Gjirokastër

Town · 🇦🇱 Albania

Population 19,836

Area 37 km²

Time zone Europe/Tirane

Official website bashkiagjirokaster.gov.al

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Featured Lists

Marcin Konsek / CC BY-SA 4.0

Gjirokastër Essentials

Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is defined by its unique Ottoman-era architecture and gray slate-roofed houses. This selection features the 13th-century Gjirokastër Castle, which houses a military museum and a captured US Air Force plane. Notable landmarks include the 19th-century Zekate and Skënduli houses, examples of fortified tower houses, and the 17th-century Old Bazaar. The list also covers the city’s complex history through the Cold War tunnel and the birthplace of writer Ismail Kadare.

12 places

OlePinguin / CC-BY-SA

Gjirokastër Highlights

Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is characterized by its distinctive Ottoman-era stone houses and steep, cobbled streets. This historic center is dominated by its massive 12th-century fortress, which contains a 19th-century clock tower. The city's layout includes the 17th-century Old Bazaar, a complex Cold War-era underground bunker, and the remains of an extensive aqueduct system built by Ali Pasha. These landmarks represent centuries of military, commercial, and political history in the Drino Valley.

6 places

OlePinguin / CC-BY-SA

Gjirokastër

Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Bazaar of Gjirokastër, characterized by its distinctive Ottoman-era stone architecture and steep cobblestone streets. This selection features the 19th-century Clock Tower within the castle walls and historic fortified residences like the Banesa e Abdyl Babaramos e Isuf Jahos. Complementing these monuments are active craft workshops, including traditional shoemakers and tailors where artisans continue centuries-old techniques in leatherwork and garment making.

5 places

O2 / CC BY 3.0

Historic Sites

Gjirokastër’s historic center is defined by its distinctive Ottoman-era architecture and defensive structures. The hilltop castle features a 19th-century clock tower and a military museum, while the town below contains fortified tower houses like the Skënduli and Kadare residences. Religious landmarks include the 18th-century Bazaar Mosque and the Church of the Transfiguration. The site's complex 20th-century history is preserved in the Cold War tunnel and the former prison located within the fortress walls.

13 places