From your hosts: This is one of our personal recommendations for guests staying at Panoramic View House. We know this place well and we are happy to give you more details or help you get there.
Most travelers heading to Gjirokastra book accommodation in the old town itself. But there is a better option that more and more visitors are discovering: staying in nearby Tepelenë.
Tepelenë is connected to Gjirokastra by frequent minibuses (furgons) and a well-maintained highway. The ride takes about 20 minutes by bus or 25 minutes by car through the beautiful Drino Valley.
Accommodation in Tepelenë offers better value than the increasingly popular (and pricier) Gjirokastra old town. More importantly, you get a more authentic Albanian experience — staying in a family home, eating homemade food, and experiencing genuine hospitality rather than a tourist-oriented hotel.
While Gjirokastra is a stunning city, it is a city. Tepelenë offers the Vjosa River for swimming, mountain trails for hiking, and a quiet hilltop setting with panoramic views — all within walking distance.
From Tepelenë, you are perfectly positioned to visit not just Gjirokastra, but also the Benja Thermal Baths, Blue Eye Spring, Nivica Canyon, and even the Albanian Riviera coast.
At Panoramic View House, we are happy to help guests plan their day trips and arrange transport to Gjirokastra and beyond.
Ask us about this place when you arrive — we can give you directions, recommend the best time to visit, and even arrange transport or a guided walk with Avni. Just let us know at breakfast or send a WhatsApp message anytime.
Stay at Panoramic View House — our family guesthouse overlooking the Vjosa River in Tepelenë. From €20/night with homemade breakfast.