The best beaches to visit in Albania

Best for: Island views and upscale lounging

Nearest town: Ksamil

The coastline around the small town of Ksamil is a squiggle of interlocking coves, miniature islands, forested headlands, and lagoons that sparkle in the late afternoon sun. And that’s before we even get into the outstanding nearby ancient ruins of Butrint. All this means that Ksamil has all the makings of a perfect Mediterranean beach village, but note – it’s no longer much of a secret and, unfortunately, nowadays almost every beach is occupied by a private beach club with a strict pay-for-access policy. Still mighty beautiful, just no longer quiet. 

Best for: The perfect base for exploring the Albanian Riviera

Nearest town: Himarë

The pleasant beach town of Himarë serves as a base from which to explore an intriguing section of coastline. The area to the north has the richest sand and salt pickings. Some of the beaches here, such as Livadi Beach, are well and truly discovered and full of sunloungers, but there are a few tiny coves, such as Aquarium Beach, which hark back to an older Albania.

Best for: Beach-clubbing and village wandering

Nearest town: Dhërmi

Dhërmi is a long and searing pale strip of sand and pebble that’s bookended by rocky headlands with little coves. There are several pay-for-access beach clubs, but for those who prefer a more natural beach day, there are plenty of opportunities to just chuck a towel down. Make time to explore the cliff-top village of the same name. With whitewashed houses, narrow, shady streets, and fiery pink bougainvillea flowers draped over walls, it showcases a strong Greek influence. 

Best for: Drama and peace, all at once

Nearest town: Dhërmi

A mere indent into the forested cliffs, the small, white pebble beach of Gjipe is everything you hoped that the Albanian coastline might be. The reason it’s stayed so untarnished?Probably because it’s a hot 30 to 40-minute hike from the nearest road. You’ll also find a cute seasonal beach café and, a short way up into the gorge, a basic camping area. 

Best for: Finding seclusion during even the busiest months

Nearest town: Borsh

The vast sweep of pale sand and small pebbles at Borsh is hardly unknown, but with the beach here being seven kilometres long, it’s pretty simple – even in August – to find a quiet corner. And what corners these are. Small, cream-white pebbles lead the way into shallow cerulean waters, and behind, spreading inland, hundreds of gnarled olive trees cast a little shade. For total seclusion, head to the southern half of the beach, where it tends to be a little more peaceful. 

Best for: Crystal-clear waters and idyllic days

Nearest town: Ksamil

With a name like that, you know you’re in for something special. Located just a few kilometres north of popular Ksamil, Mirror Beach lives up to its billing, a small but perfectly formed stretch of white pebbles, coarse sand, and some of the clearest water you’ll find in Albania. Mirror Beach is a world away from the busy resorts down the road, and it isn’t the easiest to reach, but it is worth every step of the walk.

Best for: Albania as it once was

Nearest town: Vlorë

Located on the southern part of the Karaburun Peninsula, Dafina Bay is a vision of what so much of the Albanian coast must have looked like just thirty years ago. Part of a protected coastal area, there are several very small coves on the peninsula, of which Dafina Bay is arguably the best. To get to any of the beaches, you either need to go on a boat trip, be prepared for a long and rugged hike over hills covered in sweet-smelling pine forests, or – the best option – join an overnight kayak trip. 

Best for: Spectacular snorkelling and Cold War intrigue

Nearest town: Vlorë

With a dark Cold War history that saw it used as a base for submarines and a secret chemical weapon plant, the remote and uninhabited Sazan Island might not seem like a likely beach bum paradise. But the island, which can only be visited on organised boat tours, offers Cold War historic sites, a couple of absolutely untouched beaches, and some superb snorkelling.