Himare – Beach Holiday on the Albanian Riviera

Himarë is a small Mediterranean town with a lively Greek influence and an abundance of wild olive trees, located between Vlora and Saranda. On the Albanian Riviera, Himara (Himarë in Albanian) awaits you with its rugged cliffs and clear blue waters.

Himare-Albania_Beach-by-the-main-promenade
Dirk Pohlers

By Dirk Pohlers, adventure traveler from Germany. I visit every place I write about & share real tips, photos, & advice from my trips.

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Soft sandy beaches stretch along the coast and fishing boats drift listlessly on the calm sea. Old and new fortresses are just a stroll away, and the fantastic food in the restaurants is only equalled by the sunset views. It’s a place where a 2-day visit can turn into a 2-week stay. In my opinion, it’s the coolest town on the Albanian Riviera. What was once a sleepy fishing village has become a popular holiday destination.

Accommodation in Himare

ELÉA Guesthouse himare

ELÉA Guesthouse Himare: For those who don’t want to be right by the sea and appreciate absolute peace and quiet (and have a car with them), the guesthouse is the perfect choice. The accommodation is run by an Albanian and his Greek wife. She is a chef and will enchant you in the adjoining restaurant. Situated in Himare, 2.2 km from Prinos Beach, ELÉA Guesthouse Himare features accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a restaurant. All rooms have a terrace with mountain views. ☑ Check availability and prices here.

Potami Seashell

Potami Seashell: This small family-run hotel/guest house is located right by the sea, with a great terrace just 30 metres from the water, in a quiet location on Potami Beach off the main promenade. The accommodation is run by 2 siblings, Dimitra takes care of the restaurant and some of the rooms (newly renovated in 2024). A great stay guaranteed. ☑ Check availability and prices here.

Geo & Art Boutique Hotel Himare

Geo & Art Boutique Hotel: The Geo & Art Boutique Hotel is a beautiful small, family-run hotel in the centre of Himare, right next to South West Beach. The standard rooms are rather small and basic, but the large, beautiful balcony was definitely worth it! We had a superior room with a sea view and I can only recommend taking it as it made our stay perfect. If you don’t want that, there are public balconies on every floor. The views are breathtaking and so are the sunsets! Some of our best moments were spent enjoying a glass of wine on the balcony. ☑ Check availability and prices here.

Himara is a laid-back beach town, but there is plenty to do. There are several beaches in and near the town, you can stroll along the promenade, visit Himara Castle and some of the churches in the old town or go for a hike.

Here are 10 fantastic things to do that made my time in Himare a particularly memorable experience.

Himare – Things To Do

Hike up the hill to Himare Castle

It may be a bit strenuous, but the walk up to Himare Castle is well worth the effort. The zigzagging old streets and high stone walls merge seamlessly into the upper castle. Plants grow out of abandoned buildings and sunlight filters through holes in the old fortress.

Once at the top, you can let your gaze wander over the beach of Livadhi and the glittering waters of the Mediterranean. If you are interested in history, you will find a place whose origins go back thousands of years. Today’s buildings and churches date back to the Middle Ages, but the area has been inhabited since ancient times.

View of the sea from Himare Castle

If you want to escape the beach or take a trip back in time, Himara Castle is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

The Church of All Saints Old Himare

All Saints’ Church is an orthodox church with a beautiful bell tower. It is located right next to Himara Castle in Himara Fshat (Old Himare), from where the church offers a picturesque view of the mountains in the background. On the walls of the church are several paintings depicting everyday life in the old town.

Himare Church of all saints
Himare – Church of all Saints

In the ruined town, we recommend a visit to the Butterfly café with its marvellous views over the hill to the bright blue sea. A place of absolute tranquillity.

Porto Palermo Castle

View of the Porto Palermo fortress
Porto Palermo Castle near Himare

Just outside Himara is an old fortress that dates back to the time of Ali Pasha. It was built in the early 19th century, but this has recently been disputed due to its location and construction. However, most agree that it was built in its final form at this time. Today it is considered a cultural monument.

Porto Palermo Castle

Entry to the castle costs 300 lek, and if you are interested enough, the ticket seller will give you a short guided tour. I was lucky enough to get a little history lesson about Ali Pasha and an insight into his life.

After visiting the fortress, you can jump into the water right outside the door. The fortress of Porto Palermo is located on an island that is connected to the mainland by a strip of sand. This now serves as a beach and offers a beautiful view of both sides of Panorama Bay.

Himare Submarine Bunker

Porto Palermo Submarine Bunker
Porto Palermo Submarine Bunker

Along the road to Porto Palermo there is a submarine bunker located on the side of a hill. Like most bunkers in Albania, this one was built during the presidency of Enver Hoxha. However, you cannot visit the fascinating tunnel as it is located within a restricted military zone.

Nevertheless, there are several viewpoints along the road from which you have a perfect view of the bunker. If you decide to hike to Porto Palermo, these are ideal places to take a break. Here you can refresh yourself, watch the goats running around the military base and let your gaze wander over the clear water and the submarine bunker.

Canyoning in the Gjipe Canyon

Canyoning in the Gjipe Canyon

A wonderful opportunity to combine adventure with relaxation – 4 hours of rocky terrain, mud, waterfalls and strong team spirit hiking and climbing in the Gjipe Canyon – then relaxing on the beach at Gjipe.

Himare – Beaches

There’s no denying that Himarë is the ultimate town for beach lovers in Albania. Not only will you find beautiful Mediterranean beaches here, but also a charming little town known for its excellent seafood. Forget the bars and clubs of Sarandë, an hour down the coast, where most tourists go. Himare is much more relaxed and has a real flair.

Himare-Potami-Beach

Not only does the town itself have two beautiful beaches, but it’s also in the heart of the Albanian Riviera, just a stone’s throw from some of the best beaches in Albania. The most beautiful beaches can be found in the north towards Jala, Gjipe and Dhërmi – you won’t be disappointed. But the beaches in the south are not to be sneezed at either: Potami and Borsh are very popular.

Relaxing on the beach at Livadhi, Potami or Maracit

Livadhi Beach
Livadhi Beach

As I’ve already mentioned, the beautiful Livadhi Beach awaits you below the towering Himara Castle. Although it is a little rocky, the beach is large and not as crowded as the main Himara beach. For this reason, the water is also cleaner. Here you will find everything you need for a nice day in the sun. You can stock up in the mini market, have a leisurely lunch in one of the restaurants or hire sun beds for the day. Looking for a change from city life? You can also spend the night at one of the many campsites along Livadhi Beach.

If you are in the centre of Himara, there are several ways to reach Livadhi Beach. It is only a few hundred metres away, so the quickest option is by car or bicycle. Both routes take the same road and are the best choice in the height of summer.

You can also walk, which is my preference (although I’m a fan of hot weather). Off the main road to the beach, there is a shady footpath that leads to the southern edge of Livadhi Beach. It takes between 30 and 45 minutes and is not easy to find.

Head to the harbour dock and follow the narrow road to the right. It will lead you along behind a row of houses. Then simply follow the red signposts. If this seems too difficult, just check Google Maps or Maps.Me. Both show the exact route and can take your worries away.

Himare Beach (Plazhi i Himarës) is the main beach in front of the town and has a large jetty from which you can jump into the crystal-clear water. There is a promenade along the beach with restaurants and bars for refreshments with a view.

Himare beach
Himare Beach

The beach of Maraçit (Plazhi i Maraçit) is a smaller beach right next to the main beach of Himara in the town centre. It is separated on both sides by a rock formation, while Prinos beach is right next to it on the other side.

Potami beach is another beach in the centre of Himare and the best place to swim at sunset or simply enjoy the sunset. It is only about a 5-minute walk from Prinos beach.

With its stunning water and views of the Ionian Sea, this is a great place to settle down for the day near Himare. There are plenty of delicious restaurants nearby, but we recommend Soren, which is located just behind Potami beach. We both had a seafood pasta dish and it was fantastic.

Potami Beach Himare
Potami Beach Himare

You can hire sunbeds and parasols here or bring your own towel. We recommend walking to the beach from Himare so that you don’t have any problems finding a parking space. If you are travelling by car, you should also be able to find a parking space nearby.

The hidden bay and Filikur beach

Filikur beach Himare
Filikur Beach Himare

Filikuri Beach (Plazhi i Filikurit)was one of my favourite places in Himara that I visited. It is a hidden beach that can only be reached by sea or on foot. It is rare that this is the case, but the land route is the most difficult form of access.

The beach seems to be surrounded by high cliffs in all directions, so the footpath down looks sketchy at best. The path is full of loose gravel and has a steep, slippery, rocky bottom. There is a rope halfway down that provides some relief, but even that doesn’t reach all the way to the beach. If you decide to hike, you should definitely take a pair of shoes with you.

The hike down to Filikuri Beach
The hike down to Filikuri Beach
The way back up from Filikuri Beach
The way back up from Filikuri Beach

But it’s definitely worth it in the end. You will find a fascinating beach with warm, bright blue water. In the spring and early summer months, there’s a good chance you’ll have the whole beach to yourself.

For access by sea, you can hire a kayak in town or take one of the boat taxis at the jetty. Most boat tours also have Filikuri Beach on their programme.

The route on foot can be found on maps.me (Google is not a good help here). In any case, a visit to this hidden beach is a special experience.

Aquarium Beach (Gjiri i Akuariumit)

Aquarium Beach Himare
Aquarium Beach Himare

Behind Livadhi Beach along the coast, there is an abundance of hidden beaches. But none is better than Aquarium Beach (Gjiri i Akuariumit). It’s a small patch of fine sand surrounded by a rocky landscape, forming a private cove.

You can swim in the turquoise-coloured sea, explore the rocks lapped by the water or simply enjoy the Albanian sun. If you are looking for a place away from the crowds, Aquarium Beach is a must.

Himare – boat tour

A boat tour is a fantastic experience to explore the surrounding bays and beaches from the water (Gjipe, Pirate’s Cave, Filikur, Grama Bay, Porto Palermo, Akuarium, Dhermi, Palasa, Saint Andrews). We recommend the Himare Water Taxi boat tours with Captain Costa.

Starting point in each case: Himare jetty on the main promenade.

Himare Boat Tour

Grama Bay Tour:

Stops: Livadhi, Aquarium, Jale, Goats Bay & Couples Bay, Doves Cave (20 min stop for swimming), Gjipe Canyon (10 min stop), Saint Theodores Cave, Pirates cave (10 min stop), Dhermi, Palasa, Saint Andrews Bay (30 min stop), Grama Cave, Grama bay(1 ~ 1.5 hours stop).

Water is provided. You can bring your own food and drinks on the boat. We recommend not to forget sun cream, hat and towel.

Duration: approx. 5 hours

Cost: 60 EUR / person

Start times: 09:00 am, 10:00 am daily

Booking: via the website (Paypal)


Coastline Tour:

Stops: The Coastline Tour combines excursions to the Pirate Cave Tour and Porto Palermot, so you can visit the east and west coast of Himare at the same time.

Water is provided. You can bring your own food and drinks on the boat. We recommend that you don’t forget your sun cream, hat and towel.

Duration: approx. 3.5 hours

Cost: 40 EUR / person

Start times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 daily

Booking: via the website (Paypal)


Pirate Cave Tour:

Stops: Livadhi, Aquarium, Jale, Goats Bay & Couples Bay, Doves Cave (40 min stop for swimming), Gjipe Canyon (10 min stop), Saint Theodores Cave, Pirates Cave (20 min stop).

Water is provided. You can bring your own food and drinks on the boat. We recommend that you do not forget your sun cream, hat and towel.

Duration: approx. 2 hours

Cost: 25 EUR / person

Start times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 daily

Booking: via the website (Paypal) or directly with Captain Costa via WhatsApp (cash payment, direct feedback on availability).

Himare – Where to eat and drink

What is almost every seaside town known for? It’s seafood, and Himara is no different. You can find some amazing saltwater bites in this stunning beach town.

The best place to do so is the waterfront, which is dotted with great restaurants. For a more upmarket ambience, I recommend Soren Restaurant two bays away on Potami Beach. Fane opposite also offers great food and a great view of the sunset, but at a slightly lower price.

Here are my tips for the best restaurants in and around Himare

GUMA | The best souvlaki (grilled pita roll) in town. The locals’ favourite is the pork version with a little mild mustard on top

PIZZERIA BELLA ITALIA | Run by an Albanian who learnt to bake pizza in Italy – wafer-thin dough and good ingredients guaranteed.

PERFECT BURGER | Amercian style burger made by an Albanian who lived in the USA for years.

BEJKE E BARDHE | If you are mobile and fancy an authentic experience, you should drive up to the small mountain village of Pilur to enjoy traditional Albanian cuisine with Vasil and his wife. You can expect yoghurt cheese, grilled vegetables, pickles, fresh salad, homemade cheese and raki as well as grilled pork (meat is best ordered in advance).

BEJKE E BARDHE Pilur Traditional Restaurant
BEJKE E BARDHE Pilur Traditional Restaurant
View of the sea from Pilur
View of the sea from Pilur

ICELAND | The best desserts, great ice cream and good coffee. Our recommendation: Try the Trilece.

Himare – day trips

There is also plenty to do in the vicinity of Himara, which is why many people make the town their starting point for visiting the nearby sights.

  • Qeparo
  • Borsh
  • Jale
  • Gjipe beach

Can you do a day trip from Saranda to Himara? If you are travelling by car, then yes! But I wouldn’t recommend it. Himara is meant for relaxing and not really suitable for a rushed trip!

Best Time to Visit Himare, Albania

Himare has a pleasant Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit is April to June and September to October when the weather is nice and sunny. I recommend to avoid July and August for both the high temperatures as well as the high-season crowds.

Getting to Himara

The best way to get to Himara from abroad is to fly to Corfu first and then take the ferry to Albania. In the summer months, you can also take a direct ferry from Corfu to Himara, and there are ferries from Corfu to Saranda all year round. From Saranda it is 55 kilometres, which you can cover in about 70 minutes. However, we recommend taking a few breaks along the way as the coastal road is absolutely stunning. You can hire a car directly at the ferry terminal in Saranda or take a minibus (Furgon) towards Vlora.

Alternatively, you can fly to Tirana and rent a car at the airport or take a bus to Saranda following the coastal route. The journey takes around 4.5 hours and is undoubtedly scenic!

How long should I stay in Himare?

Three days is a good amount of time to see all the sights and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Himare. As there are many accommodation options in Himare, it is also a very good base for exploring the rest of the Albanian Riviera or just relaxing on the beach.

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