Gjirokaster Full-Day Tour from Tirana

Gjirokaster is a historical city, which is on the UNESCO heritage list. Walking through Gjirokaster gives you an insight into what the city was like during the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The city has typical stone houses and cobble stone streets. Therefore, Gjirokaster is also knows as the "stone city". The city of Gjirokaster is known in Albania as a "museum city", because it has beautiful historical buildings everywhere. It is a lovely city to stroll through.

The Gjirokaster Castle is a large fortress on the top of a hill in the city. The fortress has a spectacular view of the historical city and the traditional stone houses of Gjirokaster. It is one of the biggest hilltop castles in the Balkans and it dominates the city. The castle was originally build in the 12th century by the local Byzantine government. But it was renovated and additions were made during the Ottoman empire and the government of King Zog. From the 1930 onward, it was mainly used as a prison for people who were resistant against the government.

The Old Bazaar of Gjirokaster is the traditional market place in Gjirokaster. The bazaar was originally build in the Middle Ages. There are a variety of craftsmen shops, souvenir shops and coffee houses along the Bazaar. You can buy handmade wooden pieces, handwoven rugs and delicate lace items. The street of the Bazaar is made of cobblestones and it set on a steep hillside.

Skenduli House is a highlight for visitors to Gjirokaster. It is an original family house, which is more than 300 years old. During your visit, you will get a unique insight into what life was like for a rich family during the Ottoman period. The house has 9 fireplaces, 6 bathrooms, 12 rooms, 44 doors, 64 windows and 4 hamam Turkish baths. The house has been owned by the same family for generations. The family will show you around the house and tell you stories about it's history. One of the highlights is the room used for wedding ceremonies, with beautiful stained glass windows, carved wooden ceilings and a fireplace decorated with pomegranates, which symbolize fertility.

The Cold War Tunnel is a gigantic bunker underneath the castle of Gjirokaster. It was build by the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. The dictator was paranoid about a foreign invasion or a nuclear attack. In fact, he was so convinced an attack was eminent, he constructed 750.000 bunkers all over Albania. The Cold War Tunnel bunker was constructed in secret in the 1960s, and it remained a secret for the locals until the 1990s. The Cold War Tunnel is 800 m long and it has 59 rooms, therefore, it could hold up to 300 people if needed. The bunker is empty, but the use of the rooms have been displayed on the doors. There were rooms for government ministries, interrogators, party elites, power generation, water storage, sleeping, decontamination and air filtration.

Zekate House is a historical town house in Gjirokaster city. It is a beautiful example of a traditional tower house. The house was build in 1812, and it said to be "one of the greatest examples of Gjirokaster architecture in the Ottoman style". Impressive houses like Zekate House, used to only belong to the wealthy people, like government officials and merchants. Inside the house you can see the original interior and imagine what it was like to live there during the Ottoman period. There are beautiful stained-glass windows, wooden ceilings and wall frescoes.

The Obelisk is a monument located on the highest peak of the city of Gjirokaster. The monument is a symbol of education in the Albanian language. For many centuries, Albania was a part of the Turkish Ottoman empire. Therefore, education in the Albanian language was forbidden for a long period of time. The Obelisk monument is located near location of the first Albanian language school in Gjirokaster, which was opened in 1908. At the time it was very dangerous to open an Albanian language school, particularly for the teachers, who worked there. Since the Obelisk monument is located on the highest peak in the city of Gjirokaster, it has amazing views. You can see the old city and the typical stone houses below.

Cerciz Topulli Square is a historical square in Gjirokaster. It is named after the national hero Cerciz Topulli, who fought against the Ottoman Turks in the early 20th century. He was mainly known for killing the Ottoman commander Bimbashi in 1908. Shortly after in 1912, Albania became independent and he fought to protect the Albanian territory from the foreign invasion. There is a statue of the hero on the square.

The Ethnographic Museum gives you an insight into the traditional lifestyle of a wealthy family in Gjirokaster. The museum's building is on the location, where the former dictator Enver Hoxha's childhood home was. However, the original building was destroyed by a fire. Inside the museum you can see a display of artifacts, household items, folk costumes, clothing and kitchenware from the past.

In 1811, the city of Gjirokaster as ruled by the Ottoman Governor Ali Pasha. During his rule, he constructed a 12 kilometre long aqueduct, which brought drinking water to the city from the Sopot Mountain. In 1932, the aqueduct was mostly demolished, but one section in the Manalat Quarter still stands. The bridge is known as the "Ali Pasha Bridge", the "Manalat Bridge" or the "Dunavat Bridge". It is a 30 minutes hike from Gjirokaster and an off-the-beaten-path attraction for visitors.