Gjirokaster is nestled between the southern Albanian mountains, offering a glimpse into Albania’s fascinating history and culture.
Small stone houses with slate roofs cling to steep slopes, and a towering castle carved from Albanian mountain stone. The Stone City of Gjirokaster (Gjirokastër/Gjirokastra) should be high on your list of cities to visit in Albania.
Founded in the 12th century, Gjirokaster has witnessed various rulers and empires, leaving traces of Romans, Ottomans, Greeks, Byzantines, Albanians, and Communists.
The city is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, attracting adventurous travelers with its well-preserved Ottoman stone houses, interesting museums, flavorful cuisine, and vibrant city life.
Here is our travel guide to Gjirokaster.
Attractions in Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster Castle
The city’s iconic castle sits on a hill, towering 336 meters above sea level. Dating back to the 12th century, construction of the fortress walls began as early as between the 2nd and 5th centuries.
The distinctive light stone used in its construction has given the city the name Gjirokaster, meaning “silver city” in Greek.
During King Zog’s reign (1928–1939), parts of the fortress were used as cells for political prisoners, a practice continued under Albania’s communist regime until the 1970s.
You can visit the prison cells, explore a museum to learn about the area’s history, and see a Fiat war tank from World War II and a United States Air Force T33 Shooting Star plane on the fortress grounds.
Where is the castle?
It takes about 45 minutes to walk to the castle from the bus station, with some steep sections. You’ll stroll through a quiet area with many charming houses and green entrances.
Check updated prices and opening hours for the castle here.
The old bazaar
The old town is located where the old Ottoman bazaar stood, and it is one of the city’s liveliest districts. Originally built in the 17th century, it had to be completely rebuilt after a fire about 200 years later.
The streets are decorated with a pattern of white and black cobblestones, most of which were laid by the same man, the best stonemason in the city.
Here, you can buy locally produced tools and souvenirs made of wood and stone, textiles, honey, olive oil, and raki.
Bazaar Mosque
This mosque was built in 1757 and has also been used as a circus school.
Eat qifqi
Gjirokaster has many charming restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy delicious Albanian food and a good drink. Many of these are around the bazaar.
If you want to try something typical for Gjirokaster, order qifqi. It is a type of rice ball that can resemble Southern Italian arancini.
Other tasty dishes include a local version of moussaka, homemade meatballs, and stuffed vine leaves.
Read our guide to Albanian food and drinks here.
The Ottoman stone houses
The characteristic stone houses with wooden roofs are part of the city’s well-preserved Ottoman heritage.
More than 500 of Gjirokaster’s traditional houses are designated UNESCO cultural monuments, most dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
The houses stand on high stone foundations, and the roofs consist of flat slate stones, giving rise to the city’s nickname, the “Stone City.”
The houses may have multiple floors, containing bedrooms, guest rooms, living rooms, hammams, and a network of passages and secret doors.
Zekate house and Skenduli house are open for tours.
The Ali Pasha Bridge
Even if your legs are tired from wandering around the city and the castle for hours, it’s worth taking a trip to Ali Pasha Bridge.
It’s not actually a bridge but a ruin of an extensive aqueduct system. It was built by ruler Ali Pasha in the early 19th century to channel water from mountain springs to the castle’s cisterns.
Mountain landscape
Much of the aqueduct was dismantled in the 1930s because the stones were needed to build prison cells in the fortress.
This part still stands.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk to the bridge from downtown Gjirokaster. Most of it is paved road, but you’ll need to walk along a rocky path at the end. You can walk at the bottom of the valley, higher up in the hills, or climb to the peaks.
How to travel to Gjirokaster?
There are (somewhat) regular buses from Saranda, Tirana, and Berat. Travel time varies depending on traffic and the bus route.
Alternatively, you can rent a car or book transportation/taxi.
From Saranda to Gjirokaster:
About 2–3 hours by bus.
From Tirana to Gjirokastër:
About 4–5 hours by bus.
From Berat to Gjirokastër:
About 3–4 hours by bus.
How much time do I need in Gjirokaster?
We took a day trip to Gjirokaster from Saranda and managed to see quite a bit. However, there were also things we didn’t have time for, and the city is very charming and lively. We recommend staying in Gjirokaster for 1–2 nights.
Make sure you read about Berat as well.
