Gjirokastër Old Bazaar
Pazari i Vjetër
An Ottoman-era old bazaar where five stone-paved streets meet. Shops under stone-slate roofs sell handicrafts, and it is the heart of the 'Stone City'.
Old Gjirokastër was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005 as a well-preserved Ottoman-period town, alongside Berat. Grey stone-slate roofs cover the whole town, which is known as the 'City of a Thousand Stones'. The old bazaar lies at the foot of the castle, where five steep cobbled streets meet. On either side stand 17th-century stone shops selling embroidery, carpets, copperware and wood carvings, along with the Bazaar Mosque. Try qifqi, a local specialty of rice balls. Beside the bazaar, a Cold War underground air-raid tunnel can be visited with a ticket. Note that the streets are steep and slippery, so wear non-slip shoes.
Opening hours
Open all day; shops approx. 09:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- Bazaar Mosque, Gjirokastër
- Gjirokastër Castle
- Gjirokastër Cold War Tunnel
- Ismail Kadare House
- Skënduli House
- Ethnographic Museum of Gjirokastër
- Zekate House
- Viroi Lake