Best beaches in Albania
From the turquoise coves of the Albanian Riviera to the calm sands of Velipojë — every coastline worth visiting, mapped.
Visit Durrës Beach for golden sands, shallow waters, and vibrant seaside dining. Explore Roman ruins and enjoy Adriatic sunsets. Plan your perfect escape today.
A pine-shaded islet in the Narta lagoon linked by a wooden footbridge to a 14th-century Byzantine monastery.
A quiet family beach where the mountains of Karaburun meet the Ionian, close to a nature reserve.
Fine dark sand at the mouth of the Buna river with a protected lagoon and thermal-mud tradition.
Golem Beach is the closest family-friendly beach to Tirana (45 minutes) and 12 km from Durres. Soft grey-gold sand, water shallow enough for toddlers, sunbeds from about 5-10 EUR a day, easy parking and buses — here is what it costs, when to go, and whether it is worth your day.
A remote crescent of pale pebbles wedged between two towering canyon walls where the Gjipe river meets the Ionian — reached by a 25-minute walk down a dirt track or by boat from Jale.
Undeveloped dark-sand Adriatic beach at the Seman river mouth.
A once-secret military island at the mouth of the Bay of Vlorë, now open for guided day trips.
Four tiny islets in impossibly clear water off Ksamil — swim, paddle or take a €5 boat.
A long shingle bay just south of Himarë ringed by olive groves and family-run guesthouses — the calmest, most local-feeling Riviera beach.
The longest beach on the Albanian Riviera, backed by the largest olive grove in the country — sleepy, cheap and gloriously undeveloped.
A pine-shaded white pebble beach north of Dhërmi popular with backpackers for its bars and beach camping.
Turquoise water and a small pebble cove between two headlands — the launchpad for boats to Gjipe.
A pocket-sized cove of clear water and smooth pebbles near Sarandë — 'the mirror' for its glassy calm.
A private-feeling arc of clear water between two headlands south of Porto Palermo, reached by a rough track.
One of southern Albania's most remote white-pebble beaches, only reachable by 4x4 or boat.
A quiet gravel beach split by a small river estuary — a favourite family stop between Borsh and Lukova.
'Seagull Beach' — a short, cliff-backed white-pebble cove north of Sarandë with crystal water.
A small cliff-hemmed pebble beach near Sarandë, known for its beach club and sunset views.
Vlorë's new sandy promenade beach, family-friendly with palm-lined walks and beach bars.
A calm pebbly bay on the road south from Vlorë, popular with families and small resorts.
A long sandy Adriatic beach north of Lezhë with warm shallow water — one of Albania's family-holiday classics.
An empty sandy peninsula wrapped by pine forest, culminating at Skanderbeg's castle ruins on the sea.
A wide dune beach inside Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, backed by pine forest and a flamingo lagoon.
Long open dune-backed sand at the mouth of the Shkumbin — one of central Albania's wildest beaches.
A calmer sandy strip south of Golem popular with domestic weekenders.