🇦🇱🏰WELCOME to the Albanian Town that Tourism Forgot (And Why That's Perfect)

Here's the real deal: Gjirokastër is what happens when a medieval town refuses to join the 21st century—and I mean that as the highest compliment.

While other Albanian towns rushed to modernize, Gjirokastër stayed true to its Ottoman roots. Cobblestoned streets wind through a labyrinth of whitewashed houses that look like small fortresses. The architecture here is so distinctive that locals have their own architectural term—"kullas" or tower houses—with stone walls, wooden balconies, and those iconic slate roofs.

Here you’ll see grandmothers hanging laundry from 200-year-old windows, kids kicking footballs on ancient cobblestones, and family-run restaurants serving recipes passed down for generations.

Quick Facts: When to Go & What to Expect ✈️

The city is known as: The Stone City or The City of a Thousand Steps. It is also famous for:

• It is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Albania (inscribed in 2005).

• Over 600 monumental Ottoman-era houses have survived for centuries.

• The birthplace of Albania's communist dictator Enver Hoxha and renowned author Ismail Kadare.

• Its unique architecture, where houses look like small fortresses made of stone.

Must-See Sights: The Non-Negotiables 🏰

Gjirokastër Castle 🏰

The second-largest castle in the Balkans sits atop a hill overlooking the old town. Parts date back to the 12th century, but the Ottomans really beefed it up in the 15th century.

What you can see inside:

• An American Air Force T33 Shooting Star jet captured in 1957—yes, really.

• The Gjirokastër Museum has engaging exhibits about city life.

• Stone tunnels that are blessedly cool on hot summer days.

• Panoramic views over the Old Bazaar from the castle yard.

Entrance: 200 LEK -2.41 USD-. The hours change depending on the season.

The Cold War Tunnel (Cold War Bunker Museum) 🪖

This represents the paranoia of Enver Hoxha's communist regime.

The Cold War Tunnel is an 800-meter-long underground bunker with 59 rooms, built in secret in the 1970s as an emergency shelter in case of nuclear attack.

Unlike Tirana's bunker, this one has been left in its original state—raw, atmospheric, and genuinely eerie.

Tours: 20 minutes guided. Entrance: 200 LEK -2.41 USD-.

Skenduli House 🏚️

This is the crown jewel of Gjirokastër's traditional architecture. Built 200 years ago for an Ottoman general, the house features a double-arched facade, twin towers, a Turkish bath, a wedding room, and beautifully carved wooden ceilings.

It's like stepping into someone's living history.

Entrance: 300 LEK -3.62 USD-.

Zekate House 🏡

A majestic three-story house that's said to be one of the most fascinating examples of Ottoman style in the Balkans. No electricity inside, so visit during daylight hours.

Pro tip: Follow the signs past Hotel Kalemi and head up the hill.

The Old Bazaar (Qafa e Pazarit) 🏘️

The multi-sided Qafa e Pazarit is the main landmark, with most points of interest fanning out on cobblestone streets. Shops sell kaleidoscopic carpets, colorful cushions, and memorabilia. It's touristy, yes, but that's where the life is.

Gjirokastër Obelisk 🇦🇱

Built to celebrate the Albanian language, located next to where the first Albanian-language school in Gjirokastër opened in 1908 (during Ottoman rule, Albanian was banned in schools). The views from here are spectacular.

SPANISH SECTION:

Artículos del hotel, ¿qué me puedo llevar a casa?

Entrar a la habitación del hotel. El aroma, la cama con sábanas limpias y algunos pequeños detalles que, de primera, ya quieres meter a tu maleta. ¿Qué artículos del hotel puedes llevar a casa? Ese es el verdadero misterio a resolver.

Entre 2012 y 2014 Fairmont Group cambió su política. Otorgó amnistía a todos los huéspedes que se habían llevado a sus casas algún recuerdo de sus hoteles. Esto en beneficio de la muestra que honraría el centenario de Fairmont Palliser de Calgary.

La gente devolvió desde juegos de tazas para tomar té, hasta una carta de la Primera Dama de Estados Unidos: Eleanor Roosevelt.

How Long to Stay 🗺️

This is a slow travel guide, so here's the honest answer: 3-5 days minimum.

Sure, you could see the castle, bazaar, and a traditional house in one day. But that would be like speed-dating the Mona Lisa. You'd miss:

• The morning light hits the slate roofs just right.

• Afternoon coffee on a terrace while old men play backgammon.

• Evening walks when the tour groups leave and the town belongs to locals.

• Day trips to nearby treasures like the Blue Eye spring or Antigonea ruins.

Stay long enough to slow down. That's when Gjirokastër reveals itself.

To Eat: The Local's Table 👨🏼‍🍳

Where in the World is Gjirokastër? 📍

Gjirokastër sits in southern Albania, about 240km (149 miles) from the capital Tirana and less than an hour from the Greek border. The town is perched on the slopes overlooking the Drino Valley, with mountains rising behind it like protective walls.

• Bus from Sarandë (Albanian Riviera) 400 LEK -4.83 USD-, about 1 hour.

• From the Greek border: Only 30km away, making it perfect for a multi-country trip.