Sun, Sand, and Secret Coves: Welcome to Himarë
Himarë (can also be spelled Himara) is a charming town on the Albanian Riviera, known for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and stunning mountain views. There are tons of amazing things to do in Himarë, from water sports to exploring centuries-old ruins to relaxing on rooftop bars. The town is a great place to explore the surrounding countryside, with hiking trails leading to secluded beaches and ancient villages. Himarë is often overshadowed by its flashier neighbor, Ksamil, but we greatly preferred Himarë’s quiet and relaxing environment to Ksamil’s expensive party scene.
Overall, Himarë is an amazing place to relax and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of a small beach town. Bring a good book and just enjoy a few days laying out in the sun and swimming in the crystal clear waters!
If partying and beach clubs are more your scene, make sure to check out our post on Ksamil!
Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
Safety Wing’s Nomad Insurance is how we travel knowing that if something bad were to happen to us, we’d be protected. They cover medical assistance if you get sick or get into an accident which gives us peace of mind while on the road. In addition to medical benefits, they also cover lost baggage, travel delays, and even evacuation from political and environmental dangers! They have additional add-on coverage for non-US residents for extreme adventure activities, electronics theft, and US coverage. This is a must-have for every long-term traveler!
4 Best Things to Do in Himarë
1. Hike to Livadi Beach (with a stop at Kico Meniko)
While you’re in Himarë, you shouldn’t miss the hike to Livadi Beach. This hike is quite short and yields beautiful views of the Spile and Sfageio beaches as well as Livadi.
I think there may be multiple paths you can use to get there, but this is what we did!
- Walk to the far side of Spile Beach, near where ArtisBlueRelax is on Google Maps.
- Climb the set of stairs there – from the top we had wonderful views of the Spile and Sfageio beaches.
- Continue on that path until you hit the Pedro Ruçi Stadium (a giant soccer field), and then go all the way around the field to the road that leads to Villa Xani.
- Walk down that road until you see a path splitting off to the right (this path is actually marked on Google Maps). Walk down that path until you hit Livadi Beach!
In total, this hike took about 45 minutes one way. Once you reach Livadi Beach, you’ll have the option of laying out for free or paying for a lounge chair at one of the beach clubs for the afternoon where you can get some cold beverages!
On the way back to Himarë, don’t miss the opportunity to stop at Kico Meniko for a beverage. To get here, you’ll just turn right instead of left when you get to the road from the path you took to Livadi; Kico Meniko is on Google Maps so it should be easy to find! Here, there are multiple platforms you can jump off, although make sure to check the water level before jumping. The people here didn’t speak any English (so come prepared with Google Translate), but they were super nice!
2. Paddle Board to Filikuri Beach
Along the main beach in Himarë, there will be a few different stands set up where you can rent some paddle boards. We highly recommend doing a rental for a couple hours and spending some time out on the water! This was one of our favorite things to do in Himarë. A fun place to paddle to is Filikuri Beach – this beach is super cool and quite hard to reach over land. There are also a couple of little caves around this area that you can explore!
3. Boat Tour to Various Caves and Beaches
Along the main boardwalk, there will be tons of stands set up where you can hop on a boat tour for the day. These tours will bring you to a number of locations, including beautiful beaches and unique caves. We recommend finding a tour that will bring you to both Gjipe Beach and Pirate Cave – these are definitely two of the most beautiful spots around Himarë!
Check out some boat tour options from Himarë!
4. Explore the Himarë Castle Ruins
Himarë has an old town on a hill that is worth visiting when you’re in the area. We walked from the beach; the walk was quite long and very uphill, so we’d recommend either taking a taxi or doing the walk in the early morning or late afternoon. In our opinion, the best time to visit this spot is at golden hour, when you’ll have time to explore the ruins and watch a beautiful sunset. While you’re there, spend some time just wandering the streets of the old town – it’s very beautiful and quite a small old town, so it won’t take much time!
Best Time to Visit Himarë
Himarë is a beach destination, so it’s best to visit when the weather is going to be hot. Therefore, the best time of year to visit is during the summer – this is when the town comes alive! Though summer is peak tourist season in Albania, Himarë is still a hidden gem that doesn’t get the crowds as much as some of the other hotspots do, so you definitely won’t feel like there are too many people around (at least for now!).
Where to Stay in Himarë
In Himarë, you can either stay close to the beach or up in the old town. The old town is cute and has some adorable hotels, but there’s really not too much up there of interest besides the ruins. We recommend visiting the old town for an hour or so during your time in Himarë, but ultimately we think it’s best to stay near the Sfageio or Prinos beaches. From those locations, you’ll be close to the beach and have easy access to the Sfageio boardwalk, which is lined with Himarë’s best restaurants and bars.
Himarë Accommodations
How to Get to Himarë
If you’re planning a trip to Albania, odds are you’ll be flying into either Tirana or Corfu, Greece (find your cheap flights here!). It will be a shorter trip to Himarë if you fly into Corfu, but if you’re exploring other parts of Albania (which we highly recommend doing), Tirana may make more sense. Either way, getting to Himarë won’t be too difficult! If you don’t want to deal with using public transportation or renting a car, check out this multi-day private transfer service!
How to Get to Himarë from Tirana
If you’re trying to make your way to Himarë from Tirana, you have a couple of options. The first is to rent a car. If you plan on doing a trip down the coast and visiting a few different spots, the best option for you will be to rent a car.
However, if you decide not to rent a car, Albania is quite easy to get around with public buses (and they’re very cheap!). In Tirana, you’ll want to head to the North/South bus station and hop on the bus to Himarë (direct buses leave four times per day – see schedules and buy tickets here. The drive takes about four hours and is beautiful!
Tip: If you’re trying to get to a different part of Albania from Tirana by bus, it’s important to note that Tirana has four bus stations: the Airport Shuttle Station, the East Station, the North/South Station, and the International Station. You will likely use the North/South Station for most of your travels; the East Station only services Elbasan, Pogradec, and Korçe.
How to Get to Himarë from Corfu
If you’re flying into Corfu and heading into Albania from there, the first thing you’ll need to do is catch the ferry over to Sarandë. These ferry rides usually take about 30 minutes. Once you arrive in Sarandë, head to Friendship Park – there should be tons of buses around that area on Rruga Flamurit. There should be a few direct buses to Himarë (you can check their schedules and buy tickets here)! Once you’re on the bus, you should be in Himarë in about 90 minutes!
Book your Ferry Ticket with Ionian Seaways
Keep Exploring Albania….
- The Absolute Best 2 Week Albania Itinerary
- Berat: The City of a Thousand Windows
- The Best Things to Do in Përmet
- How to Spend the Perfect Day in Ksamil
- The Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster
- Theth Blue Eye and Grunas Waterfall Hike: Your Ultimate Guide
- Complete Guide to the Valbonë to Theth Hike: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
- Himarë or Ksamil: Which Albanian Beach Destination is Best For You?
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
Pin It For Later!
FAQs
Should I visit Himarë or Ksamil?
Whether you’ll prefer staying in Himarë or Ksamil all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re into crazy nightlife and want to be around a more lively atmosphere, you’ll likely enjoy Ksamil more. However, if you’re just looking for some relaxation and chill beach time, Himarë will probably be more your vibe! Either way, you’ll have an amazing trip! We even wrote an entire post about which is better for you: Himarë or Ksamil?
Is Himarë worth visiting?
Himarë is absolutely worth visiting. It was the perfect chill beach town without the typical summer crowds, and we loved it here. We will definitely be coming back!
Where is Himarë?
It’s located in southern Albania on the Albanian Riviera and is part of Vlorë County. It’s about 4 hours south of Tirana and 90 minutes north of Sarandë.
How many days should I spend in Himarë?
You really don’t need much time to explore Himarë, but we recommend staying at least 2 days if you want to have some time to relax and enjoy the beach!
