Why did we choose Himare for a seaside holiday in Albania?
We wanted a clean, transparent sea, not many people on the beaches, the possibility to relax on well-maintained municipal beaches, see beautiful wild beaches and coves without crowds.
Himare fully met these requirements. And it’s also a great place for a vacation with kids, even if they’re still in a stroller. There is accessible entry to the beach from the promenade, sandy areas, free umbrellas. Or affordable paid beach clubs with sun loungers – all of this is available in Himare.
I’ll share more details from my own holiday experience in June 2026.
The town of Himare
Himare is located on the so-called Albanian Riviera. Specifically – between the cities of Vlora and Saranda. After the Llogara Pass, or the new tunnel beneath it (in 2026, it was still free, but the price for passage was already posted – 250 lek for a regular car (2.5 euros)).
The town of Himare is situated in a natural bay, protected by two mountainous capes. The old town is located on the hill, and by the sea there are already hotels and apartments built, although many old buildings remain. There’s even a bunker, now hard to spot among the dumpsters and the cars parked next to it.
It is small – the neighboring Dhermi is twice as big and there is major development with hotels there. There is also some construction in Himare, but a bit away from the center. So we didn’t feel any annoying noise or dirt from it.
Why did I choose Himare for a holiday?
I wanted to be in civilization, but not where night bars and discos are blaring all night. In big cities, Albanians have a habit of setting off fireworks every night, but Himare is relatively quiet. Well, maybe there’s a mad motorcyclist speeding around – that’s the maximum.
I wanted access to a seafront promenade with cafes and restaurants with a sea view, which Himare has, although it’s not very long. Pine trees are planted along it, and pines with the sea – that’s beautiful, no matter what.
From Himare it’s easy to get to neighboring wild beaches (provided you have a car), of which there are still plenty in this part of Albania.
And here the Ionian Sea is very beautiful – transparent, blue, because the beaches are covered everywhere with white pebbles. Although on the upper part of the beaches there is fine sand as well, which is nice to lie on with your own towel.
The water in the bay is calm and perfectly suited for swimming. There is not a big concentration of private beach clubs here, and all the beaches are easily accessible on foot from the town center.
And most importantly – in Himare there are several good municipal beaches. I don’t like to go to beach clubs because I don’t stay on the beach all the time. I only need to swim and sunbathe for a couple of hours in the morning and the same in the evening. So I found everything I needed here.
Beaches in Himare
If you look at the map, you might think there is just one stretch of beach in Himare, but in reality there are three.
The beach in the center of Himare offers everything you need for a lazy day, giving you the opportunity to swim and sunbathe just a few steps from your accommodation. It’s divided into two parts by a concrete pier, where boats and launches dock.
Spille Beach
On the right (facing the sea) from the concrete pier there is a strip of beach Plazhi Spillese. It is so narrow that there is space only for one group of people.
Himare Municipal Beach
Left of the pier is the large municipal Himare beach. The promenade with most restaurants and bars runs alongside it. This beach, farther from the pier, becomes wider, has a row of free umbrellas (those marked with the city symbol), a sandy area near the promenade, and small pebbles at the entrance to the sea. If you see umbrellas stacked closer to the water – these are left by locals overnight, and then they come back in the morning or afternoon. So, they belong to someone – keep that in mind.
These two free sandy beaches were located near the hotel we stayed at. So we spent most of our time there in the mornings and evenings. We would have breakfast or coffee at San GIORGIO café and would immediately go down to the sea.
Himare beach also has fresh water showers and is cleaned every morning – the sand and pebbles are clean. In the evenings there were always more people here than in the mornings.
Sfageio Beach
Continue walking left along the path and you’ll come to a small square with beautiful views and an accessible ramp for wheelchairs that leads to Sfageio Beach, which really is not much different from Himare Beach. Part of it is a paid zone – beanbags and umbrellas that belong to Acta Restaurant. The other part is just as free as the other beaches.
Maraci Beach
Maraci Beach / Plazhi i Maraçit – this is the next beach further away, about a 5-10-minute walk from the town center along the main road. It’s more exclusive than the other three, with limited access points and only a small area of public beach hidden in a corner. Most of the beach is a beach club with paid umbrellas and sun loungers.
If you’re staying in this part of Himare, this will be a more convenient option. But access to the beach is via stairs – it’s not inclusive at all, unlike the Himare municipal beach.
Prinos and Potami Beaches
Prinos and Potami are located on the other side of the Himare bay, closer to the southern cliff. And the sunsets here are incredibly beautiful!
A fairly long stretch of small-pebble beach flows smoothly from one into the next with no distinct boundaries. However, some might like them more than the more crowded town beaches of Himare.
On foot, it’s about 15-20 minutes along the main road from the center of Himare, or 5 minutes by car. There is parking near the beaches.
Prinos (Prinos beach) is the first wide area and a more luxurious enclave with various beach clubs featuring neat straw umbrellas and loungers. The price is 10–15 euros for an umbrella and two loungers.
Potami (Potami beach) is a more peaceful spot, with many more free beaches and a wonderful little rocky cove with crystal-clear water at the far end. There is also a sunset point here – a really great place to watch the sunset.
Where to stay in Himare
Hotels and guesthouses near Himare promenade
Margarita Guesthouse – very conveniently located close to several beaches: Himare municipal, Sfageio beach, and the beach club at Maraci beach. This family guesthouse has stunning views both from its beautiful blooming garden and some rooms. The rooms are simple but comfortable, and there’s a tasty breakfast.
Rooms by the sea – guesthouse with clean rooms with balconies featuring stunning sea views. Directly in front of the hotel is Spille Beach.
VIAL Rooms – a small and very clean hotel with an elevator, located 7 minutes from the promenade. We stayed here and really liked it, the balcony has a great view of the town and the sea. There is private free parking in front of the hotel.
Soñar en el Mar – this guesthouse is probably the best choice in Himare. It offers large, modern minimalist rooms right on the promenade with beach views. The price includes a wonderful breakfast served on the rooftop terrace.
Hotels near Prinos and Potami beaches
There are many accommodation options with a view of Prinos and Potami, but keep in mind that there is construction going on in some areas opposite the beaches.
Vourtaréa Guesthouse – apartments in a quiet area near Prinos Beach. Well-equipped, clean and comfortable. The hosts and staff are extremely pleasant and helpful. It was truly nice to stay there. Parking is next to the building. Shops and restaurants nearby.
Blue Stay Boutique Hotel – located right across from Potami beach without rows and rows of umbrellas. Rooms have kettles and cups, so you can enjoy coffee or tea on the veranda with a sea view. The hotel itself is retro-style, but very, very clean. Free parking, and beach chairs are provided for guests upon request.
Seaside Hotel Himare – a clean and renovated hotel near the sea. There is parking, and the hotel is located right on Potami beach, at the very southern end of this beach, where it’s not too crowded. The balcony has a wonderful view, especially of the evening sunset.
What to do in Himare
See the ghost town of Old Himara on top of the cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. Take a sunset walk among the abandoned buildings and labyrinth of cobblestone streets. It’s believed to have been founded by Greeks 3,500 years ago, mentioned by Pliny in the 1st century, became a powerful Byzantine fortress, and resisted the Ottomans before it was eventually abandoned in favor of the new port and seaside settlement. Entry here, on Google Maps.
In Old Himara, you can also stumble upon a small family café called “Butterfly” with a terrace where you can enjoy coffee, juice, beer, a traditional dessert, and a view of the Ionian Sea.
If you have free time or are seeking solitude, you might want to be more adventurous – I recommend kayaking. This way, you can see hidden coves and beaches. We paddled in Porto Palermo bay, which used to be a submarine repair base. There is a preserved fortress on the Porto Palermo peninsula – entry is 300 lek.
I also recommend walking to the remote and pristine Filikuri bay, which is located just over the hill from Potami. You can only get here using a rope that hangs on the rocks near the beach. So, put on comfortable shoes (preferably sneakers) and go see some empty beaches near Himare.
Plan a walk through the old town of Dhermi – it’s a 20-minute drive from Himare. Wonderful architecture, cute cafes, and beautiful sea views from viewing platforms await you.
Boat excursions
A boat excursion along the beautiful coast of the Albanian Riviera is also one of the most popular activities in Himare. Especially if you’re on holiday without a rental car, which you’d otherwise use to reach different coves along the coast.
A cruise on crystal-blue waters is an unforgettable way to spend the day. At the pier, you’ll see several kiosks offering boat tours, and the prices, routes, and impressions are quite similar among all companies. The two most popular group trips are northwards to see Grama Bay (5–6 hours, 50–70 euros per person) or a bit closer to the Pirate Cave (2–3 hours, 20–30 euros per person). All boat trips usually include several stops for swimming and photos.
From Himare, the boat to the north passes such beaches and bays as: Livadhi – Aquarium – Jale – Shell and Pëllumbave – Gjipe – Caves of Saint Theodore – Pirate Cave – Dhermi – Sant Andreas Bay, and Grama Bay.
Note, you will not stop at all these beaches – at most, you’ll take a few photos.
There are also daily three-hour sunset boat trips for about 25 euros per person.
Day trips to North and South beaches
Himare is a great choice for travelers who want to enjoy the Albanian Riviera and explore it, especially if you are traveling by rental car. Although you can’t reach some of the coves listed above by car, there are many other beautiful beaches to the north and south of the town that you can easily visit on a day trip.
To the north are the bays and beaches of Aquarium, Dhermi, and Gjipe. And to the south—Porto Palermo, Qeparo, Borsh, and Buneci Beach. All of them are only 15–45 minutes’ drive from the town center.
Food, drinks, and amenities
There is a wide choice of beach venues along the coastline in Himare. Fresh seafood and grilled meats are typical in most restaurants, and you can also get pizza or an inexpensive sandwich.
Restaurants I can recommend in Himare:
- Qofte te daja – a small tavern near Potam Beach, serving inexpensive and tasty kebabs and shashlik. Friendly owner, family business – this is traditional in Albania. Cash only.
- Valo’s Fish Taverna – affordable, fresh seafood grilled or fried in batter. Fast service, tables often occupied, booking ahead is possible. Cash only.
- Grill Master Himara – new establishment, opened summer 2026, they’re trying their best. Delicious seafood, except octopus – overcooked, payment by card accepted.
- Pastiçeri Delight – tasty coffee, pastries, baked goods. You can eat in or take away, card payment accepted.
- Pizzeria “Napoli” Himarë – delicious pizza, eat in or take out, card payment accepted.
Supermarkets where you can pay by card in Himare:
- Alpha Supermarket – right in the center, not a huge selection, but all essentials available.
- Market Himara – decent choice of groceries, vegetables, fruits, ice cream.
If you’re looking for drinks and nightlife, the best option is the cluster of bars along the promenade, where from late afternoon you can get cocktails of various strengths and quality for 500 lek.
How to get to Himare and parking
The nearest airport is actually located on the Greek island of Corfu, and Tirana International Airport is 250 km from Himare. We flew to Tirana because we first explored the Albanian Alps and hiked from Valbona to Theth. So, we got to Himare by rental car.
By car
From the south, Himare is 90 minutes’ drive from Saranda and 1 hour and 45 minutes from Ksamil.
If you’re driving down from Tirana, Durres, or Vlora, you have a choice of taking the winding mountain road through the incredible descent from Llogara Pass. Or, if your car has a weak engine, you can take the 6-kilometer tunnel under the mountain. As of 2026, the tunnel was free – it was opened at the end of 2024 and so far there’s no fee. But this is temporary, as the barriers are already working and the price for a regular car is posted as 250 lek (2.5 euros).
It’s not guaranteed that accommodation on/near the beach will have private parking (ours did). But it’s better to try to secure it in advance if you are traveling by car. Don’t look for parking on the spot – especially in summer, parking spots become very scarce, and the price goes up.
Conveniently located parking in Himare costs about 300 lek for 0–3 hours. Full day up to 500 lek, but keep in mind this is not an asphalt lot with ticket machines. It’s more likely to be a patch of earth with grass or a gravel lot.
By bus
In the summer season, there are regular daily buses to Himare from Tirana, Vlora, and Saranda.
From Tirana to Himare, there are two daily coaches – one at 5:30 am and one at 1:00 pm. The journey takes 4–5 hours and costs 1,500 lek (15 euros) per person.
The Albanian bus schedule can be found on this website. There’s also a tourist info center in Himare that operates throughout the summer season. There you can find information about minibuses running along the coast. It’s located here on Google Maps. The bus stop is also nearby – here.
Useful articles and links:
- Rhodes in three days – how to have time to experience this island
- Santorini – guide to the island for independent travel
- June holidays at European resorts – where to find warm seas
Car rental –DiscoverCars
Green card, auto insurance and travel medical insurance – HotlineFinance
Hotel booking and apartments – Booking.com
