Gjirokastra

Gjirokastra is a beautifully preserved UNESCO Ottoman city built on a ridge in southern Albania. Its massive fortress dominates the skyline and houses a National Armaments Museum.

Gjirokastra — birthplace of former dictator Enver Hoxha and Nobel laureate Ismail Kadare — is one of Albania's most atmospheric cities. Built on a steep ridge in the Drino Valley, its grey stone towers and slate-roofed 'kule' (tower houses) create a dramatic, almost otherworldly skyline.

The Gjirokastra Fortress is one of the largest in the Balkans, and inside it houses the National Museum of Armaments, including an American reconnaissance plane shot down during the Cold War. Climbing the fortress walls at dusk, with the valley spread out below, is an unforgettable experience.

The old bazaar and its surrounding streets are a UNESCO-protected zone. You can spend hours wandering the steep cobblestone lanes, visiting restored kule mansions — some of which are now guesthouses — and discovering hidden courtyards and fountains.

Gjirokastra is best reached by driving south from Tirana via Gjirokastër road, passing through the beautiful Permet area. The city is also a natural gateway for visiting the Blue Eye natural spring (Syri i Kaltër) just 20km away.