Gjirokastër Travel Guide: The Best 2-Day Itinerary
Gjirokastër is one of Albania’s most beautiful destinations. A UNESCO-listed old town, it offers gorgeous stone roofed houses and steep cobbled streets steeped in Ottoman history. This Gjirokastër travel guide is designed to help you make the most of 2 days in Gjirokaster, which I believe is the perfect amount of time. From exploring the castle and museums to sampling traditional Albanian cuisine, and even visiting a vineyard just outside of town for dinner paired with local wines, there’s plenty to keep you captivated.
Why Visit Gjirokastër?
If you enjoy a relaxed, walkable city with stunning Ottoman architecture and rich local cuisine, Gjirokastër may be the perfect destination for you. Nestled in the hills of southern Albania’s wine region, the old town rewards slow exploration, every corner reveals centuries old stone houses, hidden stairways, and sweeping views across the Drino Valley below.
Beyond the town itself, Gjirokastër makes an excellent base for the surrounding region. The nearby village of Antigonea offers ancient ruins to discover, while the Blue Eye, one of Albania’s most striking natural springs is an easy and worthwhile day trip. It’s also conveniently positioned for those travelling between Tirana and the Albanian Riviera, making it a natural stop on any southern Albania itinerary.
How to Get to Gjirokastër
Getting to Gjirokastër is relatively straightforward, especially compared to some of Albania’s more remote destinations.
From Tirana
There are multiple buses a day from the capital, Tirana — I used Gjirafa Travel, which in my experience had reliable and accurate departure times. One thing to be aware of is that many buses don’t allow you to book or pay online, so make sure you arrive at the bus depot with cash and pay the driver directly. Unfortunately this is fairly common across Albanian travel outside of the major cities, so it’s worth keeping that in mind throughout your trip.
From Saranda
If you’re travelling from Saranda, the process is much the same — check times on Gjirafa Travel and aim to arrive at the bus station around 30 minutes before departure. If you’re already in Saranda the day before, it’s worth popping by the bus station in person to confirm the times.
From Greek Border
For those arriving from the Greek border at Kakavija, it’s a little trickier. There are no direct buses from the border crossing itself, however there are consistently taxis available to take you into Gjirokastër. Prices typically range from €20–€60, so agree on a fare before you get in.
Where to Stay in Gjrokaster?
There are plenty of great hotels and guesthouses to choose from in Gjirokastër, but one thing I’d strongly recommend is making sure you stay in the old town. The whole charm of Gjirokastër lies in its picturesque cobbled streets and stone houses, and staying within that area puts you right in the heart of it.
Trigona Guest House & Hostel — From €10/night For the budget-conscious traveller, Trigona Guest House & Hostel is the obvious choice. While it sits slightly further out than some other hostels, you more than make up for it with 6-bed dorms rather than the usual 10, a shared kitchen, and a terrace to relax on after a day of exploring.
Stone House Obelisk — From €30/night I personally stayed at Stone House Obelisk and couldn’t have been happier. Right in the centre of the old town, I woke up each morning to a complimentary traditional Albanian breakfast, hosted by a wonderfully warm Albanian woman who made the stay feel genuinely special. Excellent value and my top recommendation.
Kerculla Resort — From €140/night If you’re looking to treat yourself, Kercula Resort is in a league of its own. Perched on a hill overlooking the old town, it offers stunning views of the castle and the valley below, alongside a free buffet breakfast, a gym, and three pools. An exceptional place to base yourself for a more luxurious Albanian getaway.
Day 1: Arrival, Exploration of Old Town & Castle
Once you arrive in Gjirokastër, the bus will drop you off in the new town. From there I’d strongly recommend grabbing a taxi up to the old town rather than attempting the climb on foot — it’s an extremely steep hill and the last thing you want is to arrive at your accommodation exhausted with a bag on your back. There are plenty of taxis waiting at the bus station, just agree on a price before getting in and it shouldn’t set you back more than €10.
Once you’ve dropped your bags off, it’s time to start exploring. Take your time wandering the cobbled streets of the old town and grab some breakfast or lunch depending on what time you’ve arrived — there’s no rush, the slow pace is part of the charm.
After lunch, make your way up to the castle. It’s around a 10 minute walk uphill from the old town and entry costs approximately €5, which gets you into the main grounds to explore at your leisure. It’s well worth the small admission fee and gives you a great feel for the history of the city.
Once you’ve had your fill of the castle, head back down into the old town for dinner. The evenings here are lovely — there are plenty of atmospheric bars and restaurants to settle into, making it the perfect way to wind down after your first day in Gjirokastër.
Photo's from Day 1
Day 2: Exploring the Blue Eye & A Vineyard Dinner in Gjirokastër
Morning — The Blue Eye
For Day 2, one of the most popular and highly recommended day trips from Gjirokastër is the Blue Eye — a stunning natural spring and one of Albania’s most visited natural attractions. There are a couple of ways to get there, but the most common is by bus. I’d recommend asking about bus times on your first day so you don’t need to make a separate trip to the station later. Note that the bus station is cash only, so make sure you have enough on you.
Once you arrive at the Blue Eye you’ll be dropped off at the car park, which is around a 2.5km walk along a paved path to the spring itself. It’s an easy and pleasant walk, although there isn’t much shade along the route so come prepared during the hotter months. The spring itself is a striking sight and well worth the trip — just be aware that swimming isn’t permitted anywhere within the park. There is a riverside restaurant on site where you can enjoy lunch or a coffee before making your way back to the car park. Make sure you check the return bus time before heading in so you aren’t left stranded.
Evening — Dinner at The Barrels Ms
By the time you return to Gjirokastër it should be late afternoon, which is the perfect time to freshen up before heading out for what was personally one of the highlights of my entire trip. The Barrels Ms is a vineyard restaurant sitting just outside of Gjirokastër old town, where you dine right at the edge of the vineyard looking down over the valley below — it’s a genuinely gorgeous setting. Getting there is straightforward, just order a taxi from the old town which should cost no more than €5–€10. I’d recommend getting your driver’s WhatsApp before they drop you off so you can easily arrange a ride back into town at the end of the evening.
Photo's from Day 2
Leaving Gjirokaster
Leaving Gjirokaster is very straight-forward, simply head down to the bus station, again I would get the times your bus will leave to your destination in person a day or two beforehand so you are prepared as Albanian buses are very unpredictable.