Experience the best of Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a stone town of Ottoman tower houses climbing a steep hillside beneath a fortress, in the Drino valley of southern Albania.
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Grey stone houses with heavy stone-slab roofs climb the slope below Gjirokastër's hilltop castle, which holds a museum of weapons and looks out over the Drino valley. The old town, listed by UNESCO together with Berat, grew up in Ottoman times around a bazaar. Tall fortified family homes such as the Zekate House, built in the early nineteenth century, show how well-off households once lived.
The novelist Ismail Kadare was born here and set books in its alleys, and the communist ruler Enver Hoxha was born in the same town. A few kilometres outside, the ruins of Antigonea, a Hellenistic city, lie on a hillside. To the south, towards the Ionian coast, are the spring known as the Blue Eye and the ancient site of Butrint, while mountains close in the valley on either side.
Qifqi, rice balls flavoured with herbs, are the town's own dish, and baked lamb with yoghurt, cheese and leek pies and strong raki turn up on most tables. The cobbled streets run steeply uphill, so the town reveals itself slowly. Spring and autumn bring mild, clear days, summers are hot, and winters are cool and wet.
- Free cancellation on 100% of experiences
- 4.9 across the top 7
Top 3 attractions in Gjirokastër
Outdoor and adventure activities in Gjirokastër
20
Free cancellation
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Questions about Gjirokastër
- What are the top attractions in Gjirokastër?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Gjirokastër are Gjirokastra Castle, Gjirokastra Bazaar, Archaeological Park of Antigonea.
- What is the most popular experience in Gjirokastër?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Amazing Horse Riding Experience at Vjosa National Park in Permet", rated 5.0 out of 5 from 238 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Gjirokastër take?
- The typical experience in Gjirokastër lasts about 3 hours; the middle half run between 2.5 hours and 3.5 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Gjirokastër?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 100% of the 52 experiences we hold for Gjirokastër. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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