Kerculla Resort

Framed by the stone rooftops of Gjirokastër's old town, the view from Resort Kerculla runs straight up to the hill castle above the city. Rooms are built to make use of it: several categories come with a balcony or a pool view, and the King Room with Pool View and the Triple Room with Pool View both look out over water and rooftops at once. Interiors are plain and comfortable rather than showy — air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, private bathrooms with bidets, a hairdryer in every room. The Deluxe King Suite and Deluxe Queen Suite add space without changing the formula, while the Duplex Quadruple Room and Family Suite with Balcony stack extra beds across two levels for groups. It is a straightforward stay. An outdoor pool anchors the grounds, with a restaurant serving local and international dishes alongside it. A fitness centre and bar round out the facilities, and parking is free for guests arriving by car. Staff direct arriving guests to follow the resort's own blue road signs rather than GPS routing through the city, a small but telling detail about the terrain.