If you wish to go to Gjirokastra by a less direct but beautiful coastal road along the “Albanian Riviera”, you will need to travel via Vlora, over the Llogara Pass and along the Ionian Coast, driving through Dhërmi, Vuno, Himarë, Borsh, Lukovë, until you arrive at Saranda. Then take the inland road toward Gjirokastra. This route takes approximately 4 to 5 hours more than travelling from Tirana on the north-south highway.
Travellers from Eastern Albania or Macedonia can journey via Elbasan and Rrogozhinë, taking one of the forks at Fier. Alternatively there is a slow but spectacularly scenic route via Pogradec, Korçë, Ersekë, Leskovik, Përmet, Këlcyrë Gorge, Uji i Ftohtë Tepelenë, and Gjirokastra. Korçë lies 195 km from Gjirokastra, about 6 hours by bus, which leaves at 6.00am.