Half-Day Sightseeing Tour to Gjirokastra and Blue Eye

Gjirokaster is a historical city with beautiful traditional stone houses.

The historical city center of Gjirokaster is on the UNESCO heritage list.

The most impressive sight in Gjirokaster is the hilltop Gjirokaster Castle, which gives you a panoramic view of the city center. After visiting the castle, you can visit the Bazaar market, take a look inside a historical house or explore one of the many fascinating museums.

The Old Bazaar in Gjirokastra, called by locals as “Qafa e Pazarit” makes up the centre of the Old Town. The history of Bazaar dates back in 17th century. In fact there is no much left from that period. The sources says that a destroying fire impacted the old bazaar in 3d quarter of 19th century.

After that, the bazaar was totally rebuilt. That is why the buildings have the same architecture, some 2 and other 3 storey, but very identical from their structure, in all its line. The first floor is the place where artisan worked all the day, and the second floor was used for different purpose in each of them. Some of shops had a back door, used only by the owner. While in front was built a sidewalk for people, which was something rare in other bazaars of the same period.

The owner of the house, Nasip Skenduli, a descendant of the family that originally build the house, is an amazing story teller. He will explain you everything about the house and the preserving process in years. It used to be the original Ethnographic museum during communist time, but now the owners have their house back and keep it open for visitors.

The Cold War Tunnel in Gjirokastra is an underground tunnel and bunker complex that was built as an emergency shelter during the post World War II communist times, but is now a museum that can be visited with a guide. The entrance is at Çerciz Toppuli Square where you can also find the tourist information point where a guided tour can be arranged (You can’t enter and wander around the tunnels by yourself).

The tunnel complex was built underneath Gjirokastra Castle in the late 1970s under the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. After Albania’s breakup with the Soviet Union in the 1960s, Hoxha became so paranoid about being invaded, that he started to build bunkers and shelters around the entire country.

The Blue Eye of Albania is one of the most beautiful places to see in Albania. The Blue Eye is a natural fresh water spring. The natural spring pumps bright blue water to the surface. The Blue Eye has become a touristic attraction, since the water of the spring is a magical blue colour.