The 13 must-do things on the Albanian Riviera

Saranda is a coastal town located in southern Albania, along the Ionian Sea. It's known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and rich history, making it a popular tourist destination. Saranda is often considered the gateway to the Albanian Riviera and is especially famous for its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, an ancient city with well-preserved ruins dating back to Greek and Roman times.

Here are some highlights of Saranda:

1. Beaches: Saranda has beautiful beaches with clear blue waters, making it a favorite spot for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. Some popular beaches include Ksamil, Pasqyrat Beach, and Pulebardha Beach.
2. Lekuresi Castle: Overlooking Saranda, this castle offers panoramic views of the town and the surrounding coastline. It’s a great place to visit for sunset views.
3. Butrint National Park: Just a short drive from Saranda, Butrint is an archaeological site with ruins from the ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. The site is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, including a lagoon and forests.
4. The Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter): A natural spring located near Saranda, the Blue Eye is famous for its deep blue color and the clarity of its water. It's a beautiful spot for nature lovers and photographers.
5. Nightlife and Cuisine: Saranda has a lively nightlife, with many bars and clubs along the waterfront. The town also offers a variety of restaurants serving fresh seafood and traditional Albanian cuisine.

Saranda is well-connected by road and sea, with regular ferry services to the nearby Greek island of Corfu, making it an accessible destination for travelers exploring the region.

Ksamil is a small coastal village located in the southern part of Albania, near the city of Sarandë. It's known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and small islands just off the coast, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

Key Highlights of Ksamil:

1. Beaches: Ksamil is renowned for its beautiful sandy beaches, often considered some of the best in Albania. The water is shallow and warm, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
2. Ksamil Islands: Just off the coast are four small islands that can be reached by boat or even by swimming. These islands are uninhabited and provide a tranquil spot for visitors looking to escape the crowds.
3. Cuisine: Ksamil offers fresh seafood and traditional Albanian cuisine. The restaurants here often serve locally caught fish and organic produce, making dining a delightful experience.
4. Accessibility: Ksamil is easily accessible from Sarandë, which is connected to the Greek island of Corfu by a short ferry ride. This proximity makes it a popular day trip for tourists staying on Corfu.

Ksamil has grown in popularity in recent years but still retains a more relaxed and less commercialized atmosphere compared to other Mediterranean destinations. It's a great place for those looking for a peaceful beach holiday with beautiful scenery and a touch of history.

Dhermi is a village set on the foothills of the Ceraunian Mountains, above the Ionian Sea, about 42 km south of Vlore. The old village clings to the slope at roughly 200 metres elevation, while the pebble beach stretches below, reached by a winding road.

Dhermi is one of the Riviera's headline stops: nearby are Drymades beach, the Gjipe canyon and cove a little to the south, and inlets reachable on foot or by boat. The atmosphere here is livelier in summer than in the neighbouring villages.

Himara is a picturesque coastal town in southern Albania, known for its stunning scenery and beautiful beaches. It's part of the Himara District in the Vlorë County, and it's situated along the Ionian Sea. The area has a rich history, with influences from ancient Greece, Rome, and the Ottoman Empire.

Himara is often celebrated for its crystal-clear waters, charming old town, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it a popular destination for both tourists and locals. The town also offers access to several nearby natural and historical attractions, including ancient ruins, hiking trails, and other scenic spots along the Albanian Riviera.

The Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) is a spectacular karst spring near the village of Muzine, about 25 km northeast of Saranda on the Saranda-Gjirokaster road. It is named for its deep-blue water ringed with turquoise, welling up from a sinkhole more than 50 metres deep (divers have never reached the bottom).

The water stays at around 10-13 degrees Celsius year-round, so a swim is bracing. The protected site is surrounded by oak and plane trees, and a short wooden walkway leads out over the spring. It is one of Albania's most abundant springs, with a flow of roughly 6 cubic metres per second.

Vlore (Vlora) is Albania's second port city and the northern gateway to the Riviera: this is where the Adriatic gives way to the Ionian Sea. The city carries strong historical weight, as Albania's independence was proclaimed here in 1912.

Beyond the seafront promenade and city beaches, Vlore marks the start of the dramatic Riviera road that climbs the Llogara Pass (1027 m) before dropping down to Dhermi and Himara. It is a good launch point for a road trip south.

Jale beach is a cove of white pebbles and turquoise water tucked along the southwest Ionian coast of Albania, between Dhermi and Himara, below the village of Vuno. It is one of the Riviera's most popular beaches in summer, with beach bars and campsites.

Quieter in spring and autumn, Jale is good for swimming, paddleboarding and snorkelling. It is reached by a small road off the SH8 near Vuno.

Qeparo has two parts: the old village (Qeparo i Siperm), a maze of cobbled lanes and stone houses clinging to the hillside, and the coastal part on the Ionian shore with its pebble beach. The contrast between the partly abandoned but slowly restored old town and the seafront is its main appeal.

It is one of the Riviera's most authentic villages, away from the crowds of Dhermi or Ksamil. People come for the quiet, the coastal views and a handful of family-run tavernas.

Gjirokaster, the "city of stone", is an inland town in the Drino valley, at about 300 metres elevation and an hour's drive from the coast. It is not a Riviera stop but an essential excursion from Saranda.

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005 (with Berat, as the "Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra"), it is famous for its Ottoman tower-houses with stone-slab roofs and its imposing castle overlooking the valley. The bazaar and Enver Hoxha's birthplace are also worth a visit.

Vuno is a small stone village clinging to the mountainside along the SH8, between Dhermi and Himara. Its narrow lanes and traditional houses overlook the Ionian coast.

Vuno is best known as the gateway to Gjipe beach and canyon below, as well as to nearby Jale beach. It is an authentic stop for travellers who want to step away from the beach bustle and discover a coastal mountain village.

Apollonia is an ancient Greco-Roman city near the village of Pojan, in Fier county, on the Adriatic plain north of the Riviera (about 40.72, 19.47). It is not a beach stop on the Ionian Riviera proper, but an archaeological excursion to make on the way inland toward central Albania.

Founded by Greek colonists around 600 BC, Apollonia flourished under the Roman Empire. You can see the niched portico, the odeon, the bouleuterion and a Byzantine monastery (St Mary's) housing a museum. The large, uncrowded site is best explored at a relaxed pace.

The Cave of Saint Marina (Shpella e Shen Marenes), in Livadhja, Vlore county, is a registered Cultural Monument of Albania of religious character. A small shrine-cave, it reflects the Orthodox Christian tradition of the region.

The site is little-signposted and off the beaten track, and its precise coordinates are not officially published. Ask locally before visiting, and respect the sacred nature of the place.

Note: Shengjin is not part of the Albanian Riviera. It is a seaside resort on the Adriatic coast of northern Albania, in Lezhe county (about 41.81, 19.59), some 250 km north of Saranda.

Known for its long sandy beach and its proximity to the Kune-Vain lagoon and the mouth of the Drin, Shengjin is a northern Albania destination, distinct from the southern Ionian coast. It is mentioned here for comparison, but does not belong on a Riviera itinerary.