Gjirokastra
A stone town of tower houses and a hilltop castle, Gjirokastra suits travelers who want Albania's old architecture without a long detour.
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Gjirokastra is a hill town in southern Albania, set in the Drino valley below a large castle. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its stone tower houses, many with slate roofs, climb the slopes of the old quarter. The Old Bazaar lies in the streets below the castle, and from the castle you get a wide view down the valley. Visitors come to walk the steep lanes and to see the Zekate house, which holds the Ethnographic Museum.
The town fits a night on the road between Tirana, the Albanian coast and the Greek border, or a short detour for a slower look at the stone architecture. Plan one night for the castle and the bazaar, or two for a relaxed pace. Sleeping in the old quarter lets you walk the lanes after the day visitors leave. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for the steep streets, while summer heat is strong in the valley.
Gjirokastra in five
- Climb to the castle in the cool hoursThe castle crowns the town and the tourism agency calls it one of the largest and best-preserved in Albania, with museums and galleries inside. Go early, take water and check the ticket and hours at the gate.
- Walk the Old Bazaar and a museum houseThe agency names the Skëndulat House and the Ethnographic Museum as ways to see traditional life. Pick one house rather than every museum, and check opening hours with the house before you climb to it.
- Sleep in the old quarter if you canThe stone houses date mostly from the 17th to 19th centuries, and the lanes are empty after the day tours leave. Expect steep cobbles and carry luggage in a small bag.
- Stop at the Blue Eye on the way from SarandaLeave Saranda early so the spring comes first and the castle still has daylight. The Saranda guide covers the base, the ferry and Butrint.Saranda travel guide
- Break the Tirana to Saranda journey hereGjirokastra sits between Berat and the coast, so a night in the old quarter turns one long transfer into two shorter days. Berat is the northern stop on the same route.Berat travel guide
Things to do in Gjirokastra
See all attractions in Gjirokastra
Need to know
- Airport
- None in town; Tirana (TIA) or Corfu (CFU) with a long transfer
- Getting there
- By road from Saranda, Tirana, Berat or across the Greek border
- Getting around
- On foot; the old town is steep and cobbled
- Best base
- The old quarter below the castle
- Time needed
- One night; a day stop from Saranda is tight
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 261 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain10 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cool, wetFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Mild, greenMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 172 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Spring lanesAprilRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring lanes
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, flowersMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, flowers
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Warm, long daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low19°Hot, steep climbsJulyClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, steep climbs
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°HottestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, quietOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 144 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- NovemberRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh16°Low9°Wet, short daysNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 344 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Wet, short days
- DecemberRain12 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cold, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 262 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
Average daily high and low in Gjirokastra, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Gjirokastra
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Gjirokastra
01:19 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today14°9°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed16°9°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu16°7°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri16°7°11%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat13°7°40%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Sun13°7°38%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 38%.
Updated 11:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 81.47 ALL
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Blue Eyeon the road toward SarandaA karst spring known for its blue water, usually combined with Gjirokastra on the road from Saranda. Not the Blue Eye of Theth in the north.
- Sarandatoward the coast, a half to full dayIonian bay town with Butrint, Ksamil and the Corfu ferry.Read the guide
- Beratnorth by road, best as a moveThe northern stop on the route to Tirana: white facades above the Osum river and a castle with homes inside.Read the guide
Before you go to Gjirokastra
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Rules for Gjirokastra, checked
- Part of the Berat and Gjirokastra UNESCO listing, noted for 17th-century two-story houses, a bazaar and an 18th-century mosque.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Plan around Gjirokastra
The coast base, with the Blue Eye on the way
Read the guideButrint day tripUNESCO ruins near the coast
Read the guideBerat travel guideThe other half of the UNESCO listing
Read the guideIoannina, GreeceThe nearest big Greek town over the border
Read the guideRenting a car abroadInsurance and excess before you drive
Read the guideAll of AlbaniaEntry rules, coast and mountains
Read the guideGjirokastra FAQ
Is Gjirokastra worth visiting?
Yes, for the tower houses, the castle and an old bazaar in a UNESCO-listed hill town. It is small and steep, so one night or a long afternoon is enough.
Why is Gjirokastra called the Stone City?
The tourism agency notes that almost everything, from houses to streets, is built of stone, including the stone-tiled roofs. Most houses date from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Can you visit Gjirokastra as a day trip from Saranda?
You can, with the Blue Eye on the way, but it is a full day by road. A night in the old town gives you the lanes after the tour groups have left.
Gjirokastra or Berat: which is better?
Gjirokastra if your trip ends on the south coast, Berat if it starts in Tirana. The Berat guide holds the full comparison of the two UNESCO towns.
Is it easy to reach Gjirokastra from Greece?
The tourism agency notes the town controlled routes between Epirus, inner Albania and Greece. Check the border crossing and bus options before you go, and read the EES page for the Greek side.