First Stop… Sarandë
Sarandë is the access point of the Albanian Riviera. Stay here for a night or two to rest up and get settled in.
From here rent a car and make your way up north. I recommend making your home base the quant seaside town of Himarë and taking day trips to explore other areas. In this guide I'll highlight Sarandë, Himarë, and Ksamil as great places to stay overnight, and outline other beaches and sights that require day trips.
I used a local company, EasyGo Car Rental to rent a car. It was easy and they provided great service.
Ksamil
I am adding Ksamil after Sarandë, but it can really be done at the beginning, or end of your trip as it is just ~20 minutes south of Sarandë.
Stay
Eat
Road-trip to Himarë
As you make your way up to Himarë, there are some great places to stop along the way.
Beaches
Stop and take a dip at these relaxed and quiet beaches.
Eat
Stopping for lunch at Ujvara Restaurant is a must! Set on the banks of multiple cool and refreshing waterfalls, it is such a unique scene. You would never expect this natural spring to be hidden behind the walls of this restaurant right off the highway!
See
Porto Palermo is a stunning old fortess between the sea and mountains. Stop and check out this castle and enjoy the view from the rooftop.
Himarë
Arriving in Himarë, you'll be greeted by warm faces and sunshine. I recommend making Himarë your home base and taking day trips to explore other areas. It's a cute beach town with great restaurants, nightlife, and beaches.
Stay
Margarita Guesthouse was in the perfect location, walking distance to the beach, off a gorgeous quiet street with beautiful bougainvalleas.
Eat
The cutest cantaloupe cocktail from the beach club right below La Famiglia restaurant.
Do
Take a stroll down the beachfront promenade during sunset to see the city come to life. The streets are full of kids playing in the street, vendors selling artisan crafts, food, and carnival games. The restaurants along the water come alive at night and there are many options to choose from. Himarë is also known for its trendy beach clubs which are full during high season.
*MUST DO* Take a boat tour
View from Gramma Bay Beach, one of the stops on the boat tour
Day Trips from Himarë
After having spent some time enjoying Himarë, it’s time to see what else the Albanian Riviera has to offer.
Gjipe Beach
Set below the tiny quaint town of Vuno, Gjipe beach was one of my favorite beaches and is a great day trip from Himarë.
You can also choose to stay at the Gjipe Eco Campground, literally right on the beach! I stayed here a night and it was so amazing stepping out of my tent and walking down to the beach.
On the way there/back, stop to grab a delicious bite at Restaurant Marko. The restaurant is right off the highway passing through Vuno and has an amazing view of the green valley and sea below. They serve traditional Greek/Albanian food such as grilled meat, tzatziki, bread, feta, and fresh greek salad.
Jale Beach
Jale Beach is between Himarë and Gjipe beach. Right before the town of Vuno (coming from Himarë) you'll come across a road leading down to Jale Beach. I loved this drive because you have great views of the sea and its crystal clear water and Jale beach is actually known for the intense color of its water. Take a swim and enjoy the sunset at the many beach clubs.
Llogora Pass
One of my favorite parts of the Albanian Riviera was driving and making sense of the contrasting scenery. To really get a taste for how incredible this area is, take a drive through Dhermi and up the Llogora Pass. As one of the best coastal drives in the world, you will not want to miss it.
On the way, stop at a local bakery to pick up some roadtrip snacks. Try Burek, a traditional Balkan flakey dough pastry with endless options of fillings such as meat, cheese, spinach, or potatoes.
Enjoy the view as you drive up the zig zag road to the lookout point at Panorama Llogora. The winding road up this high mountain pass shows stunning views of the sea down below.
If you continue driving after reaching the peak of the pass, you’ll notice the scenery begin to transform into a forest with log cabin style restaurants and hotels. You would never imagine that just 15 minutes over the mountain there were white sandy beaches and crystal clear water! Two completely contrasting ecosystems so close together.
Dhermiu & Drymades
Dhermiu Beach and Drymades Beach are the last beaches/towns before you leave the Albanian Riviera and start climbing the Llogora Pass. The town of Dhermi is beautiful and known to be on the more expensive side as it is home to some of the best beach clubs and resorts. Definately more upscale than Himare, but a completley different vibe. Himare feels more homey and local, while Dhermiu and Drymades are where you want to go to for more privacy and exclusivity. As a backpacker or budget traveler I recommend Himare.
First Stop… Sarandë
Sarandë is the access point of the Albanian Riviera. Stay here for a night or two to rest up and get settled in.
From here rent a car and make your way up north. I recommend making your home base the quant seaside town of Himarë and taking day trips to explore other areas. In this guide I'll highlight Sarandë, Himarë, and Ksamil as great places to stay overnight, and outline other beaches and sights that require day trips.
I used a local company, EasyGo Car Rental to rent a car. It was easy and they provided great service.
Ksamil
I am adding Ksamil after Sarandë, but it can really be done at the beginning, or end of your trip as it is just ~20 minutes south of Sarandë.
Stay
Eat
Road-trip to Himarë
As you make your way up to Himarë, there are some great places to stop along the way.
Beaches
Stop and take a dip at these relaxed and quiet beaches.
Eat
Stopping for lunch at Ujvara Restaurant is a must! Set on the banks of multiple cool and refreshing waterfalls, it is such a unique scene. You would never expect this natural spring to be hidden behind the walls of this restaurant right off the highway!
See
Porto Palermo is a stunning old fortess between the sea and mountains. Stop and check out this castle and enjoy the view from the rooftop.
Himarë
Arriving in Himarë, you'll be greeted by warm faces and sunshine. I recommend making Himarë your home base and taking day trips to explore other areas. It's a cute beach town with great restaurants, nightlife, and beaches.
Stay
Margarita Guesthouse was in the perfect location, walking distance to the beach, off a gorgeous quiet street with beautiful bougainvalleas.
Eat
The cutest cantaloupe cocktail from the beach club right below La Famiglia restaurant.
Do
Take a stroll down the beachfront promenade during sunset to see the city come to life. The streets are full of kids playing in the street, vendors selling artisan crafts, food, and carnival games. The restaurants along the water come alive at night and there are many options to choose from. Himarë is also known for its trendy beach clubs which are full during high season.
*MUST DO* Take a boat tour
View from Gramma Bay Beach, one of the stops on the boat tour
Day Trips from Himarë
After having spent some time enjoying Himarë, it’s time to see what else the Albanian Riviera has to offer.
Gjipe Beach
Set below the tiny quaint town of Vuno, Gjipe beach was one of my favorite beaches and is a great day trip from Himarë.
You can also choose to stay at the Gjipe Eco Campground, literally right on the beach! I stayed here a night and it was so amazing stepping out of my tent and walking down to the beach.
On the way there/back, stop to grab a delicious bite at Restaurant Marko. The restaurant is right off the highway passing through Vuno and has an amazing view of the green valley and sea below. They serve traditional Greek/Albanian food such as grilled meat, tzatziki, bread, feta, and fresh greek salad.
Jale Beach
Jale Beach is between Himarë and Gjipe beach. Right before the town of Vuno (coming from Himarë) you'll come across a road leading down to Jale Beach. I loved this drive because you have great views of the sea and its crystal clear water and Jale beach is actually known for the intense color of its water. Take a swim and enjoy the sunset at the many beach clubs.
Llogora Pass
One of my favorite parts of the Albanian Riviera was driving and making sense of the contrasting scenery. To really get a taste for how incredible this area is, take a drive through Dhermi and up the Llogora Pass. As one of the best coastal drives in the world, you will not want to miss it.
On the way, stop at a local bakery to pick up some roadtrip snacks. Try Burek, a traditional Balkan flakey dough pastry with endless options of fillings such as meat, cheese, spinach, or potatoes.
Enjoy the view as you drive up the zig zag road to the lookout point at Panorama Llogora. The winding road up this high mountain pass shows stunning views of the sea down below.
If you continue driving after reaching the peak of the pass, you’ll notice the scenery begin to transform into a forest with log cabin style restaurants and hotels. You would never imagine that just 15 minutes over the mountain there were white sandy beaches and crystal clear water! Two completely contrasting ecosystems so close together.
Dhermiu & Drymades
Dhermiu Beach and Drymades Beach are the last beaches/towns before you leave the Albanian Riviera and start climbing the Llogora Pass. The town of Dhermi is beautiful and known to be on the more expensive side as it is home to some of the best beach clubs and resorts. Definately more upscale than Himare, but a completley different vibe. Himare feels more homey and local, while Dhermiu and Drymades are where you want to go to for more privacy and exclusivity. As a backpacker or budget traveler I recommend Himare.