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The dreamy beach town of Himare, located on the Albanian Riviera, has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years.
After all, with so many stunning Himare beaches on its doorstep, it makes sense that the beauty of this part of Albania wouldn’t stay hidden for long!
During my trip to Albania in September I decided to stop by Himare to see what all the fuss is about, and let me tell you – this place is going to be BIG.
Like, book your flights now, because in just a few years I can easily imagine this town being overrun with tourists. For now, though, it’s still easy to visit without crowds.
Since the main reason you’re likely to visit Himare Albania is for its world-class beaches, it makes sense that you’ll want to know what the best beaches near Himare are.
So, without further ado, let’s chat about the best beaches in and around Himare!
Top tip: The Albanian currency is the Albanian Lek (LEK), but I have listed most of the prices in this post in both LEk and Euros to keep everything simple.
Table of Contents
1. Livadhi Beach
You’ll find this secluded beach around 15 km north of Himare, but it’s easy to reach with local Albanian buses, taxis or rental cars. The tall cliffs and pine trees surrounding the beach give it an enclosed and private feel, perfect for those who want a change of scenery from Himare town.
The sand here is a brilliant white, which contrasts perfectly with the vibrant aquamarine colour of the water. There are sunbeds and umbrellas that you can pay a small amount to hire for the day, or you can just roll out your towel to sunbathe here for free.
If you arrive at Livadhi Beach hungry you won’t be disappointed. There are some top-quality restaurants and food stands nearby where you can get a range of dishes – from Greek Salad to traditional Albanian dishes, to pizza.
If you choose to visit Livadhi Beach be sure to bring enough storage to take your rubbish back to Himare with you. There’s unfortunately a shortage of bins at this beach so it’s important to take your rubbish with you when you leave.
2. Akuarium Beach (Aquarium Beach)
This beach may have some of the clearest water you’ll ever see – totally unspoilt and picture-perfect! This small beach is accessible by foot or boat only, so only the true adventurers make it here.
The beach is around a 30-minute walk from Livadhi Beach and is well worth the journey. Not many people know about this beach, so if you visit early in the morning you might even get it all to yourself!
With calm, clear water, this is one of the best places to go snorkelling near Himare. You’re almost guaranteed to see fish!
In terms of amenities, Akuarium Beach is pretty sparse – there’s a tiny beach shack that sells some drinks and snacks, but its opening hours aren’t clear or consistent, so it’s better to pack snacks and drinks with you for your visit to the beach.
3. Spile Beach
Spile beach is the main beach in central Himare, located right in front of the promenade shopping area. Despite being centrally located, though, it’s still pristine, with crystal-clear waters and plenty of space for sunbathing.
It’s safe to swim here and the water is very calm, making it a popular destination for families visiting Himare. Since it’s so centrally located, this is the perfect beach to spend the day at, as you have countless options nearby for lunch, snacks and drinks.
If you’re recovering from all that Himare nightlife then this is the perfect beach to lounge on.
There are also a few vendors nearby where you can rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard to get out onto the water and explore the coves near the beach.
It’s worth mentioning, though, that Albania has a very big stray dog problem. Since this beach is in the middle of town, you may find the occasional stray dog lounging in the sand.
They aren’t aggressive and don’t bother people, but if you’re anything like me you might find it a bit upsetting to see, so it’s worth knowing before you go!
4. Llamani Beach
Another one of the best beaches near Himare is Llamani Beach, which is around 5 km south of the town and is just a 10-minute drive away. This is a pebble beach, so it’s worth hiring a sun lounger and umbrella for the day.
Note, though, that you’re not allowed to consume your own food and drink on these so you’ll have to either purchase it from the restaurant on-site or be super sneaky!
Since Llamani beach isn’t next to a town it’s usually pretty quiet, and the large rocks surrounding the bay make sure it’s sheltered from the wind.
5. Jale Beach
Jale Beach looks like something straight out of a holiday brochure and is one of the most popular beaches near Himare with the younger crowd. That’s because there are loads of beach bars nearby and there’s often a party atmosphere on the beach.
There are a lot of sunbeds and umbrellas dotted around the beach which you can rent for 1000 LEK (€8.50) which is… Pretty expensive compared to normal travel costs in Albania.
If you’re on a tight budget, it’s best to set your towel down for free in the “public” area of the beach.
Jale Beach is around 7 km north of Himare town, and you can get here by car or by walking from nearby Livadhi Beach. Combining the two beaches would make the perfect Himare beach-hopping itinerary!
6. Gjipe Beach
Next up is probably the best beach in Himare and my favourite – Gjipe Beach!
The most popular way to visit this slice of paradise, which is around 15km north of Himare, is on a boat tour.
The tour will involve you visiting around 5 small beaches near Himare by boat before being dropped off at Gjipe Beach for a few hours of swimming and relaxation. Of course, though, you’re also able to get here by car.
If you want to know more about these boat tours from Himare read on to the end, where I’ll share how much they cost and how to book.
The beach here is a popular day trip from Himare, and is fairly large. There’s plenty of space to sprawl out. Amenities on this beach are very limited, though, so if you want to eat or drink anything whilst you’re here it’s better to pack your own beforehand.
The sea here can get a little choppy, and it gets deep very quickly. For this reason, it’s not ideal for families with young children.
However, if you’re a confident swimmer and fancy splashing in the sea to cool off from the heat of the Albanian sun, it’s a lovely spot to cool off in.
7. Dhermi Beach
Dhermi is another small town close to Himare that’s also a popular place to stay for tourists.
However, since its beach is so delightful, and since it’s so close to Himare, I figured it would be crazy not to include it in this round-up of the best beaches around Himare!
Dhermi beach is around 16 km north of Himare. It’s worth making your trip to Dhermi beach a full-day trip to explore the rest of Dhermi whilst you’re here.
Dhermi Beach has it all – mountain views, turquoise water that sparkles in the summer sun, and a vibrant array of beach bars, restaurants, and cute souvenir shops.
The water quality here is fabulous! Looking down to the bottom of the sea will feel just like looking through glass.
The beach here is a pebble beach, like so many in Albania, so don’t forget to pack your water shoes!
8. Grama Beach
The beach at Grama Bay is another one of Himare’s stunning beaches that’s easiest to visit on a boat tour from Himare. It’s one of the most lovely beaches I’ve ever seen!
This is the perfect beach for you if you’re looking for a tranquil and secluded spot that feels worlds away from civilization.
The beach here is pebbly, rather than sandy, which means it’s not ideal for sunbathing. tHe natural beauty of the bay more than makes up for that, THOUGH!
The beach is only accessible by boat, so there’s a chance that when you visit Grama Beach your boat tour group will be the only people there!
9. Porto Palermo Beach
You’ll find Porto Palermo beach to the south of Himare, and it’s the perfect place to find some peace and quiet.
This tiny beach is far away from the main towns in the area, and has been left fairly natural. That means fewer sunbeds and umbrellas clogging the beach and ruining the view!
The beautiful water here is ideal for snorkelling or cooling off. Since it’s a quiet beach there’s always room for sunbathing.
Porto Palermo Beach is near Porto Palermo Castle, so if you’re here it’s worth paying a visit for knockout views of the Albanian coastline from the castle.
The castle itself also has a very interesting history tied to Ali Pasha, a former Albanian ruler.
10. Prinos Beach
Prinos Beach is another one of the beaches in the centre of Himare, making it easily accessible if you don’t want to travel too far from town to soak up some sun.
Thanks to its location away from Himare’s shops and restaurants this beach is never crowded and its sheer size means there’s always room for everybody.
The water here is clear and calm, perfect for swimming, and the beach is a popular spot for sunset views. The sunsets in Himare are some of the most insane I’ve ever seen. The whole sky becomes streaked with fiery reds and oranges!
You can’t miss watching one from Prinos Beach during your time in Himare!
FAQs About Himare Beaches
How to Get to the Best Beaches in Himare
Although there are some lovely beaches in Himare centre, the most beautiful and secluded are outside of the town centre.
For this reason, to get to them your best bet is to hire a car, a scooter or an ATV, or to join a beach hopping boat tour from Himare, which is what I did!
You’ll find numerous tour company stands in the centre of Himare here. Pretty much all of the companies offer the same itinerary for the same price, so it’s not a big deal which one you select.
You can book in person at the stand or by sending a Whatsapp message to the number on their tour stand.
The tour usually includes visiting 5-8 beaches and caves via boat (but you’ll only be able to get off the boat at a couple of the stops). Then, you’ll get a few hours to spend at one beach, for example Gjipe beach, which is where I stopped off at.
The tour costs 2500 LEK (€22) at all providers, which is a great deal! You don’t really receive a “tour” for your money, though, as the guide in my case didn’t actually share any information about the area with us.
If you’re just looking to get out onto the ocean and explore some of Himare’s wonderful beaches, though, you can’t go wrong with a boat tour.
What to Pack for a Trip to Himare’s Beaches
You’re not stupid – I’m sure you know what to pack for a beach trip! However, there are a few things you should pack for Himare’s beaches in particular that you may not have thought of:
Water shoes: Many of Himare and Albania’s beaches are pebble beaches, making walking around without shoes quite painful! For this reason, I recommend stashing a pair of water shoes in your bag.
They’ll make heading out into the ocean far more enjoyable and pain-free.
Waterproof phone pouch: If you’re travelling solo, or just don’t want to leave your valuables unattended on the beach, this waterproof phone lanyard is a game-changer!
You can fit your phone, cash and keys in this transparent plastic pouch and wear it around your neck. Not only will the pouch keep your valuables safe and dry, but you can also use your phone through the pouch to take underwater photos and videos. Awesome!
Dry bag: I never go on a boat trip without a dry bag, and you shouldn’t either! I got absolutely drenched on the speedboat that took me to many of these Himare beaches but, thanks to my dry bag, all of my belongings stayed safe and dry.
Don’t leave home without one!
Have a wonderful trip to Himare!
2 comments
Thank you for so many valuable information . I feel better about my trip now. I’m going to visit Albania in the end of September. The only question I have is the internet. Is there a free wifi in cafes or city centres or you got local sim card?
Thanks Milena – and my apologies for only just getting to your message, for some reason I never got a notification! A few cafes and restaurants do have free wifi but it isn’t super common. Your best bet is to get a SIM card at the airport or in the city centre once you arrive. I can’t remember how much I paid for mine but it was very, very cheap and worked well throughout the whole country. Have a great trip!
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