Gjirokaster Itineraries for Two to Four Days
Two itineraries follow, one for two days and one for four. Both use Gjirokaster as the base and add the nearby sites by car or taxi. Costs are in Albanian lek (ALL), cash, and bus details are from secondary listings, so check departures locally the day before.
Option one: two days
Day 1, the town. Begin with the castle, Kalaja e Gjirokastrës, at about 400 ALL. Give it up to 2 hours, then lunch in the bazaar. In the afternoon, visit the Cold War Tunnel (about 200 ALL, guided) and one house, either Zekate or Skënduli. Both castle and tunnel hold the story of the communist period, so keep conversation low in them.
Day 2, Antigonea and the Blue Eye. Drive east 14 km to Antigonea (200 ALL), then continue to the Blue Eye spring, about 35 km away, in the afternoon. Swimming at the spring is not allowed, so plan a walk and photographs instead.
Option two: four days
Day 1 and 2. Follow option one.
Day 3, Përmet. Drive about 60 km to Përmet, roughly an hour. Albania Rafting Group lists Class III Vjosa rafting from about EUR 25 to 35. The natural thermal baths at Bënjë are close, so ask locally about conditions.
Day 4, horses. The stables of Caravan Horse Riding Albania are above Asim Zeneli, about 15 minutes from town. A 2.5-hour lakeside ride costs about EUR 50 per person, a 3-hour ride covers the Drino Valley, and a 24-hour weekend programme is also listed. Weight limits of about 90 kg apply on some rides.
Reaching Gjirokaster
From Tirana, buses leave from both the South and North terminals about 10 times a day between 05:00 and 20:30. The trip takes 3.5 to 4 hours and costs roughly 1,200 to 1,400 ALL, or EUR 13.50 if booked online. The bus lets you off beside the SH4 road near the roundabout at the base of Rruga 18 Shtatori, in the new town. A taxi up to the old bazaar runs about 200 to 500 ALL. The walk is steep and about 1.5 to 2 km.
From Saranda, five departures a day are listed, at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:15 and 17:00. The trip takes 1 to 1.5 hours and costs about 400 to 500 ALL. Confirm the Saranda departure point, because a new bus terminal there reportedly opened in July 2026.
Gjirokaster with Berat
The UNESCO listing began with Gjirokaster in 2005. In 2008 it was extended and renamed the Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra, which makes the two towns a natural pair for a southern Albania trip. Check the bus times between them on the day.
Safety and advice
Albania is a normal destination for visitors, but road deaths are among the highest in Europe. The UK government advice is worth reading before you hire a car.
Booking help
You can compare places to stay on Booking.com and note the distance from the old bazaar.
Read more: day trips and activities in town .