Stone City Hostel

We only had two nights here and wished we could stay longer. The dorm room was clean and had a lovely castle view. I’d add curtains to the beds, though since I had the top bunk it didn’t bother me much. Toilets, showers, and shared areas were all very clean. There was a generous breakfast with fruit, homemade banana cake, tea and coffee, bread and spreads, and a fried egg. The volunteers were incredibly friendly and helpful, and the hostel was beautifully decorated. Walter, the owner, put together a pamphlet with local hiking suggestions. It’s a social place with a different activity each night. Our first evening was homemade cocktails, possibly with mint from the garden, and the next night Walter led an informative city tour that showed us places we’d missed and taught us new things about Gjirokaster and Albania.

The volunteers were kind, respectful, and helpful, but the Albanian receptionist was rude and unfriendly. I felt unwelcome, and his behavior brought down the whole stay. He could learn a lot about customer service from the volunteers.

I keep coming back to this house, my favorite place in Albania. It’s beautiful, charming, very clean, and wonderfully welcoming. The hosts know Albania and Gjirokastra well and are always happy to suggest things to see and do. There’s a lovely terrace for sitting with a book for hours. The beds are comfortable, and breakfast, including homemade cake, is served in a cozy shared living room and kitchen full of books and board games.

Only a few minutes from the bazaar and castle, and the place has a clean, cozy, laid-back feel. The owners and staff really make an effort to help you feel welcome and comfortable. A wonderful hostel, highly recommend!