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Gjirokastra Day Trip: Historic Sites & Cuisine
4.9
29 Ratings
Ardenice
Take a day trip from Tirana to explore Gjirokastra, where you can visit the historic castle, the charming old bazaar, and the fascinating Skenduli House. Enjoy a picturesque drive, a coffee break at a hilltop location, and savor authentic Albanian cuisine.
Take a day trip from Tirana to explore Gjirokastra, where you can visit the historic castle, the charming old bazaar, and the fascinating Skenduli House. Enjoy a picturesque drive, a coffee break at a hilltop location, and savor authentic Albanian cuisine.
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Ardenica Monastery - Begin the day with a picturesque drive from Tirana to Gjirokastra, which takes approximately four hours, including a 30-minute rest stop. After about an hour and a half of driving, the first stop is at Ardenica Monastery. Here, visitors can explore the monastery and enjoy a coffee break, relaxing for about 30 minutes while…
- Ardenica Monastery - Begin the day with a picturesque drive from Tirana to Gjirokastra, which takes approximately four hours, including a 30-minute rest stop. After about an hour and a half of driving, the first stop is at Ardenica Monastery. Here, visitors can explore the monastery and enjoy a coffee break, relaxing for about 30 minutes while taking in the stunning hilltop views.
- Gjirokastra Bazaar - Continue the journey to Gjirokastra. Upon arrival, a guide will introduce the group to Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its rich history and exquisite Ottoman architecture. Stroll through the old bazaar, where there are opportunities to explore, take photos, and shop for unique souvenirs while soaking in the vibrant atmosphere and traditional crafts.
- Gjirokaster Castle - Next, visit Gjirokastra Castle, one of Albania’s largest and best-preserved castles. Perched on a hilltop, it offers breathtaking views of the city. During the one-hour visit, guests will learn about its intriguing history and explore the ancient walls and towers.
- Skenduli House - Before departing Gjirokastra, visit Skenduli House, a well-preserved Ottoman-era residence built in the 1700s, showcasing how people lived centuries ago. Conclude the day with a relaxing drive back to Tirana, reflecting on the wonderful sights and experiences of the day.
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Tirana - KNOW BEFORE YOU RESERVE:
PICK UP: If the hotel pick-up option is selected, please be aware that in some cases, guests may be kindly asked to walk a short distance (1–5 minutes) to a nearby main street. This is typically due to certain hotels being situated on narrow streets where buses cannot easily access.
IMPORTANT: Final tour details will be sent via email and WhatsApp the night before the tour, between 22:30 and midnight. Pick-up times may slightly vary depending on the schedule, so it is crucial to check the message. If asleep when the information is sent, simply check it in the morning to confirm the pick-up time.
MOBILE DATA ROAMING: On the tour day, all communication will be conducted via WhatsApp, so please ensure the phone number is linked to WhatsApp and mobile data/roaming is enabled.
FITNESS LEVEL: Participants should possess a basic level of fitness to comfortably complete the tour.
PICK UP/DROP-OFF FROM DURRES AND GOLEM IS INCLUDED
What's Included
- Ardenica Monastery entrance fee
- Gjirokastra castle entrance fee
- Pick up and drop-off from Durres or Golem (meeting points)
- Pick up and drop-off from the hotel located in Tirana
- Air Conditioned transportation to the destination locations
- English speaking tour guide
- Ardenica Monastery entrance fee
- Gjirokastra castle entrance fee
- Pick up and drop-off from Durres or Golem (meeting points)
- Pick up and drop-off from the hotel located in Tirana
- Air Conditioned transportation to the destination locations
- English speaking tour guide
What's Not Included
- Snacks and drinks
- Skenduli House ticket ( 2 Euro per person )
- Snacks and drinks
- Skenduli House ticket ( 2 Euro per person )
Location
Ardenica Monastery
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(29 Ratings)
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Sarafrisch
Apr 30, 2025
Learned a Lot - It was a really long day but definitely worth it. My guide, Bledi, was so knowledgeable about everything and kept us entertained with stories and information about not only the places we visited but also the history of Albania, things we passed along the way, and random facts about the country.
Review provided by Viator
Hsiuchih_c
Apr 29, 2025
Sometimes having a good guide will give you a good impressions of the spot - I think Gjirokastra is one of the must visit place in Albania.
Our tour guide, Edi, he was a wonderful driver . I didn’t feel uncomfortable during the journey while some heavy traffic. Frankly speaking, I didn’t expect he was such a good story teller.
Review provided by Viator
Johannamariachrist_j
Apr 22, 2025
Gjirokastra is a must to visit! - A great trip. Antonio guided us throughout the trip and explained very eloquently. We visited Gjirokastra + Bazaar, and Monastery of Ardenica, and a stop at Vjosa River. He also briefed us on history and other noted places we saw along the way. We had also sometime on our own to explore. On his recommendation, I visited Skenduli House and Museum of Ethnography, and tried local cuisine, oshaf (fig dessert) is so good. Weather was great too!
Review provided by Viator
Anirban_c
Apr 21, 2025
An unforgettable day trip from Tirana - Highly recommended - We recently took a full-day trip to Ardenica Monastery and the UNESCO World Heritage city of Gjirokaster from Tirana, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. Our guide, Klajdi, was truly exceptional – not only was he a skilled and careful driver, but he also had a warm personality and made sure the entire journey was engaging and fun.
Klajdi’s knowledge was impressive; he shared fascinating historical insights and local facts about both sites, recommended delicious traditional foods to try, and even pointed out great restaurants. What really stood out was his eye for photography – he captured so many beautiful photos of us throughout the day, which added an extra special touch to the trip.
We were picked up from our hotel right on time at 7:45 AM and returned by 6:30 PM. Along the way, we also had a relaxing coffee stop, which made the long drive comfortable and enjoyable.
This tour was perfectly organized and packed with cultural treasures and personal touches. If you're in Tirana and looking for a memorable experience, don’t miss this trip – and be sure to ask for Klajdi!
Review provided by Viator
Paul_g
Apr 9, 2025
Superb day trip to Gjiokaster - Superb trip with guide Kladji. He was entertaining and knowledgeable and went out of his way to make sure the trip was the best possible experience. The drive is long but worth it to see that part of Albania
Review provided by Viator
746konstantinosm
Apr 6, 2025
Unforgettable experience - Amazing trip with Antonio, the best guide ever: he gave us so much information on the Albanian history and culture, very polite, and professional! Unique visit to Ardenica monastery and Gjirokaster castle!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cosmopolitan817774
Apr 6, 2025
Good day trip to gjirokaster at affordable rate - Value for money to see the gjirokaster castle which is 3 hrs away from Tirana in a single day.
The tour was planned well and not exhausting.
It was a small team and so we could be accommodated in a SUV.
The guide was very good in explaining all the historical facts and was on time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pablo_m
Apr 5, 2025
You can't miss this tour! - Absolutely a must if you are in Tirana.
Antonio was such a great guide, knowledgeable, kind, patient. Couldn't ask for a better tour.
Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Luc_afernandag
Apr 2, 2025
Very good - Antonio very good guide. The excursion is very nice, worth it. Beautiful scenery, nice weather, super comfortable vehicle.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
394luk_d
Mar 30, 2025
Unforgettable Journey Through Gjirokastër and Ardenica Monastery - We had an amazing tour with Klajdi! His deep knowledge of Albanian history made the experience both informative and engaging. We visited the stunning Ardenica Monastery, where he shared fascinating details about its past. In Gjirokastër, a UNESCO site, we explored the charming old town with its Ottoman architecture and the impressive Gjirokastër Castle, offering breathtaking views and rich history.
Klajdi also provided interesting insights about landmarks along the way, making the journey even more enriching. The tour was well-organized, educational, and truly unforgettable. Highly recommended—thank you, Klajdi!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
