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Discover Gjirokastra

24 hours in Gjirokastra

The city, known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most interesting places to visit in Albania. If you are passionate about history, nature, or traditional Albanian cuisine, you will find it all here. Below are some of the places you should definitely visit in one day.

BREAKFAST
Start the morning with a delicious coffee in one of the cobbled streets of the old town, or with pancakes with cheese, or other breakfast dishes that are made here full of taste. As a museum city full of hotels and guest houses, almost the vast majority of places in Gjirokastra have a traditional breakfast, so don't miss it for any reason. Places suggested by us: Hotel Kalemi, Hotel Kodra, Hotel Gjirokastra, Hotel Argjiro, Hotel Cajupi, etc...

After breakfast
After gathering your strength, the first destination to visit is Gjirokastra Castle. It stretches across the entire space of the 336-meter high hill, on which it was built during the 1300s. The strength of its history and legend have survived the years and, now, it is considered one of the most visited tourist attractions in Albania. Engraved in stone, the castle is also known as the "Argjiro" castle, referring to the legend of the princess who jumped from the heights of the castle to avoid falling into the hands of the Ottoman enemy.

noon
The visit to the castle will take you quite a bit of time, as the journey there is full of landscapes that will make you stop to take some photos. After you are done with the castle, go down to the old town, and start the tour of the characteristic houses of the town.

House of Zakat
Somewhat leaning on the mountain slope, with a roof like a tin hat, the Zakat House casts a shadow. The building is considered the best example of a typical Ottoman tower. It has a lower floor, necessarily built of stone for safety reasons, and the main rooms for the family are located on the upper floors. The house was built in the early 1800s and the surrounding walls of the main room are decorated with frescoes, while the ceilings are of carved wood and ornate fireplaces.

House of Scandals
This is another well-known town house, and it is more than 250 years old. The tall building is supported by stone foundations that reach the windows of the first floor. The distinctive house has 9 chimneys and finely crafted ceilings, reflective of the family's wealthy status.

lunches
For lunch, you can stop at Qafa e Pazari, where there are many delicious traditional restaurants with very good prices.

After lunch
After lunch, you can visit the Ethnographic Museum, created in the premises of the childhood home of former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Built in the 19th century, the three-story building with an addition as a chapel is located in the "Palorto" neighborhood, very close to the "Street of Fools".

afternoon
Not far from the Ethnographic Museum, there is also the House-Museum of Ismail Kadare. This house carries values not only as one of the oldest and most impressive houses in the city, but also for the fact that the Albanian writer, well-known throughout the world, candidate for the Nobel Prize for literature, Ismail Kadare, was born and lived there. To fully enjoy your visit here, make sure you have read the well-known book "Chronicles in Stone" written by Kadare in tribute to his memories of this house and this city.

You can dedicate a part of the afternoon to Viroi lake, which is located only 3 kilometers from Gjirokastra. The fantastic natural landscapes and the promenade that connects the city with the park, has made it one of the most populated places during the afternoon by Gjirokastrites.

Evening
Return to Qafa e Pazari, and get to know the artisans of Gjirokastra. This city is famous for stonemasons, woodworkers, or embroiderers who respect family tradition. The souvenir shops are also populated by tourists who want to end their visit with a typical souvenir from this city.

Other suggestions
Around Gjirokastra are located some of the most popular archaeological attractions of Albania.

Antigone
Antigone Archaeological Park is the city founded by King Pyrrhus of Epirus, the ruins of which are located about 40 minutes by car from Gjirokastra. The chieftain built the ancient city in honor of his wife, whose name was Antigonea.

Adrianople
This city of the Roman period is located in the valley of the river Drino, near the village of Sofratike, and it only takes a few kilometers from the center of Gjirokastra to reach the destination. The Theater of Adrianople is part of the Archaeological Park of Antigone and is considered one of the important monuments of cultural heritage.

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