South Albania Itinerary: 10 Days in the Albanian Riviera!

Last Updated on May 22, 2022

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South Albania truly has a lot to offer!

From hiking in the beautiful mountains to relaxing by the most beautiful untouched beaches in Europe, or visiting one of the many historic ancient sites that Albania has, there really is something for everyone.

So I created this Albanian Riviera itinerary for those who only have 10 days to explore the south of Albania. I highly suggest you stay for longer of course, or maybe move to Albania like I did.

This south Albania itinerary is for someone who loves to be by the beach and wants to explore the Albania Riviera and its beaches!

It’s also perfect for anyone hopign to take a Albania road trip through the south of Albania – I’ve included anAlbanian Riveira map to help you plan your route.

🧳 MUST-HAVE: Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have travel insurance. I recommend either SafetyWing or World Nomads.

The Albania Riviera runs from the south (Saranda), to Vlora in the north. Between those two cities are the most beautiful Albanian beaches you will find. Many untouched and wild!

South Albania Map

Travel Insurance for Albania

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Ultimate Itinerary for 10 Days in Albania

Day 1: Tirana (1 Night)

I recommend starting your Albania itinerary bustling capital of Tirana before preparing for your south itinerary trip.

You ought to spend at least one night in this up-and-coming Albanian city.

Tirana has made leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. The first call of action is to visit Bunk Art.

Just off the Skanderbeg square you can get a look into what communism was like and step back in time.

This is a great place to get a feeling of what Albania was like during most of the 1900s under Enver Hoxha’s rule.  

Carrying on with the theme of communism a stop to the House of Leaves is a must.

It’s a new museum which looks into communism through the eyes of the government who were spying on the citizens.  

After you have been drowned in communism history you may need something to eat and drink to process all that information!

I highly suggest a visit to the Blloku area. Here you will find an abundance of bars, restaurants and trendy cafes.

This part of Tirana is my favourite part. You can also find Enver Hoxha’s house here as the area was built only for the communist party during 1944-1990.

If you want to organise your own things to do in Tirana, then read my full Tirana guide here with some other recommendations.

For those that have 2 weeks in Albania or longer and intend to spend more time in Tirana, you can also get in the Southern Albanian mindset by taking a day trip to the beach.

One of the best beaches near Tirana is Golem beach, which is about a 50 minute drive from the city.

Where to stay?

Luxury: A great luxury option is The Plaza or Xheko Imperial Luxury Boutique Hotel.

Mid-range: Try Arc Hotel Tirana or Urban Rooms.

Backpacker: The best hostel, in my opinion, is Trip’n Hostel!

If you’re still looking for somewhere to stay, here are the best hotels in Tirana.

Day 2: 3 Nights in Saranda

It’s time to get up and travel to the seaside city of Saranda in the Albanian Riviera. This is a great base to start your south Albania itinerary.

I might be bias because I love here, but you can’t plan an Albania travel itinerary without including Saranda.

The bus from Tirana to Saranda goes from the north bus station and the journey will take anywhere from 4 ½ hours to 8 hours (depending on the driver and how much coffee he’s had that day).

The journey is very beautiful. You will go through villages, mountains and then finally reach the sea!

There is a lot to do in Saranda but after a few hours of travelling, I highly suggest relaxing at one of the beaches north of the main part of the city.

The beaches next to the restaurants’ sunset and cocktail dreams are great beaches to experience your first taste of the Albanian Riviera!

After a relaxing afternoon, I highly recommend you take in the beauty of the centre of the city and go for an Xhiro.

An Xhiro is a unique tradition to add to your Albania itinerary, where everyone comes out from their homes at around sunset and walks down the main boulevard/road.

This is a way for people to catch up with each other. After a walk along the main boulevard, you should duck into a restaurant and enjoy a night of eating the best seafood!

Saranda has amazing seafood which you need to try. In the centre, I recommend Anchor Bar and restaurant. They do great seafood!

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Day 3: Saranda & Butrint

It’s time to get up early and head to Butrint! Only a 20-30 minute bus ride from Saranda is the UNESCO site of Butrint.

I recommend a quick trip to Ali Pasha’s castle before visiting the main site. This is one of my favourite unique things to do in Albania.

After exploring the UNESCO site for a couple of hours it’s time to relax in what’s called the ‘gem of the Albanian Riviera’ Ksamil.

Ksamil has gained huge popularity over the last few years and is a must for any Albania itinerary. In summer this place can get super busy but for good reason, it’s incredible.

I recommend having a bite to eat at the restaurant Givat and then relaxing at one of the beaches.

If it’s too busy I recommend a trip to the nearby beaches like Mirror or Monastery.

Monastery Beach is one of my favourites as it’s small and you also have the option to climb the hill and see an incredible view of the beach and surroundings by going to the monastery.  

Did you know that the south of Albania does incredible Italian food? Tonight, you should see for yourself!

There are a few great restaurants where I recommend getting a taste of Italian food: Italian Mattarello pizzeria, Maria Magdalena, and A Casa Mia do DELICIOUS Italian food in Saranda.

In my opinion, vacations in Albania aren’t complete without a day trip to Butrint and Ali Pasha’s castle.

Day 4: Saranda

On your last full day in Saranda and I highly recommend taking a trip to Blue Eye – a 20-minute drive away from Saranda.  

Blue Eye is a natural spring that has an unknown depth. Divers have been down to 50 meters and were unable to go any further, so nobody has any idea how deep this spring really goes.

The people who live here believe that the spring water has healing properties so many locals bring their water bottles to fill up from this spring.

The water is a constant 10 degrees Celsius! Have a coffee at one of the restaurants at the blue eye and enjoy nature!

Read my full post on how to visit the Blue Eye so you have the best info when adding it to your south Albanian itinerary.

On the way back from Blue Eye I suggest you visit Phoenice Archaeological park. This park is one of Saranda’s best-kept secrets. I recommend bringing a lunch picnic and enjoying it from there.  

This park dates to the 5th century BC. You can see remains of an ancient theatre, a small prostylos temple, Hellenistic houses, Byzantine church and other important relics and monuments.  

In the late afternoon either chill at the beach again or you can do a walk or drive up to the monastery of the 40 saints. This is where Saranda got its name.

The monastery dates back from the 4th-6th century. The monastery is half in ruins now due to it being bombed in World War 2 as the British thought there was a German garrison hiding inside.

I highly recommend staying and watching the sunset from here, it’s a beautifully quiet spot and in my opinion, gives the best view of the city!

Another great sunset spot that is more popular is Lëkurësi Castle.

Unfortunately, these days the castle has been turned into a restaurant but nevertheless, it’s still a beautiful spot to watch the sunset and enjoy the view.

If you have a bit more time and want to do Albania in 2 weeks rather than 10 days, I highly recommend a few extra days in Saranda.

Where to stay?

Luxury: Two of the most highly recommended accommodation options are Santa Quaranta or White residence rooms.

Mid-range: Try Olive Tree or Hotel Pini.

Backpacker: My two recommendations are the Hairy Lemon and Hasta La Vista.

Read my full list of the best Saranda hotels.

Day 5: 1 Night in Qeparo

Next up on your Albania itineraries, it’s time to hit the road and drive towards the small southern Albania village of Qeparo.

This is one of the most underrated places to visit in Albania, but people often tell me it was a highlight of their Albania vacations, and I don’t disagree!

On the way, I recommend a stop to Borsh Beach, the longest strip of beach along the Albanian Riviera. You can always find a spot for yourself here.

After a little relaxing at the beach, you can go to Borsh Castle. It’s an incredibly unique castle with a lot of history.

The castle is often missed by tourists, but I highly recommend adding to your Albania itinerary.

The view from the castle is amazing. It dates to the 13th century.

The castle is in ruins but in the 14th century when the Ottoman empire took over Albania, they built a mosque in the middle of the castle which still stands today.

And now it’s time to reach the beach portion of Qeparo!

Enjoy lunch at Hotel Riviera and soak up the rays. In the afternoon you must visit the half-abandoned village of old Qeparo on top of the hill.

This is the most beautiful old Albanian village in my eyes. Cobbled paths leading around the village which was pretty much abandoned during the fall of communism.

Unfortunately, there is no option to stay up here so after visiting make your way back to the beach front and settle for the night.

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Where to stay?

Luxury: For a luxury accommodation option try FantaSea Apartments.

Mid-range: For a mid-priced hotel try Irini’s Garden Hotel.

Backpacker: There are currently no hostels in Qeparo but if you look at Booking.com you can get a room for as little as €20.

Day 6 & 7: 2 Nights in Himare

Today on your Albania itinerary, you will travel to the coastal town of Himara. On the way make sure you visit the unique castle of Ali Pasha – Porto Palermo castle.

The castle is unique because it has 3 corners instead of 4. There’s also a small beach by the castle.

When you get to Himare you can opt to stay by the beach or in the old village which sits on top of the mountain.

Spend 2 nights here enjoying everything that Himara has to offer.

Walk down the boulevard, enjoy the beaches in the small town (There’s even a secret one which you can only rock climb or kayak too).

You can lay out on the beach and soak up the Albanian Riviera rays. Another thing you should do is check out the old town on the hill if you are not already staying up there.

The view is incredible, and the town lies within an old ruined castle. It’s one of my favourite spots in southern Albania for some peace and quiet.

Where to stay?

Luxury: Make sure you stay at Vila Kosteli or Guesthouse 1932.

Mid-range: Try Scala Bungalows, a boutique setting but at a very affordable!

Backpacker: There are two great hostels in Himara, Himara Downtown Hostel and Himara Hostel.

Day 8: 1 Night in Jale

Jale is a small developing beach stopover, but still worth including in your Albania itinerary.

You can find some amazing luxury places to stay here, a daybed can cost over 100 euros!

In the summer it’s buzzing with people and in the other seasons, it’s completely empty.

Depending on when you visit south Albania might affect if you stay here or not as in the summer the parties can be wild. If partying is not your thing then you can choose to stay in Dhermi for an extra night.

Whilst you relax or party in Jale make sure you hire a kayak and go to the nearby beach paradise of Gjipe.

Nowadays it’s not so secret but it’s still such a beautiful place to visit in southern Albania. You can go here by car (only 4wd) or by walking or kayak!

This beach is set in between a huge canyon and is a popular choice for people who love to camp.

Where to stay?

Luxury: Try Folie Marine Beach Hotel and Club to lapse in Luxury!

Backpacker: There are no hostels but there is a great camping spot in Jale!

Day 9 & 10: 2 Nights in Dhermi

The final stop on your Albania roadtrip is Dhermi. Dhermi is another popular place for holidaymakers coming to south Albania.

It’s beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts, and great places to visit nearby make it a favourite part of many people’s Albania itinerary!

Apart from checking out Dhermi and relaxing near the seaside, you can also visit the nearby village of Vuno.

This picturesque small village sits on the hillside and has an amazing view of the Albanian Riviera.

While you’re in Dhermi be sure to check our Drymades, a beach that’s not far from Dhermi. It’s one of my favourites!

You can also opt to go to Llogara national Park which is not too far from Dhermi.

At the top of the park, you can explore by doing a walk or if you’re a thrill seeker you also have the opportunity to do parasailing from here!

📚 P.S. Grab access to my Travelling Albania Guide to get a comprehensive insight into more places to visit in Albania (including secret spots that are not recommended in the usual guides!)

Where to stay?

Luxury: Try Golden View residence for a luxury hotel in Dhermi!

Backpacker: There is currently no hostels in Dhermi however, if you look on Booking.com there are very cheap private room options.

Now it’s time to head back to Tirana for the finale of your Albanian Riviera holiday. From Dhermi it’s a 4-5 hour bus or car ride.

This Albanian Riviera itinerary can easily be extended and adjusted according to your wants and needs.

If you have more time and are interested in more Albania day trips, here i a list of other great places to visit or stay in south Albania that I haven’t mentioned in this article:

• Vlora
• Palase
• Gjirokastra

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know the best way to see the south of Albania in 10 days, do you have any questions? Did I miss anywhere worth visiting? What are your favourite South Albania cities?

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Other articles you will love:

• Albania Travel Guide for First Timers: Everything You Need to Know!
• Important Tips Before You Travel to Albania
• Guide to the Best Beaches in Albania
• Locals Guide to the Albanian Riviera
• Albania Itinerary: 1 week in Albania (7 days)

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