Berat vs Gjirokastër: Which UNESCO City Should You Visit?

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!