🏰✨ Solo Time Traveler’s Dream: Gjirokastër Castle – Albania’s Stone Giant

#holidayitinerary #balkanshiddengem For solo adventurers craving medieval grandeur with wild Balkan energy, this hilltop fortress offers: Why Solo? ✔ Ghostly Exploration – Wander underground Cold War bunkers and Ottoman prisons alone ✔ Panoramic Views – The entire Drina Valley unfolds beneath your feet ✔ Local Encounters – Chat with castle caretakers who share incredible stories Must-See Secrets 🛩️ The Captured US Spy Plane · Cold War relic displayed in the weapons museum · Climb inside for eerie solo photos ⚔️ Ottoman Clock Tower · Best spot for golden hour over "Stone City" · Original 1811 mechanism still (sort of) works 🧱 The Prison Tunnels · Bring a flashlight to explore Zog-era cells · Find hidden inscriptions from communist prisoners Perfect Solo Visit 🌅 Early Morning (8AM Open) · Enter through the Gates of Ali Pasha · Photograph empty stone pathways ☀️ Midday · Visit the National Armaments Museum (included in ticket) · Cool off in the covered bazaar below 🌇 Sunset · Claim a stone perch near the Venetian cannon collection · Listen for the evening call to prayer echoing up from town Pro Tips: ✔ 500 Lek Entry (~€4) includes all areas ✔ Wear sturdy shoes – the limestone is treacherously smooth ✔ Visit Tuesday-Thursday to avoid weekend crowds Hidden Gem: The castle’s forgotten western wall – perfect for solitude with a view Did You Know? This fortress appeared in 1960s Albanian spy films as a "Turkish stronghold"! Solo Bonus: The nearby Zekate House (19th-century tower) offers intimate Ottoman-era immersion Getting There: · From Tirana: 4-hour furgon (shared van) to Gjirokastër · On-site: 20-minute uphill walk from the bazaar (follow the stone steps) Perfect For: 2-3 hours of solo exploration. The castle cats make excellent companions! 🐈 #soloalbania ⚠️ Note: Some tunnels are unlit – phone flashlight works but a headlamp is better