My guide to exploring Gjirokastër, what to see, where to eat and how to get around.
Gjirokastër is one of those places in Albania that feels completely different from the coast. It is a beautiful historic city full of stone streets, hills, incredible views and history.
The historic centre of Gjirokastër is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and honestly, once you start walking around the city, it's easy to understand why.
If you're visiting Gjirokastër, I definitely wouldn't skip the castle. It's huge, there is a lot to explore, and the views over the city and the valley are beautiful.
The castle is enormous and you can spend quite a while walking around and exploring the different areas.
There is a military museum inside the fortress, with military equipment and historical exhibits.
Entry is around 200 lek when I visited.
There are also dark underground areas and halls to explore. I would definitely bring your phone flashlight with you if you want to go into the darker sections.
The Ottoman Ali Pasha Bridge, also called the Dunavat Bridge, was one of my favorite places to explore around Gjirokastër. It's less touristy than the castle and bazaar, which makes it a really nice place to get away from the crowds.
The bridge is what remains of a much larger 19th-century aqueduct system.
The aqueduct was built to bring water to Gjirokastër Castle because the castle did not have its own water supply.
So although the bridge itself is quite small, there is actually a lot of history behind it.
It's also one of those places where you get to experience a quieter and more natural side of Gjirokastër.
From the Gjirokastër Castel, it's around a 30-minute walk.
The route can be found using Google Maps. The first part takes you along a paved street, and then you continue onto a smaller path that leads towards the bridge.
If you have a car, you can drive closer to the trailhead. This can save you around 20 minutes of walking.
The road becomes narrower as you get closer, so take your time.
I wouldn't call this a difficult hike, but Gjirokastër is a city full of hills, so don't expect a completely flat walk.
There are some uphill and uneven sections, but it's very doable. You can take your time, stop for breaks and enjoy the views along the way.
Honestly, every time you're walking, you'll be seeing another view, so it doesn't feel like you're just walking uphill for nothing.
I think it's completely worth it. Gjirokastër is one of those hidden gems in Albania where you can slow down and actually enjoy the surroundings.
If you have some flexibility with your trip, April and May would be my pick for visiting Gjirokastër.
This would be my favorite time to visit. The weather is more comfortable for walking and you avoid the busiest part of summer.
This is high season, so Gjirokastër can get busier. It is also much warmer, especially if you're planning on walking around the hills and visiting the bridge.
Winter is much colder, with temperatures roughly between 2°C and 15°C.
If you're visiting the castle or walking around the city, sunset is one of my favorite times. The light over the stone buildings and valley is beautiful.
Gjirokastër is a great place to try traditional Albanian food. Here are a few places I would look at while you're here.
A traditional restaurant that is very popular with visitors. It's a good place to try local food, including qifqi, one of the traditional specialties associated with Gjirokastër.
Prices shown are around 500–1,000 lek.
📍 Open in Google Maps →This is a really nice stop if you're visiting Ali Pasha Bridge. The main reason I would go is for the beautiful terrace, garden and mountain views.
It's a relaxed place to stop for a drink or something small to eat before or after the walk to the bridge.
📍 Open in Google Maps →I visited a number of restaurants in Gjirokastër, but this one was by far my favorite; the cuisine was excellent, the owner and staff were very kind, and the setting was peaceful and exquisitely constructed. I highly suggest it.
Prices shown are around 500–1,000 lek.
📍 Open in Google Maps →This is undoubtedly an exception. The meal is delicious, the personnel is amiable, and the pricing are reasonable.
📍 Open in Google Maps →
Gjirokastër is easy to combine with a trip to Sarandë, so if you're travelling around southern Albania, I would definitely consider adding it to your route.
The bus journey from Sarandë to Gjirokastër takes around 1 hour.
Tickets are around 500 lek based on the information I found.
Because Albanian bus schedules can change, I would check locally the day before or on the morning of your trip rather than relying only on an online timetable.
📍 Open Sarandë Bus Station in Google Maps →
If you're travelling by car, Gjirokastër is also an easy stop to add to a southern Albania road trip.
If you're already in Sarandë, I would personally make the trip to Gjirokastër. The two places feel completely different and it gives you a nice break from the beaches and coastal towns.
These are the main places I would save on Google Maps before visiting Gjirokastër.