Sightseeing stop in Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster): discover beautiful places in Albania

Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster) highlight

historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

We at Monterrasol Transfers specialize in private car transfers. Together with the transfer itself, we propose that you visit some beautiful places along the transfer route. We call such places optional sightseeing stops (short excursions).

One of the places we selected to propose as a sightseeing stop is a beautiful Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster) in Albania. Sightseeing stops are a perfect easy opportunity to see new places during your transfer across Albania, especially during long distance transfers. Take it as a great option to get in touch with local culture and history. It's good to combine transportation and sightseeing together!

Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania, in a valley between mountains, at 300 metres above sea level. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as ＂a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate＂. The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress.

Last reviewed: 4 May 2025

Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster) description

The city Gjirokastër appears in the historical record dating back in 1336 by its Greek name, Argyrokastro, as part of the Byzantine Empire. Later, Gjirokastërater was contested between the Despotate of Epirus and the Albanian clan of John Zenevisi before falling under Ottoman rule for the next five centuries (1417–1913).

During the Ottoman period conversions to Islam and an influx of Muslim converts from the surrounding countryside made Gjirokastër go from being an overwhelmingly Christian city in the 16th century into one with a large Muslim population by the early 19th century.

Together with another Albanian town Sarandë, the city is considered one of the centers of the Greek community in Albania.

Gjirokastër is built on the slope surrounding the citadel, located on a dominating plateau. Although the Gjirokastër walls were built in the third century and the city itself was first mentioned in the 12th century, the majority of the existing buildings dates back to 17th and 18th centuries. Typical houses consist of a tall stone block structure which can be up to five stories high. There are external and internal staircases that surround the house. It is thought that such design stems from fortified country houses typical in southern Albania. The lower storey of the building contains a cistern and the stable. The upper storey is composed of a guest room and a family room containing a fireplace. Further upper stories are to accommodate extended families and are connected by internal stairs. Since Gjirokastër's membership to UNESCO, a number of houses have been restored.

Many houses in Gjirokastër have a distinctive local style that has earned the city the nickname ＂City of Stone＂, because most of the old houses have roofs covered with flat dressed stones. A very similar style can be seen in the Pelion district of Greece. The city, along with another Albanian town Berat, was among the few Albanian cities preserved in the 1960s and 1970s from modernizing building programs. Both cities gained the status of ＂museum town＂ and are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Gjirokastër Fortress dominates the town and overlooks the strategically important route along the river valley. The Gjirokastër fortress has existed in various forms since before the 12th century. Extensive renovations and a westward addition was added by Ali Pasha of Tepelene after 1812.

The Gjirokastër fortress contains a military museum featuring captured artillery and memorabilia of the Communist resistance against German occupation, as well as a captured United States Air Force plane, to commemorate the Communist regime's struggle against the imperialist powers. Additions were built during the 19th and 20th centuries by Ali Pasha of Ioannina and the government of King Zog I of Albania. Today it possesses five towers and houses a clock tower, a church, water fountains, horse stables, and many more amenities.

Gjirokastër town also features an old Ottoman bazaar which was originally built in the 17th century; it was rebuilt in the 19th century after a fire. There are more than 500 homes preserved as ＂cultural monuments＂ in Gjirokastër today. The Gjirokastër Mosque, built in 1757, dominates the bazaar.

When the town was first proposed for inclusion on the World Heritage list in 1988, International Council on Monuments and Sites experts were nonplussed by a number of modern constructions which detracted from the old town's appearance. The historic core of Gjirokastër was finally inscribed in 2005, 15 years after its original nomination.

We know good things to see in Albania. We know the roads, well-known tourist attractions like UNESCO sites, and off-the-beaten-path places.

If you would like to learn more about Albania and explore it by visiting different attractions, come with us for a private tour. We can travel all across Albania and we will show you all the important tourist attractions together with the hidden gems of this beautiful country. Feel free to contact us!

We have developed numerous itineraries for private car tours in Albania as well as in neighboring countries, including tours passing through several countries as one journey. Solo private tours and tours for Seniors are available also.

Transfers to Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster)

Currently we know prices for these car transfers to Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster):

Private transfers from Montenegro

• private car transfer Kotor to Gjirokaster (Gjirokastër)

• private car transfer Perast to Gjirokaster (Gjirokastër)

• private car transfer Podgorica to Gjirokaster (Gjirokastër)

• private car transfer Portonovi to Gjirokaster (Gjirokastër)

• private car transfer Tivat to Gjirokaster (Gjirokastër)

Unable to find your transfer?

If the transfer you need not exist in the list of our transfers, feel free to ask us for custom transfer by this form: ask for a custom private transfer to Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster), Albania.