Albanian Riviera Travel Guide — Beaches, Hotels & Tours

Where to stay

Hotels in Ksamil, Saranda, Himarë & Dhërmi

Each Riviera town has a different personality. Ksamil is the postcard-perfect beach resort. Saranda has the bars, the buzz and the ferries. Himarë is laid-back and authentic. Dhërmi is where the boutique hotels live. Pick your base — and book early for July and August.

From €45 / night

Saranda — best all-rounder

Largest choice of accommodation, lots of restaurants and the ferry terminal to Corfu. Best base for day trips to Butrint, the Blue Eye and Gjirokastër.

Beachfront 4-stars on the promenade
Cheap apartments and hostels
20-minute drive to Ksamil

Browse Saranda hotels →

From €90 / night

Ksamil — beach resort luxury

White-sand beaches and the famous offshore islets. Pricier than the rest of the Riviera and busiest in July–August, but the closest you'll get to a Caribbean feel in Europe.

Boutique hotels with rooftop pools
4-star beachfront stays
Walk to 4 different beaches

Browse Ksamil hotels →

From €55 / night

Himarë — small & authentic

Our personal favourite. A real Albanian seaside town with stone old town on the hill, good seafood tavernas and access to Livadhi, Filikuri and Gjipe beaches.

Stone-walled boutique stays
Beachfront B&Bs
Walking distance to old town

Browse Himarë hotels →

From €120 / night

Dhërmi — boutique & design hotels

The Riviera's most upmarket strip — five-star adults-only resorts, beach clubs and design hotels with infinity pools. Closest base for Gjipe and Palasa beaches.

5-star beachfront resorts
Adults-only retreats
Beach clubs at the doorstep

Browse Dhërmi hotels →

The coast

The 6 Best Beaches on the Albanian Riviera

From the famous to the hidden. Each one has its own character — pick the right beach and you'll find space, even in August.

Iconic

Ksamil Beach

Imported white sand, four green islets you can swim to and the most photographed water in Albania. Crowded in peak season — go early or in shoulder months.

Stay nearby

Hidden gem

Gjipe Beach

A canyon-ringed cove between Dhërmi and Himarë, reachable only by 4×4, hike or boat. Unanimously voted one of Albania's most beautiful — and worth the effort.

Book a boat tour

Sunset view over Himarë coastline with cliffs and pebble cove

Local favourite

Livadhi Beach (Himarë)

Long pebble bay, easy access, plenty of beach bars and reasonable prices. The classic Himarë experience and great for families.

Stay in Himarë

Llogara Pass hairpin road descending toward Dhermi coast

Designer

Dhërmi & Palasa

Two long, dramatic beaches under the Llogara Pass. Dhërmi has the beach clubs and DJ sets; Palasa is wild, undeveloped and quiet.

Stay in Dhërmi

Stone old town of Himarë lit at twilight above the sea

Wild & long

Borsh Beach

The longest beach on the Riviera (7 km of white pebbles), backed by olive groves and almost no development. Perfect if you want space.

Find a place to stay

Albanian seafood spread overlooking the Ionian Sea

Easy access

Pulëbardha & Mirror Beach

Two small turquoise coves a short drive from Saranda. Easy to combine in a day if you have a rental car — stop, swim, lunch, repeat.

Rent a car

Things to do

Tours, boat trips & experiences

The Riviera's best beaches are unreachable by road. Boat tours from Saranda, Himarë, Ksamil and Vlorë get you to the hidden coves — and a hire car gets you to the ones you can drive to.

Bestseller

Saranda boat tour — 6 hidden beaches

Half-day on the water with stops at Kakome, Krorëza, Soldier's Bay and the Turtle Cave. Includes snorkelling gear, drinks and beach time.

Book on Viator →

Don't miss

Himarë coastal cruise to Grama Bay

5–6 hours along the wildest part of the Karaburun-Sazan coastline, with swim stops at Filikuri, Llamani and the cliff-jump at Grama Bay.

Check availability →

Day trip

Butrint, Blue Eye & Gjirokastër

UNESCO ruins, a glowing freshwater spring and a stone city in the mountains — all in one day from Saranda or Ksamil with a guide.

Book on GetYourGuide →

Family-friendly

Ksamil islets kayak & snorkel

Paddle out to the four little islands, swim in the lagoon between them and snorkel the rocks. Two-hour rentals or guided tours both work.

Browse tours →

Most popular Albania experiences right now

Boat tours, day trips and beach passes — the most-booked tours on the Riviera, updated daily.

See top tours on Viator See top experiences on GetYourGuide

Eat & drink

What to eat on the Albanian Riviera

Greek-Mediterranean influence runs deep — but with prices closer to Albania than to Corfu. Order the seafood, the byrek and the local wine.

Albanian seafood spread on rustic blue tablecloth

Try this

Grilled fish & oysters

Saranda's Lake Butrint produces some of Europe's best mussels and oysters. In Ksamil and Himarë, order whole grilled sea bass with lemon and olive oil — €15–25.

Local classic

Byrek & tarator

Flaky filo pastry stuffed with spinach-feta or meat, plus chilled cucumber-yogurt soup — the everyday lunch combo that costs €3.

Where to drink

Sunset beach bars

Dhërmi has the loudest beach clubs. Himarë and Borsh have the most relaxed sunset spots. Order a glass of Kallmet (red) or Shesh i Bardhë (white).

Logistics

Getting to & around the Riviera

There is no airport on the Riviera itself. Most travellers fly into Tirana, Corfu or (for 2026) the new Vlora airport, then drive south. Renting a car is easily the best way to see the coast.

Recommended

Fly into Tirana, drive south

Tirana (TIA) has the most flight options. From there it's roughly 3 hours to Vlorë and 4–5 hours to Saranda — with the spectacular Llogara Pass on the way.

Find flights to Tirana

Shortest hop

Fly to Corfu, ferry to Saranda

If you're heading straight to the south, Corfu (CFU) + 30-minute ferry to Saranda is faster than driving from Tirana. Ferries run daily April–October.

Find flights to Corfu

Most freedom

Hire a car

A hire car opens up Gjipe, Palasa, Krorëza and dozens of other coves you can't reach otherwise. Pick up in Tirana, drop off in Saranda — common one-way option.

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A quick note on driving in Albania

Roads on the Riviera are scenic but winding. SH8 (the coastal road) has narrow stretches and unguarded drops — drive in daylight, don't speed and book an automatic in advance if you don't drive manual.

Book a rental car

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