Discover hidden gems: the best beaches in off-the-beaten-track destinations

To tell you about good beaches in little-known destinations we have chosen the best beaches in albania. These are the ones you will find in the so-called Albanian Riviera, which has become fashionable in recent years, but still does not receive the millions of visitors that come to other areas of the Mediterranean.

We could focus on other little-known beach destinations such as, for example, the beautiful Con Dao Archipelago, a Vietnam ; Tasmania en Australia or the region of Dakar en Senegal. But we have chosen the Albanian ones because of their proximity and the beauty of their coastline. Therefore, below, we will talk about the coast of the European country and then focus on the best beaches in Albania.

The Albanian Riviera

As we were saying, it is home to the best beaches in Albania. It is a coastal region located in the south of the country, in the vlore countyMore specifically, it begins in the southern part of the Llogara National Park and, protected by the Ceraunia Mountains, reaches the border with Greece.

Among other locations, it includes Borsch, Himara, Piqeras, Cut off y LUKOV. Many of them are towns with a genuine Mediterranean style that combine with vertiginous cliffs, dream beaches and small coves with turquoise waters. But it also includes castles and Orthodox churches next to plains of orange trees. Not in vain, the Albanian Riviera was chosen Best Quality Destination in 2012 by a prestigious travel magazine.

The great artery of communication that connects the vertebra is the SH8 road, which connects the cities of Fier and Vlorë with Saranda. It is 126 kilometres long and its highest point is the Llogara Pass, which reaches 1043 metres above sea level. But above all, it runs along the Albanian coast, showing cliffs and dream landscapes. For all these reasons, we are going to show you the best beaches in Albania below. But we will also explain the monuments and other natural wonders that you will find nearby so that your visit is complete.

Borsh Beach

We begin our tour of the best beaches in Albania on the largest of all those you will find on its Riviera. Borsh has a length of about seven kilometers and is surrounded by mountains and olive groves, creating a wonderful landscape. Furthermore, given its large size, it offers you different spaces.

You can find a part with beach bars, hammocks and lots of entertainment. But it is also a less crowded beach where you can be at your leisure. In general, its shores are made up of small white pebbles and its waters are an intense blue, perfect for swimming and also for snorkelling. It is also an ideal beach if you are travelling with children.

On the other hand, we advise you to visit the old town of Borsch. It is made up of narrow cobbled streets and traditional stone houses. You can also take the hiking route that goes to the so-called «castle rock», a mountain visible from the village where the fortress that dominated the area was located. Also, a little further down, you will see the ruins of the ancient mosque of Hajji Bendo, built before the 17th century and belonging to the castle itself.

Another hiking option is the path that leads to Mount Cika, from which you have stunning views of the Albanian Riviera. But you can also head to the town of Cut off, where you will also find magnificent beaches.

You can also visit the old town, located on the Kasteli HillNearby you have the ancient Greco-Roman city of Phoenice, which was very important as the political center of the Chaonians, one of the three tribes of ancient Epirus. In it, the remains of buildings such as the theatre and the baths can still be seen.

Dhermi Beach

This spectacular beach is also surrounded by hills and olive groves. You will find it at the northern end of the Albanian Riviera and, perhaps because it is its northern entry point, it is one of the most frequented by international tourism. Therefore, it offers you a good selection of hotels and even resorts.

But, returning to its sand, it is also one of the best beaches in Albania and you will find all the amenities there. It has bars and restaurants nearby, as well as sun loungers and parasols. But, above all, you will be struck by its crystal-clear waters. And, next to it, you have the Drimadhes beach, which stands out for its white sands and rock formations.

On the other hand, around its beaches, you will find The best nightlife on the Albanian RivieraHowever, if you prefer something quieter, you can visit the old town of The skin and the monuments in its surroundings. Among them, the Churches of Hipapante and St. Stephen, both listed as National Monuments, and the Monastery of St. Theodore, right at one end of the beach.

Gjipe, isolated and semi-wild among the best beaches in Albania

You may prefer an alternative beach to the most visited by tourists on the Albanian Riviera. In that case, Boobs should be your choice. It is surrounded by imposing cliffs of solid rock and you can only reach it by walking for about thirty minutes.

However, the journey is worth it. Its sand mixed with pebbles and its crystal-clear waters make up for it. And along the way, you can see bunkers The beach is a bit like a coastal town during the Second World War. However, we need to clarify something. In the title we said that this beach is semi-wild. It was certainly so, but in recent years, thanks to the tourist success of the Albanian Riviera, it has become more popular despite its isolation. Today, it has parasols and bars that still offer fresh fish at a good price.

On the other hand, at one end of this beach you have another of the natural wonders of the area. It is the Gjipë canyon, of calcareous origin. It was carved over the centuries by the Ionian Sea and is just eight hundred metres long, with a width of between ten and twenty metres. Along it, you will also find rock formations and some caves. But above all, it is very important from an environmental point of view, as it houses several endemic speciesNeedless to say, one of the most popular hiking trails on the Albanian Riviera is the one that goes to and through this canyon.

Ksamil beaches

We now arrive at one of the most beautiful areas of the Albanian RivieraWith its turquoise waters, beautiful sunsets and excellent climate, it is the place chosen by tourists from all over the world to spend their holidays. In fact, it has also been called «the Caribbean of Albania».

There are also many beaches in this area, some of them pebble and others of fine sand. Among them, the ones with a small sandy beach are ideal for relaxing. Aspalathra y Tzoufaka, both wild. On the other hand, if you want more animation, you have the ones Nisaki y Kalami. More equipped, and therefore advisable for adults, are those of Kerasia o BatariaFinally, the ones that are perfect for young people are: Avlaki o Agni.

On the other hand, Ksamil has four small islands off its coast. You can reach them by boat to enjoy the tranquility, as they are uninhabited. However, if we talk about wonders near Ksamil, we have to stop at the Butrint National Park, some twenty-nine square kilometres of great ecological value.

Declared Heritage, also houses the Greek and Roman city of the same name. It was inhabited from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages and was rediscovered in 1928. To date, only about a fifth of the city has been recovered, which gives us an idea of ​​its size.

However, some of the buildings you can see are the Temple of Asclepius, greek theater, acropolis and lion gate, one of those that gave access to the town. But, perhaps, the most spectacular set of it is the early Christian baptistery XNUMXth century

Saranda, animation among the best beaches in Albania

We are not going too far to tell you about other of the best beaches in Albania. They are those that belong to the city of Saranda and its surroundings. Among them, we recommend you visit the Pasqyrave square, which stands out for its magnificent views, its white sands and its crystal-clear waters. Equally, the beach is very beautiful Manastirit square or the Monastery, located in an isolated environment. On the other hand, the one from Gjiri Saranda It is dog friendly and is guarded by lifeguards and that of Pulëbardha It is very picturesque.

However, if you are looking for an impressive landscape, we advise you to go to the so-called Blue eye, in the village of Muzinë, about twenty kilometres from Saranda. It is a karst lagoon whose depth is still unknown and which attracts attention due to the intense blue of its waters. In addition, it is located in a privileged natural environment.

Finally, you also have beautiful monuments in Saranda. The most striking of them is the church of San Nicolás de Bari, a Byzantine style temple. But more impressive is the Lekuresi Castle, located on the outskirts. It is, in fact, a fortified monastery Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. Today it houses a restaurant that offers wonderful views.

In conclusion, we have shown you some of The best beaches in Albania. But we could mention others such as, for example, the one they call in the fishing village of Himara; the one Uji and Ftohtë in the county of Vlorë or that of the village of Cut off, where mass tourism has not yet arrived. Go ahead and discover these wonders of Albania.