To find a cheap flight to Tirana, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one. RentByOwner makes it easy and safe to find and compare vacation rentals in Albanian Riviera with prices often at a 30-40% discount versus the price of a hotel. Bus services run from Tirana down to the coastline, however these will take around 5 hours (or more). Pinterest. The bay is also called the bay of scriptures. A few Google searches and travel blogs later and Albania was firmly on our radar. Albanian Villages: Top 10 Villages to Visit in Albania. To get to the Albanian Riviera, you can fly to two airports: 1. From Saranda to Tirana, it will take about 5 hours and cost around 1300 LEK per person. Don't have time to read? After hiking up to Himara castle for the sunset, make your way back to Himara and go check out the main boulevard along the Himara Beach. The road is recently renewed and in a good condition. Set between the coastal hills and the crystal-clear sea, with the Greek island of Corfu beckoning in the distance, Saranda is a dream-like beach destination in the Balkans. The bus leaves from Saranda Bus Terminal, so be sure to spare some time to get there. Ksamil is another base that I will be including in the itinerary but it should not be your main base as it is quite far from all the cool things to do along the coastline. However, when catching the ferry to Sarande, make sure you get either the Ionian Ferries (1hour 15 minutes) or the Finska Lines (30minute express) and NOT the Joylines (takes around 2 hours). Albanians are really friendly and hospitable people, and even if they dont speak much English, most will be more than happy to drop you off at your destination. Saranda is just a big bustling coastal city that is the central hub of Southern Albania. Located just a few kilometers south of Himara, this castle dates back to the times of Venetian rule in Albania, and was refurbished during the 19th century. Those beaches look amazing. If you drive further south from Himare, you will see the Bay of Porto Palermo (No. Tirana International Airport 2. Save this page on Pinterest for later and don't forget to follow us on Pinterest. If you depend on public transport for your trip to the Albanian Riviera, it is easiest to travel to Vlore or Saranda first. Ill let you guess which one I did. I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. We also loved the fact we were visiting places many people havent ventured to yet as they felt a little more untouched by the western world. What is the best way to travel around Albania? That means that if you purchase something using one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no added cost to you. They provide the tents and mattress pads. A boat trip costs 150 euros for 6-7 persons. From the main road, it's another 2 km walk on a dirt road so be prepared to walk in the sun for a while. The bus trip will take you 20 minutes and it costs only 1.20. If you want to go by foot (the stupid way), walk to the southern edge of Himara beach and climb the hill. Some occupy remote. Cancel free on most hotels. In total, you will spend 2700 LEK for activities per person. You can book your tickets from the Ionian Seaways website. Sarande is a large coastal city with many hotels, bars, restaurants and clubs. And its no wonder because I just keep hearing about these great places there. You can get to Gjipe beach via the sea by boat or via a hiking trail. Grab a beach towel and enjoy! I want to stay near a beach in a town, city(?). It mostly attracts young people during the summer. There are caves around the beach and you can swim into some of them. The cape of Rodon is close to the capital city Tirana. Want to do another great day trip on Paros. 6). Inside there's a collection of armoury, two good museums, plenty of crumbling ruins to scramble around, and superb views over the valley. Day 4 (Ksamil): Visit Butrint in the morning and spend the rest of the day exploring Ksamil and its beautiful beach. Stunning! Amazing. Saranda 10. It is also nicer in Ksamil than in Saranda in my opinion with a bit more things to do. Close to Saranda, you can visit: Ksamil beach Butrint, an archaeological Unesco sight Gjirokaster, a historical city on the Unesco heritage list Blue Eye Albania, a stunning natural highlight. See the latest prices and deals by choosing your dates. We were able to get a place at every bar or restaurant we visited. Just be aware that youll have to bring all your stuff up and back the giant hill, which can be really rough in the heat. Still have the tanlines from that burn, though! Long are the days when you have to scramble your way to find a local sim card at an airport when you arrive. Drymades is one of the prettiest hidden coves in this area and it comes highly recommended by the Lonely Planet. Himare 5. And it has the most miraculous, bright, blue color. Because there are no facilities at this beach. The proximity to some of Europe's most popular destination would make you think it would be easy to access, however there is no airport along the coast. The journey from Saranda to Tirana will take 5 hours and cost 1300 LEK and the journey from Tirana to Shkodra will take another 2 hours and cost 300 LEK. A few friends and fellow travellers visited Albania in the months leading up to our visit and sung its praises, only raising our anticipation. And it takes 2 hours and 43 minutes to get from Vlore to Sarande. So sorry about your sunburn. The bay is only a 45 minute drive from the capital city. She holds a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. Dhrmi The beach at Dhrmi is one of the most famous in Albania, a dazzling strip of white rock several kilometres long that is lapped by deep blue water. The Albanian Riviera refers to the long stretch of the best beaches of Albania, in South Western Albania. The reason I included Ksamil is that it is close to Butrint National Park, which is best seen in the early morning and you wouldn't be able to reach it in time from Himara. Butrint and Ksamil are on the same road. From Saranda, there are buses going to Butrint that passes through Ksamil every 30 minutes and so you can take that one. These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout The Albanian Riviera. How to get to the Albanian Riviera The easiest way to get to the Albanian Riviera is to fly into the Greek island of Corfu and take the ferry over to Sarande/Saranda, Albania. Along the way, you will find plenty of small caves and stunning rock formation for you to explore along the coastline. Therefore, the quiet and private Gjipe beach is a great way to get away from any crowded beaches in the summer. Free Albania Planning Session via Skype / WhatsApp / Zoom. Allison. July and August are still the high-season and the busiest months. There are car rental offices of Eurocar Rentals, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Avis, Europcar, Sixt and Hertz at the airport. its peasant articles, Your email address will not be published. The water is the clearest, seawater you have ever seen. 2) is a rocky peninsula that points into the sea. 2. From Tirana airport, follow the signage in the direction of the coastal city Durres. Due to its size, covering several cities and towns along the Albanian coast, it can be quite intimidating to plan a visit to the Albanian Riviera. Ill have to look into sunscreen materials for shirts that sounds really useful! It's part of Butrint National Park and the city of Saranda. If you want to get to Tirana from Ksamil, you will have to get a bus to Saranda which leaves every 30 minutes from the main roundabout and take 30 minutes and from Saranda, there are several buses running from 5 AM to 10 PM every day. The authentic local food, friendly locals and day-trip options really elevate Himare. At 8 AM, you should see no line at the ticket booth and you should be able to get the ticket and go inside without having to wait like if you arrive at 9 AM. Ksamil beach is called the pearl of the Albanian Riviera, because it is the most beautiful beach. ah, so no sandy beaches at all? Geographically, the Karaburun Peninsula is in the north of the Albanian Riviera. The smart way: hirea boat for about 2000-2500 lek roundtrip ($15-20). After the Blue Eye, you can follow the road towards the historical city of Gjirokaster. Compared to a taxi or a car rental, you will save a lot of money if you travel with the local bus. By taxi, it costs between 86 - 165 euros. Id recommend avoiding mid-day if you choose to do this hike with all your stuff! The beautiful Albanian Riviera is located on the coast in the south of Albania. Can you provide some info the hike you took to get that overview pic of Himare? If youre staying in Himara and you want to head north to Jala, Gjipe, Livadhi, or Dhrmi, you can hop on the coastal bus headed towards Vlora or Tirana, which leaves around 11 or 11:30. There are buses running from Saranda to Butrint that goes through Ksamil so you can flag one down along the main road in Ksamil. Want to see more of Albania? From Vlore, you can follow the coastal road in the direction of Saranda. You can spend around 3 - 4 hours exploring the coastline with your kayak. In only 2 years, all the nice beaches along the coast are now covered in rental sunbeds and umbrellas, so to avoid disappointment, try not to expect a secluded and empty white beach waiting for you to discover in the Albanian Riviera. The beach in Himara proper can be a bit crowded (for Albania) but for the convenience to beauty ratio, it does the trip. Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, be sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling so that you can bypass whatever local Internet censorship you might run into while in Albania. Although the number of tourists in Albania is low, compared to the other European countries. The Albanian Riviera is a 120 kilometre long stretch of coastline in the South of Albania. Additionally, the streets around some of the towns had more of a Mexico or Asia feel with abandoned buildings and some rubbish. From Durres, drive in the direction of Kavaje, Lushnje, Fier and Vlore. Those following along with our blog will know we love budget friendly destinations! Albanias main airport is in Tirana, around 5 hours north of the coast. It looks so fresh and delicious. 8). There are many perfect sand beaches along the seaside and it is a beautiful hidden beach. The Albanian Riviera very well may be the most underrated summer vacation spot in Europe. There are several rental places you can find along the Himara Beach or you can ask your hotel/hostel to direct you to one close by. 2. The most international places on the Riviera are upmarket Portofino, Sanremo with its casino crowd, and the pretty villages of the Cinque Terre - a favourite of Instagrammers, hikers, and cruise-ship crowds. wow I didnt know albania had such nice beaches! The price ranged from 500 - 1000 LEK and so if you are looking for a nice and affordable place to eat seafood, be sure to drop by Lefteri's Tavern. Along the way, you pass over the Llogara pass, which has a stunning view of the Ionian Sea and the beaches below. Additionally, most meals involved chips or bread. Ksamil - a favorite Albanian beach town. Vlore is the starting point of the Albanian Riviera. In 3-4 days, you can visit: -Ksamil beach -Butrint Unesco sight -The Blue Eye of Albania -Gjirokaster UNESCO sight -Spend a day on a hidden beach, like Mirror beach or Monastery beach. It also has a camping grounds if youd like to stay overnight here. I would have loved to join them but after studying their steps and footwork, I gave up .
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