Albania · Albanian Riviera
Himare
The Albanian Riviera's middle ground: castle village above, clear Ionian coves below, and the whole coast within reach.
Himare is the old heart of the Albanian Riviera, a small seafront town below a hilltop castle village, halfway between Vlore and Saranda. Mountains drop straight into the Ionian here, and the coast road links a string of pebble bays and clear water with terraced olive groves above. It makes a relaxed base for the Riviera's villages and coves, from Dhermi and Jale to the canyon beach at Gjipe and Ali Pasha's fort at Porto Palermo.
Suggested stay
3–6 days
Language
Albanian
Currency
ALL
Timezone
UTC+3
Why you'll love Himare
The water pebble bays with some of the clearest, bluest sea on the Ionian coast
Old Himare a castle village of stone houses and churches on the ridge above town
The coast road the drive over Llogara Pass and down through the Riviera villages is one of the Balkans' great scenic roads
A real base Dhermi, Jale, Gjipe and Porto Palermo are all a short drive away
Best time to visit
Mar-Sep
14-34° days
40.102° N, 19.747° E
UTC+3 · Europe/Athens
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Weather & when to go to Himare
Month by month: typical highs and lows, rainfall and rain days.
✓ Best Mar-Sep
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
When to avoid Himare
No month is a weather write-off. July and August are hot and busy, with beaches and the coast road at their most crowded. From late autumn into spring many guesthouses, beach bars and restaurants close, so the town can feel shuttered even on fine days.
Top things to do in Himare
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Himare Castle - the old village on the ridge
history scenic 👍 PopularAbove the modern seafront, old Himare sits inside its castle walls on a steep ridge, a quiet cluster of stone houses, churches and lanes. Go up late in the afternoon for the view over the coast and the bay below.
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Porto Palermo - Ali Pasha's fort on its own peninsula
history scenic ⭐ Highly recommendedSouth of town, a small triangular fortress associated with Ali Pasha of Tepelena stands on a rocky spit in a sheltered bay. Walk through its vaulted rooms and up onto the walls, then swim from the pebble shore nearby. The bay also hides a Cold War submarine tunnel in the cliff.
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Gjipe Beach - the cove at the mouth of a canyon
nature wildlife scenic ⭐ Highly recommendedBetween Dhermi and Jale, a gorge opens onto a sheltered white-pebble beach with no road down to it. You reach it by walking in from the parking area above, or by boat, which keeps it wilder than the Riviera's other beaches.
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Livadhi Beach - the long bay north of town
scenic 👍 PopularJust around the headland from Himare's seafront, Livadhi is a long pebble beach backed by olive groves and hills. It is an easy walk or short drive from town, with swimming, sunbeds and a few beach bars in season.
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Llogara Pass - over the mountains to the coast
scenic nature wildlife 👍 PopularThe coast road from Vlore climbs through the pine forests of Llogara National Park before a tight run of hairpins drops to the Riviera. Stop at the top for the view down the coast, one of the best in Albania, and look out for paragliders.
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Qeparo - the old hillside village
history off beaten pathSouth of Himare, old Qeparo clings to the mountainside above a newer beach settlement. Its half-abandoned stone houses, churches and views make a good short walk, followed by a swim in the bay below.
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Dhermi old village - churches above the bay
culture arts historyAbove Dhermi's beach, the old village climbs a steep slope in lanes of stone houses, with small Orthodox churches and monasteries scattered on the hillside. It is quieter and older than the beach strip below.
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Riviera food - grilled fish, olive oil and byrek
foodEat at the seafront tavernas on fresh grilled fish, octopus and mussels, with salads dressed in local olive oil from the terraced groves. Byrek pies and Greek-influenced home cooking reflect the area's mixed Albanian and Greek heritage.
Best areas to stay in Himare
$ Budget $$ Mid-range $$$ Premium
Himare seafront
First-time visitors $$Small-town bay with tavernas and beaches
Explore hotels in Himare seafront →
Livadhi
Beach stays $$Long pebble beach among olive groves
Explore hotels in Livadhi →
Dhermi
Beach-club scene $$$Chic beach strip below an old village
Explore hotels in Dhermi →
Jale
Campers $Small cove of campsites and guesthouses
Explore hotels in Jale →
Live nightly prices from Booking.com, Agoda and others, centred on Himare
Getting to & around Himare
Getting there
No airport close by: about 4-5 hours by road from Tirana via Vlore and the Llogara Pass, or up the coast from Saranda
Coach
Himare seafront
Buses and minibuses from Tirana and Vlore run down the coast road via Llogara, and services link Himare with Saranda to the south
Ferry
Saranda port
Ferries cross from Corfu to Saranda, then it is roughly 1-1.5 hours north by road to Himare
Drive
The coast road from Vlore over the Llogara Pass is slow and winding but spectacular; allow extra time in peak summer
Getting around
Walking
The seafront, town beaches and Livadhi are walkable, and the castle village is a steep climb above
Free
Car hire
The easiest way to reach the coves, villages and Porto Palermo along the coast road
TBC
Bus
Buses on the Vlore-Saranda coast road stop at the Riviera villages, though timings are loose and services thin out off-season
TBC
Taxi
Local taxis cover short hops to Livadhi, Porto Palermo and the villages; agree the fare first
TBC
Day trips from Himare
Porto Palermo and Qeparo
Half dayFort and hillside village
Explore Ali Pasha's fortress on its peninsula and swim in the sheltered bay, then continue to Qeparo to wander the old stone village on the slope above the sea.
Getting there
car
About 15-25 min south by car or taxi
Gjipe and Dhermi
Full dayCanyon beach and village
Walk down to the canyon beach at Gjipe for a morning swim, then head on to Dhermi for lunch, its long beach and the lanes and churches of the old village above.
Getting there
car | walk
About 20-30 min north by car, then a walk down to Gjipe
Llogara National Park
Half dayMountain pass and forest
Climb the hairpins to the pass for the big view down the Riviera, then walk in the cool pine forest at the top, a welcome break from the heat of the coast in summer.
Getting there
car
About 45 min-1 hr north by car
Butrint
Full dayAncient city ruins
Albania's great archaeological site, a UNESCO-listed city of Greek, Roman and Venetian layers on a lagoon near the Greek border. Make a long day of it, with a swim on the way back.
Getting there
car
About 2 hr south by car via Saranda
A little history of Himare
Himare grew from ancient Chimaera, a settlement of the Chaonians of Epirus, and its castle ridge has been fortified for well over two thousand years. Under Ottoman rule the mountain villages of the area kept a notable degree of self-government, and the region's mixed Albanian and Greek heritage still shows in its language, churches and food.
The area passed to the new Albanian state in 1913 and was fought over during the Balkan Wars and the First World War. Under communism the coast was closed off, with a submarine base at Porto Palermo. After 1991 many locals emigrated to Greece, and the Riviera's slow opening to tourism has since reshaped its beaches and villages.
Chimaera, a Chaonian settlement, stands on the castle ridge
Himare's villages resist Ottoman rule, later keeping local privileges
Ali Pasha of Tepelena fortifies Porto Palermo
Himare rises against Ottoman rule during the First Balkan War
The Protocol of Florence places Himare within Albania
The Protocol of Corfu grants the area autonomy within Albania, soon overtaken by war
Communist rule closes the coast; Porto Palermo becomes a naval base
Borders open and many Himariots emigrate to Greece
Know before you go
Payment
Cash preferred
English
Widely spoken
Wifi
Workable
Power
Type C / F
230 V, 50 Hz
Dialing
+355
FAQs about Himare
▸ When is the best time to visit Himare?
March to September has the best weather. June and September are the sweet spot, with warm sea and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy. Outside summer the weather can still be good, but many guesthouses and restaurants close.
▸ Is Himare better than Saranda as a Riviera base?
Himare is smaller and quieter, with better access to the central Riviera's coves and villages. Saranda is a bigger, busier town with more nightlife and easy access to Butrint, Ksamil and the Corfu ferry. Many people split a trip between them.
▸ Do I need a car in Himare?
Not to enjoy the town and Livadhi, but a car makes the Riviera much easier. The best coves, Porto Palermo and the old villages are spread along a winding road, and buses run on loose schedules, especially outside summer.
▸ Are the beaches sandy?
Mostly no. Himare and its neighbours have pebble and shingle beaches, which is part of why the water is so clear. Water shoes help, especially in the smaller coves.
▸ Is the Riviera still unspoiled?
Parts are, but the coast has been developing quickly, with new hotels and building along several beaches. The old hill villages, Gjipe and the quieter coves still feel wild. Expect change, and check current conditions for any beach you have your heart set on.
More in Albania
Berat
A castle people still live in, above a river valley of stacked Ottoman windows.
✓ best Apr-OctGjirokaster
The city of stone: Ottoman tower houses and a vast hilltop castle above the Drino valley.
✓ best Apr, Jun-Jul, SepSaranda
Albania's southern seaside town, with a UNESCO ancient city down the road and Corfu across the water.
✓ best Mar-Sep