2 Days In Gjirokaster: The Best Gjirokaster Itinerary (2024)
Gjirokaster was easily my favourite stop during my 3 weeks in Albania. Use this 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary to explore the Stone City like I did!
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A Bit About Gjirokaster, Albania
Gjirokaster is hands down my favourite place in all of Albania. Known as the “Stone City” due to its cobblestone streets and buildings, it’s got pretty much everything you want.
From a gripping history, a charming old town and stunning nature to top it all off, you won’t be stuck finding things to do!
It’s one of two cities listed as one UNESCO World Heritage listing, the other being Berat. Whilst they are quite similar in terms of the architecture, they have their own unique selling points which make them both worth visiting.
Most people decide to go to only one of the two. If you’re in this position and are strapped for time, i’d definitely recommend checking out my guide on how to choose between Gjirokaster or Berat.
I spent a few nights in this Ottoman town and had a blast, don’t skip it on your longer Albania itinerary!
Without further ado, here is my 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary:
2 Days In Gjirokaster Itinerary
Day 1
Morning
After settling in at the hostel the night before, start off your 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary strong with Stone City Hostel’s tasty included breakfast and then set off for a free walking tour!
Unless you’re a nutcase about your research, I think the best way to figure out what Gjirokaster is all about is by joining one of these tours. Whilst you can find tours online, I always find it better to ask hostel staff which walking tour they recommend!
Midday
After learning all about Gjirokaster on the walking tour, you’ll probably be a bit peckish. Coincidentally, the end of the tour perfectly lines up with lunch!
This is a great chance to try some traditional qifqi. I tend to cook about 90% of the time on my travels because I want to keep the costs down. I only really eat out when I want to try something in particular, like qifqi.
From Visit-Gjirokaster.com
If you want to try just one local dish during your 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary, it simply HAS to be qifqi. It’s a rice ball dish originating from Gjirokaster, usually made with rice, eggs, mint, olive oil and some seasoning. It’s very nice! I had some at Taverna Kuka.
Afternoon
After some down time, make sure you visit Ali Pasha Bridge in the late afternoon! It’s probably my favourite place in all of Gjirokaster and surprisingly, not many people visit! Luckily, it’s a short and easy enough 30 minute hike from the Old Bazaar.
Once you reach the top of the hill, you’ll be met with a scene straight out of the Lord of the Rings – green mountains, a gorgeous stone bridge and if you’re lucky, some sheep.
After this, you can head back to your hostel for dinner and rest up for the last day of this 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary!
Day 2
Morning
Rise and shine! Start the final day of this 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary with an early breakfast before checking out the view from the Gjirokaster obelisk! Whilst the obelisk is quite cool, the view is the star of the show up here. I recommend coming here 1-2 hours after sunrise for the best light.
Credit: Henor Teneqja (Unsplash)
After this, you can wander over to the Castle of Gjirokaster before it gets too hot, and while the light is still great for travel photography. For reference, it opens from 9am-6pm every day in the summer and shuts earlier at 4pm in the winter. At the time of writing, it costs 400 LEK.
When you’re up here, don’t miss the Gjirokaster museum which is located inside the castle itself. Everything you need to know about the city’s history is right here! For me, it was incredibly interesting and I spent about an hour reading all of the texts and looking at the photos and artefacts.
Midday
After grabbing some lunch, a great way to escape from the blistering heat on this 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary (assuming you’re visiting in summer like I did) is joining a tour of the Gjirokaster Cold War Tunnel! Basically, it’s a huge network of bunkers that were built during the oppressive communist regime of Enver Hoxha.
To this day, it remains the exact same as it was back then – making it a more authentic experience compared to the awesome BunkArt museums in Tirana.
Afternoon
The final thing you can do on this Gjirokaster itinerary is visiting the beautiful Manalat Quarter. It’s not easy on the legs walking around, but the best views of Gjirokaster Castle and the coolest houses will make you forget about the pain!
If you don’t cook, there are some great local restaurants in the area that aren’t touristic like they are in the Old Town due to the streets being a lot quieter.
If you’re wondering if you can spend longer in Gjirokaster, here’s my guide on How Many Days In Gjirokaster
How To Get To Gjirokaster
The best way to get to Gjirokaster on a budget is undoubtedly by bus. Besides hiring your own car, which is not budget-friendly – it’s actually the only way to get to Gjirokaster.
Thankfully, it’s very affordable and well connected with most major cities in Albania. Depending on where you’re coming from in the country, you might have to stop somewhere and hop on a second bus.
In theory this seems simple enough, however for newer travellers it can be incredibly confusing and stressful due to its unreliability and not being able to purchase tickets online.
For this reason, I recommend travelling to Gjirokaster from a city you can get a direct bus to. Luckily for you, i’ve written an in-depth guide on how to get around Albania! I cover everything from how to find a bus, schedules and payment.
Getting to Gjirokaster from Greece
Whilst most people visit Gjirokaster as part of a larger trip around Albania, it is possible to get a direct bus from Athens to Gjirokaster. Sadly it is extremely difficult and there’s a lack of information about the route online. When I was in Athens, I saw shops where you can purchase these tickets in person.
Where To Stay In Gjirokaster
With this 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary, you have a couple of fantastic options for hostels. In my opinion, the city has the best hostel in all of Albania and perhaps the entire Balkans!
Allow me to introduce you Stone City Hostel. It’s one of my all-time favourites after sleeping in over 70 different hostels on my travels.
The hostel has a relaxing social vibe with fantastic communal spaces. Everything is pristine clean and the beds are soooo comfy. If you’ve been backpacking for a while now you’ll know you don’t usually rave about the beds!
And of course, the free breakfast is so god damn tasty and actually fills you up which is so crucial when travelling on a budget. It really made my 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary so comfortable.
A good backup option is Friends Hostel, which I actually stayed one night in since there were no beds down the road at Stone City Hostel. It’s run by a really lovely family who make you feel very much at home and is as equally as clean as Stone City Hostel.
In the horrific case these are booked out, check out my guide on how to choose a hostel.
Gjirokaster Travel Tips
With this 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary, you’re unlikely to come across any annoying obstacles. Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, the main area of the city and especially the Old Bazaar is organised quite well for tourism.
That being said, there’s a few things you should know before using this 2 days in Gjirokaster itinerary so you’re well prepared:
- CASH IS KING – like everywhere else in the country, it is rare you’ll find any restaurant, tourist attraction or accommodation that accept card payment. I withdrew money from this Credins Bank as it doesn’t charge any fees.
- It’s located near where the bus drops you off (right at the bottom of the steep ass hill) so make sure you get money out there and then so you don’t have to go back down and up again!
- The streets are so steep and are all cobblestone so bring some shoes you won’t hate walking around in
- I did this Gjirokaster itinerary in the middle of summer and it was scorching hot! Despite my best attempts to, i’ll never forget struggling getting up to my hostel with my backpack sweating my balls off. It was very humbling.
- Check out my general guide for 10 things you should know before backpacking Albania.
Travel Insurance For Gjirokaster
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel – end of. I’m a big advocate for using travel insurance when solo travelling as it will save my arse if anything goes wrong. I use Worldnomads, easily the best company out there for long-term travellers. Get insured with these guys when using this Gjirokaster itinerary.
2 Days In Gjirokaster Itinerary: Final Thoughts
I LOVED Gjirokaster. Whilst it is quite a popular tourist destination – it certainly did not feel like it at all. In a world where tourism is becoming accessible to more people, it is sometimes hard to find gems like Gjirokaster.
Don’t miss out on this Gjirokaster itinerary!
Check out all of my posts about Albania
- Tirana to Berat Budget Guide
- How Many Days In Berat, Albania Do You Really Need?
- One Day In Berat Itinerary
- Is Berat Worth Visiting?
- Himare or Sarande? Which Is The Best Place To Visit?
Book Your Trip With My Favourite Resources:
Cheap Flights: I always use Skyscanner to browse for cheap flights. It offers so many options to help you find a good deal! It even allows you to search for “anywhere” if you haven’t decided where to go yet!
Accommodation: I start my hostel search with Hostelworld. Most hostels are now on this platform making it the place to find the best hostel for you.
Travel Insurance: If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It is so important to have when travelling as it will save you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations! I always use Worldnomads when travelling on a budget as they have the best deals for me.