• Gjirokaster - Gjirokaster is a historic city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Strolling through Gjirokaster offers a glimpse into its past during the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The city is renowned for its stone houses and cobblestone streets, earning it the nickname “stone city.” In Albania, Gjirokaster is celebrated as a “museum city” due to its abundance of beautiful historical buildings. It is a delightful place to explore.
• Gjirokaster Castle - Perched atop a hill, Gjirokaster Castle is a grand fortress offering breathtaking views of the historic city and its traditional stone houses. As one of the largest hilltop castles in the Balkans, it dominates the cityscape. Originally constructed in the 12th century by the local Byzantine government, it was later renovated and expanded during the Ottoman Empire and King Zog’s reign. From the 1930s, it primarily served as a prison for government dissenters.
• Gjirokastra Bazaar - The Old Bazaar of Gjirokaster is the city’s traditional marketplace, dating back to the Middle Ages. It features a variety of craftsmen shops, souvenir stores, and coffee houses. Visitors can purchase handmade wooden items, handwoven rugs, and delicate lace products. The Bazaar’s cobblestone street is set on a steep hillside.
• Skenduli House - Skenduli House is a must-see for visitors to Gjirokaster. This original family home, over 300 years old, offers a unique insight into the life of a wealthy family during the Ottoman period. The house boasts 9 fireplaces, 6 bathrooms, 12 rooms, 44 doors, 64 windows, and 4 Turkish baths. Owned by the same family for generations, they provide tours and share its history. A highlight is the wedding ceremony room, featuring beautiful stained glass windows, carved wooden ceilings, and a fireplace adorned with pomegranates, symbolizing fertility.
• The Cold War Tunnel - The Cold War Tunnel is a massive bunker beneath Gjirokaster Castle, built by former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Paranoid about foreign invasion or nuclear attack, he constructed 750,000 bunkers across Albania. The Cold War Tunnel, built secretly in the 1960s, remained unknown to locals until the 1990s. It is 800 meters long with 59 rooms, accommodating up to 300 people if necessary. Although empty, the rooms’ purposes are displayed on the doors, including spaces for government ministries, interrogators, party elites, power generation, water storage, sleeping, decontamination, and air filtration.
• Zekate House - Zekate House is a historic townhouse in Gjirokaster, exemplifying a traditional tower house. Built in 1812, it is considered “one of the finest examples of Gjirokaster architecture in the Ottoman style.” Such impressive homes were once exclusive to the wealthy, like government officials and merchants. Inside, visitors can admire the original interior and imagine life during the Ottoman era, with stunning stained-glass windows, wooden ceilings, and wall frescoes.
• Gjirokastër Obelisk - The Obelisk is a monument situated at the highest point in Gjirokaster, symbolizing education in the Albanian language. For centuries, Albania was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, where Albanian language education was prohibited. The Obelisk is near the site of Gjirokaster’s first Albanian language school, opened in 1908. At the time, opening such a school was perilous, especially for the teachers. The Obelisk offers spectacular views of the old city and its characteristic stone houses.
• Çerçiz Topulli Square - Çerçiz Topulli Square is a historic square in Gjirokaster, named after national hero Çerçiz Topulli, who fought against the Ottoman Turks in the early 20th century. He is renowned for killing Ottoman commander Bimbashi in 1908. Shortly after, in 1912, Albania gained independence, and he defended the territory from foreign invasion. A statue of the hero stands in the square.
• Ethnographic Museum - The Ethnographic Museum provides insight into the traditional lifestyle of a wealthy family in Gjirokaster. The museum is located where former dictator Enver Hoxha’s childhood home once stood, though the original building was destroyed by fire. Inside, visitors can view artifacts, household items, folk costumes, clothing, and kitchenware from the past.
• Ali Pasha Bridge - In 1811, Gjirokaster was governed by Ottoman Governor Ali Pasha, who constructed a 12-kilometer aqueduct to supply the city with drinking water from Sopot Mountain. Although mostly demolished in 1932, a section remains in the Manalat Quarter. Known as the “Ali Pasha Bridge,” “Manalat Bridge,” or “Dunavat Bridge,” it is a 30-minute hike from Gjirokaster and offers an off-the-beaten-path attraction for visitors.

• Private transport with air-conditioned vehicle
• Private tour guide in Gjirokaster
• Entrance fees to museums in itinerary
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Tirana

• Lunch
• Gratuities

During the Gjirokaster Full-Day Tour from Tirana, you will have the chance to see the UNESCO heritage city in detail. You will be picked-up from your hotel in Tirana by our guide. Once in Gjirokaster, you will see the highlights of the city, including the Gjirokaster Castle, the Old Bazaar Market, the Cold War Tunnel & the Museum of Weapons. In the afternoon, you can choose to visit Zekate house or Skenduli house to get a unique insight into a traditional Ottoman-style house. Gjirokaster is one of the most beautiful historical towns on Albania, and you will have a full-day tour to explore its highlights. You tour guide can customize the program to meet your interests.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.