Gjirokaster is a Charming Day Trip
Albania’s Stone City Offers Decaying Decadence
Gjirokaster is one of Albania’s three UNESCO world heritage sites - for being a well-preserved Ottoman town - and one of its most commonly visited destinations. Known as the Stone City, its houses are built along a mountainside and have grey stone roofs. The city it topped with a stone fortress - built from the rocks it sits on.
Gjirokaster is often compared to Berat and I was told several times I only need to go to one. I’m glad I didn’t take that advice in full, though, because Gjirokaster offers something a bit different: the houses have a similar architecture but different coloring - and are more palatial. The scale of the fortified houses leaves Gjirokaster feeling more grand - even though many of the houses are now in decay. In addition, Gjirokaster has a large open-air Ottoman bazaar, one of the most charming I’ve been to.
While I think Gjirokaster is worth a day trip, I’m glad I didn’t spend the night. I felt like a few hours were enough to explore it - and I think other cities provide a better base in Albania, including Berat.
Shop at the Old Bazaar
To me, the highlight of Gjirokaster is its old bazaar. Spanning several blocks and lined with a mosaic stonework street, the bazaar showcases the best the city has to offer in terms of architecture, food and charm. It was the single place in my six months traveling that I really struggled to not buy anything. I actually left the area well before I needed to head to the bus just to stop myself from making an impulse purchase.
Explore Gjirokaster Castle
Not far above the market is one of Albania’s largest and best preserved castles. With some parts dating back to the 6th century, the castle is pretty cool to walk around. To me, the best part, though, is that it offers some of the best panoramic views of Gjirokaster.
Other Things to Do
If you decide to stay in Gjirokaster for more than a day trip, you’ll be through with the bazaar and castle quite quickly. Here are some of the other common to-dos:
Hike to Ali Pasha Bridge: About a 45 minute walk away from the castle is a section of the castle’s aqueduct - known as Ali Pasha Bridge.
Head to a Museum: You can learn the local history at the Gjirokaster Museum in the castle, Albania’s communist period in the Cold War Tunnels, or traditional Albanian life in the Ethnographic Museum.
Check Out One of the Traditional Houses: You can take a tour of one of the traditional fortified houses at Skenduli House.
Of course, like any city in Albania, you can always take a day trip to explore another city - including heading to the beach at Sarande.