Guided tour of Gjirokaster from Durres

Upon arriving in Gjirokaster, the tour begins in the old city center, a beautifully preserved Ottoman town known as the “bazaar.” Full of charm, it offers traditional shops, local crafts, and Albanian cafés. From there, you'll head to Gjirokastra Castle, built in the 12th century and reshaped in the 19th century by Ali Pasha Tepelena. Perched on a steep hill, the castle houses a museum with military artifacts and propaganda from the communist era, including a US Air Force plane and former prison cells used during the regime. The castle grounds also include towers, a church, and a cistern, and it serves as the venue for the national folklore festival.

The tour continues through the Qafa e Bazaar neighborhood, revealing why Gjirokaster is known as “the city of silver” and “the stone city.” After rain, the stone rooftops gleam like silver, a detail captured in Ismail Kadare’s novel The City of Stone. As you walk the cobbled streets, you’ll explore artisan shops and visit key landmarks like the well-preserved Skenduli House, the home of writer Ismail Kadare, and optionally, the ethnographic museum located in Enver Hoxha’s former residence.