Gjirokaster is a small stone town, so the activities that suit it are hands-on crafts, food and short outings rather than big attractions. Fees below are quoted in Albanian lek (ALL). The castle, tunnel, house and museum desks take cash only, so draw money before you climb the hill. Albania is a normal destination for visitors. Read the current UK government travel advice and the US equivalent before you book, and note that road deaths are among the highest in Europe, so drive carefully if you hire a car.

The old town of Gjirokaster is made for walking, and a self-guided loop is the best way to see it. The lanes climb a steep hill, the surface is polished limestone cobbles, and the sights sit close together. Fees below are in Albanian lek (ALL), paid in cash. Before you set off The cobbles are slippery when wet, so wear sturdy shoes with grip and carry water. If you arrive by bus, the stop is on the SH4 in the new town, and the old bazaar is 1.

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.

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.

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.

Gjirokaster is a town for curious children rather than a place built around children’s attractions. It is steep, stony and best seen on foot, so the plan works best for school-age children who like climbing, castles and animals. This page lists the outings that suit a family and the safety points that matter. Prices are in Albanian lek (ALL), paid in cash. The old town on foot The lanes of the old town are steep, polished limestone cobbles that turn slippery when wet.

The good day trips from Gjirokaster head east to an ancient city, south-west to a famous spring and north-east to the Vjosa valley. Distances below are from the town centre, and prices are in Albanian lek (ALL), paid in cash. Albania has some of the highest road death rates in Europe according to UK government advice, so take mountain roads slowly. Antigonea, about 14 km east Antigonea is an archaeological park on Jerma hill near the village of Saraqinishtë.

Most guided visits in Gjirokaster are short, local and run by the people who look after the site. That suits a small town: you pay at a desk, someone walks you through, and you are back in the lanes within the hour. Fees are in Albanian lek (ALL) and paid in cash. The Cold War Tunnel with a guide The tunnel was built in secret in the early 1970s as a shelter and runs for about 800 m through 59 rooms.