Top Gjirokaster Art & Culture

Tour 1 – Old Bazaar, Cfaka, Dunavat & Ali Pasha Bridge Step into the heart of Gjirokastër on this enchanting walking tour. Wander through the historic Old Bazaar, explore the ancient houses of Cfaka, and traverse scenic hills to reach the iconic Ali Pasha Bridge. Experience the perfect mix of history, tradition, and natural beauty, and uncover hidden corners of the city that few visitors ever see on this unforgettable 3-hour journey. Tour 2 – UNESCO Castle & Zekate House Discover the magic of Gjirokastër with a local guide on this immersive walking tour. Explore the bustling Old Bazaar, ascend to the UNESCO-listed Castle for breathtaking views, and visit the beautifully preserved Zekate House, an Ottoman-era masterpiece full of stories and legends. This tour offers a truly unforgettable experience, letting you feel the city’s history, charm, and unique atmosphere like a local.

This private tour showcases a rarely-discussed aspect of life in Gjirokaster, Albania during the Cold War. Visit the Cold War Tunnel, used by the political leaders of the time, as well as the City Castle's prison building. Hear stories and confessions of the people who lived and worked during this difficult period in Albania's national story.

Discover the magic of the city with this walking tour. Led by a local guide, start from Cerciz Topulli Square and continue towards the Old Bazaar. Meet local artists to learn about traditional methods of cultural craft creation. Unlock the historic Castle of Gjirokastra and learn about local history while wandering through its magnificence. Finish at the medieval fortress known as Zekate House to explore how the wealthy lived.

Design and create your own piece of art in wood and take it home as a souvenir or a gift for your loved ones!

We will explore the unknown part of Gjirokaster, the magic of the town that every tourist skips. We start from “Cerciz Topulli Square” and head towards The “Old Bazaar”. It is the first neighborhood outside the castle and lies along beneath the its walls. The characteristic cobblestone the orthodox church and some of the oldest houses are the most beautiful elements. After passing the stream of Nanxa (where they are building a new street), we reach the neighborhood of “Cfaka”. Here we will pass by some first monument category houses, a rebuild mosque and then reach the last neighborhood “Dunavat” where we will find a tekke of the Bektashi Order. It is a beautiful combination of Nature and old houses before arriving to “Ali Pasha Bridge”, a remaining of the aqueduct build more than 200 years ago to bring water to the castle. It takes approximately 3 hrs and you should be prepared to walk on a not so comfortable terrain. So put on your sneakers and join us to this back in time trip.

Starting from your accommodation we head to Drino’s valley in our 4×4 vehicles to enjoy our off the beaten path adventure among wild vegetation, breathtaking views, and remote villages in pure off road. We reach our lunch place, a traditional family restaurant among mountains. Later we proceed to our destination, through tangerine and orange plantations, towards the ancient ruins of Butrint, UNESCO World Heritage. After you visit the ancient ruins you have enough time to enjoy the sea breeze and a very unique natural habitat of rare plants, insects, animals and birds of the lagoon. We leave Butrint to drive south until we reach The Blue Eye a famous water spring of crystal clear water and unexplored depths. Take your time to refresh and take some more photos and collect memories that will remain with you forever. We drive back to Gjirokastra with the setting sun accompanying us till we reach our destination and bring you safe home.

Unearth Gjirokastër, Albania's stone city nestled in the rugged south. A UNESCO gem, it echoes with history, cultural treasures, and a majestic castle. Walk cobbled streets with stories, visit the castle, old bazaar, Skenduli house, and ethnographic museum. Taste authentic local cuisine in this enchanting UNESCO World Heritage site.

Antigonea , also transliterated as Antigonia and Antigoneia, was an ancient city in Chaonia, Epirus, and the chief inland city of the ancient Chaonians. It was founded in the 3rd century BC by Pyrrhus of Epirus, who named it after one of his wives, Antigone, daughter of Berenice I and step-daughter of Ptolemy I of Egypt.

Four Gjirokastër natives shaped this Albanian hill town — a guerrilla fighter, a novelist, a pasha, and a pioneering feminist writer. A communist dictatorship shadowed all of them. This self-guided audio tour follows their stories through the UNESCO-listed City of Stones. Starting at Çerçiz Topulli Square, where seven fighters once held off 200 Ottoman soldiers, you'll climb through the old bazaar to Ismail Kadare's childhood home. The 19th-century Skënduli House has 64 windows, four Turkish baths, and a pomegranate-carved wedding room. At Musine Kokalari's house museum, you'll learn how Albania's first female political writer paid for defending democracy with decades of exile. It ends at Gjirokastër Castle, above the ruins of ancient Antigonea, where a downed American spy plane sits on display. This tour is perfect for history lovers. Download the VoiceMap app and enter your voucher code from the confirmation email to start touring at your own pace.