The 10 Best Things to do in Gjirokaster County, Gjirokaster County

January 12, 2022 Milan Banda

Discover the best top things to do in Gjirokaster County, Albania including Guri i Qytetit, Caravan Horse Riding Albania, Zekate House, Gjirokaster Castle, Skenduli House, Fir of Hotova National Park, Benja Thermal Baths, Gjirokastra Bazaar, Ethnographic Museum, The Cold War Tunnel.
Restaurants in Gjirokaster County

1. Guri i Qytetit

Permet Albania
Excellent
82%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 11 reviews

Guri i Qytetit

Reviewed By hikingsouthalbania - Gjirokaster, Albania

if you ever find yourself in permet , you must be in this place, it offers the best view of the city from all the sides and you can take the best selfies

2. Caravan Horse Riding Albania

Gjirokaster Albania +355 69 537 5743 [email protected] http://www.horseridingalbania.com
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 7 reviews

Caravan Horse Riding Albania

Caravan Horse Riding Albania is organising horse riding trails for intermediate and advanced level riders. We welcome non riders book ourfarm visit tour. Our week trails,Zagoria Pathways and King Skerdilajd Army Route are the most popular. Our center has 38 Albanian horses and we are happy to share our experience with guests.

Reviewed By 512madelainel

I was so impressed by the 3 hour trek we did at the weekend. Kristina was really easy to get in touch with and quick to reply, and booked us onto a group trek consisting of two novices and two intermediates. The horse are perfectly trained- we went up and down very steep slopes with loose stones and uneven footing and they handled it perfectly. Didn’t bat an eyelid when sheepdogs came barking at us, and were very safe and easy to control- we all cantered, including the novices who’d ridden just twice before. Would definitely come back again!

3. Zekate House

Gjirokastra, short hike form main bazaar, Gjirokaster Albania +355 4 562 8717 [email protected] http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/see-and-do/the-zekate-house/
Excellent
46%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 161 reviews

Zekate House

One of the most beautiful and best preserved houses of Gjirokastra. The Zekate House is a grand example of the typical (tower-house), belonging to the wealthiest families in Gjirokastra in 19th century. It belonged to Beqir Zeko, a general administrator of Ali Pasha. It was built in 1811-1812. Where you are in the top of it, the view of river valley is amazing. This 3 storey house has very strong defensive features, and that is why she is still so powerful until nowadays. The ground floor contains storage rooms, the kitchen and the cistern. The first floor has two rooms used as living quarters for branches of the family, while the third floor has a grand reception room and two other smaller rooms. The principal room is very typical of the grandest of these dwellings with frescoed walls, a carved ceiling and an ornate fireplace. This house gives visitors a vast understandings of the vernacular architecture. The entrance fee is € 1.00.

Reviewed By nadiaresuli - Tirana, Albania

breathtaking wood decoration and wall painting. beautiful city view. it feels like you travel in time. highly recommend.

4. Gjirokaster Castle

Gjirokaster Albania [email protected] http://www.gjirokastra.org/sub_links/visiting_sub/visiting_castle.html
Excellent
47%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 838 reviews

Gjirokaster Castle

Reviewed By B1714D - Belgrade, Serbia

We've travelled entire Albania during our 2 week tour and two towns I can point out being the most beautiful are Berat and Gjirokaster. Gjirokaster is only an hour drive from the seaside resorts of Saranda and Ksamil, and I'd suggest everyone holidaying there to make a day excursion. Gjirokaster sits on slopes of Gjere mountains overlooking a huge valley. The Castle occupies a commanding position and is a beautiful site while approaching the town. The fortress dates back to 12 c, modified and reshaped over the centuries. It's main feature, the clock tower was added in 1800's by Ottoman governor Ali Pasha Tepelena who's also responsible for a magnificent sea fortress at Porto Palermo north from Saranda on the Ionian coast (read that review). The Castle houses a military museum consisting mostly of captured WWII Italian and German weapons and a US fighter plane from the cold war era (different versions on it), as well two Pasha tombs and some underground Ottoman era rooms. However, most impressing are the views of the valley and old town below. Like most such places in Albania entry fee is extremely cheap and there are good English explanations throughout the place.

5. Skenduli House

Rruga Sokaku i Te Mareve, Gjirokaster Albania +355 4 562 8717 [email protected] http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/see-and-do/skenduli-house/
Excellent
58%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 267 reviews

Skenduli House

If you really want to know the best model of local architecture in 19th century, a visit to Skenduli house is a must. Everything is totally original and is the most authentic building in Gjirokastra. This is the best preserved house in old city of Gjirokastra, more than 300 years old (built in 1823). 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. What makes this house so special? Its structure shows that this has been the richest houses in Gjirokastra, because it had 9 fireplaces, (more fireplaces more richer the family was); 6 bathrooms, 12 rooms, 44 doors, 64 windows, and 4 hamam (turkish bath). Many rooms are preserved in their original shape and this is amazing.

Reviewed By pharonl - San Jose, United States

We took a great guided tour of this wealthy families home from 100-200 years ago (I forget the actual age). What a different way of life! The home is not occupied now.

6. Fir of Hotova National Park

Rruga e Benjes, Permet 6401 Albania +355 4 222 5068 http://akzm.gov.al/index.php
Excellent
44%
Good
56%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 9 reviews

Fir of Hotova National Park

Reviewed By 376isufb - London, United Kingdom

Great Natural Park where you get lost in the nature For all nature lovers this is the right place Opportunities for Hiking / Off road adventure / Picnic Perfect for all group ages

7. Benja Thermal Baths

Near The Stonebridge, Permet Albania
Excellent
53%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
5%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 64 reviews

Benja Thermal Baths

Reviewed By balkanpearlstouroper - Tirana, Albania

i love to go and swim on thermal baths after i have done an sport activity around Permet city, relax and quite place from all city noises

8. Gjirokastra Bazaar

Old town, Gjirokaster Albania
Excellent
33%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
4%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 218 reviews

Gjirokastra Bazaar

Reviewed By B1714D - Belgrade, Serbia

Gjirokaster bazar is set at foothill beneath the imposing Gjirokaster castle. It's a maze of winding cobbled streets going up and down. Entire area is packed with dozens of shops - some authentic selling Albanian hand crafts like rugs and clothing items, some ordinary touristic selling souvenirs. Anyway, it's a great and very picturesque area to stroll among Ottoman era architecture. Be sure to have a drink in one of many bars or to try the traditional pastry - byrek.

9. Ethnographic Museum

Hysen Hoxha Street, Gjirokaster Albania 3763 http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/the-ethnographic-museum/
Excellent
22%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
11%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 175 reviews

Ethnographic Museum

Reviewed By rrushial - Tirana, Albania

If you visit gjirokastra city you should see this museum .. its great .. with an ottoman style this museum is known like enver hoxhas house becouse he lived there for 8 years .

10. The Cold War Tunnel

Cerciz Topulli Square, Gjirokaster 6001 Albania [email protected] http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/see-and-do/the-cold-war-tunnel-museum/
Excellent
27%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
9%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 95 reviews

The Cold War Tunnel

The Cold War Museum (also called the Color War Tunnel) is an underground bunker that served as an emergency shelter in the latter part of Albania’s communist era (1944-1990). This bunker, and the innumerable small bunkers found throughout the country, reflects the paranoia of Albanian’s communist dictator, Enver Hoxha. He feared a foreign invasion, especially after Albania’s breakup with Soviet Union in the early 1960s. Built in secret in the early 1970s, the bunker is 800 m long and has 59 rooms. Unlike Tirana’s bunker museum, Gjirokastër’s bunker has been left in its original state, making it less informative but much more atmospheric and genuine. This bunker was designed to accommodate many different functions in case of a nuclear attack. There are rooms for government ministries, local government, interrogators, and party elite, as well as places for sleeping, power generation, and water storage. Much of original furniture was looted from the site in 1990 but pieces still remain.

Reviewed By bj_rnerikl2018 - Oslo, Norway

We really enjoyed visiting the cold war tunnel. It all seemed very authentic, with lots of old furniture and equipment being left in the bunker.

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