Castle of Gjirokastra

Most recently used during communist era of Albanian history to imprison and destroy, it is a somber, yet fascinating place with at least 1500 years of history layered in its foundations and walls. The view from the top of the walls is incredible. The outer arches which once contained the markets and displayed artisan wares spike the imagination. The sheer amount of stone in this enormous castle is mind blowing. Definitely worth the visit, the history, the views, the reflection and imagining.

Very interesting! They have scheduled events going on inside the castle, check it before visiting for added experience. We were able to watch like a piano competition of children and they were all very good. The history surrounding the castle was very interesting. Would visit again

Amazing experience. It requires a good walk uphill to get there. However, there may be a better way to drive there for those with difficult mobility.
We paid 200 LEK each for entrance in September.
This is really cheap for the size of the place and how interesting it is.

It lacks some explanation around the history, and guided tours were not available. However, it was not an issue as the views and the information available made this visit one of the highlights of our trip.

This was a lovely castle with plenty to do, walking around, stories and beautiful scenery. It also is very inexpensive. Have to have their local money.

The castle is a must-see when visiting this city. Beautiful castle, great views from the top. The entrance costs 400 lek, a lot of people are standing at the entrance. And yet some chambers are neglected. Lots of empty seats here. There is a toilet, some cannons, a Fiat tank on site. I recommend to everyone.

A must in Albania 🇦🇱)A well-preserved castle with impressive history,a lot to do ,a lot to see,a few museums ,beautiful panorama views to the city,time to think)Better to come early morning to avoid crowds of tourists and a queue to buy tickets .The museums charge extra fee.Don’t miss the real pearl)))

Extraordinary huge castle where one can visit nearly every room. Stuffed with clear information and a lot of rooms to keep you busy for 2-3 hours. Can be very busy during high season, but it’s the perfect shelter for the scorching heat. If you look good you van even find a bat cave, but please don’t disturb the them.

This is MUST SEE of the beautiful city Gjirokastër. I highly recomend to visit this beautiful place.

The entrance fee is 4€/400leke, there is extra 2€/200leke if your want to enter the museum in the Castle (history of Castle - English describtion, Guns collection with history of the WW2 and the Communism prison - no English describtion).

The views from the Castle are astonishing (in the very positive way).

DON'T MISS THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE!

Amazing place to visit! The views are stunning. You can see the Unesco village, the mountains and the valley. The castle has a lot of history and is well preserved after the renovation. The festival area is a great spot for nice pictures. Would definitely recommend a visit.

If you visit to Albania, you have to come here. If you are based in Vlora and leave early in the morning, you can drive down to the castle of Porto Palermo and listen to the Ali Pasha story, then visit Borsh castle (so worth it!), drive down to Saranda and take a turn to Gjirokaster. After spending some time there, you can drive back to Vlora through Tepelene. You can finish the trip at Kanina castle and watch the sunset. We did this first week of November - short days, but we managed. In summer it would be easy and you can also add the Himara castle.

Loved it! Worth the money. We paid 400 leke (if you want to visit the museum it will be 200 leke more, but we didn't)

It is very informative and there is a lot to see + a great view from the top
It's very cool inside so that's nice for hot summer days

There are a lot of interesting stories all around the castle from which you can learn new things

Vast city on the hills, most of the castle remains in very good condition. Amazing views and lots of information about the castle and it's history. We absolutely loved it.

If I could rate this higher than 5⭐ I would.
It’s just spectacular from the walk up to the castle through to the museums.
The work done there is incredible. So much history and not all pleasant. We spent about 4 hours there taking in everything.
A cafe on site would be a goldmine.

This place was one of my favourite in Albania.

It’s definitely one of the best castles to visit in Albania even though the military exhibition is a little odd.

You need to have cash !! But it will be worth it, very nice view and beautiful castle.

Well perserved castle with an interesting history. Entry was 400lk. The views from the castle are a nice bonus.

Very beautiful castle, so much history. It was our first time visiting the castle and the city of Gjirokaster. It is really a worth a visit. There were many tourists visiting the castle so it can get a bit crowded but still spacious. The entry wasn’t expensive at all, it was between 209-400 leke. There is 2 small museums inside the castle, that I also recommend to visit, the entry for that was 200 leke. Don’t forget to bring your own drinks and snacks, because there is no store or cafe inside the castle. If you are visiting the castle on a hot day don’t forget to bring your water with you.

A beautiful castle with amazing views and an outstanding amount of history. If you like history (or even if you don't) you should go to the castle museum (additional 200Lek) to better understand the extensive history of the castle and Gjirokasters' Roman to Communist history.

We had a wonderful experience visiting the castle! The location is truly beautiful and impressive. The ticket price of 4 euros per person is affordable, making the visit all the more enjoyable.

However, before we go, I want to warn you about the facilities available. Due to the fact that the location is dotted with cisterns, it is essential that you have a bottle of water with you that you can refill during your visit, especially as the location is vast and you will need water along the way.

Also note that before entering the Old Town, there is a paid underground parking lot to leave your car. Make sure you have valid coins or payment methods to avoid inconvenience.

Another important point to mention is that the location has no safety fences, which means you need to keep a close eye on children to avoid accidents.

All in all, the castle is definitely worth visiting due to its beauty and reasonable ticket price. Be prepared with water for the visit and make sure to look after the little ones. However, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time exploring this impressive location!

Stunning views, and good place to know more about Albanian history, they have a weapons museum which was very interesting. Deffo worth the visit.