Gjirokastër Castle on Course for Record Year in 2026

Albania’s most dramatic castle is having its best year on record. Gjirokastër Castle drew 130,000 visitors in the first six months of 2026, according to figures released by Albania’s national heritage authority - an increase of roughly 12,000 on the same period in 2025. At the current pace, the castle is on course to exceed 250,000 visitors for the full calendar year, a milestone it has not previously reached.

Why the Numbers Are Rising

Gjirokastër has benefited from a steady increase in overland travel through southern Albania over the past three years. Improved road connections between Sarandë, Gjirokastër, and the Greek border crossing at Kakavijë have shortened journey times and made the city a practical overnight stop rather than a day-trip afterthought.

The castle itself - a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the town’s old bazaar district below it - has also received investment in its visitor facilities. A new interpretation trail and updated English-language signage were added in late 2025, and a permanent exhibition on the castle’s Ottoman, communist, and post-communist history opened in the north tower earlier this year.

Guided tours now run in six languages throughout the summer, and the National Folklore Festival, held inside the castle every five years, brought a significant spike in June traffic.

What Visitors Will Find

The castle complex covers a wide area, with the Ottoman clock tower, the cold war-era US spy plane on permanent display, and panoramic views over the Drinos River valley among the highlights. Allow two to three hours to cover it properly - the site is large and the cobblestone paths through the old town below add walking time.

Entrance tickets are available at the gate. July and August bring the highest footfall, so arriving before 10:00 or after 16:00 avoids the main tour-group peak.

For accommodation within walking distance of the castle, our where-to-stay guide covers the best guesthouses in the historic quarter. For a full picture of what to do in the city and the wider southern Albania region, the things to do section includes day-trip options into the Llogara Pass and the coast. Travel information for the Balkans covers border crossings, buses, and how to get to Gjirokastër from Tirana or Sarandë.

The castle’s growing visitor numbers reflect a broader shift: southern Albania is no longer a footnote on the Balkan circuit. It has become a destination in its own right.