Gjirokastër

“Gjirokastër is one of the country’s most beautiful cities, and it was my favourite place I visited during my seven days in Albania. It’s made up of a new town and a historic old town, and it’s the old town where you’ll want to base yourself. This part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many of the buildings are protected by law, meaning you get to experience a really well preserved ancient city. The best thing to do in Gjirokastër is to just explore with no real agenda. It’s like walking through a living museum and it’s incredible to see so many old buildings packed with character. Wander through the Old Bazaar (Qafa e Pazarit), in the middle of the old town. It dates back to the 17th century and would have been the centre of life in Gjirokastër, where locals and travellers purchased and traded goods. A fire in the 19th century destroyed a lot of the original bazaar, so what you see today is what’s been rebuilt in the same style, but it’s still an incredible place to explore, and to buy a souvenir.”