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Gjirokastër

Gjirokastër Castle – Gjirokastër Old Town loop from Gjirokastra

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Hiking trails & Routes

Gjirokastër

Gjirokastër Castle – Gjirokastër Old Town loop from Gjirokastra

Easy

4.8

(21)

306

hikers

Gjirokastër Castle – Gjirokastër Old Town loop from Gjirokastra

01:19

4.46km

130m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: August 2, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Hotel

Get Directions

1.13 km

Castle Tunnel to the Museum of History

Highlight • Structure

Why go around when you can go right through.
The tunnel takes you relaxed and cool to the other side of the castle.

Translated by Google •

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1.64 km

Lockheed T-33 Wreck at Gjirokastër Castle

Highlight • Monument

A special attraction are the remains of a US Air Force Lockheed T-33 that had to make an emergency landing in Kuçova in 1957.

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1.67 km

Gjirokastër Castle

Highlight • Castle

The castle is located on the upper part of a narrow ridge about a kilometer long on the eastern slope of Mali i Gjerë, which rises about 200 meters above the flat bottom of the Drino valley and stretches down to the plain. The range of hills drops steeply to the south and north, but due to the lack of rocky terrain high defensive walls had to be built. The fortified complex is 500 meters long and up to a maximum of 90 meters wide. At the narrowest point, the width hardly exceeds ten meters.
Casemates with exhibits from the Weapons Museum

The complex can be roughly divided into four sections. The western quarter is quite narrow with vaults built after 1811 and a narrow garden with a Bektashi turbe containing the tombs of two Babas from the 16th and 17th centuries. The next third contains the central buildings with the main entrance and the former prison. The next third contains wide open spaces now used as a festival stage – and auditorium – with large cisterns beneath. To the far east of the castle is a bastion and another gateway, above which is the 19th-century city clock tower.

The castle has seven towers. It used to be possible to walk through vaults along the entire length of the castle. A third gate was on the south side, opposite the main entrance.

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1.80 km

Gjirokastër Castle Clock Tower

Highlight • Castle

To the far east of the castle is a bastion and another gateway, above which is the 19th-century city clock tower.

Translated by Google •

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2.54 km

View of Gjirokastra Old Town

Highlight • Viewpoint

The upper old town of Girokastar is still very authentic.

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3.02 km

Qafa e Pazarit (Old Bazaar Quarter, Gjirokastër)

Highlight • Historical Site

The Qafa e Pazarit is the old bazaar district of the city. Definitely worth seeing and there are really some authentic shops.

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3.09 km

Gjirokastër Bazaar

Highlight • Settlement

Please keep the area clean 👍🏻

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3.11 km

Gjirokastër Old Town

Highlight • Historical Site

The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit is definitely worthwhile, because here you can still experience the really old Albania.
The old houses of wealthy merchants are particularly impressive.

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4.46 km

End point

Hotel

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.13 km

1.02 km

204 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.54 km

324 m

291 m

280 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Sunday 16 August

26°C

10°C

12 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 3.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 7, 2025,Gjirokaster ontdekken

Today we start at the castle of Gjirokastra. Despite the fact that we leave early, it is already quite warm and we take our time on the way up and in the castle. The castle is located on a mountain slope in the city, and is strategically located along the route through the valley. The castle dates from before the …

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May 3, 2023,🇦🇱 Gjirokastra - grausame Vergangenheit, quirlige Gegenwart

Over passes and through the valley of the Drino we meander through the Albanian mountains up to Gjirokastra. A mighty fortress rises above the city, which we visit. A plaque at the entrance to the fortress refers to the cruelest prison conditions. All sorts of military exhibits tell about the military function of the fortress. A wonderful view over Gjirokastra …

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October 21, 2023,Albanien 2023 - Burg Gjirokastra - 8. Tag

No other place in Albania can compare with Gjirokaster. The location on the mountain is impressive and the number of preserved large town houses with stone-covered roofs is impressive. The city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. On our city tour today we first visited the mighty fortress that towers high above the city. The beginnings date …

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October 10, 2022,Albanien Gjirokastra: Festung und wehrhafte Häuser

Gjirokastra is a mountain town above the Drinos plain. The historic old town, towered over by the citadel, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steep cobbled streets lead up to the huge citadel with a weapons museum, clock tower, bastions, cisterns, dungeons (until around 1970 the largest prison for political prisoners), etc. There are beautiful views of the wide valley …

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Gjirokastër Castle – Gjirokastër Old Town loop from Gjirokastra

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Gjirokastër Castle – Gjirokastër Old Town loop from Gjirokastra

Castle Tunnel to the Museum of History

Lockheed T-33 Wreck at Gjirokastër Castle

Gjirokastër Castle

Gjirokastër Castle Clock Tower

View of Gjirokastra Old Town

Qafa e Pazarit (Old Bazaar Quarter, Gjirokastër)

Gjirokastër Bazaar

Gjirokastër Old Town

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