Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Gjirokaster County, Gjirokaster County

August 8, 2021 Deane Carmody

Discover the best top things to do in Gjirokaster County, Albania including Funky Adventures, Church of Labove e Kryqit, Zekate House, Gjirokaster Castle, Skenduli House, Benja Thermal Baths, Gjirokastra Bazaar, Ethnographic Museum, Gjirokaster Mosque, The Cold War Tunnel.
Restaurants in Gjirokaster County

1. Funky Adventures

Excellent
98%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 52 reviews

Funky Adventures

We believe that traveling is the best investment and to make your holidays enjoyable and unforgettable we organize various trips, visits and adventures in the area of Përmet. We organise horse trekking - the most perfect & ecological way to visit the natural and cultural monuments, the characteristic villages, enjoy traditional organic food and meet amazing people for the most enjoyable holiday. We also organize 4x4 tours, rafting, hiking, camping, picnics, lunches or dinners.

2. Church of Labove e Kryqit

Labove e Siperme Albania
Excellent
76%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 21 reviews

Church of Labove e Kryqit

3. Zekate House

Gjirokastra, short hike form main bazaar, Gjirokaster Albania +355 4 562 8717 [email protected] http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/see-and-do/the-zekate-house/
Excellent
46%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 161 reviews

Zekate House

One of the most beautiful and best preserved houses of Gjirokastra. The Zekate House is a grand example of the typical (tower-house), belonging to the wealthiest families in Gjirokastra in 19th century. It belonged to Beqir Zeko, a general administrator of Ali Pasha. It was built in 1811-1812. Where you are in the top of it, the view of river valley is amazing. This 3 storey house has very strong defensive features, and that is why she is still so powerful until nowadays. The ground floor contains storage rooms, the kitchen and the cistern. The first floor has two rooms used as living quarters for branches of the family, while the third floor has a grand reception room and two other smaller rooms. The principal room is very typical of the grandest of these dwellings with frescoed walls, a carved ceiling and an ornate fireplace. This house gives visitors a vast understandings of the vernacular architecture. The entrance fee is € 1.00.

Reviewed By nadiaresuli - Tirana, Albania

breathtaking wood decoration and wall painting. beautiful city view. it feels like you travel in time. highly recommend.

4. Gjirokaster Castle

Gjirokaster Albania [email protected] http://www.gjirokastra.org/sub_links/visiting_sub/visiting_castle.html
Excellent
47%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 838 reviews

Gjirokaster Castle

Reviewed By B1714D - Belgrade, Serbia

We've travelled entire Albania during our 2 week tour and two towns I can point out being the most beautiful are Berat and Gjirokaster. Gjirokaster is only an hour drive from the seaside resorts of Saranda and Ksamil, and I'd suggest everyone holidaying there to make a day excursion. Gjirokaster sits on slopes of Gjere mountains overlooking a huge valley. The Castle occupies a commanding position and is a beautiful site while approaching the town. The fortress dates back to 12 c, modified and reshaped over the centuries. It's main feature, the clock tower was added in 1800's by Ottoman governor Ali Pasha Tepelena who's also responsible for a magnificent sea fortress at Porto Palermo north from Saranda on the Ionian coast (read that review). The Castle houses a military museum consisting mostly of captured WWII Italian and German weapons and a US fighter plane from the cold war era (different versions on it), as well two Pasha tombs and some underground Ottoman era rooms. However, most impressing are the views of the valley and old town below. Like most such places in Albania entry fee is extremely cheap and there are good English explanations throughout the place.

5. Skenduli House

Rruga Sokaku i Te Mareve, Gjirokaster Albania +355 4 562 8717 [email protected] http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/see-and-do/skenduli-house/
Excellent
58%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 267 reviews

Skenduli House

If you really want to know the best model of local architecture in 19th century, a visit to Skenduli house is a must. Everything is totally original and is the most authentic building in Gjirokastra. This is the best preserved house in old city of Gjirokastra, more than 300 years old (built in 1823). The owner of the house, Nasip Skenduli, a descendant of the family that originally build the house, is an amazing story teller. He will explain you everything about the house and the preserving process in years. It used to be the original Ethnographic museum during communist time, but now the owners have their house back and keep it open for visitors. What makes this house so special? Its structure shows that this has been the richest houses in Gjirokastra, because it had 9 fireplaces, (more fireplaces more richer the family was); 6 bathrooms, 12 rooms, 44 doors, 64 windows, and 4 hamam (turkish bath). Many rooms are preserved in their original shape and this is amazing.

Reviewed By pharonl - San Jose, United States

We took a great guided tour of this wealthy families home from 100-200 years ago (I forget the actual age). What a different way of life! The home is not occupied now.

6. Benja Thermal Baths

Near The Stonebridge, Permet Albania
Excellent
53%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
5%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 64 reviews

Benja Thermal Baths

Reviewed By balkanpearlstouroper - Tirana, Albania

i love to go and swim on thermal baths after i have done an sport activity around Permet city, relax and quite place from all city noises

7. Gjirokastra Bazaar

Old town, Gjirokaster Albania
Excellent
33%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
4%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 218 reviews

Gjirokastra Bazaar

Reviewed By B1714D - Belgrade, Serbia

Gjirokaster bazar is set at foothill beneath the imposing Gjirokaster castle. It's a maze of winding cobbled streets going up and down. Entire area is packed with dozens of shops - some authentic selling Albanian hand crafts like rugs and clothing items, some ordinary touristic selling souvenirs. Anyway, it's a great and very picturesque area to stroll among Ottoman era architecture. Be sure to have a drink in one of many bars or to try the traditional pastry - byrek.

8. Ethnographic Museum

Hysen Hoxha Street, Gjirokaster Albania 3763 http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/the-ethnographic-museum/
Excellent
22%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
11%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 175 reviews

Ethnographic Museum

Reviewed By rrushial - Tirana, Albania

If you visit gjirokastra city you should see this museum .. its great .. with an ottoman style this museum is known like enver hoxhas house becouse he lived there for 8 years .

9. Gjirokaster Mosque

Sheshi Cerciz Topulli, Gjirokaster Albania +355 84 262 870 [email protected] http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/the-mosque/
Excellent
16%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
32%
Poor
4%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 50 reviews

Gjirokaster Mosque

10. The Cold War Tunnel

Cerciz Topulli Square, Gjirokaster 6001 Albania [email protected] http://www.visit-gjirokastra.com/see-and-do/the-cold-war-tunnel-museum/
Excellent
27%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
9%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 95 reviews

The Cold War Tunnel

The Cold War Museum (also called the Color War Tunnel) is an underground bunker that served as an emergency shelter in the latter part of Albania’s communist era (1944-1990). This bunker, and the innumerable small bunkers found throughout the country, reflects the paranoia of Albanian’s communist dictator, Enver Hoxha. He feared a foreign invasion, especially after Albania’s breakup with Soviet Union in the early 1960s. Built in secret in the early 1970s, the bunker is 800 m long and has 59 rooms. Unlike Tirana’s bunker museum, Gjirokastër’s bunker has been left in its original state, making it less informative but much more atmospheric and genuine. This bunker was designed to accommodate many different functions in case of a nuclear attack. There are rooms for government ministries, local government, interrogators, and party elite, as well as places for sleeping, power generation, and water storage. Much of original furniture was looted from the site in 1990 but pieces still remain.

Reviewed By bj_rnerikl2018 - Oslo, Norway

We really enjoyed visiting the cold war tunnel. It all seemed very authentic, with lots of old furniture and equipment being left in the bunker.

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