Tour of Berat and Gjirokaster: 2 UNESCO sites in two days

This two-day tour program of Berat and Gjirokastra combines two of the best sites in Southern Albania, both on the UNESCO world heritage list and both with their own charm.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tirana – Gjirokastra

Pass By: Choose Balkans Apartments, Guided Tours & Rent a Car, Rruga Reshit Çollaku, Tirana 1000, Albania
Our tour guide will come and pick you up at your hotel in Tirana at 9:00 am in the morning.

Stop At: Gjirokaster Castle, Gjirokaster Albania
Gjirokastra is also known as “The Stone City”, part of UNESCO World heritage and is situated in Southern Albania on the eastern side of mountain “Mali i Gjere”. Gjirokastra resembles a fortified city where every single house is like a small fortress. The origin of the city starts with the castle of Gjirokastra, built in IV century A.D., and is considered as one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Balkans. Every five years, Gjirokastra becomes the capital of the Albanian folklore and traditional music, where passionate folklore ensembles gather in the “stone city” and perform their traditional music, dances and show off their costumes.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Gjirokastra Bazaar, Old town, Gjirokaster Albania
Right before entering the castle of Gjirokastra, you will have to pass by the medieval bazaar.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Gjirokaster, Gjirokaster, Gjirokaster County
At around 12:30, you will have some free time on both days of the tour to have lunch and wander around by yourself until 14:00. The atmospheric old town cascades down in a graceful hill crammed with beautiful narrowed stone decorated streets, where you will be amazed by the wide variety of handmade crafts from local artisans and producers.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gjirokastra.

Day 2: Gjirokastra – Berat – Tirana

Stop At: Berat, Berat, Berat County
Our next destination is Berat, also known as the city of 1001 windows, part of UNESCO world heritage. Walking through the narrowed stone streets offers a fantastic view of the medieval old houses, with windows that seem to stand on top of each other.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Berat Castle, Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat 5001 Albania
Berat has it all; a beautiful medieval castle, ancient churches and mosques, a lively lower town consisting of grand old houses draped on steep hillsides, an old stone bridge, great museums and remains from the communism era in Albania.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: National Iconographic Museum Onufri, Located in the Inner Part of Saint Mary Church in Berat Castel, Berat Albania
Berat is also known as the birthplace of Onufri, the famous painter of churches all-over the Balkans, distinguished for creating a specific reddish colour still difficult to imitate. We will arrive in Tirana in the late afternoon. This marks the end of this amazing experience through history and culture.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.