A family-run guest house in the Ottoman old town of Gjirokastër, with home-made breakfast, its own restaurant overlooking the castle and hosts who are there for everything. Steps from the Old Bazaar.
Breakfast included · Free cancellation on most rates
Gjirokastër is the stone city: an Ottoman town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, clinging to the slope of a valley in southern Albania, with steep cobbled streets, tower houses roofed in grey slate and one of the few Ottoman bazaars still standing in the Balkans.
Right in the historic centre, on Rruga Evlia Celebi, Te Kalaja Rooms is a family-run guest house — not a hotel — with few rooms and the welcome of a private home. Guests give it 9.6 for location and 9.6 for staff: which is exactly what you come here for.
Two types, exactly as listed on Booking.com. Both with a private bathroom, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and free WiFi.
The largest room in the house, looking out over the mountain and the rooftops of the town. Air conditioning, private bathroom, flat-screen TV and free WiFi.
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Made for three, with a garden view. The practical choice for a family or a small group who want to stay in the stone old town. Air conditioning, private bathroom, TV and free WiFi.
Check availabilityRoom types, beds and capacities taken from the Booking.com listing. Checked on 04/08/2026.
The facilities Booking.com highlights for this house. Guests rate facilities 9.5.
Based on real traveller reviews on Booking.com. Almost all with free cancellation.
See all activities in Gjirokastër
Real activities and ratings from Booking.com, converted to a 10-point scale. Checked on 01/08/2026.
The fortress above the town, with its weapons museum. Open every day from 9 am to 7 pm; entry ~200 lek (+200 lek for the museums).
Skenduli and Zekate, two 18th-century stone mansions you can visit inside.
Crafts and cafés on cobbled streets, steps from the house.
This is not a beach destination: it is a museum town in the mountains. Spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) are the best time: mild weather and fewer people. Summer is the liveliest, but very hot.
Average high and monthly rainfall for Gjirokastër (200 m above sea level). Source: climatestotravel.com. July and August are dry and very hot; November is the rainiest month of the year.
Gjirokastër is far better with a car: the Blue Eye, Butrint and Saranda are all a short drive away.
The easiest way to explore southern Albania. The Blue Eye of Muzinë, Butrint and the Riviera are all day trips from Gjirokastër.
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The main airport is Tirana (TIA), about 215 km away. Closer alternatives are Ioannina and Corfu, in Greece, very handy if you are combining both countries.
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Fixed price, door to door. The driver tracks your flight and waits up to 45 minutes if it is delayed; taxes, tolls and tip included, a sign with your name on arrival and free cancellation up to 24 h before.
More than 100 activities start from Gjirokastër: the Blue Eye, Butrint, Ksamil, rafting on the Vjosa and horse riding in the National Park. Most with free cancellation.
See activitiesRruga Evlia Celebi, 6001 Gjirokastër, Albania. In the historic centre, walking distance from the castle and the Old Bazaar.
Excellent location: guests rate the location 9.6/10 on Booking.com. Along with the breakfast, it is what they praise most.
Distances from Booking.com (shortest on foot or by car; actual distances may vary). Travel times checked on 30/07/2026.
Real reviews from verified Booking.com guests. Checked on 03/08/2026.
“Great. A very attentive family. Comfortable. Thank you for everything.”
“The whole property is a 10. I booked at the last minute and they got in touch very quickly and waited for me even though I arrived close to midnight. The room with a castle view is beautiful, super cosy, spotlessly clean…”
“The owners were excellent to deal with. They took care of everything. The restaurant is very good, good food at a good price. The restaurant terrace has excellent castle views. The breakfast fantastic…”
“A perfect location, which let us visit the castle right after we arrived. She let us use the parking space, which on those streets is much appreciated. The hosts are extremely kind…”
What people ask most before booking in Gjirokastër.
At Rruga Evlia Celebi 6001, in the stone historic centre of Gjirokastër (Albania), walking distance from the castle and the Old Bazaar. Guests rate the location 9.6 out of 10 on Booking.com.
Yes. The rates shown on Booking.com include a home-made breakfast, rated exceptional by guests. The house also has its own restaurant serving local food, with a terrace and castle views.
Check-in is available 24 hours; it is best to let them know your arrival time. Check-out is from 8:00 to 11:00.
The Deluxe Double Room (25 m²) sleeps up to 2 people, with a double bed and a sofa bed. The Classic Triple Room (20 m²) sleeps up to 3, with a single bed and a bunk bed.
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October): mild weather and fewer people. July and August are dry and very hot, with average highs of 34 and 35 °C; November is the rainiest month.
Te Kalaja Rooms and the rest of the places to stay in the historic centre, with real prices and availability.
When the day buses leave, Gjirokastër falls silent and the castle lights up. It is worth staying at least one night, and staying up here, in the stone old town.
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