Gjirokaster Sights and Museums

October 31, 2026

Gjirokaster was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, and in 2008 the listing was extended to become the Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra. The sights cluster on a steep hill, so plan one long day or two shorter ones. Prices are in Albanian lek (ALL), paid in cash, and hours vary by season, so check at each door.

Gjirokaster Castle

The castle (Kalaja e Gjirokastrës) is the anchor of the town. The gate ticket is about 400 ALL, and the armaments museum is usually an extra of about 200 ALL. Winter hours are shorter than summer ones, and the castle may be closed on Mondays, so check locally. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, wear shoes with grip on the steep, uneven stone, and do not count on cards or euros at the kiosk. The castle also contains a former prison used in the 20th century, including the communist period, and visitors should treat it with quiet respect.

The Cold War Tunnel

The tunnel was dug in secret in the early 1970s and runs for about 800 m through 59 rooms. It is a museum of the communist era, and the guided visit takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The entry is about 200 ALL. The entrance stands near the Municipality building, by Çerçiz Topulli Square on Rruga Gjin Zenebisi. The building was once the Party Committee headquarters. Opening hours are 09:00 to 18:00 from April to October and 08:00 to 14:00 from November to March.

Stone tower houses

Zekate House was built in 1811 to 1812 for Beqir Zeko. It costs 300 ALL or EUR 3 according to the official page, and is open daily from 08:00 into the evening. The rooms have no electric light, so visit before about 16:00. Skënduli House dates from 1823 and is shown by family members for about 200 to 300 ALL, with no fixed hours. Between November and March, pre-book a visit.

Ethnographic Museum

This museum is a reconstruction. The house where Enver Hoxha was born in 1908 burned in 1966, and the museum was rebuilt as a model Gjirokastrian tower house using elements from several historic houses. It has no Hoxha displays. Expect about 200 to 500 ALL, and summer hours include a midday break, so check the hours when you arrive.

Ismail Kadare House

Kadare House stands at Rruga Fato Berberi 16 in the Palorto district. The building dates from 1799, and the museum opened in January 2018. Opening is daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Tickets are 500 ALL for an individual, 400 ALL for groups of more than five, 300 ALL for students and 200 ALL for children and disabled visitors. The novelist Ismail Kadare was born in 1936 and died in 2024.

The bazaar and its mosque

The Bazaar Mosque was completed in 1757. The bazaar lanes around it are free to walk at any hour.

Booking help

Guided sightseeing options are on GetYourGuide . The official pages for the Kadare House and the Zekate House carry current details.