Gjirokastër — The Stone City
Slate-roofed tower houses, steep cobbled streets and a fortress above the Drino Valley make Gjirokastër one of Albania’s most distinctive destinations. Discover its living history with the freedom of your own road trip.
A city shaped in stone.
Gjirokastër rises steeply above the Drino Valley, its grey stone roofs and fortified tower houses creating a cityscape unlike anywhere else in Albania. At the top, the castle watches over a maze of lanes, courtyards and historic homes.
Leave your car in a suitable parking area and explore the historic centre on foot. With a rental car, you can connect the old town with the Ali Pasha Bridge, the Drino Valley, Antigonea and other destinations across southern Albania.
Follow the road south to a city of stone.
From Tirana or Tirana Airport, the journey to Gjirokastër leads through the western lowlands and into the dramatic landscapes of southern Albania. Plan a relaxed arrival before exploring the old town on foot.
Tirana or Rinas
Collect your rental car, organise your luggage and save the current route before beginning the journey south.
Fier
Continue on the main signed route and use the city area for fuel, supplies or a short rest stop.
Tepelenë
Pause above the Vjosa landscape before following the road toward the Drino Valley and Gjirokastër.
Gjirokastër
Check in, choose legal parking and discover the castle, bazaar and historic hillside neighbourhoods on foot.
Four places that reveal the Stone City.
Give the historic centre time, wear shoes with good grip and keep an extra day for the bridge, valley and archaeological landscapes beyond the city.
Gjirokastër Castle
Explore the vast hilltop fortress, its clock tower, museum spaces and commanding views across the old town and Drino Valley.
Old Bazaar
Follow the cobbled lanes between traditional shopfronts, cafés and workshops selling locally made textiles, woodwork and souvenirs.
Skenduli House
Step inside a fortified Ottoman-era home to understand the craftsmanship, family life and ingenious design behind Gjirokastër’s tower houses.
Ali Pasha Bridge
Walk beyond the old town to this surviving section of the historic aqueduct route, set among rugged slopes and open valley views.
Use the car for the journey. Explore the old town on foot.
A rental car gives you freedom across southern Albania, but the historic hillside is best explored slowly. Park legally below or near your accommodation and save your energy for the cobbled climb.
Comfort for the long road. Practical size for the city.
For most Gjirokastër trips, choose a reliable car that fits your passengers and luggage without making parking difficult. Tell us whether the Stone City is your final stop or part of a longer southern Albania route and we will help you compare the available options.
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Meet the city beyond its stone walls.
Gjirokastër’s character continues in family kitchens and small bazaar workshops. Traditional dishes, handmade crafts and conversations with local hosts turn a historic-city visit into a more personal experience.
- Try traditional dishes such as qifqi and other southern Albanian specialities.
- Look for locally made textiles, woodwork, ceramics and metal crafts in the bazaar.
- Remember that the historic centre is a living neighbourhood as well as a heritage site.
- Support local guides, family-run guesthouses, restaurants and independent workshops.
Stone roofs, craft and mountain light.
Select any photo to open the gallery.
Ready to explore Gjirokastër?
Choose your car, plan your route and begin a journey through Albania’s Stone City with convenient pickup in Tirana or at Tirana Airport.