Albania, located along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, is home to some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches I’ve ever seen. From secluded coves to bustling strips, the country’s coastline offers an array of experiences for beach enthusiasts and adventurers alike. In this guide, we’ll cover a few key topics to consider when visiting Albania, plus the top five Albania beaches that epitomize the country’s coastal charm.
Southern Albania Weather
Southern Albania is known for its beaches. To fully enjoy the coastline, plan during the summer or shoulder seasons. While Albania still remains relatively untouched, they do have their busy seasons as tourism begins to rise. Like all summer destinations in Europe, try to avoid traveling during August as this is peak travel season. We visited Albania in September and the weather was perfect. Plus, the crowds were more than manageable. Below are the average temperatures of southern Albania (more specifically, Himare, which is likely one of the main cities you’ll be basing your stay in) from May to September.
- May: High of 70ºF/21ºC and low of 58ºF/15ºC
- June: High of 79ºF/26ºC and low of 66ºF/19ºC
- July: High of 87ºF/30ºC and low of 68ºF/20ºC
- August: High of 84ºF/29ºC and low of 64ºF/18ºC
- September: High of 79ºF/26ºC and low of 67ºF/19ºC
Transportation in Albania
Public transportation isn’t a thing in southern Albania, and renting a car to get around is best. Many rental options are close to Tirana Airport, one of Albania’s main international airports.
Renting a Car in Albania
To rent a car in Albania, we opted for ACE Rent a Car. This company was recommended to me by a local, so we decided to give it a try. We had no issues with our car when returning/picking it up, and we were not charged any random “damage fees” like some of their reviews mention. You do need to pay for insurance though, which I highly recommend doing. They even provided transportation to their rental car lot, since they are located a little farther away from the airport.
Other companies to rent a car from are Albania Rental Car (which has good Google reviews) and Sunny Cars, which includes insurance already in their pricing.
Our Driving Route
Our driving route was Tirana -> (A) Berat -> (B) Himare (2 nights) -> (C) Sarande -> (D) Gjirokaster -> Tirana. We unfortunately did not have time to fit Ksamil, but if you have more than a week in the south, I highly recommend adding Ksamil to your itinerary.
While we were a little nervous about what driving conditions were like in Albania, we were pleased to find that driving in Albania was pretty easy. You drive on the right side and most roads are pretty well-kept. In more historic towns such as Berat or Gjirokaster, there are a few narrow, cobbled roads that are tougher to navigate. For the most part though, driving in Albania was pretty simple.
5 Best Southern Albania Beaches
#1 Dhermi Beach
Dhermi Beach was the first beach we visited on our planned itinerary of Albania beaches. This pebbly beach has crystal-clear waters and is lined with a few tranquil beach clubs, making it an easy stop if you’re heading to Himare. Framed by rugged cliffs and lush greenery, this stretch of coastline has breathtaking panoramic views and is a lovely first taste of the beauty of Albania beaches.
Dhermi Beach is also conveniently located next to Gjipe Beach (which I talk about next) and Drymades Beach, another stunning beach along the same coastline as Dhermi. If you want to make a day of it, you can beach hop between Drymades and Dhermi to experience both beaches.
There are a lot of beach clubs located along Dhermi Beach, but the one I recommend is La Brisa. La Brisa is a relatively new boutique hotel located on Dhermi Beach. The beach club is extremely well-priced (I think we paid only 40 euros for 1 umbrella/two beds!) for what you get. I would go as far as recommending booking a full night at La Brisa Hotel. With prices starting at around $250 for a night, this luxury boutique hotel is more than worth it. Since the area has a few beaches to explore, you’ll have plenty to do to justify staying one night at La Brisa. My proposed plan? Arrive in Dhermi and hop between Drymades and Dhermi Beach, stay a night at La Brisa, and hit up Gjipe Beach first thing the next morning.
Hot Tip: Stay overnight at La Brisa Hotel and explore Dhermi Beach, Drymades Beach, and Gjipe Beach from there
We didn’t make it, but an Albanian friend recommended Zoe Hora for lunch. Zoe Hora is another luxury hotel in Dhermi, but their rooftop is particularly beautiful for a mid-day lunch if you can make it.
#2 Gjipe Beach
Tucked between 2 towering cliffs, Gjipe Beach is a serene retreat that can only be reached by foot. Of the 5 Albania Beaches I mention in this blog post, this one is unskippable. Gjipe Beach is a secluded, white sandy beach located just 30 minutes away from HimarĂ«. To get there, you’ll have to drive to this Gjipe Beach parking lot and hike a relatively easy 20-minute descent. The hike itself is quite scenic, and is actually where I got the above photos of Gjipe Beach! The views from the hike are incredible so make sure to stop and take a few photos instead of rushing down to the beach.
The beach is small and only has 3 beach clubs where you can rent umbrellas and chairs for the day. The pricing is pretty much the same between all of them — just make sure to bring cash as none of the beach clubs take cards. The food at the beach clubs is just ok, so bring snacks/lunch from home if you’re a picky eater.
Despite being well known as one of the most beautiful Albania beaches, Gjipe remains relatively unspoiled by mass tourism, preserving its charm. I recommend carving out at least half a day at Gjipe Beach to enjoy this secluded spot to the fullest!
#3 Boat Tour to Pirates Cave
Okay, I know this is technically not a beach on this “Best Albania Beaches” list. Pirates Cave is a secluded cave between Albania’s dramatic cliffs in Dhermi. The cave is below the cliff where the Monastery of St. Todhri (St.Theodore) stands and opens directly into the Ionian Sea. Legend has it that Pirates Cave once served as a haven for pirates (hence the name), who sought refuge amidst its rocky embrace. Today, it’s more of a tourist attraction — but the beauty of Pirates Cave remains the same. With its untamed charm and breathtaking vistas, Pirates Cave stands as a testament to Albania’s rich maritime history and unspoiled coastal allure.
How to Get to Pirates Cave
Here is the exact location of Pirates Cave. You can only get to Pirates Cave by boat, so we booked a tour with Himara Water Taxi. When you search “Pirates Cave tour” on Google, you’ll be surprised to see that not many options pop up. As Albania is still ramping up on tourism, I think services like boat tours are still rising. Ultimately, we found two main tours in Albania: Himara Water Taxi and Dhermi Boat Tours.
Here is the link to the exact tour we took with Himara Water Taxi
My Albanian Boat Tour Review
The Positives
I have to say that boating along the Albanian coast is a must-do. Our tour specifically took us to a few secluded beaches that we spent ample time at, plus we got to stop at Pirates Cave and take a good look inside. The tour took up the planned full 3 hours and gave us a good taste of a few Albania beaches we otherwise would’ve never been able to visit. I want to highlight that I still highly recommend still doing this despite the negatives I am about to outline.
The Negatives
In doing this review I realized we actually didn’t hit all the stops listed on the site, which wasn’t made clear by any staff. The boat was certainly big enough for 20 people, but if I had more choices in boating options, I would’ve opted for a smaller boat for a more intimate experience.
One thing I want to note is that when you’re looking at the stops for these tours, they’re often hard to find on Google Maps. Below I’ve written out the stops planned with the tour we took and the stops that matched up based on photos. As I’ve mentioned, Albania is still ramping up on tourism and I guess this is reflected even in Google Maps! Some of these beaches/caves were going by totally different names or were just not appearing at all when I searched on Google.
Listed Stops with Himara Water Taxi vs. What We Did
- Filikuri beach (swimming stop for 15 minutes)
- Did not stop here
- Livadhi
- Passed by as planned
- Aquarium
- Passed by as planned
- Jale
- Passed by as planned (pictured above)
- Goats beach (swimming stop for 20 minutes)
- We stopped at Celestina Beach. When I search “Goats beach Albania” on Google, this is what pops up. No clue if they are the same!
- Couples beach, Marble beach or Secret cave (swimming stop for 20 minutes)
- Did not stop here – and couldn’t find Couples Beach or the vague “Secret Cave” on a map
- Doves cave (swimming stop for 30-40 minutes)
- We stopped at Pigeons Cave, which I’m not sure is the same. Per their tour to Doves Cave on the site and photos in Google Maps, it looks like the same location.
- Gjipe canyon
- Saint Theodore’s Cave
- Pretty sure this is another name for Pirates Cave, as Pirates Cave sits just under the monastery of Saint Theodore.
- Pirates cave
- Pictured above, the driver even took us inside the cave so we could take photos!
#4 Ksamil Beach
Albania beaches are renowned for their beauty and Ksamil Beach is no exception. If you’ve done any research on Albania already, you’ve likely seen a ton of content covering Ksamil in general. Located south of Sarande along the Albanian Riviera, Ksamil is a small coastal village. Its coastline is dotted with small islands, creating a gorgeous picturesque backdrop.
One of the most striking features of Ksamil Beach is its trio of small, forested islands just off the shore, called the Ksamil Islands. These islands, accessible by boat, have many beautiful spots for exploration. The clear, azure waters surrounding the islands are perfect for snorkeling and diving.
Given the popularity of Ksamil, Ksamil Beach is far from secluded. Especially compared to the other Albania beaches in this list, you’ll find that Ksamil Beach is very developed and often crowded. This Albania beach caters heavily to tourists, so plenty of beach clubs, bars, and even tiki hut-style hangouts (like in the IG photo above) are made for an Insta-worthy moment. I still think Ksamil is worth visiting though, if only for a day!
#5 Mirror Beach, Saranda
Only a 15-minute car ride from Ksamil, Mirror Beach is the more tranquil counterpart compared to the bustle of Ksamil. Situated in the coastal town of Saranda, Mirror Beach is a hidden gem among the region’s captivating beaches. This coastal haven offers a serene retreat for travelers looking to escape the crowds in Ksamil.
Unlike its bustling counterparts, Mirror Beach exudes a tranquil ambiance. Its name aptly reflects the mesmerizing sight of the sea mirroring the sky, creating a breathtaking vista that enchants visitors.
Getting to Mirror Beach Albania might pose some challenges. There are three ways to reach this secluded spot:
- Bus from Saranda
- Catch a bus heading to Butrint and request the driver to halt at Pasqyra Beach. You’ll need to walk from the bus stop to the shoreline, so wear sturdy shoes for the walk.
- Taxi
- The round trip from Saranda to Mirror Beach by taxi typically costs around 20 Euros
- By Car/Drive
- The road leading to the coast is quite rough. For safety reasons, it’s better to park the car and cover the final stretch on foot.
This blog covering Mirror Beach by Albania Tour Guides includes more details about transportation, when to go, and what to bring when visiting this Albania beach.
