Travel Itinerary
Trip to Gjirokastër, Albania • a day trip • next month
Trip Details
Weather Forecast
For: 2026-01-18
January is mid-winter: crisp, often sunny days around 8 °C, cold nights near freezing, and a dusting of snow on the stone roofs—perfect for brisk walks and warm cafés.
Winter Wander Through Gjirokastër’s Stone City
Spend a crisp winter day exploring Gjirokastër’s UNESCO-listed old town, castle ruins, and a short panoramic ridge walk above the stone roofs, finishing with hearty Albanian comfort food by a wood-stove.
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Your Itinerary
Day 1
#1Coffee & Byrek in the Old Bazaar
ApproxÇerçiz Topulli Square • Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër County45 minutes
Start the day like a local with a strong espresso and flaky byrek while admiring the stone arcades of the 17th-century bazaar.
#2Gjirokastër Castle & Weapons Museum
Gjirokastër Castle • Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër County1.5 hours
WikiClimb the 13th-century fortress for sweeping valley views and a small museum of Cold-War artillery inside the battlements.
#3Ridge Walk to Ali Pasha’s Spring
ApproxAli Pasha Spring Trailhead • Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër County30 minutes (Hike)
Begin a gentle 2 km uphill path on the southern ridge; cypress trees and stone terraces frame the city below.
#4Ali Pasha Spring
ApproxAli Pasha Spring • Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër County30 minutes
Reach the stone fountain where legend says Ali Pasha watered his horses—panoramic snow-dusted ridges all around.
#5Lunch in a Traditional House
Skenduli House • Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër County1.5 hours
Sit by the wood-stove in this 300-year-old tower house for slow-cooked qifqi (rice balls) and homemade wine.
#6Sunset over Stone Roofs
Zekate House Terrace • Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër County45 minutes
Climb to the upper terrace of this 1813 mansion for golden-hour views of slate roofs and the Drino valley.
