Albanian Coast Destination Guide

Possibly one of the most beautiful places in Europe, the Albanian Coast stretches along the coastline starting from the Bay of Vlora right up to the southernmost point where Albania meets Greece. Vlora is the starting point of the journey as one travels down the Riviera to arrive at Llogara Pass. This is the first important stop with a majestic view of virgin beaches along the Ionian coastline. As the journey continues southwards from Llogara, scenic rural outposts and beaches dot the entire route along the coast.

The Albanian Coast is known for its pristine beauty, warm weather and glowing sunsets.

This Albanian Coast Destination Guide will help you plan your perfect Albania holiday, showing you the Coastal Albania highlights you should check out. A perfect way to do this is by taking a local Albania tour of the coastline. We also have some general travel information which will tells you all you need to know to plan your holiday in rest of the country, and be sure to check out the highlights of Tirana and the Northern Albanian Alps.

Things to See & Do in the Albanian Coast 

Follow the links to the right or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in the coastal region of Albania:

Butrint, an erstwhile Hellenic centre, is today a world heritage site established by the fleeing Trojans who later established the Roman Empire. The 2,500 year old town is historically and archaeologically significant with a complex containing the ruins of public baths, Roman style houses, a church and a sundry assortment of sculptures, carvings and mosaics.

Further down the coastline towards the south, Dhermi Village was constructed between the sea and the Cika Mountain's slopes. This is a village of cliff-top houses and churches, one of the most beautiful rural outposts in the Albanian Riviera. Dhermi is known for its beaches and night life as well as for its 31 churches and monasteries, notable among which is the fourteenth century Saint Mary Church and Panais Monastery constructed in the Byzantine-style.

Other places of interest in Dhermi include the classic Albanian village of Vunoi with its sea facing houses and warm hospitality. Jala Beach at the Bay of Jala is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Albanian Riviera, and serves as the perfect destination for camping enthusiasts because of the magnificent natural surroundings it provides.

Beyond Gjipe the resort town, lies Himara, with its sandy beaches, and hills planted with cypresses and olive and orange groves. Gjipe's attraction is its canyon, stretching a kilometre long and full of very old trees and stone walls. Himara is an ancient town first inhabited by Illyrian tribes and then successively by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Goths, Slavs, Saracens and Normans. Its history is evident in the fifth century BC castle now used as the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus as well as in the Castle of Ali Pahsa built by Ali Pahsa Tepelena, the Albanian king, for his wife. Ali Pahsa also used the castle, located on a peninsula and running right into the Porto Palermo bay, in the nineteenth century to host the famous English Romantic poet, Lord Byron.

Between Himara and Saranda further down the route, there are picturesque villages located between subtropical flora and the blue sea - Qeparoi, Borshi, the largest beach in the Riviera, Piqerasi, Lukova, and Saint Vasili.

Llogara National park is located at a height of 900 metres above sea level at the Pass of Llogara. Most trips down the coastline begin at this point in the Pass of Llogara varying in height from 470 m to 2018 m. The park has abundant pine forests and spirited streams with conifers like Black Pine and Ash among its most prominent vegetation. In this spot, wind activity has carved out natural crown shapes of which the geologically and aesthetically most exciting is the "Pisha Flamur" or "Flag Pine," a unique creation of nature. Besides these, the park is popular for its natural beauty and some significant points. These attributes have made the park a favoured tourist spot.

This area serves as a bridge to the Ionian coast, thus providing an exciting combination of mountain and sea with a salubrious climate. It has tremendous potential for ecotourism and adventure sports such as paragliding and delta plane. No wonder this has become the ideal ground for certain European air-sports with the mountain stretching close to the sea, adding to the excitement.

The Lagoon of Narta to the north of Vlora is the second largest lagoon in Albania and is home to a rich marine life consisting of water fowls and fishes. This place is heaven for nature lovers. Narta and Zvernechi villages, known for their wine, are located on the lagoon's shore.

Among the places of interest in this area are a small and inviting island opposite Zvernechi, the Museum of Independence, and the Mosque of Muradije. The island opposite Zvernechi attracts visitors with its lush Mediterranean foliage. Along with the Cape of Triporti, this island provides a veritable refuge from the worries of the world right into the lap of nature. Another place to visit on the island is the sixteenth century Byzantine Church of Saint Maria.

Museum of Independence: On 28^th November 1912, Albania gained independence after a severe struggle and the Museum of Independence is a tribute to this fight for freedom, a reflection of the people's struggle to fly the Albanian flag.

The Mosque of Muradije: In 1542, Mimar Sinani, the architect well known for constructing the magnificent Suleymanie Mosque in Istanbul, built the Mosque of Muradije; today it is a place of interest for visitors and tourists in this part of the Albanian Riviera.

At the end of the day's sojourn, Kus Baba Hill provides a relaxing getaway where you can sip coffee and savour pleasant scenery.

Palasa is a large isolated beach along the Ionian coast, the first halt on the coastal journey beginning at the Karabarun Peninsula. This is said to be the halting ground for Julius Caesar's legions on their way to the fight over Pompey. It is ninety minutes away from Vlora and the route is breathtakingly beautiful; travellers on this route can also interact with local vendors selling honey, beeswax and the locally made Raki along the way. Palasa Beach, with its smattering of houses and its position at the foot of imposing mountains, is entirely untouched.

Saranda is more modern and worldly, compared to other Albanian towns. For those looking forward to a memorable honeymoon or a modern watering hole, Saranda is the popular choice in Albania. It is the largest town along Albania's coast, and has a sprightly night life and a marvellous after-dark view of the bay from the Castle of Lekures. The village of Ksamil is an attractive tourist village in the charming south and is comprised of five tiny islands with diverse fauna and flora.

Saranda is still relatively hidden from the non-Balkan world's view, but it is on the brink of a major overhaul, especially after expectations regarding Albania being invited to join the EU. This town has been relatively free of the problems and pollution plaguing the northern shores of Albania and is relatively untouched by tourist and foreign presence barring a handful of foreign tourists like the Italians and Greeks. Situated on Albania's far southwest point, northeast of Corfu, Greece's "happening" tourist destination, Saranda is poised to become the next tourist hotspot.

The expected invitation into the EU has spurred a rage of investments in the area leading to the construction of spectacular hotels with a glut of supply over demand; this has given rise to another phenomenon, affordable luxury at cheap rates, making it akin to Greece as it was six decades ago - an upcoming tourist attraction but inexpensive and virginal. Added to this temptation are a first rate choice of cuisine, warm sea waters and long uninterrupted stretches of smooth sandy beaches unlike the rocky northern beaches. Evenings are ideal for a beach stroll or for a sip of the local Xhiro while night offers excitement in a wide choice of nightclubs and bars.

The ruins spread around the landscape are not legacies of the Communist junta, but have a rich and varied historical heritage to them. In the past, Albania was close to the centre of extensive Athenian and Roman empires. Standing testimony to these empires are their ruins dotting the Riviera landscape. Away towards the south from Saranda, Butrint is one such town with a history. Here you can see an ancient Roman colony with an amphitheatre, a temple and fortifications that are still well maintained.

Coupled with historic charm, the route to and from Butrint, in minibuses for daytrips, is a visual delight with mountains, delightful hamlets and historical Ottoman towns along the way. Butrint has plenty of places to see and several drivers willing to take travellers around the dirt tracks and uneven roads.

Saranda beckons with promises of thriving tourism, economic potential, friendly and hospitable people, and its yet unexplored pristine natural beauty and unexploited visibility. The Mediterranean swish set has a new place to add to their itinerary, one that few have even heard of.