I’ve seen a lot of beaches in Albania, from Velipoja in the north on the Adriatic, to Ksamil in the south on the Ionian. Here are my top 10 in order of preference, counting down:
I’ve seen a lot of beaches in Albania, from Velipoja in the north on the Adriatic, to Ksamil in the south on the Ionian. Here are my top 10 in order of pref... more
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Created 08/12/09
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1
MALI ROBIT - Near Durres (sandy) I have discovered that Mali Robit is a beach best enjoyed out-of-season. Over population in summer makes the water a little gross. Outside August, I cannot help but enjoy this sandy beach, fronted by pine forest with low rise constructions. Also the drive is only 40 minutes from Tirana.
2
SHENGJIN (sandy) 50 minutes drive north of the capital, Tirana, Shengjin is a small port and beach town. With a new road from Lezhe, access is better and faster than ever. And since the port was “donated” to Kosovo, and with passenger ferries arriving soon from Italy, the potential is huge. The nearby wetlands, wildlife, and pine trees are amazing, and I hope they will be preserved.
3
VLORA (sandy) Vlora is a booming commercial, industrial and touristic port city, located in a picturesque bay where the Adriatic meets the Ionian Sea. The expanding port and new thermal power plant are attracting more workers to this Mediterranean-feel city. The locals have their concerns about the nearby beaches and the potential pollution. For the moment, swimming in Vlora offers an amazing view to the mountains, and I hope the scenery and beaches will be well protected.
4
SARANDA (shale and pebbles) Saranda is an ever-changing resort town and port, in the south of Albania, opposite the Greek Island of Corfu. This summer Saranda has seen more foreign tourists than ever, as news spreads of this beautiful and amazing place. The beaches, though artificial, in the city and 4th quarter, are fantastic, and the water is still so clean. As Saranda changes and the construction boom continues, I hope it will retain its magic.
5
SPILLE (sandy) Spille is a newly discovered beach for me, located west of Kavaje, and only 50 minutes drive south of Tirana. There is a huge expanse of sand here, and the most amazing pine forest on the edge of the beach. The village itself is tiny, and there are only a handful of places to stay (in August there is only the beach available to sleep on). The water is crystal clear. A brand new 14km road from the main highway to Spille, has created a huge wave of interest to this beautiful area.
6
BORSH (shale/ pebbles) Borsh is a village and amazing beach, just 45 minutes north of Saranda, surrounded by olive groves. There is practically no facilities, except a few makeshift bars at the beach in the peak of summer, but the water is crystal/ turquoise.
7
DHERMI (fine shale/ pebbles) Dhermi is the beach in Albania everyone seems to be talking about at the moment, even the Sydney Morning Herald. Located just south of Vlora over the Llogora Pass National Park, this small piece of paradise tucked against the mountains is just magical. Limited construction, and bad roads have kept Dhermi undiscovered, until now. And a recent visit to the Havana Club by DJ Tiesto has drawn a lot of attention.
8
HIMARA (fine shale) Himara is located just 30 minutes drive down the coast from Dhermi, offering the same clear crystal water, and long white sandy/fine shale beaches. The small resort town also has a very small port, and is surrounded by olive and citrus trees. They also make great byrek here!
9
LALZI BAY (sandy) Lalzi Bay is definitely a favourite of mine. The beach there, although always littered with rubbish, due to lack of bins and infrastructure, is one of my most favourite beaches in Albania. The food in the nearby restaurants is always good too. The only thing lacking here is a place to stay :(
10
KSAMIL (sandy) Anyone who knows me, will know that I rave about this place. It is the most magical of all. The white of the sand reminds me of the Caribbean. Located only 25 minutes drive south of Saranda, at the closest point to Corfu. Also is only a few minutes drive from the UNESCO world heritage site of Butrinti.
[source: Fiona Bosticky's Fresh Property Albania Blog ]
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