A Romantic Stay in Gjirokaster
A romantic break in Gjirokaster is a quiet one. The town is small and made of grey stone, with few experiences built for couples, so the pleasure comes from where you sleep, how you spend the evening and what you share at the table. Prices are in Albanian lek (ALL), and most small businesses take cash only.
Sleep in a stone house
Restored stone houses in the old town work as guesthouses and small hotels. Hotel Kalemi is one name to look up. Check current rates and photos before you book, and ask for a room with a view over the roofs. The lanes are steep cobbles, so pack light and ask your host how to carry bags up from the roadside stop.
Evening in the bazaar
Qafa e Pazarit, the main bazaar lane, and Çerçiz Topulli Square cost nothing and make an easy evening walk. Stop for dinner and order qifqi, the town’s specialty of rice, herb and egg balls fried in a cast-iron mould. Wear shoes with grip, because the polished limestone is slippery when wet.
Sunset over the castle
Sunset views of the castle cost nothing from the lanes of the old town. Pick a spot before the light goes.
Cook together
Two cooking classes are listed. Kalemi Travel and Tours has “Cook Like a Local” in the Old Bazaar for about 2 hours, with qifqi and lamb pasta. Cook with Marjeta offers sessions at 12:00 or 18:00 daily. An 18:00 class is a natural start to an evening.
A ride by the lake
Caravan Horse Riding Albania, with stables above Asim Zeneli about 15 minutes by car, lists a 2.5-hour lakeside ride at about EUR 50 per person. Some rides have a weight limit of about 90 kg, so mention each rider’s weight when you ask.
A slow day out
Antigonea, 14 km east, is an ancient city with an Early Christian church whose mosaic floor has a central panel showing a man with an animal head. Entry is 200 ALL and the park is open daily until about 16:00. The Blue Eye spring, about 35 km away, is a walk of about 2 km from the car park, or a ride on the small train. The water is cold at 10 to 13 degrees C and swimming is forbidden, so treat it as a view.
Practical notes
Albania is a normal destination for visitors. Read the current UK government travel advice , and drive carefully, since road deaths are among the highest in Europe.
Booking help
Compare stone-house stays on Booking.com and check the walking distance to the bazaar.
Read more: multi-day trips and things to do .