Is Gjirokaster Worth Visiting? 7 Pros & Cons You Should Know
Is Gjirokaster worth visiting? I definitely think so. I wasn’t sure whether or not I would visit before going and thankfully, it ended up being my favourite place in all of Albania. Read along to see if it’s your kind of place too!
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Is Gjirokaster Worth Visiting? The SHort Answer
Gjirokaster is becoming more and more popular as time goes on, and for good reason – it is the prettiest city in Albania and has a lot to offer. During my 3 weeks in Albania, it was without a doubt my favourite spot and I ended up staying for 4 nights!
So, is Gjirokaster worth visiting? The short answer is absolutely yes. But, you might be struggling with choosing where to visit during your Albania itinerary and want to make sure that you visit a place that you will actually enjoy.
Gjirokaster is quite different to the beautiful coast and scratches a different itch. It’s very much a place where you get to grips with the heritage and history, rather than partying on the beach all day and night.
In this post, I list the main pros and cons of backpacking Gjirokaster which will certainly help you decide if it’s worth visiting the city and even how long you want to spend here.
So without further ado, here are the pros and cons!
Is Gjirokaster Worth Visiting? The Pros!
1. It’s A Photographer’s Playground
In Gjirokaster, there are photo opportunities around ever corner. From the unique architecture, bazaar stalls and the surrounding nature – you are spoilt for choice when it comes to photography spots in Gjirokaster.
In that case, is Gjirokaster worth visiting for the photo opportunities alone? You bet. You can spend a good chunk of time when visiting the city just taking photos.
I was chuffed when I was wondering around the Old Bazaar and near Ali Pasha Bridge because I snapped so many great photos in a tiny amount of time.
2. It’s UNESCO World Heritage Listed
Since 2005, Gjirokaster officially became listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list and now is apart of the same listing with Berat.
Berat and Gjirokaster on the surface are two similar cities. Both are known for their unique architecture, charming neighbourhoods and well-preserved history.
In Gjirokaster, there’s an incredible castle with one of the best museums in the country; a charming old bazaar and some really great neighbourhoods.
So, is Gjirokaster worth visiting for a heritage fix? Absolutely! It’s one of only four UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country and in my opinion, the best.
3. Gjirokaster Architecture
Personally, I believe that Gjirokaster is the prettiest city in Albania – Berat being a close second.
I think that is mainly down to its architecture, known as the “City of Stone”, it is incredibly unique and satisfying to look at.
The houses of Gjirokaster were built in the 19th century by wealthy landowners, often merchants, who had some cash to splash. They are characterised by their stone roofs and white walls, with over 500 hundred of these buildings in the city.
Is Gjirokaster worth visiting for the architecture? Sure, it is really unique and the Ottoman influence shows. Travel photographers will love it as well, I spent a good afternoon just taking photos of the houses!
4. Gjirokaster Is Affordable
Whilst Gjirokaster is definitely more expensive than most parts of Albania, the cost of visiting Gjirokaster is one that won’t break the bank!
Accommodation in Gjirokaster
In peak-backpacking season dorm rooms can cost anywhere from $20-30 AUD ($13-20 USD). In the off-season, they can be a few dollars cheaper.
Food in Gjirokaster
I usually cook when travelling, wherever there’s a kitchen basically! So, when I was backpacking Gjirokaster, I managed to keep my daily food costs to under $5 AUD ($3 USD) because food from supermarkets are incredibly affordable.
If however, you’d rather do anything but cook or your budget is a little less tight than mine was – dining out is relatively inexpensive too.
You can definitely get away with a food budget of $15 AUD ($10 USD) a day if you stick to local eateries and by avoiding tourist-trap restaurants. Whilst I was cooking most of the time, I did become addicted to Gjirokaster’s very own qifqi! It’s basically a rice ball dish that were fantastic to snack on.
Is Gjirokaster worth visiting for the food? Yes!
Gjirokaster Attractions
Other than food and accommodation, a couple of attractions in Gjirokaster are completely free. The paid attractions on the other hand are never more than a few dollars!
Is Gjirokaster worth visiting for the price? I believe that the affordability should never be the main reason you visit a place, because there’s always more to it than that. However, it’s definitely a benefit that can help you decide whether to visit one place or another.
Check out my 2 Days In Gjirokaster itinerary
5. It’s Home To The Best Hostel In Albania
Allow me to introduce you to the best hostel in Albania, Stone City Hostel. Throughout my entire time travelling and over 70 hostels later, for me, this one ranks pretty close to the top.
Stone City has a relaxed social vibe with amazing communal spaces. Everything is pristine clean and the beds are ridiculously comfy. It’s definitely a rare thing when backpacking getting a bed that is so good.
And of course, the free breakfast is so nice and actually fills you up which is so crucial when travelling on a budget.
It’s the most expensive hostel in Gjirokaster and usually I wouldn’t want to pay that much – but I think it is so worth it. Still, if it is booked out, or perhaps you want to save a bit more money – Friends Hostel is a great backup.
Is Gjirokaster Worth Visiting? The Cons
1. No Green Space
The only annoying thing for me when visiting Gjirokaster was that there is literally no green space within the city.
I tend to travel slow, visit one or two attractions a day and then the rest of the time I like to chill in parks, or hang out at the hostel – socialising with other travellers. It’s an awesome way of making sure you don’t get burnt out too quickly.
In Gjirokaster, it’s impossible to go chill in a park – because there are none.
Still, is Gjirokaster worth visiting? Of course! Not every place you visit will be perfect and realistically this isn’t that big of a deal.
2. It’s Not Easy To Walk Around
Whilst it’s not the end of the world, Gjirokaster is known for its steep, cobblestone streets and really doesn’t have that many areas where the ground is flat!
Is Gjirokaster worth visiting even though it’s slightly difficult to walk around? Probably. Most people will be okay walking around the city, but just know that it’s not always going to be a nice leisurely stroll around!
Check out my guide on things to know before backpacking Albania
Is Gjirokaster Worth Visiting For A Week?
Gjirokaster’s charm stems from its size – it isn’t all that big and subsequently, you only really need a couple of days.
With one week in Gjirokaster, you’ll run out of things to do very very quickly. If you’re in a rush, you can tick off most of the main attractions in one or two days.
For more information, check out my guide to How Many Days In Gjirokaster?
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.
Is Gjirokaster Worth Visiting? Final Thoughts
So, is Gjirokaster worth visiting after all? I think so! Obviously, there are pros and cons to visiting any place in the world.
Hopefully these pros and cons have guided you in the right direction to whether or not Gjirokaster is a place that you would enjoy. Ultimately, it’s only when you visit when you can say it’s worth it or not.
From my experience, it absolutely is – I hope it is for you too! Let me know if you visit below!
Check out all of my posts about Albania
- How Long Do You Need In Berat?
- 1 Day In Berat Travel Guide
- Tirana To Berat On A Budget Guide
- Is Berat Worth Visiting?
- 6 Free Things To Do In Berat
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.