2 Day Gjirokaster Itinerary + Things to do

Gjirokaster – aka the “stone city” – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well preserved Ottoman-style city in Albania. Gjirokaster provides the perfect blend of history, nature, and culture for travellers. In this guide I’ll tell you all the best things to do in Gjirokaster plus outline the perfect 2 day Gjirokaster itinerary.

Gjirokaster initially started as a 4th century castle named Argyrokastro until it was taken over by the Ottoman army. The city still has its original cobblestone streets and stone buildings in the old district. The town is perched on the eastern side of the Wide Mountain (Mali I Gjërë) which adds a nice natural element to the place.

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How to get to Gjirokaster
Where to stay in Gjirokaster
Things to do in Gjirokaster
2 day Gjirokaster itinerary

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Albania Google Map – 200+ pins

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Quick Albania Travel Guide:

**Find my recommended Albania itineraries linked in the section below**

Travel Insurance: ALWAYS purchase reliable travel insurance before your trip. This insurance is trusted by backpackers and adventure sport enthusiasts around the world. You can also use my link to receive 5% off SafetyWing policies. Here’s a blog post with more trustworthy travel insurance options you can compare.

Best Time to Visit: May to September.

Best Activities: Looking for the best tours and activities around Albania? See my Viator shop for my top recommendations.

Currency: Albanian LEK (aka ALL). This is a closed currency so you’ll need to wait until you’re in Albania to withdraw/exchange money. Make sure you exchange any leftover money before you leave the country too. Credins ATMs don’t have a service charge.

Transportation: to enter the country you’ll find 1 international airport in Tirana, 1 port in Saranda (daily ferry arrivals/departures to Corfu, Greece), and a bus line from Montenegro. Buses are very cheap here, but unreliable and taxis are pricey in comparison. Driving is chaotic and there are no trains within the country.

Phone: purchase a local SIM card from Vodafone – the plans are cheap and they include lots of data, however international minutes are typically not available. Vodafone storefronts can be found in bigger cities (Tirana, Saranda, Shkoder, etc).

Language: Albanian, however you can get by with English. Google translate is recommended for smaller cities/villages.

Safety: I found Albania to be very safe. I and my fellow travellers had no trouble with theft and I felt comfortable walking around as a solo female at night. People are generally very welcoming here, but always keep your wits about you – no matter where you travel.

Helpful Info: don’t drink the tap water or bring a purifying bottle like this one. Most hostels/guesthouses/hotels have laundry facilities.

Purchase my Albania map which is downloadable to google maps on your phone. It has 200+ pinned locations around the country – all available at your fingertips.

Packing Guide: here’s my ultimate packing guide/travel essentials.

Albania is one of the last “undiscovered” countries in Europe. Plan your trip while prices & tourism levels are low!

Helpful Albania Blog Posts

Albania Itineraries: 1 week south | 1 week north | 2 weeks whole country | 1 month for backpackers

How to get to Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster is located toward the south of the country. It’s approximately a 1hr drive from Saranda. I do recommend taking the bus over driving as it’s a very cheap method of transportation within the country, however you could opt to rent a car here too. I always recommend using this site for car rentals to get the best rate.

There are direct bus routes to Gjirokaster from Tirana, Saranda, Vlora, and Berat. Its possible to get to Gjirokaster from other locations around Albania, however you’ll likely just have to catch a connecting bus at some point.

If you’re visiting Saranda there’s an affordably priced day tour from here that encompasses Gjirokaster, the Blue Eye of Theth, Butrint, Ksamil, and the Lekuresi Castle. This tour is a great way to see Gjirokaster if you’re short for time.

The bus system can be a bit unreliable in Albania. Bus routes have just started to appear online/on Google Maps (as of 2024), however this is new. I’d recommend still checking in with the locals to ensure the pickup times and locations you see online are accurate. Hoteliers are often very knowledgeable about local and regional bus routes.

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Where to Stay in Gjirokaster

Below are my top picks for where to stay in Gjirokaster – an option for every budget.

Stone City Hostel – Stone City Hostel is the best lodging option in Gjirokaster for backpackers. The hostel is social and cozy, it’s located right by the bazaar, they serve an incredible breakfast, and the hostel runs tours. They also have a water filter (no need to buy bottled) and plenty of outdoor garden space.
Friend’s Hostel – The Friends Hostel is a great alternative if Stone City is fully booked. Friends is run by a generational family who cooks traditional dishes (at an extra cost) and they have an amazing rooftop terrace that overlooks the mountains and the castle.
Old Bazaar 1790 – If you’re after a cultural experience complete with traditional Albanian decor and food near the heart of Gjirokaster’s Bazaar, Hotel Old Bazaar is the perfect choice.
Hotel Kalemi2 – there are multiple Hotel Kalemis in town, however Hotel Kalemi 2 has the most traditional Albanian feel and a yummy local breakfast.
Hotel Domino – if you’re simply after a mid-range hotel for the night, Hotel Domino is just that.

Things to do in Gjirokaster

Below are the best things to do in Gjirokaster.

ps – I’ve marked everything mentioned in this post on my Albania map.

Popular Albania Tours

From Berat: 4×4 tour: Mount Tomorr & Sotira Waterfall | Bogove Waterfall & Osumi Canyon | Osumi Canyon Rafting

From Permet: Benja Hot Springs & Lengarica Canyon | Horseback Riding | River Rafting

From Tirana: Gamti Mountain & Bovilla Lake Hiking Tour | Bike Tour | Traditional Cooking Class | Zipline

From Tirana or Shkoder: Day trip to the Blue Eye of Theth & Grunas Waterfall | Shala River Day Trip

From Vlora: Boat tour to Haxhi Ali Cave & Sazan Island – Karaburun | Snorkelling

From Saranda/Ksamil: Paddle boarding the Islands | Butrint, Ksamil, Blue Eye, Lekuresi Castle – 1 Day | Day Trip to Gjirokaster | Catamaran to Korez & Kokomo Beach

UNIQUE: Multi-day hiking tour: Peaks of the Balkans

You can find more Albania tours I recommend here

MORE UNIQUE ALBANIA TOURS

Shop Gjirokaster’s Bazaar

The bazaar is the best thing to do in Gjirokaster and the main draw to the city. It’s located in the old town where local shops line the cobblestone streets. At the bazaar you’ll find all kinds of artisan goodies including colourful rugs, tableware, clothing, jewellery, bags, and knickknacks.

The Gjiokraster bazaar is a great place to grab a souvenir or have a drink/bite to eat.

Hike to Ali Pasha

Ali Pasha Bridge - old aqueduct — The Ali Pasha Bridge is an old aqueduct

Since this is such a historic place, a lot of the things to do in Gjirokaster have to do with history and culture. Hiking to the Ali Pasha Bridge is the best thing to do in Gjirokaster if you’re looking to get active and see some nature.

Ali Pasha was previously used as an aqueduct, but it’s now used as a footpath for goats and the odd hiker. The lack of tourists and the superb mountain views makes Ali Pasha the perfect escape from the busier life in Gjirokaster. It’s usually very quiet up here. The only “human interaction” I had at the bridge was watching a Shepard herd his goats from the distance.

The walk to Ali Pasha (located here) follows fairly steep roads through the city of Gjirokaster before transitioning into a packed trail. The walk there takes about 45 minutes and slightly less on the return. I’d recommend wearing proper footwear and going early in the morning to beat the midday heat.

Things to do in Gjirokaster for those staying overnight.

Try the Traditional Food of Gjirokaster

Albania’s traditional food is full of delicious mediterranean flavours. One of my favourite restaurants I ate at during my time in Albania was Edua located in Gjirokaster’s bazaar. They had an awesome outdoor patio and very reasonably priced dishes. Make sure you leave some time in your Gjirokaster itinerary to really enjoy the food here.

Some of my favourite traditional dishes in Gjirokaster were:

Qifqi – rice balls cooked in a hallow frying pan mixed with eggs and herbs.
Shapkat – a type of cornbread – my favourite was the pumpkin loaf.
Pashaqofte – a soup with small meatballs.
Sarma – grape leaves stuffed with rice and mint (I found it tasted more lemony than minty).
Qahi – tiny spinach pies.
Oshaf – a desert consisting of mainly sheep milk, figs, sugar, and cinnamon.

If you’re looking to grab a sweet treat in Gjirokaster, Kodra serves killer ice cream for 1 euro.

Albania Google Map – 200+ pins

Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Albania?

Then my Albania map is for you!

Get my 200+ recommendations all in one place for:

Outdoors: hiking trails, waterfalls, secret beaches & national parks
Places: ancient cities, beach towns & historical sites
Things to do: viewpoints, unique activities & tours
Planning: lodging, restaurants, bus stops & tedious details

DOWNLOAD ALBANIA MAP

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Visit the Gjirokaster Castle

The Gjirokaster Castle is one of the largest castle I visited in the country. The castle overlooks the city of Gjirokaster, has tons of old weapons, a town clock, and lots of empty, dark rooms to explore.

You can add this to your Gjirokaster itinerary as a sunset activity as the view from the castle is stunning when the alpenglow light sup nearby Mali I Gjërë (or “Wide Mountain”).

There’s an entry fee of approx. 4 euros (as of 2022).

Things to do in Gjirokaster for backpackers.

Go on a Walking Tour & Plunge into Local Albanian History

This UNESCO city is full of history. From the castle, to underground bunkers, to museums – there’s tons of unique activities to add to your Gjirokaster itinerary.

The Cold War Tunnel – is an underground bunker. There’s a 200 LEK entry fee and you must wait until a guide arrives to enter. I didn’t find this overly impressive but it’s an easy activity you can add to your Gjirokaster itinerary.
Ethnographic Museum – constructed in 1966, the Ethnographic Museum is built on the site of communist leader Enver Hoxha’s birth home and offers an insight into the traditional lifestyle of the town.
Skenduli House – the Skenduli House is one of the oldest stone houses in Gjirokaster. There’s a family in this house who will give you a tour and explain the local history and significance of the house.
Zekate House – Zekate House is similar to the Skenduli House, however no tour is required. You can walk around this house freely and take in the sights of the historic frescos that still hang there.
The Bazaar Mosque – this is a small mosque you can freely enter when there’s no active prayer session.

There are many historic things to do in Gjirokaster.

Go for an Evening Xhiro

Xhiro – aka an evening walk – is when all the locals and tourists emerge after the sun goes down and temperatures cool. Evening is a great time to wander through Gjirokasters cobblestone streets or grab a drink/bite to eat at one of the many outdoor patios. There’s music and hanging lights all over giving the place a “romantic” vibe.

2 Day Gjirokaster Itinerary

This 2 day Gjirokaster itinerary is full of all the best things to do in Gjirokaster.

Day 1 in Gjirokaster

Assuming you’ll arrive midday in Gjirokaster I recommend taking some time to explore the immediate surroundings. Take a walk through the bazaar or visit one of the historical houses or museums. Wander up to the castle for sunset, then spend the rest of the evening wandering Gjirokaster’s cobblestone streets and grab dinner at Edua’s.

I recommend staying at the Stone City Hostel or the Old Bazaar 1790.

View overlooking Gjirokaster from the castle

Day 2 in Gjirokaster

Day 2 of this Gjirokaster itinerary starts off early. I recommend waking up early to see sun rise. Gjirokaster is where I saw the prettiest sunset during my whole month+ backpacking Albania.

After sunrise you can head straight to the Ali Pasha Bridge. You’ll likely have time to get back to check out of your hotel/hostel and catch a bus elsewhere in the afternoon. Alternatively you can stay in Gjirokaster one more night.

I stayed in Gjirokaster for a total of 4 nights which normally is a bit long to stay in a place as small as Gjirokaster, however the atmosphere and backpacker community here made the 4 days fly by.