Himara
A relatively laid-back Riviera town between Saranda and Vlora, with a hilltop old town and several beaches less crowded than Ksamil
A city of Albania
🗓️Best time to visit
June and September for warm water (23–25°C) and prices 20–30% lower; July–August is peak crowding and pricing.
📸Top activities & landmarks
- The hilltop old town and its Orthodox churches
- Several beaches within walking distance of the seafront
- The panoramic Riviera coastal road
- A calmer, less-crowded vibe than Saranda or Ksamil
- Proximity to the more famous Dhërmi to the north
🏨Where to stay
Mid-budget seafront hotels balance beach access well with easy onward reach to the rest of the Riviera.
⚠️Tips & warnings
If you want the Albanian Riviera without Ksamil's crowding, Himara is the best balance of calm and adequate tourist infrastructure.
📍 On the ground
Getting around: On the SH8 coastal Riviera road — a furgon from Saranda (~70 min, 55km, a scenic coastal drive) or from Vlora (~2 hours). The furgon station sits in the town center. The hilltop old town is walkable up from the seafront, but exploring the scattered beaches (especially neighboring Dhërmi) is best with a rental car.
Halal & prayer places: Modest — a small Riviera town with no known major mosque; grilled-fish and grill restaurants along the seafront are the intuitive safe default, as with the rest of the Riviera. Halal here practically means "order the fish or grill and ask," not declared certification.
Local safety: Same as country →
Cost figures: 2026 prices: a furgon €4–8 to any Riviera town, a hotel €45–120/night depending on season, car rental €25–35/day, a fish meal €10–20.
⏱️How many days?
1-2 days
Suggested plan:
- The hilltop old town
- A nearby seafront beach
- A full-day drive along the Riviera road
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