Guest House Near Gjirokastra — Stay in Tepelenë
Gjirokastra, the UNESCO World Heritage “City of Stone,” is just 20 minutes by bus from our guesthouse in Tepelenë. Instead of staying in the busy tourist center, many travelers choose the quiet hillside of Tepelenë for lower prices, authentic family hospitality, and panoramic river views — with easy day-trip access to Gjirokastra.
The bus from Tepelenë to Gjirokastra runs frequently and costs just a few hundred lekë. You can also drive in about 25 minutes along the well-maintained SH4 highway through the Drino Valley.
What to See in Gjirokastra
Explore the magnificent Gjirokastra Castle, home to a military museum and panoramic views over the stone-roofed Ottoman houses below. Wander the Old Bazaar with its artisan shops and traditional cafes, visit the Skenduli House (a perfectly preserved Ottoman-era mansion), and see the Ethnographic Museum in the former home of Enver Hoxha.
The cobblestone streets of the old town are a photographer’s dream — layers of grey stone, wooden balconies, and centuries of history around every corner.
