Overview

Approximately 2 hours by car from Ksamil lies the historic town of Gjirokaster. This city is as well on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. The main reason for this is the old fort perched on top of the town and the traditional stone houses.Gjirokaster is a nice day trip where you can stroll around the ancient alleys and learn more about the Albanian culture and history. The easiest way to get here is by car, but there are also daily minibusses from Saranda. Stopover Gjirokastër Castle This castle has a rich history. In recent history, it’s served as a prison, first by the King of the Albanians, Zog I, then by the Nazis, and finally by the communist regime. Since 1971, it has served as a military museum. Visiting this place and viewing the dozens of war tanks, along with the United States Air Force plane that the Communists captured is free. If you would like to see artillery and memorabilia from the times of the Communist resistance against Nazi occupation, you have to pay an extra 100 or 200 ALL. The easiest way to get here is by car, but there are also daily mini-busses from Saranda.