Gjirokaster as Part of a Longer Trip
Gjirokaster works well as a base for two to four nights. The town itself fills a full day, and the sites around it fill the next two. Prices are in Albanian lek (ALL), paid in cash, and bus times below come from secondary listings, so confirm them locally.
Getting here
Buses from Tirana (South and North terminals) take about 3.5 to 4 hours and cost about 1,200 to 1,400 ALL, with around 10 departures a day between 05:00 and 20:30. The bus stops at the roadside on the SH4 by the roundabout at the foot of Rruga 18 Shtatori in the new town. The old bazaar is 1.5 to 2 km uphill, so take a taxi for about 200 to 500 ALL or climb the steep road on foot. From Saranda there are five listed departures a day, about 1 to 1.5 hours for 400 to 500 ALL. A new Saranda bus terminal reportedly opened in July 2026, so confirm where your bus leaves.
A three-day plan
Day one: the town. Start at the castle, about 400 ALL, and allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Walk down through the bazaar to the Cold War Tunnel (about 200 ALL, guided, 20 to 30 minutes) and finish at one of the stone houses. The castle prison and the tunnel are solemn places, so give them quiet attention.
Day two: Antigonea and the Blue Eye. Antigonea is 14 km east and costs 200 ALL. The Blue Eye is about 35 km south-west, with entry around 50 ALL. Both need a car or taxi, and swimming at the spring is forbidden.
Day three: Përmet and the Vjosa. Përmet is about 60 km and an hour away. Rafting trips on the Vjosa start from about EUR 25 to 35, and the thermal baths at Bënjë are nearby, so check conditions on the day.
Gjirokaster and Berat
Gjirokaster and Berat share a UNESCO listing, called the Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra. Gjirokaster was inscribed in 2005, and the listing was extended in 2008 to include Berat. Check bus times between the two towns locally before you plan a connection.
Horse riding programmes
Caravan Horse Riding Albania lists a 24-hour weekend programme from its stables above Asim Zeneli, about 15 minutes from the old town by car. Shorter rides are listed too, including a 2.5-hour lakeside ride at about EUR 50 per person. Some rides have a weight limit of about 90 kg.
Where to sleep
Restored stone houses in the old town work as guesthouses and small hotels, and Hotel Kalemi is one name to look up. The lanes are steep, so pack light and ask your host how to carry bags up from the roadside stop. Albania is a normal destination for visitors, and the UK government advice is the place to check current conditions.
Booking help
Compare stays on Booking.com and look at the walking distance to the bazaar before you choose.
Read more: day trips from town and romantic stays .