Itinerary

1. Tirana - Gjirokastra (UNESCO) - Tirana

   • Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Tirana at 8:00 am, and we will drive for about 2.5 hours to Gjirokastra. Gjirokaster is a historical city on the UNESCO heritage list. 
   • Walking through Gjirokastra gives you an insight into the city during the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The city has typical stone houses and cobblestone streets. 
   • Therefore, Gjirokaster is also known as the “stone city”. Gjirokaster is known in Albania as a “museum city” because it has beautiful historical buildings everywhere. It is a lovely city to stroll through. 
   • Then we will visit the Old Bazaar of Gjirokaster. The old bazaar is the traditional marketplace in Gjirokaster. The bazaar was initially built in the Middle Ages. There are a variety of craftsmen's shops, souvenir shops, and coffee houses along the Bazaar. You can buy handmade wooden pieces, handwoven rugs and delicate lace items. The street of the Bazaar is made of cobblestones, and it is set on a steep hillside. 
   • Then we head to Gjirokastra Castle. This large fortress is on top of a hill in the city. From its vantage point, it offers a spectacular view of the historic city and the traditional stone houses of Gjirokaster. It is one of the biggest hilltop castles in the Balkans, dominating the city. 
   • The castle was built by the local Byzantine government in the 12th century. It was renovated and added to during the Ottoman Empire and the government of King Zog. From 1930 onward, it was mainly used as a prison for people who were resistant to the government.
   • Then, we will visit Skenduli House, a highlight for visitors to Gjirokaster. This original family house is more than 300 years old. 
   • During your visit, you will get a unique insight into what life was like for a rich family during the Ottoman period. The house has nine fireplaces, 6 bathrooms, 12 rooms, 44 doors, 64 windows and 4 hamam (Turkish baths). The house has been owned by the same family for generations. The family will show you around the house and tell stories about its history. 
   • One of the highlights is the room used for wedding ceremonies, with beautiful stained glass windows, carved wooden ceilings and a fireplace decorated with pomegranates, which symbolize fertility. 
   • Then we will visit the Obelisk. The Obelisk is a monument located on the highest peak of Gjirokaster. The monument is a symbol of education in the Albanian language. For many centuries, Albania was a part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. 
   • Therefore, education in the Albanian language was forbidden for an extended period. The Obelisk monument is located near the first Albanian language school in Gjirokaster, which opened in 1908. 
   • At the time it was very dangerous to open an Albanian language school, particularly for the teachers, who worked there.
   • Since the Obelisk monument is located on the highest peak in Gjirokaster, it has impressive views. You can see the old city and the typical stone houses below.