Gjirokastër walking tour & city guide
A stone town of fortress-like houses below a castle.
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Gjirokastër, the 'Stone City', climbs a mountainside in southern Albania. Its tall Ottoman tower houses, built of stone with slate roofs, look like small fortresses, and its castle is one of the largest in the Balkans. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the writer Ismail Kadare.
The Old Bazaar and the stone houses
The Old Bazaar, at the meeting of five steep cobbled streets, is lined with shops selling carpets, copper and local crafts. Above it, grand tower houses such as the Skenduli House and the Zekate House can be visited to see their painted rooms, wooden ceilings and cisterns.
The castle
Gjirokastër Castle crowns the hill, with a clock tower, an arms museum displaying tanks and artillery, and the wreck of an American plane. Its courtyard hosts the National Folklore Festival.
Beneath the town, a huge Cold War tunnel built as a nuclear shelter can be toured. The Blue Eye spring and the Riviera coast are about an hour away.
Top sights in Gjirokastër
- 1
Gjirokastër Castle
A huge hilltop castle with a museum.
- 2
Old Bazaar
Cobbled streets of craft shops.
- 3
Skenduli House
An Ottoman tower house with painted rooms.
- 4
Cold War tunnel
A secret nuclear shelter under the town.
- 5
Zekate House
A three-story fortified house.
Food markets & where to eat in Gjirokastër
Old Bazaar
Traditional restaurants with terraces.
Food to try in Gjirokastër
Qifqi
Fried rice balls with herbs, a local specialty.
Pasha qofte
Meatballs in a creamy sauce.
Oshaf
A dessert of dried figs and sheep milk.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Gjirokastër
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in GjirokastërCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Gjirokastër.
- eSIM for AlbaniaStay online from the moment you land.
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