Albania’s beaches hit the headlines a few years ago, when the first travellers ventured to discover this country that had recently opened up to tourism. Since then, their fame has grown and Albania has become a very popular destination , and not only, especially in the summer. Along the southern coast of the country, between the towns of Dhermi, Saranda and Ksamil , there are, in fact, some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean.
In some places, unfortunately, wild concreting has ruined the coast a bit, but by choosing carefully where to go and, above all, avoiding July and August, you can enjoy a sea and amazing beaches . In this article, therefore, I will accompany you on a journey through crystal clear waters and golden sands, revealing the ten most beautiful beaches in Albania (in my opinion, obviously).
The 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in Albania (2024)
1. Grama Bay
2. Sant Andreas Bay
3 Gjipe Beach
4. Pigeons Cave
5. Jale Beach
6. Acquarium Beach
7. Livadhi Beach
8. Porto Palermo Beach
9. Mirror Beach
10. Pulëbardha Beach
Beautiful Beaches in Albania, between Dhermi, Saranda and Ksamil
PREMISE: I advise you to avoid Valona , Durres and Saranda , unless you are a fan of wild cementing and super crowded establishments with music at full blast…tunz tunz tunz. Between Saranda and Ksamil, however, there are several truly beautiful beaches.
Half of the beaches I recommend are only reachable on foot or by boat (Grama Bay, Gjipe, Sant Andreas, Pigeons Cave, Acquarium Beach). Jale Beach, Palermo, Livadhi, Mirror and Pulëbardha, on the other hand, can also be reached by car. In Albania, on the equipped beaches they practically do not leave a centimetre of free beach and you will be forced to take an umbrella and sunbeds. The price varies depending on the beach and the location: it starts from 10/15 euros (5/7 per person) up to 60 euros or more in Saranda and on some beaches near Dhermi (e.g. on the Green Coast).
The 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in Albania (2024)
1. Grama Bay
Starting from the north, the first Albanian beach that I absolutely want to recommend is Grama Bay . As you can see from the map, Grama Bay is located along the coast below Vlora and can only be reached by boat. It is a very protected bay with a heavenly beach of white pebbles and sand. The color of the water is surreal (the colors reminded me of Maya Bay in Phi Phi Island ) and the scenery is the same. By walking for a few minutes you can also reach a beautiful viewpoint. On the beach there is a small restaurant, but I think it is only open in the height of summer (July and August), ask before arriving. Boat trips and water taxis to reach it leave from Dhermi and Himare.
2. Sant Andreas Bay
Proceeding south, another bay with a wonderful little beach is Sant Andreas , which, like the previous one, can be reached by boat or via a beautiful coastal path that starts from the little church of Palases . The path is quite long ( here you can find the Wikiloc track with all the altimetric data ) and you will have to bring a lot of water and food because you will not encounter anything along the way. Let’s say that, if you don’t feel like walking under the sun (it takes 2 to 3 hours), it is preferable to reach it by taking part in an excursion or with a water taxi. The beach is small, made of pebbles, but it is truly a jewel.
3. Gjipe Beach
Gjipe beach is, rightly, among the most famous on the Albanian coast and certainly among the most scenic. The beach, beautiful and wide, is in fact located at the end of a canyon and is protected by 70-meter-high rock walls. To reach it you have to walk 30 minutes on a beautiful sunny path that starts from this parking lot . The strongest alternative is to follow the path, much longer, that starts from the village of Vuno, otherwise there are always water taxis and boat trips (which also include the beautiful Pirate Cave). The fame of this beach has also increased thanks to the fact that, for some years, part of the Kala Festival , an (electronic) music festival held in June, has been held there. In the summer months there are a couple of kiosks where you can buy drinks.
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