The best beaches in and around Vlorë, Albania

Vlore › The best beaches in and around Vlorë, Albania

There are various beaches for you to choose from in the area around Vlorë (or Vlora). You will find small sections of pebble beach in the south and long, wide sandy beaches in the north. There are also numerous beach clubs, private as well as public beaches. Near Zvernec, you can find some very quiet sections of coast where you can enjoy plenty of privacy.

Albania is considered the up-and-coming travel destination in the Balkans. Last year, the country experienced a record high in tourists arriving. Especially coastal towns, including the town of Vlore, are particularly popular. Those travelling to the port city will find fewer tourists. The city not only offers a picturesque sandy beach with turquoise-blue and crystal-clear sea, but is also one of the most historically and culturally significant cities in Albania.

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The best beaches in and around Vlorë, Albania

Plazhi i Ri Beaches

Plazhi I Ri is a strectch of city beaches that runs the entire length of the main road Rruga Murat Tërbaçi along the seafront promenade. It is also known as Lungomare Beach. Here you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds at beach bars, or you can bring your own beach towel. Some umbrella-sunbed combos belong to the hotels built on the other side of the road.

The water is shallow here and perfect for children. Considering that the beach is right in the city, it is quite quiet here, and you have a good infrastructure at hand: parking, restaurants, bars, and cafés.

Radhimë Beach

Radhimë Beach is located south of Vlora and is covered with pebbles and stones. It is a longer stretch of coast with several small and narrow pebble beaches dominated by beach clubs. Sun loungers and parasols are available for rent, but parking spaces are scarce in high season.

Hotel Tip – Liro Beach Hotel: Thanks to its convenient location on the edge of the city centre of Vlore, the beach hotel is close to attractions and restaurants. Hotel Liro features a private beach, a bar-restaurant with local and seafood specialities, and the hotel staff speak English, German, and Italian. Despite its great location, you can still stay here relatively cheaply at the beginning of the season. ☑ Check availability and prices here.

Orikum Beach

Orikum Beach is located a little further south and is a long pebble beach. The water here is very calm and crystal clear while it can be more windy in this area.

• Location: Orikum Beach

There are plenty of parking spaces along the road next to the beach. I never had a problem finding a parking space here even in July. There are also a few beach bars and restaurants at Orikum Beach, as well as sun lounger rentals. Nevertheless, there is still enough space to just chill.

I found the atmosphere at Orikum Beach more relaxing. The panorama of the Karaburun peninsula also contributes to the natural flair of the beach. For me, Orikum Beach is one of the best options if you want to spend a relaxing day at the beach near Vlore.

If you prefer to stay outside the city, you will find a few nice accommodations right on Orikum Beach or in the small town of Orikum. It is about a kilometre from the city to the beach.

Accommodation tip: At Maxola’s Dream Orikum, you can sleep right on Orikum Beach. The guest house offers simple rooms and a family atmosphere. Breakfast is included in the price.

Narta Beach

Narta Beach is a family-friendly sandy beach north of Vlora. There are many sun loungers and umbrellas spread across the large sandy area, which you can rent if needed. There are plenty of parking spaces and many places to get refreshments.

The beach is several kilometres long and on some places even more than 100 meters wide. The inclination of the beach low, it’s almost flat. The sea deepens very slowly here.

• Location: Narta Beach

Narta Beach is well suited for families with small children. The beach also has a relaxed, calm atmosphere.

Narta Beach near Vlora

Dalan Beach

Zvernec Beach (aka. Dalan Beach) is my favourite. The wide and wild sandy beach is located north of Vlora on the Narta lagoon. It is accessible by car via a gravel road.

• Location: Dalan (Zvërnec) Beach

The beach is very popular with campers because you can drive right up close to the water. The bay and the sandy area are large, so you can have plenty of space to yourself. The sea deepens slowly, the water is clear and warm. A great beach for families with children and nature lovers.

Zvernec Beach is pure nature and has a kind of hippie flair. You won’t find any restaurants or sunbeds here, so if you visit the beach, take everything you need with you.

Beaches on Sazan island & Karaburun

To explore these beaches, I took a boat tour. The beaches of Karaburun cannot be reached by land, as the military exclusion zone near the naval base of Orikum lies in between. For a day on the water with beaches and sun, a boat tour is a great change from the mainland’s everyday life.

Karaburun Beach

Tucked away on the Karaburun peninsula, the Karaburun beaches offer a secluded and unspoilt coastal experience. This beach in Vlore boasts turquoise waters and miles of pebble coastline. The natural beauty of the surrounding cliffs and lush greenery add to the charm of Karaburun, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Sazan Beach – Dreamy beach on the forgotten island

Sazan Beach, located on the largest island in Albania near Vlore, offers a unique coastal experience combining history and natural beauty. This beach offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea and crystal-clear waters. The beach itself is a mix of sand and pebbles, perfect for sunbathing and leisurely strolls along the shoreline.

One of the highlights of Sazan Beach is its historical significance, as the island was formerly a military base. Visitors can explore the remains of bunkers and tunnels, which add a fascinating touch to the beach. This former military installation made headlines in 2015 when it was finally opened to the public after decades of secrecy.

From the port of Vlora, you can take a boat to Sazan Island and spend a a few hours exploring the tunnels and bunkers built to survive a nuclear attack. An interesting side note: Sazan is located at the confluence of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas and therefore has a subtropical climate with different weather conditions than the Albanian mainland, despite being so close.

Boat trips to Sazan & Karaburun

A boat trip is a fantastic way to explore the island, surrounding bays and beaches from the water (Sazan Island, Haxhi Ali Cave, Karaburun Peninsula). We recommend the boat trips offered by Teuta Boat Tours.

• Starting point: Vlora harbour
• Departure: 09:30, daily (mid-May to mid-September)
• Stops include: Sazan Island (1-hour stop), Haxhi Ali Cave (swimming stop), Karaburun, Shen Vasil (2-3-hour stop until 5:00 pm).
• Duration: approx. 8 hours
• Cost: adults: 25 EUR, children 6-10: 12 EUR, children 0-6: free of charge
• Booking: via WhatsApp with Valentina (payment in cash at the harbour at the start).

More beaches in Albania

Now you should have a good overview of the beaches of Vlore. Vlore is not the only great beach destination in Albania. I personally liked the beaches around Himarë and Dhërmi especially.

Here you will find my blog on the 10 most beautiful beaches in Albania with lots of insider tips.

Feel free to browse my beach guides to other places in Albania:

• Ksamil Beach
• Sarande Beaches