Albania boasts two UNESCO World Heritage cities, and choosing between them can be tough. Both showcase stunning Ottoman architecture and fascinating history, but each has its own character.
Berat: The City of a Thousand Windows
The Vibe
Berat feels like a living museum where people still go about daily life. White Ottoman houses climb the hillside, their many windows giving the city its famous nickname.
Must-See Attractions
Berat Castle (Kalaja): A still-inhabited fortress with churches, mosques, and panoramic views. Mangalem Quarter: The iconic hillside of white houses. Onufri Museum: Famous 16th-century icon paintings.
Best For
Photographers, romance, Ottoman history enthusiasts, wine lovers (Berat region produces excellent wine), and those seeking a gentler pace.
Gjirokastër: The Stone City
The Vibe
Gjirokastër is dramatic and imposing. Grey stone houses with distinctive slate roofs cluster around a massive fortress. It feels ancient and slightly mysterious.
Must-See Attractions
Gjirokastër Castle: One of the largest in the Balkans, housing a weapons museum and captured US spy plane. Old Bazaar: Albania's best-preserved traditional market.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Architecture
Berat: White Ottoman houses, unified aesthetic, photogenic windows. Gjirokastër: Grey stone tower-houses, more imposing, unique to the region.
The Verdict
If you only have time for one: choose Berat for picture-perfect Ottoman beauty; choose Gjirokastër for dramatic, historically rich experience.
But honestly? Both are must-sees. A road trip taking in Tirana → Berat → Gjirokastër → Riviera is one of the best routes in Albania!
