The Albanian Riviera is a large coastline area in the southwestern region of Albania, along the northeastern side of the Ionian Sea. It is one of the best places to visit if you are looking for a nice beach town to relax in.
Due to its size, which covers several cities and towns along the Albanian coast, planning a visit to the Albanian Riviera can be quite intimidating. With so many options to choose from - where to base yourself, which beaches are the best, things to do, and where to go - I have decided to write a complete guide that will answer all the questions you have about the Albanian Riviera.
This backpacking guide to the Albanian Riviera will help you understand the region a bit more. With our complete itinerary and a guide on things to do, you should be able to have a general idea of what the region is like and allow you to plan your trip to the Albanian Riviera effectively.
NOTE: One thing to note about beaches in the Albanian Riviera is that the era of finding empty and secluded beaches in the area is long gone.
In just 2 years, all the beautiful beaches along the coast have become covered in rental sunbeds and umbrellas. Therefore, it is advisable not to anticipate a secluded and empty white beach awaiting your discovery in the Albanian Riviera, to avoid disappointment.
Don't get me wrong, the area is huge, and I'm sure there are some other nice beaches out there. However, even then, you might find someone already there before you, especially in the summertime.
Now that that is out of the way, let's begin with the itinerary map of the Albanian Riviera.
- The Albanian Riviera Things To Do and Itinerary Map
- Where to Stay in the Albanian Riviera?
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Albanian Riviera Itinerary
- Hike Up to Himara Castle for the Sunset
- Walk Along the Main Street in Himara
- Walk Around Porto Palermo Castle
- Spend a Day Relaxing at Borsh Beach, the Longest Beach in the Ionian Sea
- Kayak to all the Albanian Hidden Beaches
- Watch the Sunset at the Sunset Restorant Bar
- Get from Himara to Ksamil
- Walk Around Ksamil at Sunset
- Explore Butrint National Park
- Dance Your Night Away with the Locals in Ksamil
- More Himara Activities
- Where to Eat and Drink in the Albanian Riviera?
- Other Things to Do in the Albanian Riviera
- Where to Go Next?
- Albania Travel Video
- When to Visit the Albanian Riviera, Albania?
- How to Get to the Albanian Riviera?
- How to Get Around the Albanian Riviera?
- How Many Days to Spend in the Albanian Riviera?
- How Much Money Do I Need for the Albanian Riviera?
- Is it Safe in the Albanian Riviera?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for The Albanian Riviera?
- What to Pack for Himara, Albania?
- Further Reading for Albania
The Albanian Riviera Things To Do and Itinerary Map
| 🌤️ Best time: | Spring and Autumn |
| 🚘 Get around: | Bus,car, moped |
| 🕓 Time to spend: | 5 days |
| 💰 Cost: | 19,884 LEK |
Where to Stay in the Albanian Riviera?
That is the first question I asked myself when I was planning to visit the Albanian Riviera. From my research, talking to other travelers, and my personal experience, I have come to the conclusion that Himara is the best place to stay in the Albanian Riviera.
Himara is a small town located right on the coast of the Ionian Sea. Due to its central location, you will have access to many beautiful beaches along the coastline without having to travel very far. In fact, you can even reach many of them with a kayak from Himara!
Ksamil is another base that I will include in the itinerary, but it should not be your main base as it is quite far from all the cool things to do along the coastline. The reason I included Ksamil is that it is close to Butrint National Park, which is best seen in the early morning and you wouldn't be able to reach it in time from Himara.
Saranda is simply a bustling coastal city and the central hub of Southern Albania. Depending on your next destination, you may need to spend a night in Saranda to catch an early bus to another location in Albania or to reach Corfu, Greece. However, I generally do not recommend staying in Saranda unless it is necessary.
Albanian Riviera Itinerary
Hike Up to Himara Castle for the Sunset
For this 4-day itinerary, you will be basing yourself in Himara first, and one of the best things to do on the day of your arrival is to go and explore the town on foot. A great place to start is the Himara Castle.
Located atop the Barbakas hill overlooking Himara and the Ionian Sea coastline, the Old Town and the Himara Castle are ancient settlements since the Bronze Age. They existed in some form or another 2000 years ago, and now, you can walk back in time and explore the ruins of Himara Castle.
Within the castle, you will find local people living within the walls still, as well as a few beautiful orthodox churches you can check out. There is also a cafe inside if you fancy a cup of coffee while watching the sunset.
- Butrint, Blue Eye, Ksamil and Lekuresi Castle Tour From Saranda (5 hours 30 minutes) 🏅 Top Pick
- Butrint, Ksamil, Blue Eye, Lekuresi Castle. All-in-one daytrip. (6 to 7 hours)
- Gjirokastra- The Stone City & Blue Eye- The monument of Nature. (6 to 7 hours)
The walk is around 30 to 40 minutes from Himara along the main road up the Barbakas hill to the Old Town area and the castle. I would recommend doing it in the evening, right before sunset, so that you don't have to walk in the heat, and you should be there by the time the sun sets.
Walk Along the Main Street in Himara
After hiking up to Himara castle for the sunset, make your way back to Himara and go check out the main boulevard along Himara Beach. Like any Albanian town, you will be able to experience the Albanian tradition of Xhiro, where locals would gather at the boulevard and walk up and down the street while socializing with one another.
You can experience xhiro hours in Berat and Gjirokaster, as well as in Himara, so be sure not to miss it. It is quite fun to see people come out and participate in activities along the boulevard, transforming a seemingly quiet town like Himara into a circus filled with fun things to do.
You can indulge in one of the many seafood restaurants and bars along the boulevard and enjoy people-watching. There is also a hidden bar by the beach called River Cocktail Bar where you can sit and bury your feet in the sand while sipping cocktails.
If you are looking for a place to eat and drink in Himara, be sure to check out our Where to Eat and Drink in the Albanian Riviera section for more information.
Walk Around Porto Palermo Castle
On your first day in Himara, I would recommend that you rent a moped and go off to explore the tourist attractions around the area. One of the most prominent landmarks of the Albanian Riviera is the Porto Palermo Castle, an ancient Greek fortified port town standing on a hill overlooking the coast of the Ionian Sea.
Within the Porto Palermo Castle, there are a labyrinth of hallways and rooms that you can explore. However, there is nothing inside these rooms, so you can easily see them all in 10 minutes.
The highlight of the castle is the terrace at the top, where you will be able to have a panoramic view of the stunning coastline and the turquoise-colored ocean as far as the eye can see.
The entrance fee is only 100 LEK, and it is on the way to our next destination in our itinerary: the Borsh Beach. So, be sure to stop by here before moving on.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
- Butrint, Blue Eye, Ksamil and Lekuresi Castle Tour From Saranda (5 hours 30 minutes) 🏅 Top Pick
- Butrint, Ksamil, Blue Eye, Lekuresi Castle. All-in-one daytrip. (6 to 7 hours)
- Gjirokastra- The Stone City & Blue Eye- The monument of Nature. (6 to 7 hours)
Spend a Day Relaxing at Borsh Beach, the Longest Beach in the Ionian Sea
Borsh Beach is the longest and largest beach in the Ionian Sea, and you can see how long it is right from the road from Himara. Its stunning white sand beach, which stretches for miles, attracts a lot of tourists. However, you won't feel like it's crowded at all.
There are a few restaurants along the beach where you can park your moped or car, but it is very likely that they will ask you to rent their sunbeds and umbrellas.
From my experience, they are all pretty much in the same price range at 500 LEK per day for 2 sunbeds and an umbrella, so simply pick the one you like and spend the rest of your day relaxing and swimming at Borsch Beach.
Kayak to all the Albanian Hidden Beaches
On your second day, rent a kayak and go explore the beautiful coastline of the Albanian Riviera and visit some of the more secluded beaches in the area.
If you go up north, you will be able to visit Gjipe beach and Jala beach, which are quite nice when they are not crowded. Along the way, you will find plenty of small caves and stunning rock formations for you to explore along the coastline.
It is fun and a different perspective to see the Southern Albanian coastline from a kayak instead of from the road above. You can spend around 3-4 hours exploring the coastline with your kayak.
You can rent a kayak in Himara for 400 LEK per hour. There are several rental places you can find along the Himara Beach, or you can ask your hotel/hostel to direct you to one close by.
If you go south, you can visit Filikuri Beach, which is located not too far from Himara. You can also access this beach by land with a rope down from the Sunset Restaurant Bar above, but it is quite dangerous. We are going to visit the Sunset Restaurant Bar anyway at sunset, and it is not recommended to go down the rope at night. So, I would recommend you visit the beach with a kayak and then visit the The Sunset Restorat Bar separately.
Watch the Sunset at the Sunset Restorant Bar
After a day of kayaking, there is no better way to reward yourself than to dine while watching the sunset, and one of the best places to watch the sunset is at the The Sunset Restorat Bar.
The Sunset Restorat Bar is located on top of the cliff above Filikuri Beach, which was mentioned previously, overlooking the coastline of Himara, with a mountainous backdrop of the hills and mountains of Southern Albania.
For some reason, the sky at sunset in the Ionian Sea becomes extremely saturated with an orange and purple hue, more than anywhere I have seen in the world.
If you are looking for a nice viewpoint in Himara, this is the best one you will find here. Its 180° panoramic view of the landscape of Himara is hard to beat, especially after sunset when the sky turns purple and the quiet town of Himara wakes up from its slumber and comes to life.
Get from Himara to Ksamil
After the second day in Himara, it is time to move on and the next town you will be visiting is Ksamil, another fun coastal town located just a few kilometers south of Saranda.
There is a 9 AM bus from Vlore that goes through Himara to Saranda, so you can take that one to Saranda. Unfortunately, there is no proper bus stop in Himara, so you will have to stand along the S8 Highway and flag one down. It should cost around 50 LEK and take 1.5 hours to get to Saranda.
Keep in mind that the bus schedule may change for no reason, so it is best to inquire at your hotel/hostel before you make the journey to Saranda.
From Saranda, there are buses that go to Butrint and pass through Ksamil every 30 minutes, so you can take that one. The bus should cost 100 LEK, and you should reach Ksamil in 30 minutes.
If you are short on time, you can visit Butrint directly from Saranda and back on the same day. However, the place gets jam-packed with tourists all day long starting at 9 AM. So, I would recommend you stay one night in Ksamil and visit Butrint the next day.
Walk Around Ksamil at Sunset
After arriving in Ksamil, you can spend the rest of the day walking around the main market street where you can find small local shops on both sides, as well as plenty of restaurants and bars along the street.
Again, the sunset along the Albanian Riviera is worth seeing every day you are there, so I would recommend picking a restaurant with a view for dinner and watching the sunset over the Ionian Sea.
One of the restaurants I would recommend is Guvat Restaurant, where you can eat local cuisine on their terrace and watch the sunset. For more information about where to eat, check out our Where to Eat and Drink in the Albanian Riviera section below.
Explore Butrint National Park
The next day, get up as early as you can and get to Butrint right before the opening time at 8 AM. Go to the roundabout on the main road in Ksamil at 7:30 AM and flag down a bus bound for Butrint to beat the crowd.
At 8 AM, you should see no line at the ticket booth, and you should be able to get the ticket and go inside without having to wait, unlike if you arrive at 9 AM. The ticket costs 700 LEK, and you can spend at least 2-3 hours exploring Butrint and all its structures.
Within Butrint, you will find many well-preserved structures that date back to the Middle Ages, such as the Theatre of Buthrotum, an amphitheater from the Greek era that is still pretty much intact.
The Great Basilica is also a prominent structure in Butrint. It is the remains of a large, well-preserved basilica from the 6th century that you can walk around and explore.
Not too far from the basilica, you will also find a Baptisterium, one of the largest Paleochristian buildings of its type, where you will be able to take a peek at the well-preserved mosaic pavement.
Unfortunately, the majority of them are covered in sand for preservation, and only one corner of the baptistery is visible to tourists. But even then, the detail of the mosaic pavement will make you wonder what this ancient city would have looked like back when it was at its peak.
There is also an archaeological museum within Butrint where you can learn a bit more about the history of this ancient city and how it became the colony of the Greeks, the Romans, and the Ottomans.
Dance Your Night Away with the Locals in Ksamil
After spending almost five days in the Albanian Riviera, the best way to say farewell to such a beautiful place is to go off into the night and dance away with the locals.
After sunset, the city of Ksamil turns into a lively place, full of activities and nightlife for one to enjoy. If you walk around at night, you will see many people dancing in a circle to local music, where you can join in and have fun among the locals.
From spending several nights in Ksamil, I saw 2 bars and restaurants that often form a dance circle, Poda Beach Bar and Grill House. So, if you are interested in dancing your night away or just witnessing the cool tradition of Albania, be sure to check them out before you end your trip in the Albanian Riviera.
Where to Eat and Drink in the Albanian Riviera?
Eat Seafood at Lefteri's Tavern in Himara
For Himara, one of the best places to eat seafood is at Lefteri's Tavern, a cozy restaurant with outdoor seating that serves all kinds of dishes with seafood, such as shrimps, squids, and mussels.
Their seafood spaghetti and risotto are dishes to die for, or if you are hungry for all kinds of seafood, you can also go for their mixed seafood plate. The price ranges from 500 - 1000 LEK, so if you are looking for a nice and affordable place to eat seafood, be sure to drop by Lefteri's Tavern.
Eat Grill Mix at Fast Food Beshiku in Ksamil
For Ksamil, there are quite a few more options with many varieties. One of the most popular restaurants in Ksamil is Fast Food Beshiku, right at the corner of Ksamil's main roundabout.
In the evening, you will see many people in the restaurant, which should be a clear sign that Fast Food Beshiku is great. They serve grilled dishes like kebabs, kofta, doners, hamburgers, grilled veggies, salads, and you can order all of them in one plate with a mixed grill dish if you are hungry, as I did 😅.
The best part is, you can eat and eat and eat at this restaurant, and yet the price will still be affordable. It's really cheap compared to other restaurants in the area. The price starts from 200 LEK - 900 LEK for 2 persons, so if you are looking for a cheap place to eat in Ksamil, this is it.
Eat While Watching Sunset at Guvat Restaurant in Ksamil
If you are looking for a nice restaurant with a view near the beach, Guvat Restaurant is highly recommended. They serve seafood as well as local dishes like Musaka, which I highly recommend.
It's a little more expensive, but for the price, you will get a front seat row to watch the magical sunset with a table by the terrace overlooking all three Ksamil islands and the coastline.
Drink at Poda Beach Bar in Ksamil
For a great place to drink and enjoy a fun night dancing with the locals, Poda Beach Bar is a great place to go for a drink after dark. They serve many delicious mojitos you can choose from, and if the choices are a little too overwhelming, their friendly staff can help you out as well.
As the night progresses, you will see more and more people on the dance floor, and once the DJ turns on a traditional Albanian song, people will come in a circle and dance their nights away, as seen in the photo.
I would have loved to join them, but after studying their steps and footwork, I gave up 😂. It's not as easy as it looks from afar! If you do try to dance with them, please let us know how it went in the comments below 😂.
Other Things to Do in the Albanian Riviera
1. Visit the Blue Eye
If you have a few extra days left, you can travel to the Blue Eye, a natural water spring located between Gjirokaster and Saranda. It is quite beautiful there, but a little too crowded for my liking.
There isn't much to do here except swim in the pool, which is technically prohibited, but no one seems to care. So, you can do that as well or just sit in one of the two nearby restaurants. I would say you will spend less than 3 hours here, at most.
Getting to the Blue Eye
From Ksamil or Himara, you will have to first get to Saranda and from there, get on a bus going to Gjirokaster, which departs every hour. Then, inform the driver to drop you off at the Blue Eye.
The journey should take around 30 minutes and cost you 300 LEK. From the main road, it's another 2 km walk on a dirt road, so be prepared to walk in the sun for a while.
2. Go On a Boat Tour Along the Southern Albanian Coast
You can also go on a speedboat trip up and down the coastline in Himara if you don't fancy renting a moped or kayaking. The boat trip will visit most of the attractions in one go, but only for a brief moment each.
Places they go are the Pirate's Cave, the Pigeons Cave, Filikuri Beach, the Submarine Bunker, and Porto Palermo Castle. The total cost of the tour is 4,000 LEK, and it will take 3 hours.
Personally, I would recommend against it because having only 3 hours to visit all these places will barely give you enough time to relax and enjoy the scenery at your own leisure. Moped and kayaking are the ways to go in my opinion.
Where to Go Next?
Corfu, Greece
To get to Corfu, Greece, you will have to get to Saranda first. There are three boats going daily from Saranda to Corfu at 8:45 AM, 10:30 AM, and 04:00 PM. From Ksamil, there are buses going to Saranda every 30 minutes so you can easily make it to one of these ferries to Corfu.
The ferry will cost you 19 EUR, and it can take from 30 minutes to 70 minutes, depending on the type of ferry you get. You can book your tickets from the Ionian Seaways website.
Gjirokaster, Albania
Gjirokaster is a beautiful UNESCO Heritage Site known as the Stone City of Thousand Steps, and there are a ton of awesome things you can do there. So, if you are looking to go somewhere after the Albanian Riviera, Gjirokaster is the place to be.
To get to Gjirokaster, you have to first get to Saranda, which is quite easy from Ksamil since there are buses connecting the two cities every 30 minutes. From Saranda, there is one bus every hour that passes through Gjirokaster, so you should have no trouble getting there after visiting the Albanian Riviera.
Tirana, Albania
If you want to get to Tirana from Ksamil, you will have to take a bus to Saranda. The bus leaves every 30 minutes from the main roundabout and the journey takes 30 minutes. From Saranda, there are several buses running from 5 AM to 10 PM every day.
From Saranda to Tirana, it will take about 5 hours and cost around 1300 LEK per person. Keep in mind that the schedule may change due to seasonality or some other reason, so I would recommend you ask your hostel/hotel before embarking on the journey.
Shkodra, Albania
To get to Shkodra, you can easily do it in one day without a stopover in Tirana. First, you will have to get to Saranda and then to Tirana by following the guide above. Afterward, there are buses every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM that you can take to Shkodra.
The journey from Saranda to Tirana will take 5 hours and cost 1300 LEK, and the journey from Tirana to Shkodra will take another 2 hours and cost 300 LEK.
When to Visit the Albanian Riviera, Albania?
The best time to visit the Albanian Riviera is during Spring (April - June) and Autumn (September - October), when the weather is a little bit more manageable with temperatures hovering around 22°C - 31°C, and there will be significantly fewer tourists during these periods.
Unlike the rest of Albania, the Albanian Riviera gets a lot of tourists from Europe during the summer months, so I would avoid July - August. The weather can also get blazingly hot during this period, with temperatures as high as 35°C.
How to Get to the Albanian Riviera?
To get to the Albanian Riviera, you can either fly into Tirana and travel by bus to Saranda, then take a connecting bus to Himara, or you can fly into Corfu, Greece and board a ferry to Saranda, and then proceed to Himara.
How to Get to Tirana?
From the US, you can fly into Tirana via Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, KLM Airlines through Amsterdam, Alitalia Airlines through Rome, and a few other routes that go through Europe.
From within Europe, you can go with low-cost airlines like WizzAir or RyanAir to get to Tirana. If you are coming from a place that doesn't have a low-cost direct flight to Tirana, it might be worthwhile to travel by land to a city that has one and fly from there instead of relying on expensive flights.
From Asia, the easiest way to fly to Tirana is through Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. If you want to minimize costs, you can find a way to Turkey and then from there, fly with Pegasus Low-Cost Airline to Tirana. Keep in mind that you might have to change airports if you are switching from a regular carrier to a low-cost carrier in Istanbul.
To find a cheap flight to Tirana, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so that you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get from Tirana to Himara?
There are 4 direct buses from Tirana to Himara at 5:30 AM, 6:15 AM, 1 PM, and 9 PM. It takes 5.5 hours and costs 1000 LEK. I would recommend taking one of these buses if you can. However, if not, you can take the 5:30 AM or 7:30 AM buses from Tirana to Saranda and then get on a 1 PM bus from Saranda to Himara.
How to Get from Corfu to Himara?
In order to get to Himara from Corfu, you will have to first get to Saranda. There are 2-3 ferries from Corfu to Saranda every day at 9 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM, so you can take one of those and then catch a connecting bus from Saranda to Himara.
The ferry costs approximately 19 EUR, and the journey will take 30 minutes. You can book your tickets from the Ionian Seaways website.
From Saranda to Himara, there are two buses running daily at 10 AM and 1 PM. In order to make it in time for the bus to Himara from Corfu, I would recommend that you take the 9 AM ferry. This way, you should be able to catch the 1 PM bus to Himara. The bus departs from the Saranda Bus Terminal, so make sure to allow yourself some extra time to get there.
How to Get Around the Albanian Riviera?
The Albanian Riviera covers a lot of areas, and in this itinerary, we will be traveling between 3 cities: Himara, Saranda, and Ksamil. So, the cheapest way to get to these places is by buses. For the most convenient way to visit these 3 cities, you can also go with the Highlight of Albania tour, which should cover all the places I recommended here, such as Ksamil, Blue Eye, Gjirokaster, Sarande, and more.
From within those cities, there are attractions that can be reached on foot, and some that can be reached either via a moped or a kayak, which you can easily rent.
Getting Around Himara
For Himara, which will be your base, I would recommend renting a moped for a day to visit all the beautiful tourist attractions, such as the Porto Palermo Castle, and the stunning beaches like Gjipe Beach and Borcsh Beach.
There are several rental places in Himara where you can rent a moped from, or if not, you can always ask your hostel/hotel to direct you to one. Usually, the going rate is around 20 EUR per day for a Piaggio Liberty 125cc.
For the next day, I would recommend that you get a kayak and visit a more secluded beach to check out all the caves along the coastline. The going rate for kayak rental in Himara is roughly 400 LEK per hour.
Getting Around Ksamil
For Ksamil, the only reason I recommend this place is due to its proximity to Butrint, an ancient Greek-Roman city that attracts a ton of tourists every day.
In order to avoid them, you will have to get there in the early morning, and it is much easier if you stay overnight in Ksamil. It is also nicer in Ksamil than in Saranda, in my opinion, with a bit more things to do.
There are buses running from Saranda to Butrint that go through Ksamil, so you can flag one down along the main road in Ksamil. The bus should cost around 50 LEK, and it will take no more than 15 minutes to get to Butrint. This bus runs from 5 AM to 6 PM every hour, so you should have no trouble flagging one down.
You can also walk if you don't mind spending an hour walking along the main road. Otherwise, organizing a taxi with your hotel the day before is recommended if you don't fancy relying on Albanian buses.
How Many Days to Spend in the Albanian Riviera?
For this itinerary, I would recommend you spend at least 5 days (6 nights) in the Albanian Riviera. Since you will be traveling between 2 towns, Himara and Ksamil, I have also included a day just to travel, and here is a breakdown of the itinerary per day:
Day 0 (Himara): On your arrival day, wait until evening and hike to Himara Castle for the sunset. Walk around Himara beach at night and experience the Albanian tradition of Xhiro.
Day 1 (Himara): Rent a scooter and explore Porto Palermo Castle, then relax at Borsh Beach. For the sunset, hike to Sunset Restaurant Bar and dine there before ending the day.
Day 2 (Himara): Rent a kayak and visit the secluded beaches of Gjipe, Filikuri, and all the hidden caves along the coastline.
Day 3 (Ksamil): Travel to Ksamil.
Day 4 (Ksamil): Visit Butrint in the morning and spend the rest of the day exploring Ksamil and its beautiful beach. Dance around with the locals at night at one of the many bars along the beach in Ksamil.
Day 5 (Saranda): Depending on where you are going next, you will likely have to be in Saranda to travel somewhere else, whether it be Corfu in Greece or other places in Albania like Gjirokaster or Tirana. It would be ideal if you can get to your next destination on the same day, but if not, you can spend one night in Saranda and leave the next day.
How Much Money Do I Need for the Albanian Riviera?
Based on the 4-day itinerary above, we can calculate the minimum amount of money you will be spending in the Albanian Riviera as follows:
Accommodation: 33 USD for 3 nights in Himara, 36 USD for 2 nights in Ksamil, and 10 USD for one night in Saranda (just in case you have to sleep there one night for transit). The total accommodation cost is 79 USD (8,828 LEK).
Food: A good meal costs around 500 LEK, and since most hostels include breakfast, we can assume you will be paying for 2 meals a day. For 5 nights, the total cost will be 4,500 LEK.
Transportation: For buses, you will be spending around 200 LEK. For a moped rental for one day, the cost is 2,456 LEK. Additionally, a kayak rental for 3 hours is priced at 1,200 LEK. The total cost for transportation is 3,856 LEK.
Activities: The entrance fee for Porto Palermo Castle is 100 LEK, the sunbed at Borsh Beach is 500 LEK for a 2-person umbrella, 1500 LEK for 4-person umbrellas, and the entry fee for Butrint is 700 LEK. In total, you will spend 2700 LEK for activities per person.
Total Budget for a 4-day Itinerary in the Albanian Riviera: 19,884 LEK (178 USD).
Is it Safe in the Albanian Riviera?
Like all of Albania, traveling in the Albanian Riviera is very safe. One thing to know if you are renting a moped is that some roads go along the side of a mountain, and it can be quite curvy and narrow, so do drive carefully.
Other than that, there's nothing to worry about as the place gets a lot of tourists every year, and local people are very friendly towards travelers.
Which tourist SIM card is best for The Albanian Riviera?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Himara, Albania without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Himara, Albania:
WIFI is available in hotels and hostels, and it is mostly reliable. However, some restaurants and cafes in the Albanian Riviera do not have a reliable connection, or some don't even have WIFI. So, I would suggest you get a local sim card if you need to stay connected while on your trip.
For the local SIM card, if you are staying in Albania for more than 2 weeks, I would recommend getting the Vodafone Z package. It is a one-month validity SIM card with 5.5 GB of regular data, 10 GB for social network usage, 400 minutes, and SMS. The cost is 1500 LEK + 100 LEK for a new SIM card.
If you are traveling in Albania for 2 weeks, I would recommend getting the 14-day validity Vodafone Tourist SIM that gives you 10 GB of data and 500 minutes of calls for 1300 LEK.
For more information about Albania's local SIM card: Albania Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Himara, Albania?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Himara, Albania:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Albania
Looking for more information for your trip to Albania? Here are a collection of articles about Albania that will help you with your trip planning:
- Want to plan a trip to the Balkans, but not sure where to go? Here is the 31 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Balkans.
- For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
- Albania, a country once isolated, is now open to travelers who want to uncover the beauty that has been hidden for a century. Here is a travel guide to help you uncover it: 2 Weeks Itinerary for Albania.
- First time visiting Albania and looking for awesome things to do? Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Albania.
- Tirana is an excellent place to start your journey in Albania. Here's a complete guide on things to do in Tirana.
- Berat, the city with a thousand windows, and even more cool things to do. Here are the Top 8 Things to Do in Berat.
- Gjirokaster, the stone city of a thousand steps, is another excellent UNESCO heritage site waiting for you to explore. Here are: 8 Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster.
- "Is this really Albania?" is a question you will ask yourself the moment you step foot into the Albanian Alps. Here is a complete hiking guide on Theth-Valbona and the Albanian Alps.
- My words are not convincing you about traveling to Albania? How about you see it for yourself with my Albania travel video? Adoralbania, the Albanian Adventure Travel Video.
- For all articles about Albania, visit the Albania Travel Guide page.
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? Here is the 3-Month Itinerary for Europe.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Looking to travel the Balkans? Check out all my articles about the region here: The Balkans Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Eastern Europe-related articles on my Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
- You can also see all my Europe-related articles here: Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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