Holiday in Gjirokastra

What makes Gjirokastra special as a destination?

Gjirokastra is Albania's stone city — a UNESCO World Heritage site where powerful stone houses dominate the steep hillside like small fortresses. The city is the birthplace of the writer Ismail Kadare and the dictator Enver Hoxha, and this duality between culture and history permeates the entire place. The massive fortress, one of the largest in the Balkans, overlooks the city and houses a weapons museum with captured military equipment as well as a crashed US spy plane. The view from here over the Drino valley and the surrounding mountains is breathtaking. The old town below is a labyrinth of steep cobblestone streets and typical Kulla houses with their slate roofs and tower-like bay windows. The Skenduli House and the Zekate House, two perfectly preserved Ottoman houses from the 18th century, provide insight into the lives of wealthy merchant families. The traditional bazaar, one of the best-preserved in Albania, offers handicrafts, wool carpets, and local specialties. Gjirokastra is only 30 km from the Greek border and can be reached from Tirana in about 3.5 hours.