Gjirokaster Travel Guide: UNESCO Stone City & 2026 Visit
Complete Gjirokaster guide, castle, Old Bazaar, traditional houses, 2026 entry fees, opening hours, where to stay, and how to get there from Himara.
Gjirokastër
The stone city, and the best inland day from the coast
Gjirokastër is a UNESCO-listed Ottoman town built entirely from grey stone, stacked up a hillside beneath an enormous castle in the Drino valley. It is the counterweight to a beach trip and the most rewarding inland day from the south coast, about two hours from Saranda, four from Tirana, and on the road between them.
Gjirokastër in breve
- Where
- Inland, in the Drino valley
- Status
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- From Saranda
- 1h45-2h, ~400-500 ALL
- From Tirana
- ~4 hours, ~1,200 ALL
- Known for
- Stone houses, castle, Ottoman bazaar
- On the way to
- The Blue Eye and the coast
Getting there
Saranda to Gjirokastër 2026: Bus Times, Price, Blue Eye Stop
Around three buses a day in high season, roughly 400-500 lek and about 2 hours. Departure points, the Blue Eye stop en route, and whether to day-trip or stay.
Himara to Gjirokaster: Bus, Taxi & Drive Guide
How to get from Himara to Gjirokaster by bus, taxi, or rental car with current prices, schedules, driving times, and route tips for 2026.
Nearby
Saranda to the Blue Eye 2026: Bus, Taxi or Tour
Getting to the Blue Eye from Saranda: the Gjirokastër bus route, the walk from the turnoff, taxi costs, and why 50 lek buys one of Albania's strangest sights.
South Albania Itinerary: Berat to Saranda in 5 Days
5-day south Albania itinerary from Berat to Saranda: Albanian Riviera beaches, Gjirokastër, Blue Eye, daily route with transport and budget estimates.
Dove dormire a Gjirokastër
Confronta sulla mappa prezzi e disponibilità in tempo reale a Gjirokastër.
Con tecnologia Stay22.
Per visite guidate, gite in giornata ed escursioni in barca nei dintorni di Gjirokastër, sfoglia i tour a Gjirokastër su GetYourGuide.
I più apprezzati a Gjirokastër
Valutazioni e numero di recensioni su Google, verificati a settembre 2026. Conta più il numero di recensioni del punteggio, e i valori cambiano nel tempo.
Ristoranti
- Corner of Bazaar4.9 · 1,311
- Restaurant Tradicional Odaja4.6 · 1,150
- Ali Pasha's Table5 · 836
- Submarine 1054.8 · 823
- Restaurant "The Park"4.7 · 769
- Libraria Restorant & Bar4.8 · 586
Hotel
- Hotel Gjirokastra4.8 · 424
- Palorto Hotel4.8 · 226
- Hotel Kalemi4.5 · 134
- Vladimir Estate4.9 · 103
- Guest House Urat4.8 · 99
- CastleView-Inn Rooms4.9 · 70