Berat CastleStory N° 228
Berat & Gjirokastër Stone Towns
Wander the timeworn Ottoman lanes of Berat and Gjirokastër, Albania's living UNESCO old towns.
The itinerary.
4 days · 10 stops
Friday
Day One
Arrive in Berat, the 'City of a Thousand Windows', and watch the tiered Ottoman houses glow at dusk.
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Mangalem Quarter
The stacked white Ottoman houses on the riverbank whose rows of windows give Berat its nickname.
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Gorica Bridge
An 18th-century Ottoman stone bridge linking the two historic quarters across the Osum river.
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Hotel
Hotel Mangalemi booking.com
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Getting around
- Arriving via bus or transfer from Tirana to Berat
Saturday
Day Two
Climb to Berat's still-inhabited castle and step inside its medieval Byzantine churches.
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Berat Castle (Kalaja)
A hilltop fortress still lived in today, its lanes dotted with churches and old chapels.
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Onufri Iconographic Museum
Inside the castle's Church of the Dormition, displaying the luminous 16th-century icons of master Onufri.
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Antipatrea Restaurant
Castle-side terrace serving traditional Berat dishes with rooftop views over the old town.
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Hotel
Hotel Mangalemi booking.com
→
Getting around
- Walking up the cobbled castle road
- Short taxi to the castle gate
Sunday
Day Three
Travel south to Gjirokastër, the silver 'Stone City' of slate-roofed Ottoman mansions.
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Gjirokastër Castle
A vast hilltop citadel housing an arms museum and a captured Cold War US spy plane.
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Skenduli House
A beautifully preserved 18th-century Ottoman mansion showing how Gjirokastër's elite once lived.
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Old Bazaar
Cobbled Ottoman market streets selling carved stone, embroidery and local raki.
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Hotel
Hotel Gjirokastra booking.com
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Getting around
- Bus or transfer from Berat to Gjirokastër via the Drino valley
Monday
Day Four
A final slow morning among the slate roofs before heading on.
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Zekate House
A grand twin-towered 1812 mansion with frescoed reception rooms and panoramic views over the stone roofs.
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Taverna Kuka
Family-run tavern famed for qifqi (Gjirokastër rice balls) and slow-cooked lamb.
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Hotel
Hotel Gjirokastra booking.com
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Getting around
- Walking the old quarter
- Onward bus toward Saranda or Tirana
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Berat & Gjirokastër Stone Towns?
4 days. The itinerary runs from Friday to Monday and covers 10 curated stops across 4 days.
How much does Berat & Gjirokastër Stone Towns cost?
Mid-range — €150–300 per day per person.
Where do you stay during Berat & Gjirokastër Stone Towns?
Hotel Mangalemi is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Berat & Gjirokastër Stone Towns itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 10 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Berat Castle.
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