old town. The closer you can get to the top of the hill (close to the Bazaar or the Castle) the better, so you won’t have to walk uphill as much to explore the main sights (trust us – this gets very tiring). This is also the most beautiful part of Gjirokaster and where most of the restaurants are!

Gjirokaster Accommodations

How to Get to Gjirokaster

If you’re planning a trip to Albania, odds are you’ll be flying into either Tirana or Corfu, Greece (find your cheap flights here!). It will be a shorter trip to Gjirokaster if you fly into Corfu, but if you’re exploring other parts of Albania (which we highly recommend doing), Tirana may make more sense. Either way, getting to Gjirokaster won’t be too difficult! If you don’t want to deal with using public transportation or renting a car, check out this multi-day private transfer service!

How to Get to Gjirokaster from Tirana

If you’re trying to make your way to Gjirokaster from Tirana, you have a couple of options. The first is to rent a car. This is the best option for getting around Albania in order to explore lots of different areas and get off the beaten path.

However, if you decide not to rent a car, Albania is quite easy to get around with public buses (and they’re very cheap!). In Tirana, you’ll want to head to the North/South bus station and hop on the bus to Gjirokaster (there are direct buses many times per day – buy tickets here). The drive takes about 3.5 hours and is beautiful!

Tip: If you’re trying to get to a different part of Albania from Tirana by bus, it’s important to note that Tirana has four bus stations: the Airport Shuttle Station, the East Station, the North/South Station, and the International Station. You will likely use the North/South Station for most of your travels; the East Station only services Elbasan, Pogradec, and Korçe.

How to Get to Gjirokaster from Corfu

If you’re flying into Corfu and heading into Albania from there, the first thing you’ll need to do is catch the ferry over to Sarandë. These ferry rides usually take about 30 minutes. Once you arrive in Sarandë, head to Friendship Park – there should be tons of buses around that area on Rruga Flamurit. It should be really easy to find a bus that will drop you in Gjirokaster (you can check their schedules here); just ask around and someone should be able to point you in the right direction (we always found Albanians to be super helpful when we weren’t sure what bus to get on!). Once your on the bus, you should be in Gjirokaster in about an hour!

Book your Ferry Ticket with Ionian Seaways

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Our Favorite Travel Resources

Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.

Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.

Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.

Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.

International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.

eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.

Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!

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FAQs

What is Gjirokaster known for?

Gjirokaster is known for its architecture and infrastructure heavily involving stone. Nicknamed “The Stone City” because of its stone buildings, roads, giant castle and roofs, it is a spectacular and unique city.

Is Gjirokaster worth visiting?

Yes – we loved Gjirokaster. It’s a small, beautiful, relaxing city, and I would love to spend more time here. If you want to know more about the history of Gjirokaster or things to do here, the city’s tourism webpage is super helpful!

How many days should I spend in Gjirokaster?

2-3 days is enough to explore Gjirokastër.

Is Gjirokaster safe?

Yes! We felt safe within the touristy area (old town) as well as outside of it.

The Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster