In a nutshell
- Planning a road trip through Albania and want to stop at the most beautiful beaches? Or looking for the perfect spot for a few days of beach vacation in Albania? You’ve come to the right place!
- We’ll walk you through the 8 best beaches in Albania, with something for every type of traveler: beaches in unspoiled nature, sandy beaches great for families, and clear water perfect for snorkeling.
- For each beach, we give you a hotel recommendation and tell you exactly how to get there — including what to watch out for in peak season.
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Albania on a Map
To help you figure out where exactly Albania’s best beaches are, we’ve marked them all on a map for you.
Ksamil Beach
- Sand/gravel beach
- Our hotel pick: Hotel New Crystal
What you need to know: Ksamil is a tourist town in the very south of Albania, and Ksamil Beach is the undisputed star of the Albanian Riviera. It’s no coincidence that the area is often called the “Caribbean of Albania” — the water is turquoise and seriously perfect for swimming. Due to its popularity, though, the beach is packed with sun loungers, jet skis zip around constantly, and it gets very crowded. We’d strongly recommend visiting in the shoulder season or early in the morning.
How to get there: Your best bet is to walk from the tourist town of Ksamil to the beach — it’s about 500 meters. You’ll find a number of free parking spots in town. Buses from Saranda also run regularly to Ksamil.
Food & sun loungers: There are plenty of stylish beach bars with restrooms and sun loungers — unfortunately, the umbrellas are packed in so tightly that you barely have any privacy. You’ll pay around €20 for an umbrella with two loungers. For a delicious, authentic meal, the Bon Appetit Traditional Restaurant is just 300 meters from the beach and well worth it.
Personal tip: Ksamil is often called the place with the best beaches in Albania. If you find Ksamil Beach too hectic, Lori Beach in the same town is a great alternative — or you can drive a short distance to Mirror Beach, which we’ll introduce next.
Mirror Beach
- Sand/gravel beach
- Our hotel pick: Amar Seaside
What you need to know: Mirror Beach (Plazhi i Pasqyrave) is located about five kilometers north of Ksamil and is less crowded and quieter than Ksamil Beach — though still busy in summer. The water is a gorgeous turquoise and really great for swimming. On top of that, the beach is surrounded by cool rock formations, and the scenery is truly stunning.
How to get there: You can drive all the way down to the parking lot, from where it’s just a short walk to the beach. Parking costs €5. Alternatively, you can park for free up in the village and walk 500 meters down via a winding road. Buses from Saranda and Ksamil only go as far as a turnoff 1.2 kilometers from the beach (Google Maps).
Food & sun loungers: There is one bar at Mirror Beach with restrooms where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas. Prices are around €20 for two loungers and an umbrella. The service is rather mediocre, just so you know.
Personal tip: Right next door is Shpella e Pëllumbave Beach — the two are separated by a rock. You can swim from one to the other, but you can’t walk between them. Shpella e Pëllumbave Beach is just as beautiful but a little harder to reach.
Krorëza Beach
- Sand/gravel beach
- Our hotel pick: Hotel Teuta (in Saranda)
What you need to know: Krorëza Beach is definitely one of the most spectacular beaches in Albania, yet it’s still relatively unknown. It’s a popular stop on boat trips from Saranda, but you can also hike there. Its setting in the middle of unspoiled nature and the turquoise water make it ideal for a relaxed day at the beach. During peak season, though, be careful while swimming — boats are constantly pulling up to shore.
How to get there: You can either book a boat tour to Kroreza Beach from Saranda or hike there. The shorter hike starts in Kakome and is about six kilometers round trip (see the route). The second option starts in Lukova and follows the coast the whole way — 12 kilometers round trip (see the route).
Food & sun loungers: There are several beach bars where you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers. Sometimes rental is included with boat tours. Otherwise, you’ll pay around €10 for an umbrella and two loungers. The food at RivieraBlueKrorez is really good.
Jale Beach
- Sand/gravel beach
- Our hotel pick: Hotel Soleil
What you need to know: Jale Beach sits in the popular Himarë beach region and is super easy to access — it’s right next to a small village with a handful of hotels. During peak season (July and August) it gets crowded, as it does at most Albanian Riviera beaches, with umbrellas set up everywhere. In the shoulder season, on the other hand, it’s pleasantly quiet! The bay and the water are really great for swimming.
How to get there: Really only accessible by car. You can park right at the beach, though spots fill up fast in summer — come early or park further up the hill to save yourself the hassle. As far as we know, there’s no bus service to Jale.
Food & sun loungers: For food, we recommend the Marinero Beach Bar. In peak season, you’ll find umbrellas and sun loungers just about everywhere. Prices are around €20 for two loungers and an umbrella.
Gjipe Beach
- Sand/gravel beach
- Our hotel pick: Golden View Residence (in the nearest town)
What you need to know: Gjipe Beach is one of the top attractions in Albania. Because it sits at the Gjipe Canyon, you don’t just get to relax on the beach — you also get to experience a genuinely stunning natural highlight. Most of the beach is sand, but right at the water’s edge and in the shallows there are plenty of pebbles, so water shoes are a smart idea.
How to get there: The main road runs about 250 meters above the beach. You can park up top and do a three-kilometer hike down to Gjipe Beach, passing beautiful vantage points over the canyon along the way — it’s one of our favorite hikes in Albania. Alternatively, drive a few more kilometers along the main road and park closer to the beach. From that parking lot (€4), you’ll still need to walk 1.7 kilometers to the beach (140 meters of elevation change).
Food & sun loungers: There are a few beach spots at Gjipe that we didn’t try ourselves — they also have restrooms. You can rent an umbrella with two loungers for around €20, but there’s also plenty of space to lay out your own towel.
Dhërmiu Beach
- Gravel beach
- Our hotel pick: Blue Boutique Hotel
What you need to know: Dhërmiu Beach absolutely belongs on any list of the best beaches in Albania. The water is crystal clear, and there’s both a section with sun loungers and an area where you can spread out your towel. Since the beach is somewhat removed from major towns, the overall vibe is relaxed. You can also book boat tours from here.
How to get there: The best way to reach Dhermi is by car. Parking at the beach costs around €5. You’ll find free parking up in the village and along the main road, but from there you’ll need to walk 3–4 kilometers downhill to the beach. Buses from Tirana (Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania) also run to Dhermi — as far as we know, there are two departures daily, and they only go as far as the village.
Food & sun loungers: Two loungers and an umbrella cost around €15. There are plenty of restaurants and bars with restrooms. For food, we recommend the Vela e Bardhe Restaurant.
Vlora
- Sand/gravel beaches
- Our hotel pick: Villa Gaudium
What you need to know: Vlora is, in our opinion, the most beautiful coastal town in Albania and a great place to combine a stroll through the historic center with an afternoon at the beach. There are several city beaches in Vlora — Plazhi i Vjeter further north and Plazhi i Ri further south, for example. We’d recommend driving the coastal road a few kilometers south and hitting the beach there instead — the water is simply cleaner.
How to get there: Your best bet is to drive the coastal road from downtown Vlora toward Orikum and stop at whichever beach catches your eye. Every turn reveals a new stretch of coastline.
Food & sun loungers: Most beaches have at least one bar, and you can spread out your towel or find sun loungers and umbrellas just about everywhere.
Personal tip: We didn’t actually go swimming in Vlora — we just watched the sunset at the beach near Tuneli, and it was absolutely gorgeous! We also loved the sea views from our accommodation, the Villa Gaudium.
Durrës
- Sandy beach
- Our hotel pick: Andor Luxury Hotel Bar&Restaurant
What you need to know: Durrës is Albania’s second-largest city and boasts a 10-kilometer-long sandy beach. Hotels and restaurants line almost the entire stretch — making it a classic city beach. It’s a great choice for families thanks to the sandy shore and solid infrastructure. The beach at Durrës also makes for an excellent day trip from Tirana.
How to get there: By car, you can reach Durrës Beach from Tirana in just over 30 minutes. If you don’t need to park right at the beach, you’ll find plenty of free parking nearby. Many buses run from Tirana to downtown Durrës (Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania) and from Tirana Airport. From the bus terminal in Durrës, it’s two kilometers to the beach.
Food & sun loungers: You’ll find bars, sun loungers, and beach umbrellas all along Durrës Beach. Restaurants and convenience stores are never far away either — just cross the promenade and you’re in town.
Personal tip: Durrës Beach is touristy everywhere, but if you head away from the center and go further south, the atmosphere is more relaxed and better for kids. We spent one night at the Andor Luxury Hotel Bar&Restaurant, and in early June the beach was pleasantly quiet.
Our Verdict on Albania's Beaches
Honestly, we found the beaches in Albania truly beautiful — especially because they’re so often set right against mountains and the scenery is fantastic. On top of that, the water — especially in the south — is warm, turquoise, and crystal clear.
In our opinion, visiting a few of Albania’s beaches is a must on any trip to Albania.
That said, we wouldn’t choose Albania for a dedicated beach vacation. We personally prefer secluded beaches in natural settings, and those are unfortunately rare here.
Most of Albania’s beach towns are already dominated by tall hotel buildings, and the smaller beach towns looked more like construction sites when we visited in June 2025.
The steep prices for sun loungers, loud music, and litter at many beaches also put us off.
All in all, our take is this: Yes, the beaches and the sea in Albania are breathtakingly beautiful — but unfortunately their potential isn’t being realized. Instead, tourism is slowly taking its toll on them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Albania's Beaches
Does Albania have sandy beaches?
Yes! You’ll find the most sandy beaches in Albania in the northern part of the country — for example in Durrës and Velipoja.
The beaches in the south, such as those around Ksamil, are mostly a mix of pebbles and sand.
Are there any hidden gem beaches in Albania?
Honestly, it’s hard to find truly empty beaches in Albania. Even at the more remote and hard-to-reach spots, you’ll often find umbrellas and beach bars.
One exception worth knowing about is Filiguri Beach. It hasn’t been overrun by tourism yet and is still more of an under-the-radar pick when it comes to beaches in Albania.
Is there a beach in Albania like the Maldives?
We’d personally answer this with a no.
The beaches and islands around Ksamil are often compared to the Maldives, but honestly, we didn’t get any Maldives vibes when we were there.
When is the best time for a beach vacation in Albania?
The sea is warmest between June and September, and the sun shines on most days — ideal conditions for a beach vacation.
That said, the beaches get very crowded during the summer months. May or October are great alternatives: the weather isn’t quite as reliable, but it’s warm and you’ll have the beaches much more to yourself.
Are beaches in Albania safe?
Yes, generally speaking. That said, you should never leave your valuables unattended — pickpockets exist in Albania just like anywhere else.
Read our tips on safety and whether a vacation in Albania is right for you
Those were our tips for the most beautiful beaches in Albania
Which beach in Albania was your favorite? Do you have an under-the-radar beach in Albania to share? Feel free to let us know in the comments — we’d love to hear from you.
