If youre really adventurous you can hike 5 kilometers from nearby Lukove Beach. For lunch, Id recommend Restaurant Pulebardha which is located on the rocks. Borsch Beach Borsch and Qeparo Hotels 5. My favourite is Chillys Bottle. Receive the best travel offers directly in your email. The best activity in Ksamil is to swim, peddle or rent a boat to visit the three little islands in the bay. Water Shoes | Water shoes may come in handy at stony Albanian beaches. And, if lounging on the beach is not really your thing and you would rather explore all the best things to do in Albanian Riviera, Saranda is an excellent base for visiting places like Gjirokaster, the Albanian Blue Eye and Europes best beaches Albania is renowned for! Youllfind many incredible south Albania beaches in and around the city, including Vlor Beach, which is sometimes also spelled Vlora Beach. During the months of July and August, colourful sunbeds and umbrellas fill almost the entire space. The real gem, though, is the ancient ghost village on the top of the hill, where you can admire the ruins of the Himar Castle. Pogradec is a hugely popular destination for Albanian tourism. Situated in front of a trendy seaside beach bar, is Lamani Beach. Tucked between soaring cliffs covered with greenery, Gjipe Beach is considered to be one of the most epic and top beaches in Albania! Beautiful and empty hidden beach in Narta Lagoon. Other beach facilities include a shower and toilets. Hidden behind a cliff from the main stretch of Himare beaches, about 2.5 km away, are the crystal clear waters of Filikurit Beach. You can come here for lunch and cool down by the waterfall! There is also so much more to this country than the stunning Albanian riviera beaches. Largely yes. What to pack for your holidays to Albanian Riviera? What to See in Albania The Best Places To Visit (2020), Travelling to Albania by Car: Safety, Roads, Rental and Advice. If youve seen photos of the Albanian Riviera then chances are, theyve been taken from Ksamil Beach. This tour is a great way of visiting lots of different beaches along the coast as it allows you to choose which beaches youd like to visit. Another hidden gem in Albania is Gjipe Beach. Most of the most beautiful Albanian beaches are clustered around Saranda and the Albanian Riviera, which stretches through the coastal regions of Saranda and Vlora. Share Sondor Travel While its all about stunning natural beauty now, some historians claim that its played a significant historical role. It is also possible to catch a bus from Saranda, Vlore or Tirana. Its around 8 kilometers in length and is surrounded by a pine forest which is a great place to take a long walk. Albanians are very open and extremely friendly towards foreign tourists. Vlore is also situated on the Albanian coast, over two hours drive south of Tirana and up to 3 hours north of Saranda. It's located between Vlora and Saranda in the Albanian Riviera and stretches around 1 kilometer along the coast. Its picture-perfect location makes this one of the best beaches in Albania, and for a good reason. The only thing to be aware of in Albania is driving. The water is super turquoise but not as calm as on Monastery Beach, in fact, waves are fairly common here, especially in the afternoon. I visited Butrint in August in the high season, and even then, the place wasnt busy, which was a nice bonus. Ksamil Albania is located on the southwestern coast of the Albanian Riviera, and its a part of Butrint National Park and the municipality of Sarande, which is situated 14 km north of Ksamil town. Our lady host took us here, and she was super scared to drive, and judging by the distance, it would take around 30 minutes to walk to the beach from the bus stop. What to expect at Ksamil Beaches Albania? Whats the best time to visit Albania Albanian cities vs Riviera Albania? Borsh and Qeparo are two adjacent small towns located on a large plain by the Ionian Sea. However, during the last 20 years, the Albanian Riviera's . You can expect to find beaches with facilities much cleaner.Its at the more remote beaches, or during the off-season when the restaurants are closed, that you may see more rubbish. The beach itself is a pebble beach surrounded by coastal pine forests. In this ultimate guide, youll find out everything you need to know about living in Albania as a digital nomad. The coastline in Ksamil is divided into sections belonging to different beach bars and clubs that offer umbrella and sun loungers rental. What is the best beach in Albania? We spent 3 weeks discovering several amazing places to visit along the riviera, including Sarande, Himare, Gjirokaster, the Blue Eye, and of course many beautiful beaches. Restaurant Rrapi Gjipe is located right on the beach and is great for grabbing a spot of lunch or a few drinks throughout the day to keep up the hydration levels. You can learn more about it at the Museum of National Independence situated in the heart of the city, which actually also served as government headquarters for the first few months after announcing the independence. By car | Travelling by car is probably the easiest way to get to the beach. The beautiful aquamarine water will make you feel as if you are in French Polynesia. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Please, review your name. If youre planning holidays to Albanian Riviera and want to experience a local vibe and super friendly people, choose Himare. Want to know the best tips for backpacking Albania? TIP | Bring water shoes to walk on the pebbles with comfort. Saranda (Sarand) - main seaside resort of Albania Lively promenade in Saranda Saranda is the No. As well as tourism, prosperity for the community comes from the production of olive oil, which is very well-known in the area. And the water is, indeed, amazingly clear here, featuring a stunning turquoise color. Our water literally stays icy cold the whole day! Pack a sand-free beach towel and head to Jal Beach, also known as Jala Beach, the perfect beach for those who fancy renting a canoe or other facilities or even people traveling with kids. A little further on from Himara and Borsh Beach lies Buneci Beach. Another of the great Albania beaches that I really like is Porto Palermo, a small peninsula topped by a stronghold built by Ali Pasha during the 19th century. Located in a secluded covered bay between the popular destinations of Saranda and Ksamil, it really feels like an escape from the crowds here. Dhermi | Best beach clubs + quaint old town. Rooms are modern and come with an ensuite bathroom and a balcony and come with a sea view. Located 65km hours south of Vlore between Drymades and Himara, Gjipe Beach is a rare example of an unspoiled Albanian beach. For me, its one of the best beaches in Albania as its a long, beautiful beach that avoids being over-commercialized. Local life is in full force in. It costs 300 LEK (3) and gets you to Skanderbeg Square. The best beaches in Albania near Tirana are: - Durres beach (45 min drive) - Golem beach (60 min drive) - The Cape of Rodon (2-hour drive) - The Bay of Lalzi (45 min drive) - Rana e Hedhun or Thrown Sand beach (1 h and 20 min drive) - General's beach (1.5-hour drive) - Spille beach (1.5-hour drive - Vlore beach (3-hour drive) Durres Beach In August, Ksamil gets very crowded. There are a few restaurants that line the beach but I enjoyed Sarda best for the seafood pasta dishes. Himare is well connected with other major cities, and you can take a bus here from Tirana, Sarande, Vlore or Dhermi. Below, youll find the best places to stay in Albanian Riviera for the best beaches in Albania, best things to do and the best resorts in Albania. Depending on the time of your arrival, you can stay a few nights in the Albanian capital (I recommend staying 1-2 nights) or head directly to one of the Albanian beach resorts. Its located between Vlora and Saranda in the Albanian Riviera and stretches around 1 kilometer along the coast. If its specifically sand youre after, Narte Beach, (north of Vlore), is a great option. It has a lot of free area, but there is also an option of taking an umbrella. The centre of Himara is full of nice restaurants and bars, bustling with life till late. Ksamil - a favorite Albanian beach town A 15-minute car or bus ride away from Saranda, Ksamil is where everyone goes to see the best Albanian beaches. So, being totally relaxed is just one rowboat away. Its nestled in green foothills and features incredibly clear waters. Always go for the full insurance and take a short video of the car recording all its existing scratches and dents before you drive away from the car rental place. Follow me for free travel guides, tips and inspiring photography from all over the world. Dhermi Beach. The beach is inaccessible by car, and perhaps for that reason, it is a secret beach of Himare where you can have a peaceful beach day with only a handful of other people or if youre lucky, no one at all! Golem Beach is just south of the city of Durres and around an hour from Tirana; making it one of the top beaches in Albania for those staying in the capital. DAY 3 Saranda Saranda town & Forty Saints Monastery, DAY 4 Saranda Day trip to Gjirokaster & Blue Eye, Day 5 Himare Hike to Livadhi Beach or kayak to Filikuri Beach, Day 8 Himare Day trip to Dhermi old town + beach, Day 10 Vlore relax & take a bus to Tirana airport. Albania is a very underrated destination that really deserves more attention! It is always tricky to answer this question as the number of days youll need will largely depend on how many days you have and your travel style. What to expect at Albania beaches Saranda? The road down to Mirrors beach is windy and narrow, and often only fits one car. If youre more of a DIY person, dont worry, there is plenty of beach between beach clubs to stretch your own towel. Himara was a sleepy village, and Saranda was only a small, low-rise city. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Its one of the best beaches in Albania for those staying in Tirana and wanting to escape to the coast for a day. Its hard to explain how beautiful the beaches are here. Find Golem Beach here on the map. There are two main noticeable parts of the coast in Dhermi. Macedonia, Romania, Russia, and Serbia. You do need to take a 30-minute walk (around 1.5 kilometers) to reach Gjipe Beach. This is a short but wide white pebble beach; this is a much quieter alternative than the sometimes crowded beaches a bit further up the coast. Top 15 Best Beaches In Albania, 2022 Kruno Eti 115K views 4 years ago Valona - Dermi - Himara - Saranda (Vlor - Dhrmi - Himar - Sarand) Robi MotoADV 120K views 1 year ago Espaoles en el. 38 km south of Saranda Albania, you can find a quaint town of Borsh that boasts a stunning coastline. The name includes the southern part of the coastline, starting from the city of Vlor at the Ionian Sea, and all the way to the Ksamil archipelago on the south, close to the border with Greece. Swimming at the beach in Saranda is a pure pleasure, with the Ionian Sea being so transparent that you can see all the way down to the bottom! Lively nightlife and a big choice of restaurants and bars make it a nice place for holidays. We loved the Pogradec waterfront, with its colorful fishermens boats lying on the beach, suspended in the foggy atmosphere of the late afternoon when the lake mirrors the mountains and the clouds. Its one of the main holidays destinations fro Albanians themselves and beaches are many, but quite small. Borsh is a great alternative to Saranda beach Albania during the busiest summer months of July and August for those that are looking for a more secluded spot for their beach day. The Albanian coastline is super diverse and offers something for everyone. The water isnt as vibrant as it is further south, but its really clean, warm, and enjoyable to swim in. It is not visible from any road above, as it is well hidden behind the steep mountain slopes. With deliciously blue seas, a curious network of caves and the towering ochre cliffs of the Gjipe Canyon leading directly off the pebbled shore, it's a beautiful spot to while away the day.