What to See in Gjirokaster

The simplest way to plan sightseeing in Gjirokaster is by closing time. Some sights shut early in winter, and others stay open into the evening or never close at all. This page orders them that way, so you can see the early closers first. Fees are quoted in Albanian lek (ALL) and settled in cash. The old town has been on the UNESCO list since 2005.

See these first in winter

Cold War Tunnel. From November to March the tunnel is open only 08:00 to 14:00. From April to October it opens 09:00 to 18:00. The guided visit costs about 200 ALL and takes 20 to 30 minutes. The tunnel is a shelter dug in the early 1970s, with about 800 m of passages and 59 rooms. It sits near the Municipality building by Çerçiz Topulli Square, and it records the communist period in a sober way.

Gjirokaster Castle. Winter hours are shorter, and the castle may be shut on Mondays. The gate ticket is about 400 ALL, the armaments museum may cost about 200 ALL extra, and cards and euros are not accepted at the kiosk. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the steep climb. A former prison used in the 20th century, including the communist period, stands within the complex.

Ethnographic Museum. Summer hours are about 08:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 19:00 daily. In winter it opens Wednesday to Sunday, about 08:00 to 16:00. Expect about 200 to 500 ALL. The museum is a rebuilt tower house, replacing the one where Enver Hoxha was born in 1908 that burned in 1966, and it has no Hoxha displays.

Open for longer days

Zekate House. Daily from 08:00 until late, per the official page, at 300 ALL or EUR 3. There is no electric light, so visit before about 16:00. Beqir Zeko had it built in 1811 to 1812.

Ismail Kadare House. Daily 09:00 to 17:00 at Rruga Fato Berberi 16 in Palorto. The house dates from 1799 and the museum from January 2018. Tickets are 500 ALL individual, 400 ALL for groups over five, 300 ALL students and 200 ALL children and disabled visitors. The novelist, born in 1936, died in 2024.

By arrangement

Skënduli House. Built in 1823 and shown by family members for about 200 to 300 ALL. There are no fixed hours, and pre-booking is the safer route from November to March.

Any time

The bazaar and Bazaar Mosque. The lanes of the old bazaar are free to walk. The mosque was completed in 1757. Watch your footing, because the cobbles are slippery when wet.

Guided sightseeing options appear on Viator . The official Cold War Tunnel page gives its seasonal hours.

Read more: attraction tours , walking tours and the 3 day Albania itinerary .