Gjirokastra

Please inquire about small group pricing.

On this day tour through the beautiful UNESCO Heritage Site city Gjirokastra, you will walk through the old ottoman-style streets and visit multiple historic places with your local tour guide.

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The Stone City

Highlights

Old Bazaar
Citadel
National Arms Museum
Ethnographic Museum
Castle

On this tour, you will discover the authentic Gjirokastra and learn about its ancient history. Our local tour guide will show you all the hidden gems in the city.

While visiting the city, you will also experience culinary art; for example special dishes like pasha qofte, shapkat, and oshaf with dried figs (a dessert with sheep's milk, sugar, and dried figs).

Season

All year round

Duration

7 hours

Difficulty

Easy to moderate

Cobblestone pathways

Slight incline, uneven terrain

Landscape

Mountainous

Lush valley throughout the countryside

Including

English-speaking tour guide
Refreshments and lunch*
Transportation
Entrance tickets

*please let us know your dietary restrictions beforehand on the booking page

Excluding

Tips and gratuities for the tour guide
Personal expenses

The Old Bazaar

We start the tour with a visit to the Old Bazaar, a narrow Bazar street with local handmade souvenir shops, and traditional,l houses. The road through museums leads us to the Castle of Gjirokastra,

Gjirokastra Castle and museums

In the castle, we will visit two museums: The Gjirokastra Museum and the Armaments Museum. The tour of the castle will take 1.5 hours. Walking on, we will visit the Clock tower where we have a great panorama of the city and various neighborhoods.

Authentic traditional house

After the castle, we visit one of the characteristic traditional houses for the exterior and interior. It is the house of birth of the ex-dictator of the country, Enver Hoxha.

Panorama view from the Obelisk and going back

The tour will end with a visit to a very strategic "hidden" point of Gjirokastra at "Obelisk", above the bazaar where you can enjoy another great panorama of Gjirokastra. After the tour, you will be given some free time in the old bazaar. Refreshments can be enjoyed at the Cajupi Hotel and we will start our return to the port of Saranda.

Gjirokastra is often known as "the Stone City" and its most distinctive feature is the silvery-colored limestone which gives the city its distinctive character.

Gjirokastra is famous for its Ottoman-style fortified tower houses, which are stacked up the hillside and reached by winding pathways. Virtually all the houses seen today were built in the early 19th century, especially after 1811 when Ali demonstrated the city as a hub of trade and communications in the region. Their size and position demonstrate the wealth of Gjirokastra and its landowning families.

The castle, which is believed to be the largest in the Balkans, is one of Albania's most magnificent monuments. Archaeologists suspect the site of the castle has been inhabited since the Iron Age with the first fortifications, and block-built stone walls - probably being erected in the 5th century.

What should I wear?

We will be walking, so wear flat, comfortable shoes. During summer months, we strongly recommend sun protective gear and bringing a bottle of water. Optional: swimsuit and towel.
What happens when it rains?

All tours are held rain or shine. Albania has 300 sunny days a year and there is a very low chance of it raining during May-September. But just in case, check the weather report beforehand and dress appropriately for the day’s weather conditions and bring an umbrella if necessary.
Can I shop on the tour?

We ask you to refrain from shopping while your tour guide is showing you around so that we can stay on schedule.
Are bathrooms available?

Yes, there will be bathrooms available throughout the tour.
Are cameras allowed?

Yes! In fact, we strongly encourage participants to take photos or videos during our tours.
Is the tour accessible by wheelchair or baby stroller?

Wheelchairs or strollers are not recommendable. Please contact us at auron@ourownexpeditions.com for more information.
Is the tour only in english?

Most of our tour guides only speak English and Albanian. Contact us at auron@ourownexpeditions.com to see if we have a tour guide in your desired language available or if you would like to make arrangements for your own interpreter to join the tour.
Can I reschedule or refund my tour?

All our tours have the following cancellation policy: 72 hours in advance canceled: 100% refund 48 hours in advance canceled: 80% refund 24 hours in advance canceled: 50% refund Less than 24 hours: no refund
What if the tour is sold out?

If there is no availability on the date you wanted to book, please contact us at auron@ourownexpeditions.com. We will try to make it possible to still do the tour on your desired date or look for an alternative solution together.
Do you offer discounts for elderly or children?

No, at the moment we do not offer discounts.
Can we bring children on the tour?

Yes. This tour is accessible to people of all ages.
How about my dog?

Pets of any kind are not allowed on this tour.

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